I found the "Perl Cookbook" helpful. I wouldn't try to memorize so much, but instead jot down short notes about thinks you found interesting (or mark them in the book with "post-it" notes and a marker pen). If you have an organizer, you might key in the notes and later transfer it to the computer.

Actually, I end up writing interesting notes about programming on shared space on the web, so that I can access it whenever I have internet connection. This doesn't work for you while you are offline, but you may transfer the notes later to some place on the net. Having it online is much better than having handwritten notes....