Goodreads/Library Thing - Page 3

JSWolf · 07-29-2012, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spindlegirl

good thing I am not much of a reviewer.
I just click stars and call it a day.

That's what I do as well. I don't bother writing a review. There are enough of them as is.

Joykins · 07-29-2012, 03:06 PM

I write a review if I feel I have the time or energy, although sometimes they're very short. Also if I feel a book is very good or very bad, I want to let people know about it.

I have written some very negative reviews on GR that some authors hit "like" on, go figure. Also I wrote a negative review where someone started a comment thread to bash the author. I told him to stop it because my reviews are not a place for personal bashing. I don't know why he did it, as he told me the author was DEAD anyway. Some people!

Blossom · 07-29-2012, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joykins

I write a review if I feel I have the time or energy, although sometimes they're very short. Also if I feel a book is very good or very bad, I want to let people know about it.

I have written some very negative reviews on GR that some authors hit "like" on, go figure. Also I wrote a negative review where someone started a comment thread to bash the author. I told him to stop it because my reviews are not a place for personal bashing. I don't know why he did it, as he told me the author was DEAD anyway. Some people!

I've had this happen and I've had an author contact me and ask me to change my review. So I just removed all but one review over there. Now I just rate the book or leave my review on my facebook page which use to be easier but the new Goodreads timeline makes it tough for my friends to see it on their news feed.

JSWolf · 07-29-2012, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blossom

I've had this happen and I've had an author contact me and ask me to change my review. So I just removed all but one review over there. Now I just rate the book or leave my review on my facebook page which use to be easier but the new Goodreads timeline makes it tough for my friends to see it on their news feed.

If it was me, I'd have said NO. I would not remove a review that was an honestly written review based on what I thought of the book. An author may not have to like a review, but if it's an honest review, then the author just has to lump it.

soulfuldog · 07-29-2012, 04:01 PM

I'd only ever left a review for one book on Amazon before getting my Kindle, but I've started leaving quick reviews there for the freebies (seems only fair to leave a review if the book is being offered for free). Mind you one has been a negative review I only left because of the pretty questionable 5 star reviews it had been given.

I've been mirroring them on Goodreads as I like looking at the reviews there. I've read a bit about the carry on they've been having elsewhere, but never came across any of it on the site itself. It is a bit off-putting though as I use the site as a more reliable source of reviews than Amazon, but it makes you wonder if that is the case....

Joykins · 07-29-2012, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If it was me, I'd have said NO. I would not remove a review that was an honestly written review based on what I thought of the book. An author may not have to like a review, but if it's an honest review, then the author just has to lump it.

I agree.

R.Stephenson · 07-30-2012, 08:06 AM

Big fan of GoodReads. LibraryThing is nowhere near as good if you ask me.

faithbw · 07-30-2012, 10:04 PM

Fantasy is another genre where I saw a kerfuffle between an author and some readers. I don't read fantasy but I have GR friend who does and I saw a "review" (really more of a beef with an author) she left for the book. I looked at all the reviews for the books for this author as well as a blog post by the author and the comments left on that post. It was just crazy. I couldn't believe people were getting that upset over a book. The author as well as the negative reviewers both appeared to be so immature.

Fortunately, I haven't seen any reviews like that for the books I tend to read nor do most of my other GR friends engage in these review fights.

I use GR more often than LT. There are aspects of both that I like and dislike. I will probably get a lifetime membership to LT because I think the site is very professional and has a few more options for cataloging books that GR doesn't. Still I love that GR has so much social activity. I love seeing what my friends are reading and the e-mails with updates on what they're reading at the moment. The updates have even given me ideas on what to read in the future.

RHWright · 07-31-2012, 09:49 AM

I think the GR "bullying" issue is overblown. I haven't seen much worse behavior there than any other forum-style site that allows for large numbers of individuals to interact.

Notable exceptions or two when authors threw a hissy, but I haven't seen any systematic "pack hunting" of authors.

Tattncat · 07-31-2012, 10:24 AM

I have accounts with both and ended up using Calibre for all my ebooks I keep my TBR on an app in my tablet and my wish list on another app.
I keep a Journal that has a 5 star rating system for each entry as a private listing of everything I read. I enter the title on the Subject line and all the pertinant detailsin the body of the entry. Sounds confusing, but for my uses it ends up being more efficient.

Penforhire · 07-31-2012, 01:59 PM

Opinions vary. I evaluated both and decided to go with Library Thing. I'm quite happy there.

MissKittiness · 07-31-2012, 07:39 PM

I've got accounts with both, but I prefer GoodReads - the interface is just a lot prettier, and I'm a visually-driven person. I haven't encountered any drama over there, but I guess the horror genre isn't much of a drama-mongering place. I follow a few reviewers whose tastes are similar to mine, but I never interact with them. I'm only 'friends' with people I know in real life. I don't post my reviews there, I post them to my livejournal. As with anywhere on the internet, you only notice as much drama as you get your feet in - I haven't noticed any at all. But, I don't use GoodReads for the social aspect at all.

BearMountainBooks · 07-31-2012, 10:18 PM

I believe there is a place now (relatively new) where you can make private notes about a book on GR. It was added (or is being added) because readers keep asking for it. Shelfari already has such a section and I use it frequently to leave a "private" review with notes I want to remember, but don't necessarily want public. I was complaining to a friend that GR didn't have it, and apparently they have recently added something. I haven't used it yet, but fully intend to.

You can keep your info "private" and allow friends to see it by creating a password/question that you only tell your friends. BUT, I am not sure if that includes reviews or just the conversations you have with the friends. One of my friends had his settings to private, so to friend him, he had to tell me the answer to input to his question. But any comments we made on books from his list stayed invisible to others. So for whoever was asking about it above, there should be info on "privatizing" your booklist and reviews and whatnot because I know people do it.

I like GR better than LibraryThing. I'd put Shelfari in second place. Both are great for keeping track of books, taking notes, adding stars or reviews. LibraryThing has decent giveaways and so does GR. They control their giveaways very nicely--a book has to be 6 months new to be in a Giveaway so authors can't just run and rerun them. I didn't know this until recently, but it was great to be able to put my latest book in a giveaway. It's run very well.

It's also great to enter the various giveaways too. Many of them are world wide.

I like the "heart" and people behind GR. They just run a nice ship.

JSWolf · 07-31-2012, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

I like GR better than LibraryThing. I'd put Shelfari in second place.

I'd give Shelfari beyond last place if it was possible. It's the worst site of it's type. I tried it and it was OK until I tried to enter a book and it came up with the wrong book. I send messages to the staff to get it fixed and after about a month nothing was done about it. So I left and never went back. I find the staff at Goodreads pretty responsive to fixing errors.

charlesatan · 07-31-2012, 11:14 PM

Technically they provide the same service but they have different ways of going about it, have different communities, and have different agendas (Shelfari, another book social network, was bought by Amazon a few years back, while Goodreads started purging its Amazon entries last year).

There's also an article on Book Riot that differentiates the two websites:

http://bookriot.com/2012/07/31/goodr...hing-part-one/

07-31-2012, 10:24 AM	#40
Tattncat Bookworm Posts: 673 Karma: 1029391 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Device: Nook Tablet, Samsung Galaxy Tab3, Sony PRS700, Sony PRS505	I have accounts with both and ended up using Calibre for all my ebooks I keep my TBR on an app in my tablet and my wish list on another app. I keep a Journal that has a 5 star rating system for each entry as a private listing of everything I read. I enter the title on the Subject line and all the pertinant detailsin the body of the entry. Sounds confusing, but for my uses it ends up being more efficient. Last edited by Tattncat; 07-31-2012 at 10:29 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Import from Library Thing	GeckoFriend	Library Management	1	09-24-2013 09:14 PM
Seriously thoughtful New Money, The Smart thing or the Fun thing?	GlenBarrington	Lounge	9	01-13-2012 01:47 PM
HOW does the library/overdrive/publisher thing work?	gracie	General Discussions	20	12-25-2011 08:16 PM
Multiplying calendar entries -- a PE thing or an android thing	Tunney	enTourage eDGe	5	10-21-2011 07:27 PM
"Library Friendly" - an interesting idea from Library Thing	Snowman	General Discussions	0	11-07-2010 07:26 PM

07-29-2012, 03:06 PM	#32
Joykins Wizard Posts: 1,610 Karma: 9211856 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: kindle Oasis 2018, kindle 4 NT, kindle PW2, iPhone, iPad mini	I write a review if I feel I have the time or energy, although sometimes they're very short. Also if I feel a book is very good or very bad, I want to let people know about it. I have written some very negative reviews on GR that some authors hit "like" on, go figure. Also I wrote a negative review where someone started a comment thread to bash the author. I told him to stop it because my reviews are not a place for personal bashing. I don't know why he did it, as he told me the author was DEAD anyway. Some people!

07-29-2012, 04:01 PM	#35
soulfuldog I ♥ Calibre Posts: 2,073 Karma: 5678911 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis, Voyage, Sony PRS-350, Hudl2	I'd only ever left a review for one book on Amazon before getting my Kindle, but I've started leaving quick reviews there for the freebies (seems only fair to leave a review if the book is being offered for free). Mind you one has been a negative review I only left because of the pretty questionable 5 star reviews it had been given. I've been mirroring them on Goodreads as I like looking at the reviews there. I've read a bit about the carry on they've been having elsewhere, but never came across any of it on the site itself. It is a bit off-putting though as I use the site as a more reliable source of reviews than Amazon, but it makes you wonder if that is the case....

07-30-2012, 08:06 AM	#37
R.Stephenson Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Southeast Texas Device: iPad	Big fan of GoodReads. LibraryThing is nowhere near as good if you ask me.

07-30-2012, 10:04 PM	#38
faithbw Guru Posts: 618 Karma: 1526148 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: A place where the sun always shines Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Mini 2	Fantasy is another genre where I saw a kerfuffle between an author and some readers. I don't read fantasy but I have GR friend who does and I saw a "review" (really more of a beef with an author) she left for the book. I looked at all the reviews for the books for this author as well as a blog post by the author and the comments left on that post. It was just crazy. I couldn't believe people were getting that upset over a book. The author as well as the negative reviewers both appeared to be so immature. Fortunately, I haven't seen any reviews like that for the books I tend to read nor do most of my other GR friends engage in these review fights. I use GR more often than LT. There are aspects of both that I like and dislike. I will probably get a lifetime membership to LT because I think the site is very professional and has a few more options for cataloging books that GR doesn't. Still I love that GR has so much social activity. I love seeing what my friends are reading and the e-mails with updates on what they're reading at the moment. The updates have even given me ideas on what to read in the future.

07-31-2012, 09:49 AM	#39
RHWright Addict Posts: 219 Karma: 2617122 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: North Carolina Device: NOOK ST, Nexus 7	I think the GR "bullying" issue is overblown. I haven't seen much worse behavior there than any other forum-style site that allows for large numbers of individuals to interact. Notable exceptions or two when authors threw a hissy, but I haven't seen any systematic "pack hunting" of authors.

07-31-2012, 01:59 PM	#41
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	Opinions vary. I evaluated both and decided to go with Library Thing. I'm quite happy there.

07-31-2012, 07:39 PM	#42
MissKittiness Achievement Unlocked! Posts: 60 Karma: 972056 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Aussie-land. Device: none	I've got accounts with both, but I prefer GoodReads - the interface is just a lot prettier, and I'm a visually-driven person. I haven't encountered any drama over there, but I guess the horror genre isn't much of a drama-mongering place. I follow a few reviewers whose tastes are similar to mine, but I never interact with them. I'm only 'friends' with people I know in real life. I don't post my reviews there, I post them to my livejournal. As with anywhere on the internet, you only notice as much drama as you get your feet in - I haven't noticed any at all. But, I don't use GoodReads for the social aspect at all.

07-31-2012, 10:18 PM	#43
BearMountainBooks Maria Schneider Posts: 3,746 Karma: 26439330 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Near Austin, Texas Device: 3g Kindle Keyboard	I believe there is a place now (relatively new) where you can make private notes about a book on GR. It was added (or is being added) because readers keep asking for it. Shelfari already has such a section and I use it frequently to leave a "private" review with notes I want to remember, but don't necessarily want public. I was complaining to a friend that GR didn't have it, and apparently they have recently added something. I haven't used it yet, but fully intend to. You can keep your info "private" and allow friends to see it by creating a password/question that you only tell your friends. BUT, I am not sure if that includes reviews or just the conversations you have with the friends. One of my friends had his settings to private, so to friend him, he had to tell me the answer to input to his question. But any comments we made on books from his list stayed invisible to others. So for whoever was asking about it above, there should be info on "privatizing" your booklist and reviews and whatnot because I know people do it. I like GR better than LibraryThing. I'd put Shelfari in second place. Both are great for keeping track of books, taking notes, adding stars or reviews. LibraryThing has decent giveaways and so does GR. They control their giveaways very nicely--a book has to be 6 months new to be in a Giveaway so authors can't just run and rerun them. I didn't know this until recently, but it was great to be able to put my latest book in a giveaway. It's run very well. It's also great to enter the various giveaways too. Many of them are world wide. I like the "heart" and people behind GR. They just run a nice ship.

07-31-2012, 11:14 PM	#45
charlesatan Addict Posts: 230 Karma: 3799024 Join Date: May 2012 Device: iPad	Technically they provide the same service but they have different ways of going about it, have different communities, and have different agendas (Shelfari, another book social network, was bought by Amazon a few years back, while Goodreads started purging its Amazon entries last year). There's also an article on Book Riot that differentiates the two websites: http://bookriot.com/2012/07/31/goodr...hing-part-one/