Amazon.com to Acquire Goodreads

[Ravensknight]

I've seen NO announcement at GR. and from what other readers are saying, there were no twitter updates during the whole time either.
Things that make you go "hmmmm"...

[BearMountainBooks]

To change the topic up a bit--a few years back (between 2 and 3? over one for sure) Amazon changed the links to the book forums that included the Kindle forum and various genre discussion forums. If you had, say, the cozy forum bookmarked, the bookmark wouldn't work all of a sudden. A lot of people drifted away if they didn't have another way to get there (via an email response if they were following a conversation, for example.) Anyway, at the same time Amazon also seemed to have taken the lists of forums away from the bottom of some books--making the forums less and less visible for newer people. They started blocking authors from linking to their books about the same time.

Well, yesterday, I also noticed that the "discussion" tab is no longer on every single kindle book across the top (there's various options there). It used to be there, but I was doing a review for Frank Tuttle's book and wanted to then go to the discussion boards--but the link wasn't there. I checked some other kindle books--sometimes there, sometimes not.

Could be a glitch. Or are they continuing to herd people to shelfari and/or goodreads and away from the discussion boards on Amazon? The forum may be too bothersome to continue with, they may find that the same old people there all the time aren't buying much, they don't want to moderate it (and why bother when they have GR and Shelfari?)

Just a curiosity really.

[hwlester]

Originally Posted by Ravensknight

I've seen NO announcement at GR. and from what other readers are saying, there were no twitter updates during the whole time either.
Things that make you go "hmmmm"...

Yeah, just the one at the beginning:

goodreads (@goodreads) tweeted at 6:51 PM on Fri, Apr 12, 2013:
Goodreads is down for some visitors. We're working on fixing the problem - thanks for your patience, everyone!
(https://twitter.com/goodreads/status/322859592138760194)

[franYo]

The Wall Street Journal has an article claiming that Apple was in talks with Goodreads first. Apparently they wanted to use their reviews within iTunes, like they are already using the Rotten Tomatos movie ratings. The article then pretty much suggests Amazon bought Goodreads just to prevent that. Which is in line with some theories mentioned here.

WSJ article.

[roseprose]

The choice seems clear: since GoodReads can no longer claim to be a site for objective reviewing, those who care can now unsubscribe. I did. Amazon will only get the message if many other have done (or will do) the same.

[John Carroll]

Originally Posted by roseprose

The choice seems clear: since GoodReads can no longer claim to be a site for objective reviewing, those who care can now unsubscribe. I did. Amazon will only get the message if many other have done (or will do) the same.

The problem is that Amazon is excellent at marketing and will do a PR blast at some point. Goodreads also has many members who won't leave, and others who won't notice unless something drastic changes.

As an author, I won't leave Goodreads because too many readers will continue to use it. I can't afford to cut any threads of the web I use to catch flies . . . errrrrr readers.

[jgaiser]

Originally Posted by roseprose

The choice seems clear: since GoodReads can no longer claim to be a site for objective reviewing, those who care can now unsubscribe. I did. Amazon will only get the message if many other have done (or will do) the same.

Reviews are as objective on Goodreads as they are on Amazon. You have crappy reviewers on both sites.

As a reader, I have no intention on leaving Goodreads until the worst that everyone is predicting happens. Until then, it's a good resource and I'll continue to use it.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by roseprose

The choice seems clear: since GoodReads can no longer claim to be a site for objective reviewing, those who care can now unsubscribe. I did. Amazon will only get the message if many other have done (or will do) the same.

Please explain how the reviews on Goodreads are any less objective than they were months ago?

[5thWiggle]

Originally Posted by John Carroll

As an author, I won't leave Goodreads because too many readers will continue to use it. I can't afford to cut any threads of the web I use to catch flies . . . errrrrr readers.

I was caught.
Help meeeee!

Spoiler:

[SeaBookGuy]

Originally Posted by roseprose

The choice seems clear: since GoodReads can no longer claim to be a site for objective reviewing, those who care can now unsubscribe. I did. Amazon will only get the message if many other have done (or will do) the same.

Audible has been an Amazon subsidiary for some time. If I don't like one if their audiobooks, I write a review, with a low rating, explaining why. I've never had one deleted!

[miquele]

Originally Posted by cromag

On the other hand, I am editing my Goodreads reviews. I tend to put some work into them because I was reviewing for people who might want to read, not a corporation wanting to sell.

That's exactly it! This is going to be the point for many reviewers, that's why I think GR is going downhill in terms of quality.

[kyteflyer]

Is there any other similar site that Amazon doesn't own?

[forsooth]

is this common?
buy something to destroy it?

[DiapDealer]

People do love them some internet drama, don't they?

[Loosheesh]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

People do love them some internet drama, don't they?

Subtitled: When books are not enough ...