How does GoodReads work? - Page 4

K. Molen · 07-08-2013, 04:34 PM

I know it's not the popular choice with MR members, but I much prefer LibraryThing over GoodReads. I wouldn't necessarily suggest that anyone who has an established GR presence switch over to LT, but if (like OP) you haven't really gotten started I most definitely advice you to check out LibraryThing before making your choice.

I was aware of both options when I decided I wanted some kind of online mechanism for keeping track of my books and finding new things to read. I signed up for GoodReads first because I preferred the visual design of that site to LibraryThing's. After having used GoodReads for a while, I discovered I didn't like the general mechanics of the site, as well as the inability/difficulty to edit book profiles to suit my preference.

I then checked out LibraryThing and it was much more up my alley, and so I never went back to GoodReads.

Ravensknight · 07-08-2013, 08:05 PM

Doesn't librarything cost money to add more than "X" number of books? I seem to remember thinking, 'huh, this will last me a year, tops' when I checked them out years ago.

jgaiser · 07-08-2013, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ravensknight

Doesn't librarything cost money to add more than "X" number of books? I seem to remember thinking, 'huh, this will last me a year, tops' when I checked them out years ago.

Lifetime memberships are $25. Not a deal breaker in my mind. I still use LibraryThing, but lately I've been spending most of my time on Goodreads.

meeera · 07-08-2013, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgaiser

Lifetime memberships are $25. Not a deal breaker in my mind. I still use LibraryThing, but lately I've been spending most of my time on Goodreads.

Last time I looked, the $25 was a suggestion - and in reality, you could pay what you liked.

NickyWithNook · 07-08-2013, 11:38 PM

The $25 might scare off the kids who have 20,000,000 discussions and groups about Twilight. It might be money well spent.

owly · 07-09-2013, 03:37 AM

Goodreads and Librarything are different. If you want to catalog your books Librarything is better. Goodreads is more of a review site.

Ravensknight · 07-09-2013, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by owly

Goodreads and Librarything are different. If you want to catalog your books Librarything is better. Goodreads is more of a review site.

And for me, reviewing is essential as I don't remember why I did or did not like a book in 10 years. I need that written word

Ravensknight · 07-12-2013, 07:48 AM

Steve, what do you find confusing? Maybe we can help...

soulfuldog · 07-12-2013, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ravensknight

And for me, reviewing is essential as I don't remember why I did or did not like a book in 10 years. I need that written word

My problem is all the books I've read over the years pre-Kindle, I just wish there was some way of remembering them all and putting them on Goodreads so I didn't keep re-reading them, never mind remember why I did or didn't like them.

shalym · 07-12-2013, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by l_macd

My problem is all the books I've read over the years pre-Kindle, I just wish there was some way of remembering them all and putting them on Goodreads so I didn't keep re-reading them, never mind remember why I did or didn't like them.

I never understood people who say that they need a way to remember which books they read so that they don't re-read them. If you don't remember what happened in a book, why would it be a problem to re-read it? Is it just that you feel cheated if you buy it twice?

Shari

DuskyRose · 07-12-2013, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shalym

I never understood people who say that they need a way to remember which books they read so that they don't re-read them. If you don't remember what happened in a book, why would it be a problem to re-read it? Is it just that you feel cheated if you buy it twice?

Shari

For me, I'll pick up a book not realizing I've read it, then about 1/3 of the way in I've usually read enough to remind me of the rest of the plot.

I do re-read a lot, especially the ones I like. But would rather not waste time nor money on the ones I didn't like the first time around. Not when there are new ones I could have bought that I'd like.

If I liked them, I remember them, but the forgettable ones get away from me sometimes, and a list does help remind me before I pick something up for the second time.

HomeInMyShoes · 07-12-2013, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Oh, that's when I drove them all off!

It was tough. I had to go down into the basement and find the group "in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying 'Beware of the Leopard'". But I found it. Just try and drive me away.

Joykins · 07-12-2013, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shalym

I never understood people who say that they need a way to remember which books they read so that they don't re-read them. If you don't remember what happened in a book, why would it be a problem to re-read it? Is it just that you feel cheated if you buy it twice?

Shari

I would say usually if you don't remember it it wasn't good enough to spend time re-reading. But sometimes it's the title/author combo you forget.

shalym · 07-13-2013, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joykins

I would say usually if you don't remember it it wasn't good enough to spend time re-reading. But sometimes it's the title/author combo you forget.

Oh...I've definitely had times where I forgot the title/author, but reading the blurb and/or sample would jog my memory. It seems I'm the opposite of most people, though...I tend to remember the ones that I really didn't like--but then again, I haven't run into that many over the years that I started and found that I didn't like it. Usually reading the blurb and a few pages would let me know if I will like it or not, and if there's any question, I don't start reading it. The only times I can remember trying to read something that hadn't 100% passed the preview test was when I had absolutely nothing else to read--a couple of times when I was traveling and hadn't brought enough books. I can't see that happening again, now that I have an e-reader. Even if something happens to my Kindle on a trip, I have my phone, tablet, and laptop.

Shari

soulfuldog · 07-13-2013, 09:49 AM

I'm the same as DuskyRose in that I'm often 1/3 of the way into a book before I realise that I've read it. However, I mostly only vaguely remember what happens, so sometimes I read on to discover what happens at the end.... It can be annoying though to remember bits and pieces as you read but not everything, and only when you get near the end do you suddenly remember. Then it feels like I've just wasted time on the book when I could have been reading something new!

Other times I'll read the blurb and know straight away that I've read it, but it doesn't happen often enough. On the plus side, I'm not much of a re-reader of books, but I have read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 3 times now (though I did know I had read it previously!). I enjoyed it most the second time I read it because I followed the plot a little better but couldn't really remember any of what happened and the ending was still a surprise. The third time I remembered more again but still only had a fuzzy recollection so it was still enjoyable enough. I might re-read the second and third books at some point too.

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07-08-2013, 04:34 PM	#46
K. Molen Addict Posts: 284 Karma: 4478866 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Toronto, ON Device: Kindle 3, iPad 3, Nexus 10, Nexus 5	I know it's not the popular choice with MR members, but I much prefer LibraryThing over GoodReads. I wouldn't necessarily suggest that anyone who has an established GR presence switch over to LT, but if (like OP) you haven't really gotten started I most definitely advice you to check out LibraryThing before making your choice. I was aware of both options when I decided I wanted some kind of online mechanism for keeping track of my books and finding new things to read. I signed up for GoodReads first because I preferred the visual design of that site to LibraryThing's. After having used GoodReads for a while, I discovered I didn't like the general mechanics of the site, as well as the inability/difficulty to edit book profiles to suit my preference. I then checked out LibraryThing and it was much more up my alley, and so I never went back to GoodReads.

07-08-2013, 08:05 PM	#47
Ravensknight Serpent Rider Posts: 1,123 Karma: 10219804 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Sony 350; Nook STR; Oasis	Doesn't librarything cost money to add more than "X" number of books? I seem to remember thinking, 'huh, this will last me a year, tops' when I checked them out years ago.

07-08-2013, 11:38 PM	#50
NickyWithNook Guru Posts: 750 Karma: 3942770 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: American living in Australia Device: Kobo Libra Colour, Kindle Fire, Kindle Pwhite (Don't use Nook anymore)	The $25 might scare off the kids who have 20,000,000 discussions and groups about Twilight. It might be money well spent.

07-09-2013, 03:37 AM	#51
owly Guru Posts: 729 Karma: 3822612 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sweden Device: Paperwhite 2, Kobo Aura H2O	Goodreads and Librarything are different. If you want to catalog your books Librarything is better. Goodreads is more of a review site.

07-12-2013, 07:48 AM	#53
Ravensknight Serpent Rider Posts: 1,123 Karma: 10219804 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Sony 350; Nook STR; Oasis	Steve, what do you find confusing? Maybe we can help...

07-13-2013, 09:49 AM	#60
soulfuldog I ♥ Calibre Posts: 2,073 Karma: 5678911 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis, Voyage, Sony PRS-350, Hudl2	I'm the same as DuskyRose in that I'm often 1/3 of the way into a book before I realise that I've read it. However, I mostly only vaguely remember what happens, so sometimes I read on to discover what happens at the end.... It can be annoying though to remember bits and pieces as you read but not everything, and only when you get near the end do you suddenly remember. Then it feels like I've just wasted time on the book when I could have been reading something new! Other times I'll read the blurb and know straight away that I've read it, but it doesn't happen often enough. On the plus side, I'm not much of a re-reader of books, but I have read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 3 times now (though I did know I had read it previously!). I enjoyed it most the second time I read it because I followed the plot a little better but couldn't really remember any of what happened and the ending was still a surprise. The third time I remembered more again but still only had a fuzzy recollection so it was still enjoyable enough. I might re-read the second and third books at some point too.