The Reading Vent & Rant Thread

[arjaybe]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

I can't think of any specific examples at the moment, but books where there's no indication it's a sequel.

You would have liked to have a chance to read the previous one first?

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Most people get the following wrong. When asked "Do you mind?", the answer usually is given as yes even though it should be no.

Unless you actually do mind, of course.

[John F]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Most people get the following wrong. When asked "Do you mind?", the answer usually is given as yes even though it should be no.

Could you give an example of this?

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by arjaybe

You would have liked to have a chance to read the previous one first?

More of "you need to read the first book for this one to make any sense."

[JSWolf]

When others say a book in a series is standalone when clearly it's not.

[nabsltd]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

When others say a book in a series is standalone when clearly it's not.

It's almost as bad when there is so much added backstory to allow a series book to be standalone. It can turn a 100K word book into a 80K "words of new content" book.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by nabsltd

It's almost as bad when there is so much added backstory to allow a series book to be standalone. It can turn a 100K word book into a 80K "words of new content" book.

But that book is not standalone even if there is a recap.

[issybird]

It's discouraging that Goodreads claims I'm already 120 books behind on my 2025 challenge! Hard to see how I can climb out of that hole and it's only the second day of the year.

....In prior years, the "books ahead/behind" amount was figured on a percentage basis reflecting day of the year. I'd be one book behind on January 3rd (unless, of course, I'd already finished one -- which I never had). I also notice, not to my pleasure, that the whole Goodreads Challenge has been revamped to be very like the former Kindle Achievements, which has now been renamed Kindle Challenge. Quite the coincidence.

I'm not in the tinfoil hat brigade, not minding that both Amazon and Goodreads have tons of data on me, which they don't seem to be able to interpret in a useful manner at all. Just the same, I'm not linking my accounts!

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by issybird

It's discouraging that Goodreads claims I'm already 120 books behind on my 2025 challenge! Hard to see how I can climb out of that hole and it's only the second day of the year.

....In prior years, the "books ahead/behind" amount was figured on a percentage basis reflecting day of the year. I'd be one book behind on January 3rd (unless, of course, I'd already finished one -- which I never had). I also notice, not to my pleasure, that the whole Goodreads Challenge has been revamped to be very like the former Kindle Achievements, which has now been renamed Kindle Challenge. Quite the coincidence.

I'm not in the tinfoil hat brigade, not minding that both Amazon and Goodreads have tons of data on me, which they don't seem to be able to interpret in a useful manner at all. Just the same, I'm not linking my accounts!

What is your GR goal?

[issybird]

I needed a bolt hole for a while yesterday when I was out and about. Ordinarily I'd just go walkabout but it was too cold, so I ducked into the public library, thinking I could hang out and read.

Was I mistaken! Middle of the day, school wasn't out yet, but the noise! It was like the New York Stock Exchange in a tanking market. Whatever happened to being quiet in libraries? There wasn't a place to be found where people weren't talking in normal conversational tones. How I longed for the old days, with nasty looks and shushes.

[BetterRed]

↑ ↑ ↑

Perhaps a consequence of putting cafes, gift shops, even florists in libraries. My local library has a lower floor shush zone.

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by issybird

I needed a bolt hole for a while yesterday when I was out and about. Ordinarily I'd just go walkabout but it was too cold, so I ducked into the public library, thinking I could hang out and read.

Was I mistaken! Middle of the day, school wasn't out yet, but the noise! It was like the New York Stock Exchange in a tanking market. Whatever happened to being quiet in libraries? There wasn't a place to be found where people weren't talking in normal conversational tones. How I longed for the old days, with nasty looks and shushes.

When our local library expanded and remodeled, they made very strategic wall and half-wall decisions that make the space seem quiet, even during toddler storytime in the kids' area.

[JSWolf]

When a free book in a series is only available in PDF. But the ones you pay for are available in ePub.

[issybird]

When even a Booker winner (2024) needs better editing for grammar and diction.

[andyh2000]

Originally Posted by issybird

When even a Booker winner (2024) needs better editing for grammar and diction.

Orbital? One of the more enjoyable books I've read where absolutely nothing happens.