Amazon is Adding Goodreads Ratings to Book Listings

[hleo12]

Originally Posted by meeera

I think maybe this author's problem was assuming that the Goodreads author profile attached to his name "belonged" to him. It doesn't, any more than reader reviews belong to the author or are for the author (a not uncommon error leading to authors interacting with readers in toxic ways). The database, listings and reviews aren't for authors nor are they owned or controlled by authors.

I have seen my fair share of authors and publishers going wild on reviewers for giving them a not so stellar book review.

Personally, I think it's an ego problem if an author is complaining about a 3.75 review on goodreads compared to their 4* on amazon (as was the original linked article was about).

[tomsem]

I find the reviews on Goodreads more nuanced and useful than Amazon's. Also I like to know what Friends (mostly people I know IRL) and people I Follow think about a book I'm thinking of reading. So I'll continue to go there to read them even if Amazon adds them to the book listings there.

[Terisa de morgan]

Taking into account I've got a plugin in Chrome that shows goodreads ratings in Amazon page... so I can link fast to goodreads page... perhaps my problem is that they will appear twice.... because I trust in Amazon ratings as much as I trust on Goodreads ratings.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by NullNix

Are you talking Banks, or Stardoc? If the latter, well, I treat it as "read while ill" stuff: it's definitely not high art. But saying that about Banks is sacrilege, y'know.

Banks. I've never read Stardoc. I read Banks for a book club and hardly anyone liked it. It starts off OK and goes down the toilet rather quickly. How is it sacrilege when the book is terrible? It compares to L. Ron Hubbard. That's how bad it is.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

I glance at 1 star reviews for the same reason. IMO, Goodreads reviews are even less relevant than Amazon reviews, and that's a pretty low bar.

I rarely read 5 star reviews, especially for "book-a-month" type authors.

When I am looking at things to buy on Amazon that I don't know enough about, I'll read the some of the 1-3 star reviews. It's helped me not buy a lot of things.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

Taking into account I've got a plugin in Chrome that shows goodreads ratings in Amazon page... so I can link fast to goodreads page... perhaps my problem is that they will appear twice.... because I trust in Amazon ratings as much as I trust on Goodreads ratings.

With Whatever Firefox settings and/or plugins, I cannot see the Goodreads rating.

[Karellen]

I see them now. Not using any plugins to reaveal them.

[Deskisamess]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

When I am looking at things to buy on Amazon that I don't know enough about, I'll read the some of the 1-3 star reviews. It's helped me not buy a lot of things.

Amazon has turned into a huge flea market, with no name crappola taking over the decent goods.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Apache

Reading, for me, is not social in any way. In my case it is anti-social because I am an isolated island in a sea of people when reading.

Basically the same here — although I usually only read at night when it's quiet. I have trouble tuning out what's going on around me. I've never understood how people could read (or write) in a Starbucks (for example). Even when they played a radio at work it was tiring for me because I couldn't tune it out and ignore it.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

I glance at 1 star reviews for the same reason. IMO, Goodreads reviews are even less relevant than Amazon reviews, and that's a pretty low bar.

I rarely read 5 star reviews, especially for "book-a-month" type authors.

I've seen so many reviews that went "shipper sent it quickly, 5 stars." No, there's seller reviews for that.

[Paperbackstash]

Goodreads reviews are usually more fair / balanced with a generally lower star rating than the Amazon reviews. I don't mind having two star rating versions. I rarely pay attention to ratings on Amazon for books, but do check Goodreads if curious on reviews.

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

With Whatever Firefox settings and/or plugins, I cannot see the Goodreads rating.

This is an example about how I see it at Chrome with the plugin, and I can navigate to the goodreads book.

[Karellen]

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

This is an example about how I see it at Chrome with the plugin, and I can navigate to the goodreads book.

Do you think it wise to post your personal details like that?

[NullNix]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Banks. I've never read Stardoc. I read Banks for a book club and hardly anyone liked it. It starts off OK and goes down the toilet rather quickly. How is it sacrilege when the book is terrible? It compares to L. Ron Hubbard. That's how bad it is.

De gustibus non est disputandum, but, er, that opinion is not especially widely shared. (Though one or two Banks books are definitely weaker than others. _Consider Phlebas_ is bursting with ideas but is also so damn depressing that I rarely read it. _The Player of Games_ is just *fun*.)

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by rcentros

Basically the same here — although I usually only read at night when it's quiet. I have trouble tuning out what's going on around me. I've never understood how people could read (or write) in a Starbucks (for example). Even when they played a radio at work it was tiring for me because I couldn't tune it out and ignore it.

I have 5 siblings. When I was in high school I could tune everything going on around me out. One night I finally noticed that I was being yelled at for the television being on so late. How was I supposed to know everyone else had left the room? How was I supposed to know the television was still on or even what time it was?

As the years have gone by I've become much more easily distracted.