Book tracking without social networking

jehane · 05-30-2015, 06:35 PM

I've started a bunch of new series in the past couple of years and need a way to keep track of them all. When it's a year or more between books, and I get through 2-3 books a week, it's easy to forget to check on new books in the series.

So I'm looking for websites or apps that will help me keep track of the books that I've read. Note that I mostly read library books, and about 30% print, so these are books that are not in my Calibre library.

I signed up for Goodreads but to my horror the first thing they said they did was go through my email contact list to see if any of my contacts are also on GR. I'm not entirely sure how that works - do they really have access to the contacts list on my email address book? I definitely do NOT want this "feature". Short of creating a new email address specifically for goodreads, are there any other websites I can look into? I know of LibraryThing and Shelfari, but as I understand it they do the same thing.

I know I can go old-school and keep a spreadsheet, but then I would have to enter all the details instead of just searching the existing database.

TIA

poohbear_nc · 05-30-2015, 06:39 PM

Take a look at FictFact (http://www.fictfact.com/) - designed to track books in series - existing back lists, new additions, & your personal reading stats within each series.

Sharing with friends is optional.

Catlady · 05-30-2015, 07:18 PM

I started using the app Book Catalogue, which I liked well enough, but then I reverted to simply keeping track on a spreadsheet.

Ripplinger · 05-30-2015, 07:33 PM

I keep track in Calibre. I simply added another column where I enter the date I finished the book. Since I use Calibre anyway, it's really not a bother at all to enter the date.

Wearever · 05-30-2015, 08:30 PM

I also just use Calibre to keep track of what I'm reading. I know I felt the same way about GR.

Froide · 05-30-2015, 11:32 PM

Series tracking sites I've used:

FictFact - I use this one, mainly, and unlike Goodreads, it alerts me when a title I've been waiting for becomes available
Fiction DB (Fiction DataBase)
Order of Books

I also make heavy use of Goodreads and have no complaints about Goodreads' having ever invaded my privacy or shared unwanted information; one can configure Goodreads' settings to achieve desired levels of privacy or sharing - both at Goodreads and at other social media sites, such as Facebook. However, for greater peace of mind, you could create an "alias" email address or an actual dedicated email account for use with Goodreads, that won't have any contacts for Goodreads to find.

meeera · 05-31-2015, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jehane

So I'm looking for websites or apps that will help me keep track of the books that I've read. Note that I mostly read library books, and about 30% print, so these are books that are not in my Calibre library.

I signed up for Goodreads but to my horror the first thing they said they did was go through my email contact list to see if any of my contacts are also on GR. I'm not entirely sure how that works - do they really have access to the contacts list on my email address book? I definitely do NOT want this "feature".

Goodreads can't access your email contact list unless you give it permission - just don't give it permission. Simple as that. Then set your profile to Private.

HarryT · 05-31-2015, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jehane

I signed up for Goodreads but to my horror the first thing they said they did was go through my email contact list to see if any of my contacts are also on GR. I'm not entirely sure how that works - do they really have access to the contacts list on my email address book?

Goodreaders is a website; it does not have access to anything on your PC. Don't worry about it.

pwalker8 · 05-31-2015, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Goodreaders is a website; it does not have access to anything on your PC. Don't worry about it.

It's amazing how well various web sites manage to track what you are doing and extrapolate things about you.

To get back to the original question, are you looking for a site that well notify you when new books in series come out?

kyteflyer · 05-31-2015, 11:04 AM

I keep wanting to do something like this, and then, I completely forget to update things. I had a goodreads account for yonks. Never remembered to update.

Purple Lady · 05-31-2015, 11:39 AM

I also use Calibre to keep track of my library books. I import the library book into Calibre, delete the epub and replace it with an epub containing the words "no text". I then download metadata and use the modify epub plugin to create the book jacket. This way I have the book in my list with a description and rating. I also keep a copy of it in Calibre Companion on my devices.

MickiTee · 05-31-2015, 12:58 PM

I would also recommend FictFact. The only thing to be aware of is that they only track book releases in the US.

Its very easy to get started and you can mark a whole series as read in one go and then go back and mark any books as Unread if necessary.

pwalker8 · 05-31-2015, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyteflyer

I keep wanting to do something like this, and then, I completely forget to update things. I had a goodreads account for yonks. Never remembered to update.

I use authoralerts to notify me when a favored author has a new release. That might work for you if the issue is forgetting to check the web site. Authoralerts has a few holes in it, but it's a useful tool.

http://www.authoralerts.com/

is the website. You create an account and then add authors that you want to be notified about.

jehane · 05-31-2015, 02:06 PM

Thanks for all of the suggestions, I'll check them out.

Re: GR - I'm using webmail and as soon as I created my account, the GR site actually said they were going through my contacts list to see if there were other GR members there. And I didn't register via one of those buttons, though my email provider is there. That is what disturbed me, that they would do that *before* I had a chance to set my privacy options.

Purple Lady - that sounds like more work than keeping a spreadsheet!

Purple Lady · 05-31-2015, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jehane

Thanks for all of the suggestions, I'll check them out.

Re: GR - I'm using webmail and as soon as I created my account, the GR site actually said they were going through my contacts list to see if there were other GR members there. And I didn't register via one of those buttons, though my email provider is there. That is what disturbed me, that they would do that *before* I had a chance to set my privacy options.

Purple Lady - that sounds like more work than keeping a spreadsheet!

I just do the same as I do for all the books I add to Calibre, except I delete the book since I don't own it.

05-30-2015, 06:35 PM	#1
jehane Book addict Posts: 441 Karma: 2650464 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Antarctica/Australia/Ohio Device: Sony PRS-300/T1/Asus TF101	Book tracking without social networking I've started a bunch of new series in the past couple of years and need a way to keep track of them all. When it's a year or more between books, and I get through 2-3 books a week, it's easy to forget to check on new books in the series. So I'm looking for websites or apps that will help me keep track of the books that I've read. Note that I mostly read library books, and about 30% print, so these are books that are not in my Calibre library. I signed up for Goodreads but to my horror the first thing they said they did was go through my email contact list to see if any of my contacts are also on GR. I'm not entirely sure how that works - do they really have access to the contacts list on my email address book? I definitely do NOT want this "feature". Short of creating a new email address specifically for goodreads, are there any other websites I can look into? I know of LibraryThing and Shelfari, but as I understand it they do the same thing. I know I can go old-school and keep a spreadsheet, but then I would have to enter all the details instead of just searching the existing database. TIA

05-30-2015, 11:32 PM	#6
Froide Wizard Posts: 1,898 Karma: 9851695 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Noo Yawk Device: Samsung Galaxy and Windows devices. RIP: Palm & Nook devices.	Series tracking sites I've used: FictFact - I use this one, mainly, and unlike Goodreads, it alerts me when a title I've been waiting for becomes available Fiction DB (Fiction DataBase) Order of Books I also make heavy use of Goodreads and have no complaints about Goodreads' having ever invaded my privacy or shared unwanted information; one can configure Goodreads' settings to achieve desired levels of privacy or sharing - both at Goodreads and at other social media sites, such as Facebook. However, for greater peace of mind, you could create an "alias" email address or an actual dedicated email account for use with Goodreads, that won't have any contacts for Goodreads to find. Last edited by Froide; 05-30-2015 at 11:55 PM.

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05-30-2015, 06:39 PM	#2
poohbear_nc Now what? Posts: 59,123 Karma: 135181808 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	Take a look at FictFact (http://www.fictfact.com/) - designed to track books in series - existing back lists, new additions, & your personal reading stats within each series. Sharing with friends is optional.

05-30-2015, 07:18 PM	#3
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,345 Karma: 52398889 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	I started using the app Book Catalogue, which I liked well enough, but then I reverted to simply keeping track on a spreadsheet.

05-30-2015, 07:33 PM	#4
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,574 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	I keep track in Calibre. I simply added another column where I enter the date I finished the book. Since I use Calibre anyway, it's really not a bother at all to enter the date.

05-30-2015, 08:30 PM	#5
Wearever Wizard Posts: 1,063 Karma: 10944084 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: New England Device: Oasis 2,Voyage, Kindlle hdx 8.9, Ipad mini 4. Air 2	I also just use Calibre to keep track of what I'm reading. I know I felt the same way about GR.

05-31-2015, 11:04 AM	#10
kyteflyer Wizard Posts: 1,841 Karma: 9547754 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Newcastle, Australia Device: iPhone SE2020	I keep wanting to do something like this, and then, I completely forget to update things. I had a goodreads account for yonks. Never remembered to update.

05-31-2015, 11:39 AM	#11
Purple Lady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,698 Karma: 16542228 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Device: Huawei MediaPad M5, LG V30, Boyue T80S, Nexus 7 LTE, K3 3G, Fire HD8	I also use Calibre to keep track of my library books. I import the library book into Calibre, delete the epub and replace it with an epub containing the words "no text". I then download metadata and use the modify epub plugin to create the book jacket. This way I have the book in my list with a description and rating. I also keep a copy of it in Calibre Companion on my devices.

05-31-2015, 12:58 PM	#12
MickiTee Guru Posts: 842 Karma: 3976266 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: London, UK Device: Sony PRS-505, Pocketbook TL3, TL4, TL5	I would also recommend FictFact. The only thing to be aware of is that they only track book releases in the US. Its very easy to get started and you can mark a whole series as read in one go and then go back and mark any books as Unread if necessary.

05-31-2015, 02:06 PM	#14
jehane Book addict Posts: 441 Karma: 2650464 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Antarctica/Australia/Ohio Device: Sony PRS-300/T1/Asus TF101	Thanks for all of the suggestions, I'll check them out. Re: GR - I'm using webmail and as soon as I created my account, the GR site actually said they were going through my contacts list to see if there were other GR members there. And I didn't register via one of those buttons, though my email provider is there. That is what disturbed me, that they would do that before I had a chance to set my privacy options. Purple Lady - that sounds like more work than keeping a spreadsheet!

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