Kindle Paperwhite Calibre Sideloaded Books Not Linking to Goodreads

[KeriB]

I'm hoping someone can advise me. I have tried using the Quality Check plug in on Calibre like suggested and going to Fix ASIN for Kindle Fire. That is not working when the books are uploaded to the Kindle to link with Goodreads. It keeps saying Request Failed when I try to add a book to the Goodreads shelf. Any suggestions?

[GoSharks]

@KeriB-
Starting at the very basics, you are placing the true Amazon ASIN in the metadata identifiers field in Calibre before using the Fix ASIN for Kindle Fire, yes?

[KeriB]

I think that is the problem, but I don't know how to find the true Amazon ASIN. Is there a step I should do before I "fix" it?

[GoSharks]

Originally Posted by KeriB

I think that is the problem, but I don't know how to find the true Amazon ASIN. Is there a step I should do before I "fix" it?

You need to grab the ASIN number from Amazon and place it in the identifiers area of the Calibre edit metadata screen.... I think current versions of Calibre can data mine this from Amazon through download metadata button, but I'm not sure. I use an XP computer and so am stuck on an earlier version of Calibre that is no longer able to data mine the Amazon site, so I go to Amazon on my own and find the kindle version of the book and copy/paste the ASIN from Amazon into the metadata field of the book. I then use the fix ASIN for Kindle fire part of the Quality Check plugin.

**edit- when you find the kindle edition of the book on Amazon, scroll down to the product details and you will see the ASIN information. Copy the whole ASIN field including "ASIN:", not just the number and then paste into the metadata field. If you are on a newer version of Calibre, it should be able to find and insert this for you.

[KeriB]

Thank you so much. Those instructions helped. Now I just need to find a plug in that will do the search for me for all the books I have. I really appreciate you taking the time!

[GoSharks]

Originally Posted by KeriB

Thank you so much. Those instructions helped. Now I just need to find a plug in that will do the search for me for all the books I have. I really appreciate you taking the time!

Welcome to the forum....If you post in the Calibre forum you will likely get help from someone with a more current version.

[eschwartz]

GoSharks -- see my sticky in the calibre forums.

Option 3 or 4b, your choice.



KeriB -- no plugin needed, calibre's builtin Metatadata download should download identifiers, which will include the ASIN.

[amz3107]

I am also having this problem, I've checked the ASIN, often having to manually input it. I have used the quality check plugin to fix ASIN, I've then recoverted the files to .mobi and tried converting them to AWZ3, but I still cannot update my goodreads.

Could this have anything to do with the fact I'm from the UK? I only found the goodreads button on my kindle today (I had to deregister and reregister for it to appear)

[IthilDuath]

HI, I know I'm digging up an old thread here but its relevant to my problem. I cannot get books to talk to Goodreads through my Kindle Paperwhite. I have tried all the steps mentioned above and each time I try to "find the book on goodreads" or update my status, it gives me a "Can't find this book on Goodreads" or "process failed" respectively. I have included in the metadata the appropriate asin as well as the goodreads ID.

I used the quality check tool's fix asin as well.

Any ideas?

[amz3107]

I'm still having problems with this, does any one know anything that might help?

[el_topo50]

Originally Posted by amz3107

I am also having this problem, I've checked the ASIN, often having to manually input it. I have used the quality check plugin to fix ASIN, I've then recoverted the files to .mobi and tried converting them to AWZ3, but I still cannot update my goodreads.

Could this have anything to do with the fact I'm from the UK? I only found the goodreads button on my kindle today (I had to deregister and reregister for it to appear)

I think the ASIN fixing with quality check should be your last step, prior to sideload the book to your device.

[IthilDuath]

I finally got this working, 100% of the time. It might be overkill in spots, but here's my process... and much like with lucky socks, I'm not changing it...

- Open Calibre/Import any book etc.
- Select book, click the "Edit metadata" button.
- Remove any metadata that might be under the following (using the little recycle symbols): Rating, Tags, Ids, Date, Published, Publisher, and Series
- With your browser, head to Amazon.com and look up the *Kindle version* (important to get the Kindle version) of the book you are trying to add.
- Scroll down to Product Details and find the 10-character ASIN number. Copy that.
- Back in Calibre, still in the edit metadata section, go to "Ids" and type (without the quotes) "asin:0000000000" Replace the zeros with the asin you looked up. For example, "asin:B004TRXX7C"
- At the bottom of the metadata screen click the little "cogs" icon next to the "Download metadata" button.
- Make sure Amazon.com is the only source that is checked. Uncheck all others. Hit Apply (or cancel if it's currently the only one selected)
- Back in the metadata window, click the "Download metadata" button
- In the new window you should see your book's info as pulled from Amazon.com. Click OK.
- In the next window select your cover art, then click OK.
- The metadata will all be filled out correctly now. Click OK.
- With your book still selected, click the "Convert books" button.
- From the output format on the top right, select AZW3, then click OK.
- Wait for the job to finish, then click the "Quality Check" button. Scroll down to "Fix", then click "Fix ASIN for Kindle Fire". You will see a message that the book has been updated, click OK.
- Connect your Kindle to your computer (if it isn't already)
- On the right side of the "Send to device" button click the downfacing arrow.
- Select the option for "Send specific format to" and then "Main Memory".
- Make sure the only format being sent is the AZW3 we just created, then click OK.
- Wait for the job to finish.
- Eject and/or unplug your Kindle
- Look for the book you just added.
- Select the book's properties by holding your finger down on it for a few seconds. (I personally use a Paperwhite, so your experience here may be different.)
- Click "View on Goodreads".
- If it loads the book on the Goodreads page, you're good to go. You will be able to update the reading status properly as you start the book and read through it using Goodreads. Congrats!
- If it didn't load, then you didn't follow my instructions to the letter and should delete the book from Calibre and start over. If you did follow them 100% then there might be some other issue I haven't run into yet with any of the books I've tried, and I can't help you.