Want to know what books fellow Mefites like? Come participate in a mass Goodreads enfriending March 5, 2012 5:24 PM Subscribe
Want to know what books fellow Mefites like? Want to maybe take part in a Mefi reading group? Come participate in a mass Goodreads enfriending!
As the Meta Book Club comes to the end of its reading list, bearwife started a thread about what should come next.
It turns out that a good way to go would be for Mefites that like reading (probably most of us right?) to join Goodreads, then join the Mefi group that is already there with 153 members, and perhaps also friend each other.
There seems to be a limit on how many people can you can friend per day, so the logistics of that might get messy. But hopefully between all of us making requests in different directions, and friending the people we talk to most often, it can all come together.
A very nice feature when you are friends with someone is that you can very easily see what books you have in common and compare your ratings and comments.
bearwife is Catherine there. I am philipy.
If any future reading group develops, it will likely use Goodreads in some form.
Bearwife is currently using it to find out what (if any) books people would like to read together.
But if you like reading and Mefi, this will be a nice thing to be on regardless of whether we decide to do any book group type thing though.
I hope lots of people will come, as I'd love to peek at all your bookshelves.
As the Meta Book Club comes to the end of its reading list, bearwife started a thread about what should come next.
It turns out that a good way to go would be for Mefites that like reading (probably most of us right?) to join Goodreads, then join the Mefi group that is already there with 153 members, and perhaps also friend each other.
There seems to be a limit on how many people can you can friend per day, so the logistics of that might get messy. But hopefully between all of us making requests in different directions, and friending the people we talk to most often, it can all come together.
A very nice feature when you are friends with someone is that you can very easily see what books you have in common and compare your ratings and comments.
bearwife is Catherine there. I am philipy.
If any future reading group develops, it will likely use Goodreads in some form.
Bearwife is currently using it to find out what (if any) books people would like to read together.
But if you like reading and Mefi, this will be a nice thing to be on regardless of whether we decide to do any book group type thing though.
I hope lots of people will come, as I'd love to peek at all your bookshelves.
I haven't read a novel cover-to-cover that didn't involve a swordfight or spaceship since middle school. (The Yiddish Policeman's Guild totally had a giant with a war-hammer in it, and The Adventures of Cavalier and Clay had a secret Nazi antarctic base. Counts.)
posted by Slap*Happy at 5:32 PM on March 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Slap*Happy at 5:32 PM on March 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
fantasy novels
You will be pleased to know that I scored 9/10 on the Harry Potter quiz and 10/10 on the Lord of the Rings one. I discovered that the Never-Ending Trivia Quiz.... well it goes on forever.... There is no way to actually say: "I'm done, thanks."
I haven't read a novel
It's not only for novels. It's quite interesting to put nonfiction in there as well. Even, if you feel so inclined, your technical and academic reading.
posted by philipy at 5:45 PM on March 5, 2012
You will be pleased to know that I scored 9/10 on the Harry Potter quiz and 10/10 on the Lord of the Rings one. I discovered that the Never-Ending Trivia Quiz.... well it goes on forever.... There is no way to actually say: "I'm done, thanks."
I haven't read a novel
It's not only for novels. It's quite interesting to put nonfiction in there as well. Even, if you feel so inclined, your technical and academic reading.
posted by philipy at 5:45 PM on March 5, 2012
Big guess who I am over there. Come on, guess already.
posted by theichibun at 5:48 PM on March 5, 2012
posted by theichibun at 5:48 PM on March 5, 2012
Oh I've been terrible at a) reading and b) updating goodreads when I do but perhaps having more content there will motivate me. Add away.
posted by Skorgu at 5:53 PM on March 5, 2012
posted by Skorgu at 5:53 PM on March 5, 2012
Apparently I'm already a member. Which is good, because I wouldn't want to be part of a club, etc. etc.
posted by yerfatma at 5:53 PM on March 5, 2012
posted by yerfatma at 5:53 PM on March 5, 2012
(also: stupid iPad has forced me to read mostly comic books for about a year now.)
posted by yerfatma at 5:57 PM on March 5, 2012
posted by yerfatma at 5:57 PM on March 5, 2012
Look, I'm just going to admit right now that I am currently reading The Hunger Games. And I find it abysmal in a lot of ways. But certain people wanted to be able to discuss it with me, and I'm the obliging sort. Please don't think less of me. Think less of me for the schlocky mysteries you'll catch me reading eventually.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 5:57 PM on March 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Pater Aletheias at 5:57 PM on March 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
huh, apparently i joined this group two years ago but have zero recollection of doing so (i don't really use goodreads; i settled on librarything for cataloging/review purposes despite the less immediately social dimension there). weird. i'm what i always am...
posted by ifjuly at 6:03 PM on March 5, 2012
posted by ifjuly at 6:03 PM on March 5, 2012
Librarything does look like a nice site. Also it is fast which unfortunately Goodreads is not.
posted by philipy at 6:09 PM on March 5, 2012
posted by philipy at 6:09 PM on March 5, 2012
Just don't think I am a singulatarian because I am reading Future Shock right now...
posted by jjray at 6:21 PM on March 5, 2012
posted by jjray at 6:21 PM on March 5, 2012
Oh, yay! I just joined GoodReads a few months ago and have been itching for an excuse to obsess over it. Here's me.
posted by Phire at 6:24 PM on March 5, 2012
posted by Phire at 6:24 PM on March 5, 2012
I was using GR a lot for a while last year and then I wasn't. Here's to hoping I'll be active again.
posted by deborah at 7:10 PM on March 5, 2012
posted by deborah at 7:10 PM on March 5, 2012
There are lots of Michelle's coming up in the search. You'll need to give us a link, or alternately invite us to be friends.
posted by philipy at 7:28 PM on March 5, 2012
posted by philipy at 7:28 PM on March 5, 2012
I'm super, duper active on goodreads. This is me!
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:36 PM on March 5, 2012
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:36 PM on March 5, 2012
Joined. Oh God! So many books to rate! And that's after recalling what they were like when I read them years ago and coming up with the closest approximation on a 5-star scale. Overwhelming.
posted by vidur at 7:54 PM on March 5, 2012
posted by vidur at 7:54 PM on March 5, 2012
Yeah, I just searched "members" and so far, only 3 Michelles. I'm the one with no photo, so far.
posted by Miko at 8:05 PM on March 5, 2012
posted by Miko at 8:05 PM on March 5, 2012
Oh God! So many books to rate!
I know. But it's part of the fun to even try to remember them all.
And that's after recalling what they were like when I read them years ago
I need a special category for "Things I read but now can hardly remember anything about". For now 3-star will do as an approximation. It's either that, or skip mentioning them altogether.
posted by philipy at 8:13 PM on March 5, 2012
I know. But it's part of the fun to even try to remember them all.
And that's after recalling what they were like when I read them years ago
I need a special category for "Things I read but now can hardly remember anything about". For now 3-star will do as an approximation. It's either that, or skip mentioning them altogether.
posted by philipy at 8:13 PM on March 5, 2012
I never bothered with the whole rating-my-back-catalog thing. Instead, I just started rating and reviewing everything I read, beginning in March 2008 or so. It's . . . kind of become a compulsion. But a fun one!
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 8:14 PM on March 5, 2012
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 8:14 PM on March 5, 2012
soelo there as well. I have 90% of my actual books listed on my to-be-read list and I am slowly adding my ebooks as well. I am obsessed with the Seasonal Reading Challenge, which just started their Spring round on March 1st.
posted by soelo at 8:18 PM on March 5, 2012
posted by soelo at 8:18 PM on March 5, 2012
For the ratings, I'm just going with the faint impressions I carry. Erring on the higher side, because if I have a good impression of a book that I read years ago, there must have been something good about it. OTOH, I am disappointed that I can't give a negative rating, because there are books that deserve that too.
posted by vidur at 8:21 PM on March 5, 2012
posted by vidur at 8:21 PM on March 5, 2012
I need a special category for "Things I read but now can hardly remember anything about".
Make a shelf! But really, is there a character limit on naming your shelves? I don't have many and haven't tried any super long names.
posted by soelo at 8:26 PM on March 5, 2012
Make a shelf! But really, is there a character limit on naming your shelves? I don't have many and haven't tried any super long names.
posted by soelo at 8:26 PM on March 5, 2012
I'm in as Quietgal. It kept throwing childhood faves at me, so now it thinks I'm really into children's literature. Sure, I love The Phantom Tollbooth - who doesn't? - but I like grownup books too.
Bread and Jam for Frances. Half Magic. A Wrinkle in Time. Winnie the Pooh. Curious George. The Chronicles of Narnia. Make Way for Ducklings. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler. Babar the Elephant. I need to borrow a kid I can read these to!
posted by Quietgal at 8:26 PM on March 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
Bread and Jam for Frances. Half Magic. A Wrinkle in Time. Winnie the Pooh. Curious George. The Chronicles of Narnia. Make Way for Ducklings. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler. Babar the Elephant. I need to borrow a kid I can read these to!
posted by Quietgal at 8:26 PM on March 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
I just read a lot and rate the books that I've read. Here I am (h00py aka Linda).
posted by h00py at 8:36 PM on March 5, 2012
posted by h00py at 8:36 PM on March 5, 2012
I've creatively named myself Darryl Asher over at Goodreads.
posted by The Deej at 8:41 PM on March 5, 2012
posted by The Deej at 8:41 PM on March 5, 2012
Oh Goodreads, you always make me wish my friends were anal-retentive enough to use you.
(I use it in fits, especially that one fit where I ran about scanning all my books with that cue-cat I've had sitting in a drawer for ages)
posted by aspo at 8:55 PM on March 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
(I use it in fits, especially that one fit where I ran about scanning all my books with that cue-cat I've had sitting in a drawer for ages)
posted by aspo at 8:55 PM on March 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
Mods, perhaps you could sidebar this post?
Up to you, but it looks like lots of people might be interested if they saw it.
posted by philipy at 9:35 PM on March 5, 2012
Up to you, but it looks like lots of people might be interested if they saw it.
posted by philipy at 9:35 PM on March 5, 2012
I joined, but I have admittedly cheesy taste in books, so don't judge me!
posted by dotgirl at 9:38 PM on March 5, 2012
posted by dotgirl at 9:38 PM on March 5, 2012
One day I'll transfer the LibraryThing database I cuecatted years ago; until then it's a smaller list of favourites. I'm there as Noel.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 9:39 PM on March 5, 2012
posted by Hardcore Poser at 9:39 PM on March 5, 2012
I'm here. I've only reliably been posting reviews for a year, but this is the only way I've made myself keep track of what I've read. Best book I've read so far this year: Selden Edward's The Little Book.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 11:19 PM on March 5, 2012
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 11:19 PM on March 5, 2012
God damn it all I tried to sign up as 'All Through With This Niceness And Negotiation Stuff' and they bloody well signed me up as 'All Through'. LET ME HAVE MY COOL CULTURE NAME.
So. Here's me with one third of the name I wanted.
posted by zennish at 11:45 PM on March 5, 2012
So. Here's me with one third of the name I wanted.
posted by zennish at 11:45 PM on March 5, 2012
I read books under my real name. Or at least, I would if this durned MetaFilter wouldn't take up so much of my eye-time.
posted by knile at 1:56 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by knile at 1:56 AM on March 6, 2012
Here I am! Oh yeah...I should get back to that Joan Didion essay collection.
posted by ladygypsy at 4:05 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by ladygypsy at 4:05 AM on March 6, 2012
I'm Leslie there - haven't been active in a while but this will get me back on.
posted by leslies at 4:40 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by leslies at 4:40 AM on March 6, 2012
I'm there, same handle. I always forget to update so it looks like I've been reading the same book for eight months. I rarely write reviews*. But I like friends and it's fun to see what others are reading, so friend me!
*(Except for Alice Bag's memoir, Violence Girl, because I've totally got a twitter crush on her because she was nice to me and sent me a signed copy of her book after i said something like "Babylonian Gorgon fucking rocks". The book really is quite good and I wish she would join MetaFilter.)
posted by BitterOldPunk at 5:06 AM on March 6, 2012
*(Except for Alice Bag's memoir, Violence Girl, because I've totally got a twitter crush on her because she was nice to me and sent me a signed copy of her book after i said something like "Babylonian Gorgon fucking rocks". The book really is quite good and I wish she would join MetaFilter.)
posted by BitterOldPunk at 5:06 AM on March 6, 2012
Note, if you like the idea of being in a Mefi Book Club, i.e. reading a book together and discussing it, you can make suggestions of what you'd like to read together and vote on them here.
If it turns out there are lots of suggestions, we can maybe even have sub-reading-clubs.
Personally I can imagine being up for a "light reading" one as well as a "weighty reading" one.
posted by philipy at 6:26 AM on March 6, 2012
If it turns out there are lots of suggestions, we can maybe even have sub-reading-clubs.
Personally I can imagine being up for a "light reading" one as well as a "weighty reading" one.
posted by philipy at 6:26 AM on March 6, 2012
I am now infini and gave up sorting sci fi after 40 books because I have a call coming up but will return to explore more. Right now, not yet sure how I feel about the real time shifting of books based simply on me saying I really liked it (Hey, I read it 25 years ago !)
posted by infini at 6:37 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by infini at 6:37 AM on March 6, 2012
Me, but I only just now joined so nothing's there yet.
posted by JanetLand at 6:37 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by JanetLand at 6:37 AM on March 6, 2012
I can't read.
posted by jonmc at 6:41 AM on March 6, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by jonmc at 6:41 AM on March 6, 2012 [2 favorites]
Ok, I will be back later to stalk you all but for now - workshop!
posted by infini at 6:48 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by infini at 6:48 AM on March 6, 2012
I review nonfiction rather than fiction and will upload those
posted by infini at 6:49 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by infini at 6:49 AM on March 6, 2012
I'm on there- but after my book-a-week challenge last year, I have been extremely slack on my reading.
posted by showbiz_liz at 6:51 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by showbiz_liz at 6:51 AM on March 6, 2012
goodreads? that is so 2008 grandma! come follow me on readmill and we will talk.
posted by Another Fine Product From The Nonsense Factory at 7:06 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by Another Fine Product From The Nonsense Factory at 7:06 AM on March 6, 2012
I added a few of you. I am intermittently active; right now I am on. I'm jillheather there.
posted by jeather at 7:31 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by jeather at 7:31 AM on March 6, 2012
I signed up and then promptly forgot. Just started getting into fantasy, so I'd be down with MeFi Genre SubBookClub.
posted by giraffe at 7:56 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by giraffe at 7:56 AM on March 6, 2012
I briefly considered being on Goodreads but then the sheer overwhelming perfectionist task of locating the correct edition for every single one of my books turned me into the lazy slob you see before you today.
posted by shakespeherian at 8:00 AM on March 6, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by shakespeherian at 8:00 AM on March 6, 2012 [2 favorites]
Oh hey! I can scan my books with my NerdPhone! What a country!
posted by giraffe at 8:16 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by giraffe at 8:16 AM on March 6, 2012
Oh hai that was what that was. I need to get down with my bad self over at Goodreads. (I also read lots of fantasy, restless_nomad. You will not be alone!)
posted by immlass at 8:23 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by immlass at 8:23 AM on March 6, 2012
I don't know why I've been feeling like a goober about adding myself to this list--I love Goodreads! Here I am.
posted by leesh at 8:27 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by leesh at 8:27 AM on March 6, 2012
I'm kind of terrible about remembering to update GoodReads
posted by Karmakaze at 8:34 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by Karmakaze at 8:34 AM on March 6, 2012
Here, let me give you my review of "Infinite Jest"... [shepherd's crook seen rapidly approaching from screen left] ...*GAAARK*
posted by Decani at 10:16 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by Decani at 10:16 AM on March 6, 2012
Ooh yay, I've been meaning to get back into GoodReads! Here's my profile. Welcome, friends!
posted by ukdanae at 11:01 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by ukdanae at 11:01 AM on March 6, 2012
Sorry you have reached your daily limit for friend requests. Boo. I'm guessing the limit's like 40 or 50 for outgoing requests.
posted by mochapickle at 11:14 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by mochapickle at 11:14 AM on March 6, 2012
I've signed up! Had a goodreads account, but it would appear I've not done a lot with it. Whoops.
posted by pymsical at 11:24 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by pymsical at 11:24 AM on March 6, 2012
Oh that's what that email was! I'm there as brooklynpisces. Voting now!
posted by shrieking violet at 11:28 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by shrieking violet at 11:28 AM on March 6, 2012
This is me. I only have 4 friends and that makes me sad.
posted by Gygesringtone at 2:11 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by Gygesringtone at 2:11 PM on March 6, 2012
One of my current exercises is trying to review every single thing I read. Right now I'm trying to get my thoughts together for House of Leaves which I just finished yesterday. My account is here but before you go add me blindly, why not check out my list of books I've read, sorted by rating, descending. That way you can judge me at a glance and won't end up adding me and being disappointed when you find me reading things in which you have no interest.
(or, you know, hopefully you'll like what I read and we'll become goodreads friends.)
posted by komara at 2:21 PM on March 6, 2012
(or, you know, hopefully you'll like what I read and we'll become goodreads friends.)
posted by komara at 2:21 PM on March 6, 2012
(also my reviews are more better written than my Metafilter comments and tend not to, have so many unnecessary, commas)
posted by komara at 2:22 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by komara at 2:22 PM on March 6, 2012
I'm in over here - now I'll see if I keep up with doing ratings on everything I've read.
posted by never used baby shoes at 2:23 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by never used baby shoes at 2:23 PM on March 6, 2012
If you'd like to read a book together you can vote on what to read next here.
You can vote for as many books as you like, order your preferences, and add your own suggestions.
posted by philipy at 3:13 PM on March 6, 2012
You can vote for as many books as you like, order your preferences, and add your own suggestions.
posted by philipy at 3:13 PM on March 6, 2012
So I just joined and just started adding books, and it turns out I give everything 4 stars. This doesn't seem right. I suppose some could be 5s. I think a 10 point system would be better much more complicated so maybe not.
posted by Glinn at 3:42 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by Glinn at 3:42 PM on March 6, 2012
I'm way too beat to have another online identity, but if you dig me, just read Richard Price, John Sayles, Tom Perrotta, Chuck Eddy. Elijah Wald. Jim Goad, Nick Kent and James Ellroy.
posted by jonmc at 4:54 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by jonmc at 4:54 PM on March 6, 2012
Boo. I'm guessing the limit's like 40 or 50 for outgoing requests.
I just reached my limit. I just went through this thread and friended people pretty much in order. I got through maybe fifteen and it wouldn't allow me to request more ...
posted by jayder at 6:55 PM on March 6, 2012
I just reached my limit. I just went through this thread and friended people pretty much in order. I got through maybe fifteen and it wouldn't allow me to request more ...
posted by jayder at 6:55 PM on March 6, 2012
I am here on Goodreads. Goodreads is more or less my tool for encouraging myself to keep up my leisure reading and to keep track of my to-read list, but I do post reactions and the occasional review. My more in depth book reviews tend to go on my Dreamwidth, though I guess I should crosspost...
posted by yasaman at 7:43 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by yasaman at 7:43 PM on March 6, 2012
I just reached my limit.
From a msg I saw somewhere on the site I believe the limit goes up based on how much the site trusts you. So if you have no books and no friends yet, your limit is quite low. Once you rate a bunch of books, get a bunch of friends and generally use the site as intended, the limit goes up.
posted by philipy at 9:11 PM on March 6, 2012
From a msg I saw somewhere on the site I believe the limit goes up based on how much the site trusts you. So if you have no books and no friends yet, your limit is quite low. Once you rate a bunch of books, get a bunch of friends and generally use the site as intended, the limit goes up.
posted by philipy at 9:11 PM on March 6, 2012
Most excellent! I'm right here. Can't wait to stalk your bookshelves!
posted by peripathetic at 10:06 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by peripathetic at 10:06 PM on March 6, 2012
From a msg I saw somewhere on the site I believe the limit goes up based on how much the site trusts you.
Oh, okay. That makes sense.
posted by jayder at 6:47 AM on March 7, 2012
Oh, okay. That makes sense.
posted by jayder at 6:47 AM on March 7, 2012
Does goodreads claim ownership of your reviews? Anyone have a relevant link for that?
posted by jsturgill at 9:22 AM on March 7, 2012
posted by jsturgill at 9:22 AM on March 7, 2012
My reading of the TOS is that you own your content, but grant them a right to publish and distribute it, forever and in whatever way they like.
It seems like a normal agreement for site with user generated content.
IANAL, however.
posted by philipy at 9:34 AM on March 7, 2012
It seems like a normal agreement for site with user generated content.
IANAL, however.
posted by philipy at 9:34 AM on March 7, 2012
Huh, apparently I've hit my day's limit for friending already? Sorry, back half of the thread!
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 9:41 AM on March 7, 2012
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 9:41 AM on March 7, 2012
filthylightthief doesn't read as well without spaces, but that's my user name. Why did no one warn me about the spaces?
posted by filthy light thief at 10:33 AM on March 7, 2012
posted by filthy light thief at 10:33 AM on March 7, 2012
I just signed up through my facebook (don't judge) so my user name is not that exciting... This sounds interesting, and I'll try to be as active there as I am here...
posted by patheral at 12:18 PM on March 7, 2012
posted by patheral at 12:18 PM on March 7, 2012
In no particular order, a list of books I've read in the last year or three.
posted by octobersurprise at 1:20 PM on March 7, 2012
posted by octobersurprise at 1:20 PM on March 7, 2012
Ooh, friend me, please! I am anderjen over there, too.
posted by anderjen at 1:21 PM on March 7, 2012
posted by anderjen at 1:21 PM on March 7, 2012
Those of you who have MANY books on your GoodReads account ... Are you scanning their barcodes or entering them manually?
posted by jayder at 1:32 PM on March 7, 2012
posted by jayder at 1:32 PM on March 7, 2012
I have scanned a handful of books. It's time consuming.
Found it easier just to search for authors and then rate all the books I've read.
posted by zarq at 1:33 PM on March 7, 2012
Found it easier just to search for authors and then rate all the books I've read.
posted by zarq at 1:33 PM on March 7, 2012
I just tried the iPhone scanner functionality (through the GoodReads app) and it worked surprisingly well.
posted by jayder at 1:36 PM on March 7, 2012
posted by jayder at 1:36 PM on March 7, 2012
It works well on Android, too. The 'scan continually function' is fun, too.
But I guess I'd rather type most of the time.
posted by zarq at 1:38 PM on March 7, 2012
But I guess I'd rather type most of the time.
posted by zarq at 1:38 PM on March 7, 2012
Those of you who have MANY books on your GoodReads account ... Are you scanning their barcodes or entering them manually?
Working on my 1000th book. (Including my over-populated "to read"), I've been on for 3 years though.
I put in everything by hand.
posted by Gygesringtone at 2:13 PM on March 7, 2012
Working on my 1000th book. (Including my over-populated "to read"), I've been on for 3 years though.
I put in everything by hand.
posted by Gygesringtone at 2:13 PM on March 7, 2012
searching authors, stalking other people's lists and when necessary entering... I've been on for a while but added a bunch more in last few days.
posted by leslies at 2:38 PM on March 7, 2012
posted by leslies at 2:38 PM on March 7, 2012
Once you shelve a lot of books, their recommendation engine is pretty awesome too.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 3:01 PM on March 7, 2012
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 3:01 PM on March 7, 2012
When you go to an author page you can rate lots of books with just one click per book.
Also there's the Listopia feature, where you can see all kinds of community made lists of things like Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century or Must Read Classics. These are great for finding books you've read to rate and finding ideas for ones you'd like to read.
posted by philipy at 3:12 PM on March 7, 2012 [2 favorites]
Also there's the Listopia feature, where you can see all kinds of community made lists of things like Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century or Must Read Classics. These are great for finding books you've read to rate and finding ideas for ones you'd like to read.
posted by philipy at 3:12 PM on March 7, 2012 [2 favorites]
I realize different people use the site in different ways, but what's the norm here ... People adding books they've read in the past? Or starting with your reading right now? Or are there no norms?
posted by jayder at 3:22 PM on March 7, 2012
posted by jayder at 3:22 PM on March 7, 2012
I started using it as a way to catalog my physical collection - I spent about a month punching in ISBNs in spare moments. Once that was done I have been making a point to review everything I read, including rereads. It's fun and a good way for me to think more analytically about why some stuff works for me and some doesn't. I very, very seldom just put in a star rating - they're kind of useless without more explanation, in my opinion.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 3:33 PM on March 7, 2012
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 3:33 PM on March 7, 2012
I realize different people use the site in different ways, but what's the norm here ... People adding books they've read in the past? Or starting with your reading right now? Or are there no norms?
posted by jayder at 6:22 PM on March 7 [+] [!]
No norm, but from a heavy user:
-Don't just rate books. If you rate them, shelve them, too, according to genre. This will help fine-tune the recommendation engine, which is pretty good, once you give it enough information, at giving you books in similar genres.
-When adding books, also add the date you've read them. You can get pretty interesting data on your stats page (which you can access by going to "my books" and then clicking "stats") including the number of pages you've read in a year.
-The most helpful thing you can do for GR as a community is to add a review, even if it's only a few lines long. You're not obligated, of course, but as r_n says, the star ratings alone are pretty useless for other readers.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 4:09 PM on March 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by jayder at 6:22 PM on March 7 [+] [!]
No norm, but from a heavy user:
-Don't just rate books. If you rate them, shelve them, too, according to genre. This will help fine-tune the recommendation engine, which is pretty good, once you give it enough information, at giving you books in similar genres.
-When adding books, also add the date you've read them. You can get pretty interesting data on your stats page (which you can access by going to "my books" and then clicking "stats") including the number of pages you've read in a year.
-The most helpful thing you can do for GR as a community is to add a review, even if it's only a few lines long. You're not obligated, of course, but as r_n says, the star ratings alone are pretty useless for other readers.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 4:09 PM on March 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
I find it fun and interesting to compare my lists and ratings with other people's. To have that work well, I needed to put in a lot of books and rate them.
It's also a kick to be reminded of all the books I've read and not thought about for ages.
I would love to write reviews, but the time that takes means I'll have to be very selective about that, and mostly the reviews I write will be a few sentences rather than small essays.
Having a to-read list is a nice reminder of books that I might want to read soon.
It's early days for me on the site, so I'm sure my use will change with time.
posted by philipy at 4:16 PM on March 7, 2012
It's also a kick to be reminded of all the books I've read and not thought about for ages.
I would love to write reviews, but the time that takes means I'll have to be very selective about that, and mostly the reviews I write will be a few sentences rather than small essays.
Having a to-read list is a nice reminder of books that I might want to read soon.
It's early days for me on the site, so I'm sure my use will change with time.
posted by philipy at 4:16 PM on March 7, 2012
Sorry, I have librarything account I'm ignoring, and don't possibly have time to ignore a goodreads account too.
posted by Zed at 4:47 PM on March 7, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Zed at 4:47 PM on March 7, 2012 [2 favorites]
If I shelve books I don't like in with books I like, does the recommendation engine take that into account? Assume I am properly rating the books.
I am finally working on doing shelves for my books. Such a pain. The recommendations are noticeably better now, though I need to figure out how to subdivide mystery better.
I add books in that I read now, and also ones I think of when I am adding current books or when they are recommended to me or when I want to recommend them to others. I never seem to bother with the to-read or currently-reading list.
posted by jeather at 5:18 PM on March 7, 2012
I am finally working on doing shelves for my books. Such a pain. The recommendations are noticeably better now, though I need to figure out how to subdivide mystery better.
I add books in that I read now, and also ones I think of when I am adding current books or when they are recommended to me or when I want to recommend them to others. I never seem to bother with the to-read or currently-reading list.
posted by jeather at 5:18 PM on March 7, 2012
jayder - i added all my books manually, but mainly by looking at particular authors, other people's lists of books or other types of rabbit holes. i'm not generally particular about which version i add since i don't keep a lot of physical books around so it went very quick.
also, i did a weird thing when i first joined - for all books where it would have been too time consuming or too much brain damage to rate i used a simple 1 star or 5 star system. 1 star if I wouldn't want to read that kind of book again, 5 stars if I would. Definitely broad strokes but then I could just move on.
posted by argyle dreams at 5:49 PM on March 7, 2012
also, i did a weird thing when i first joined - for all books where it would have been too time consuming or too much brain damage to rate i used a simple 1 star or 5 star system. 1 star if I wouldn't want to read that kind of book again, 5 stars if I would. Definitely broad strokes but then I could just move on.
posted by argyle dreams at 5:49 PM on March 7, 2012
I got bored and scanned the barcode of every book I have in my apartment. Now the question is - how do I rate a book about ecological security that was published 9 years ago?
posted by giraffe at 7:12 PM on March 7, 2012
posted by giraffe at 7:12 PM on March 7, 2012
I'm stringy over there. I won't judge your book choices if you don't judge mine, and I don't mind asymmetrical following/friending :)
I rate what I'm currently reading, entered my favourite books/authors when I started, and don't bother with the rest unless I'm reminded of them for some reason.
posted by harriet vane at 11:25 PM on March 7, 2012
I rate what I'm currently reading, entered my favourite books/authors when I started, and don't bother with the rest unless I'm reminded of them for some reason.
posted by harriet vane at 11:25 PM on March 7, 2012
how do I rate a book about ecological security that was published 9 years ago?
However you like I guess. I rated a book about Cold Wars matters that I read in the 80s based on how much I liked the book. Generally if I clearly recollect a book that I read a long time ago, it's a pretty good book.
posted by philipy at 7:34 AM on March 8, 2012
However you like I guess. I rated a book about Cold Wars matters that I read in the 80s based on how much I liked the book. Generally if I clearly recollect a book that I read a long time ago, it's a pretty good book.
posted by philipy at 7:34 AM on March 8, 2012
PhoBWanKenobi: " -Don't just rate books. If you rate them, shelve them, too, according to genre. This will help fine-tune the recommendation engine, which is pretty good, once you give it enough information, at giving you books in similar genres."
Great suggestions. Thank you!
posted by zarq at 8:41 AM on March 8, 2012
Great suggestions. Thank you!
posted by zarq at 8:41 AM on March 8, 2012
-When adding books, also add the date you've read them. You can get pretty interesting data on your stats page (which you can access by going to "my books" and then clicking "stats") including the number of pages you've read in a year.
You can set your own goal of how many books you want to read this year and then, when you date a book as read this year, it will keep track for you. When you go to the home page, on the right side it will tell you how you are doing in comparison to your goal.
posted by soelo at 9:27 AM on March 8, 2012
You can set your own goal of how many books you want to read this year and then, when you date a book as read this year, it will keep track for you. When you go to the home page, on the right side it will tell you how you are doing in comparison to your goal.
posted by soelo at 9:27 AM on March 8, 2012
I'm epersonae there as well; been using Goodreads for almost four years and find it tremendously valuable, mostly for "what was that book where I read about X?" I try to write good reviews for everything I read. And once a year I write a "best books of the year" post on my blog, listing anything that I gave 5 stars. I read quite a bit of non-fiction, especially politics, science, and history; my fiction preferences lean towards fantasy. The last book I finished was Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter; I liked it quite a bit more than I expected to.
Also, if you are in the Olympia, WA area, we have a great local group. We meet about once a month, usually at a restaurant downtown, and everybody talks about what they've read lately. It's mostly librarians, but all readers are welcome. (I got better with my reviews because I'm trying to keep up with the librarians.) Personally, I love being in a book group where everyone's reading something different. :)
posted by epersonae at 10:55 AM on March 8, 2012
Also, if you are in the Olympia, WA area, we have a great local group. We meet about once a month, usually at a restaurant downtown, and everybody talks about what they've read lately. It's mostly librarians, but all readers are welcome. (I got better with my reviews because I'm trying to keep up with the librarians.) Personally, I love being in a book group where everyone's reading something different. :)
posted by epersonae at 10:55 AM on March 8, 2012
I'm Lexica on Goodreads. Just getting started & figuring out how it works so far, but am really liking having one place to manage my want-to-read list.
posted by Lexica at 11:05 AM on March 8, 2012
posted by Lexica at 11:05 AM on March 8, 2012
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posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 5:26 PM on March 5, 2012