Social Networks for Readers

[andrewmck]

I've tried a couple of online sites for Readers, including LibraryThing (http://www.librarything.com/) and Shelfari (http://www.shelfari.com/). LibraryThing only allows you to add 200 books to your shelve before you have to pay. 200 books? That's just my To-Be-Read pile! And I'm not sure if I'm into it enough to pay a yearly fee. Shelfari was okay, but the web interface seemed a little clunky to me and I didn't really enjoy the experience - I saw it as a sort of FaceBook for Books and I HATE FACEBOOK!

So, the other day jonathanmaberry invited me over to GoodReads (http://www.goodreads.com/) and I've got to say, I'm impressed! So far, GoodReads is totally free. Some pages have Google AdSense adverts, but they're unobtrusive... invisible for me actually as I use an AdBlocker. You can add as many books as you like to you shelves and the site is very simple to use and not overladen with features. So far, I'm very much enjoying my time there.

If you're interested in checking it out, make sure you add me to your friend list:

http://www.goodreads.com/friend/i?i=LTM2MDU5MjcyNzM6MzYx%0A

Comments

[halspacejock.livejournal.com]

I've tried all three, and LT is far and away the best (if 'best' means the one I keep going back to)

Shelfari combines books when it shouldn't - e.g. ALL Hal Spacejock books are listed as multiple editions of the same book. Adding one to my profile deletes all the others, and they can't seem to fix the problem. I've reported it twice, they promised to look into it, but ... nothing.

Goodreads kept spamming me with friend invites, messages, and now 'new profile stories' even after I switched off ALL email notifications in my profile. I ended up changing my email address to one I don't use any more, just to put a stop to it.

As for LT, I paid the lifetime membership 18 months ago and really enjoy the site. The principals post almost daily on the groups/talk pages, joining in quite a few conversations, and they're all easy to contact via email. They respond quickly, and bugs are fixed in a hurry.

[ashr501.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've just received the first of my GoodReads emails that I didn't ask for.

As to LT... see my next post. Looks like I'll be hanging out there a little more often :)

[ph8.livejournal.com]

Haven't tried goodreads, but I gotta say I love LibraryThing so much that I'm not even a tiny bit tempted to move on to a new site. Like Simon I ponied up for a lifetime membership and don't regret it in the least.

LT is one of those systems that needs a LOT of energy before you get to see the full beauty of it. I was damn close to my 200 free books before I started to see any benefit. Since I started catalogueing stuff AS I read it, though, it's wonderfully useful. I've found so many new authors that I love -- the 'hivemind' is fantastic at pinpointing like books that you might enjoy based on your reading habits! Still haven't done my TBR bookcase or filled the gaps in my keepers, though. Hmm, must do that!

Now, if only they'd hurry up with the re-skin so people here at RHA would stop saying, but it's so UGLY!, before dismissing it. That would be really good. It's changing, but they've been so focused on what's under the hood -- the functionality is super, you'd really love it I promise! -- that the look and feel has been left behind. A great disservice to the site IMO.

[ashr501.livejournal.com]

GoodReads is very good, but that might just be initial impressions based on its simple but effective interface and clean cut looks. LT might have everything it does... it is just easier to find and use in GoodReads.

Nevertheless, it looks like I'll be setting up a home in LT anyway. See my next post ;)

And how do you do the TBR and Currently Reading shelves in LT anyway? Can't for the life of me work out how to actually view my TBR once I've set them.

[ph8.livejournal.com]

Um, not sure. I use tags to manage it. Mind you, I'm a Very Bad LibraryThinger in that I haven't back-filled so most of the time I add to my library when I finish a book, rather than when I acquire it...