is Goodreads (the site) very useful?

Mousetrap

I've never created an account with Goodreads (I think) but I totally check out reviews of books there before buying. Mostly, not always, I find that reviews in Goodreads are more accurate and balanced than the ones on Amazon. All the same I was heartbroken to see so many people posting raving reviews bout Amish Tripathi's books in Goodreads as well as Amazon. Am I one of the very few that profusely dislikes his books? His ideas are okay, but the narrative style? I am curious to know why it is so popular - because it was one of the pioneers in mythological fiction?

bookbandit

I agree. You don't need to login to Goodreads to get a sense of the reviews. You could check the ratings and take a call. It's a fairly reliable index. I like it because I get to shelve the books and then export that list, whenever I get the urge to abandon the current lot I am connected to,  to an excel spreadsheet, and I have a nice portable database that I can plug into whatever app I wish. Even so, I am very finicky, I keep deleting my account and lose my records because I am not too careful. Never mind. I still think the act of looking books up and shelving them is therapeutic and in and of itself, very rewarding. I am more of a shelver and a collector than a reader, I am ashamed to admit.

I haven't read Amish Tripathi. There's better fish to fry for now. I might someday. I dunno. There's only so much time to go around. But if I had to make a priority reading list, I don' think he'd figure in it. But that's just me.

rkrishnay

I go through good reads reviews before choosing a book for reading

bookwormsnm

It helps to form a reading list and for reviews

renek

it does, you check out the review given by readers to get a overview on a book

metac

Oh, for researchers and thoughtful readers who discern before they deep dive, Goodreads is a good resource, with all the usual weaknesses that plague reviews, networking and comparative analyses on Amazon, Barnes & Noble etc. The growing phenomenon of distributing ARCs (adv reader copies/ galleys before publishing) to supporters and cheerleaders muddies the waters in all these sites. This can be frustrating, at times, when you are looking for that unbiased, balanced review.


Goodreads stands out in its Reading lists, for one thing. I agree with @bookbandit - for collectors, this works like a dream. Although, book previews are a bit better on Amazon. At times, I've had to combine Amazon and Goodreads with Tor.com for fantasy and sci-fi works for their fantastic tendency to offer excerpts and chapters for exciting new books just prior to release.


It's probably just me, but as an interface to skim and plumb, I find Goodreads is easier on the eye. I also use Amazon in parallel if my research needs a broader base of reviews and certain other specific aspects that could determine choice in professional contexts.

Another good alternative for me is Publisher's Weekly. But then, this too works better when I combine with other review sites.

bookbandit

metac 13-6-2018 10:22 AM
Oh, for researchers and thoughtful readers who discern before they deep dive, Goodreads is a good re ...

Hear, hear! How very well put! Publisher's weekly is new to me. I am a check it out! Thank you so much for your two cents. you should totally pipe up more often!

b_mayukh

I am a member too. I use it to check up on a book with reviews and ratings and also to know about new releases....