is Goodreads (the site) very useful?

bookbandit

jhsurti 1-5-2018 11:09 AM
Yup, there are quite a few reviews there that you cannot rely upon. You know there are some socialit ...

True that. and I could never prostitute myself (pardon the expression) like that. I have to enjoy what I am reading man!

cynic

bookbandit 30-4-2018 07:28 PM
Are you a member of any groups on goodreads? If so, would you be able to suggest any groups that,  ...

I would suggest the Indian Readers group. Joined it a long time back, but never been active.

cynic

I agree with the whole "stuck-up" bit. That was the reason I was never active there... prefer the offline book club that is also more laid back. When I joined Goodreads, I did check a lot of reviews before picking up the book. But hardly anymore. Most of them are unreliable. And you have authors reviewing their own books. Seriously!!

Then there is a proliferation on "booktubers". Paid reviews by the dozen.

bookbandit

cynic 1-5-2018 04:48 PM
I agree with the whole "stuck-up" bit. That was the reason I was never active there... prefer the of ...

Thank you cynic! I will check out the Indian readers' group. What is the offline book club? It is a first for me. I presume by "booktubers" you mean people doing youtube reviews of books? (it has to be that. pretty hard to grow a potato or something inside a book otherwise, eh?) I am little wary of putting myself out there. You never know when someone might grab a snapshot, create a fake FB profile of you and then go to town with it. Anything is possible man! I am pretty impressed with them instagrammers and the like. They don't seem to give a flying F about anyone stealing their identity.

cynic

bookbandit 1-5-2018 05:44 PM
Thank you cynic! I will check out the Indian readers' group. What is the offline book club? It is a ...

Yes, booktubers as in book + Youtubers. The jargon is amusing.

We have an offline book club at my residential complex. It is quite an informal one where we discuss books and current events. It keeps me up to date with the latest... booktubers, Books on Toast (I like the concept of combining books and charity), and the lot.

Ditto on stealing the identity bit. I fail to understand how people put up everything and anything on social media. Maybe people in India are not as aware on identity theft.

bookbandit

cynic 2-5-2018 11:37 AM
Yes, booktubers as in book + Youtubers. The jargon is amusing.

We have an offline book club ...

I thought there was a particular one called "offline" book club. How silly of me! I have never been in a book club. I think I haven't read enough to be in one. Too much pressure. I don't think I'd like the homework. It takes me days to finish a book. Some people do it in hours. When I start a book on my kindle, it be like, you will finsh this in 3 hours tops. 3 days later I am still to reach the 33 % mark. So, yeah. I am a slow reader. I like to take my time. And, to me, reading a book is personal. Not every book. Some books you can talk about. It depends on how mature or open-minded your audience is really. Some people are just not cut out for dissent or debate. They'll happily read taboo, but talk about it? uh-huhn. We still have a long way to go in that department, as a society.

krishnat

Yes it is very good

cynic

bookbandit 2-5-2018 01:04 PM
I thought there was a particular one called "offline" book club. How silly of me! I have never bee ...

Ha ha. As I said, this one is pretty informal with one book a month, although we have had some really animated discussions. I am a picky reader, and some days I don't feel like reading... with mental exhaustion and all. I like discussing books but I do agree some books are not discussion material.

The read x books a month/year thing does not work for me. Reading books is something you enjoy. Otherwise, might as well pick a course material.

bookbandit

cynic 2-5-2018 10:05 PM
Ha ha. As I said, this one is pretty informal with one book a month, although we have had some real ...

exactement!

jhsurti

cynic 2-5-2018 10:05 PM
Ha ha. As I said, this one is pretty informal with one book a month, although we have had some real ...

Thumbs Up for the last line! Wouldn't want any course materials now. Done with those.