is Goodreads (the site) very useful?

bookbandit

Are any of you on goodreads? Do you think it adds value to your reading? If so, why?

jhsurti

I am a member. I mainly use it to read up reviews on some books and though the reviews range from bad to good(1 to 5), you get the overall picture of what it's going to be like. Helps me to decide if I should really be reading that book or not.

bookbandit

jhsurti 30-4-2018 06:10 PM
I am a member. I mainly use it to read up reviews on some books and though the reviews range from ba ...

Thank you for your reply. I too mostly use it for the ratings and the reviews. On the interaction front, I find it a bit frustrating because the general feel of that site is a bit too staid and formal, unlike, say a facebook group.

cynic

I am a member. I too use it to check up on a book with reviews and ratings.

bookbandit

cynic 30-4-2018 06:56 PM
I am a member. I too use it to check up on a book with reviews and ratings.

Are you a member of any groups on goodreads? If so, would you be able to suggest any groups that, in your opinion, might be useful for Indian readers to frequent?

Meself

It really helps you give an idea of what to expect while reading a book. I am not a member but I always run to Goodreads before picking up a book.

bookbandit

Meself 30-4-2018 11:49 PM
It really helps you give an idea of what to expect while reading a book. I am not a member but I alw ...

I have been using for a while now, and besides the reviews and the ratings, I find that it is a decent enough tool to catalog and manage your reading. I am just not that gung-ho on the "interaction" bit. I'd have said that, that entire lot is a bit "stuck up" - if I didn't know any better (come to think of it, I don't), but maybe they are too busy reading. So, give them the benefit of doubt. For those that top the rankings in their "regions", if they picked up a book on psychoanalysis, you could safely say that it didn't do much for them - else they wouldn't be going on about themselves like that! LOL.

Meself

bookbandit 1-5-2018 07:07 AM
I have been using for a while now, and besides the reviews and the ratings, I find that it is a de ...

I'm aghast. How is someone actually speaking what I had in my mind for so long??! LOL.




Well the reader coterie there is as you put in "stuck ups". I did come across a reviewer group that gave huge ratings just because they personally knew the author. That beats the whole purpose. Anyhow, the site gives atleast a basic outline of what to expect while picking a book. Though with the overwhelming number of books these days, we are all spoiled for choices and no decisions.

bookbandit

Meself 1-5-2018 10:23 AM
I'm aghast. How is someone actually speaking what I had in my mind for so long??! LOL.

I have to confess, I am also a little jealous of them readers who have all the time in the world to read. I find it very difficult to make time. I have, like most people, work and chores to do. I can take an hour or so in the morning, say an hour in the afternoon and another hour at night. But, then, I also want to watch them movies and TV shows. You can learn as much from a good documentary or even a feature, as from a book. Sometimes, a docu will do a very good job of summarizing said book and all within the hour.

It's like Danny Devito's character put it in Matilda, innit? "There's nothing you can get from a book that you can't getfrom a television faster." Rings very true, at least in this context. That said, I do recognize and acknowledge the advantages a book has over a movie or TV in general. No commericals for one! (But then again, use the internet for all your entertainment  - like torrents  and voila no ads either!)

jhsurti

Yup, there are quite a few reviews there that you cannot rely upon. You know there are some socialite dinners where most if not all flash fake smiles at others, talk something while thinking exactly opposite? Well, there was this author who sent me a book saying he is sending me an advance copy for me to read and review on Goodreads, that I was amongst the chosen few. That my name was selected because of my interests and how I enjoyed the stories of the genre blah, blah, blah. And guess what the genre was? Sci-Fi and I did read a couple chapters and it was descriptions in DETAIL of the super futuristic weapons etc. I thought, nowhere have I mentioned my interest in such books, this book is never going to end. So I deleted the book, emailed the author thanking him for sending me the book, but No Thanks. I don't ever wish to read your books! They are not my type! I got a reply mail saying I didn't know what I was missing and that readers were crazy about his book and that once it goes on sale I will have to spend to buy it etc etc etc. Phew! So there might be readers who want to write positive reviews just to oblige or just because they know the author as Shivani said.
So yes it's okay for getting the general idea, new releases and what to expect. But in the end you have to make up your own mind!