Meet Your Next Favorite Book
Goodreads’ stated mission is “to help people find and share books they love… [and] to improve the process of reading and learning throughout the world.” (Wikopedia)
Timeline:
- Otis and Elizabeth Chandler created Goodreads in 2006.
- In October 2012, Goodreads announced it had grown to 11 million members
- In March 2013, Amazon.com announced that it had reached an agreement to acquire Goodreads in the second quarter of 2013 for an undisclosed sum.
- In January 2016, Amazon announced on Shelfari.com that it would be merging Shelfari with Goodreads and closing down Shelfari.
- In April 2016, Goodreads announced that over 50 million user reviews have been posted
Think of it as the Facebook for book lovers. And authors, of course. Since the e-publishing world exploded, the connection between reader and author has grown stronger thanks in part to Goodreads. The site allows both parties to interact, discussing the nuances of style and what readers want to read. Don’t get wrong, nothing can replace an actual book signing in a book store. Everyone there wants to meet you, inflate your ego to the nth degree, and have you sign your book – a hard cover copy fresh off the press that just smells heavenly.
Pause – I need a moment, please.
Until events such as this happen for me, Goodreads offers the exposure that is often hard to tap into. When I started writing, the first thing anyone said was – ‘writing the book is the EASY part’. Wow, there’s an understatement. That’s where this exposure thing comes into play. Goodreads helps navigate the e-publishing vault of looking for that perfect read. Granted, using a search engine to narrow your inquiry could never compare to spending hours lost in a book store, asking well read staff members their ‘secret recommendations’. But Good reads attempts to fill this void.
People are still …odd, though. Even on a site such as this, ‘the line’ still needs to be walked – very carefully, I might add. Once I queried a reader, asking about the three star rating posted for my book. “I have no idea,” he replied flatly. “I read it two years ago.” And you’re just posting it now because why? I wanted to counter. But I refrained. For a writer that ‘attitude’ can be … frustrating to say the least. Warning: Readers can change their ‘star rating’ with the click of the mouse.
Ugh – damn lines.
The site itself is very user friendly. Everyone has their own Bookshelf. The Community tab links up to Groups, Quotes,Trivia, and Quizzes. There’s even an Ask the Author section. No one has ever ‘asked me a question’ , but I have received five star ratings. So, I’m good. As for those quizzes… . Sounds like something from my daughter’s American Girl magazine.
There’s more. Hell, from some of the conversation threads I’ve followed, people spend a-l-o-t of time on here. Who cares? Just as long as people buy and read MY books.
That’s about it for this post. I will sign off with a wonderful Quote from the site –
“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
Dr. Seuss
Goodreading!
