Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Addicts discussion
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Goodreads joins the Amazon family - thoughts?
Personally I think it's the worst thing that they could have done. *sight* I'm really disappointed by this.
Mixed feelings. Cautious optimism and terror, both as a writer and a reader.
Not really sure how I should feel about this, amazon's an ok site in and of itself. Just hope goodreads remains the wonderful site it was when it was independent.I'm just really unsure about how all of this will turn out.
I agree Mel. I suspect that they will find a way to ruin it.
I'm reserving judgment right now, as I'm not certain what sort of changes this may bring about. I am pretty open-minded, but I'm hearing a lot of bad press on this decision. I know some folks are worried about whether their reviews will be hidden or changed or deleted. That would not be good.
While it may be good for Otis & Elizabeth I don't think its particularly good for GoodReads. Amazon has/had Shelfari which theoretically serves the same purpose as GoodReads. This change makes me feel GoodReads has lost objectivity as a proponent of readers everywhere and have become pushers of Amazon & its products. This is worse than disappointing, I feel your agony Mel.
I was saying in another forum, I would have prefer that they charged us a small monthly fee and kept the site independent than to sell.Don't get me wrong, I am a kindle user and I do love my kindle. I love it's convenience, specially when there are no real libraries here in PR where I can buy all the latest PNR books. That said, I have never liked how Amazon treats everything they touch.
Now, Amazon already has Shelfari, so do they just incorporate us into that, or do they keep two social media sites? Didn't Facebook have Goodreads? Sheesh! Not good news.
M.R. wrote: "Now, Amazon already has Shelfari, so do they just incorporate us into that, or do they keep two social media sites? Didn't Facebook have Goodreads? Sheesh! Not good news."That's a good question. I really don't see why both will be separate.
Isn't Amazon violating business laws? I'm not familiar with federal business laws, but it's about time I studied that.
Pat wrote: "i feel betrayed"I kinda feel that way too. I liked that Goodreads was just about books and readers..not corporate.
Megan wrote: "M.R. wrote: "Now, Amazon already has Shelfari, so do they just incorporate us into that, or do they keep two social media sites? Didn't Facebook have Goodreads? Sheesh! Not good news."That's a..."
I'm on Shelfari as well and we have been discussing it there. It is highly unlikely that Amazon will keep two social networks related to books and will probably encourage Shelfarians to move over to Goodreads and shut Shelfari down (it has a much smaller user base).
Amazon is probably not in violation of monopoly laws or anti-trust laws because it's a social site and not commerce.
Lauren wrote: Amazon is probably not in violation of monopoly laws or anti-trust laws because it's a social site and not commerce. Perhaps the government should update its laws since the Internet isn't exactly new anymore. Not that I expect that to happen, but just saying.
I'm not sure what to feel about this, but I like Goodreads how it is and I agree that I don't want it to be changed.
Yes, if it ain't broke . . . I do think Amazon has a pretty good track record making smart business decisions. So far they've been good for consumers and authors as well. But I've rarely known a company to get that big and not have it go to their heads, which is when they start ignoring the customer and making bad business decisions. We'll see . . .
I think there could be some very good benefits for Kindle users. As far as the Goodreads site, I'm willing to wait and see what happens. Like Rosanna, I'm reserving judgment.
I'm very sad. I know my time here is very likely limited. I will be more cautious about what I put on this site. My Want To Read tags are now a thing of the past. Of all the sites I comment on, this is the only one that was consistently pleasant and didn't require me to link up to FB or other social media sites to participate. I have already checked out a couple of other sites which I will probably join soon. Once Goodreads becomes obnoxious like the Amazon threads, I will close my account. I have only been a member since February of 2012 but I recommended this site to evey book lover I've discussed books with over the past year, most recently on Wednesday. I won't be doing that any more. Oh, and I am speaking as an Amazon and Kindle customer.
Like those before me I am very upset about this. I have been a member since 2010. I love the fact that I am not required to have a link to FB or any other place to be able to come here. I have been enjoying my time here and am not sure I am going to be staying much longer. I have told many people about this site over the years because of my love for it. I mean I even got the word out to the public library in my area and the librarians and many users of the library have joined. I have seen and heard the changes Amazon has made to their own site and was unhappy over those. I have a feeling I will not be happy with the changes that will be made and so I will probably not be here much longer. I am sad over this because I really don't do much as far as internet, but Goodreads I get on many times a day and have made numerous friends. I really don't know any other site that is run this way and if there are any suggestions if you could please let me know I would be forever thankful.
I'm really nervous. There's a reason I quit Library Thing. I'm excited that you'll beable to get Goodreads on you reader, but other then that I'm terrified.
Everytime Amazon takes over something that I like things get way out of hand. The Book Depository no longer has amazing deals anymore, and they spam the heck out of me.
I just don't want my Amazon and Goodreads accounts to get linked together in the future.
I use goodreads mainly to get recommendations off like minded readers and read UNBIASED reviews. I fear amazon will 'screen' reviews and will choose not to display reviews which may impact on their sales. After all amazon is a for-profit organisation, all they care about is the $$$. I think they will change the site for the worse. But I sincerely hope I am proved wrong.
Yeah, that's why I love Goodreads is because you have the freedom to review as you want! Amazon has blocked so many of my 1 to 2 star reviews. Even though they were well thought out and were within the agreed guidelines.That and the amount of advertisements and networking add ons they'll do.
Mod
I love reading on my Kindle too. But do I want it all connected? If they link Goodreads & Amazon accounts I hope they have an opt out for those who choose it!!!!
I'm reserving judgement for now!
I truly hope that good things will come out of this move, like extra functionality and fewer "Goodreads is over capacity" incidents!
Has anyone noticed any changes yet? Have they released any kind of timeline, indicating when we might see some changes?
notes from goodreads telling me a book on wishlist is available at amazon
I don't know if its related, but Goodreads has been posting to my Facebook timeline, an dim not okay with that.
I'm just taking things day-by-day. Goodreads for me is as it's ever been (great!) so unless/until Amazon makes changes to the successful format of it, I'll reserve negative (and positive) judgments.
Ashley wrote: "I don't know if its related, but Goodreads has been posting to my Facebook timeline, an dim not okay with that."Not related, it's a settings thing. You just need to change it.
Jen wrote: "I'm just taking things day-by-day. Goodreads for me is as it's ever been (great!) so unless/until Amazon makes changes to the successful format of it, I'll reserve negative (and positive) judgments."I've decided the same thing. I'll make a backup of my bookshelves, but other than that unless the change things or roll something out I'll remain calm.
Shera (Book Whispers) wrote: "I've decided the same thing. I'll make a backup of my bookshelves, but other than that unless the change things or roll something out I'll remain calm. "How do you backup your shelves? That sounds like a smart thing to do. So does remaining calm. To me, there's no point in getting worked up until/unless there's something to get worked up over. I haven't yet seen evidence of something like that, so Goodreads - even with this news - is still the great site I've come to love. :-)
Shera (Book Whispers) wrote: "Ashley wrote: "I don't know if its related, but Goodreads has been posting to my Facebook timeline, an dim not okay with that."Not related, it's a settings thing. You just need to change it."
I didn't think it was related, but it just started win the past couple of days, and just yesterday the GR app decided to send notifications to my phone and iPad.
The timing is just funny
Ashley, there's a lot of funny timing stuff going on. Jen, yeah it is smart. ^_- Never want to lose something you've put tons of time in.
Click the link below:
http://www.goodreads.com/help/show/5-...
Shera (Book Whispers) wrote: "Jen, yeah it is smart. ^_- Never want to lose something you've put tons of time in. Click the link..."
Thanks, Shera!
Yeppers. I here you can use it to import the Librarything better. I've thought about joining them before, but never did because I didn't want to have to update my shelves in two places. In the end I'm a GRs fan too much to move.
Goodreads is the first book site I've ever joined, so I'll stick with it as long as it stays good. I'd never even heard of Librarything, Shelfari, or any other site until joining GR.
Really wondering what this is going to do to Goodreads. I kind of liked it being independent. Now I wonder how many ads we are going to see on the site :)
I'm expecting more emails from Amazon about books you can buy from them.
Shera (Book Whispers) wrote: "I'm expecting more emails from Amazon about books you can buy from them."That explains it! I've been wondering why I've been getting e-mails about books from authors I haven't been browsing on Amazon.com...but I have been reading their books and reviewing them here on Goodreads, so mystery solved! Thanks, Shira! :-)
I'm wondering if we need to add the books we own to the new shelf I see at the bottom. I wish they would have done that before, because I created a future purchase shelf for titles I don't own.
Shera (Book Whispers) wrote: "I'm wondering if we need to add the books we own to the new shelf I see at the bottom. I wish they would have done that before, because I created a future purchase shelf for titles I don't own."What new shelf? I looked, but didn't see anything different in the shelf choices. I too created a to-buy shelf for books I want to add to my collection. :-)
Under add shelf it has owned books. Maybe I'm just noticing it . . . who knows when they added it.
Oh, lol...that's been there for awhile, but I too can't say when it was added. I'm pretty sure it predates my joining Goodreads (which was in September, I think).
Jen wrote: "Oh, lol...that's been there for awhile, but I too can't say when it was added. I'm pretty sure it predates my joining Goodreads (which was in September, I think)."Ah. I know it wasn't there when I joined Jan 2010, I looked for a shelf like that. Then decided just to do a future purchases one.
I use both a shelf I created called Owned and the Goodreads Owned shelf. I find it's helpful to me to have the ability to verify that I have all the books added by comparing the total books on each Owned shelf. (Did that make sense?)
No I get it. *sigh* I feel so compelled to add them to owned now . . . so much work.
lol...This is supposed to be a fun site, Shera! So only do it if you enjoy it, otherwise read one of your owned books (or any book you want to read)! :-)
Ha-ha! I know. I'm just OCD about my bookshelves, online and my actual shelves.
why does amazon need another reading site? shelfari is already connected to them n i kinda hate it. i have to login now to my shelfari account with my anazon login. i don't feel comfy with that.
Yeah, the nerve racking thing is waiting for news about what is going to change.
But Shelfari joined Amazon too LOL theyre all family now
What are your thoughts?
Is this good? bad?
So far I think it's significant but I'm waiting to see if it brings any changes and if I like them!