Books on the Nightstand discussion
Goodreads purchased by Amazon - discussion
date
newest »
newest »
message 51:
by
[deleted user]
(new)
Apr 07, 2013 10:10AM
You should see a link called "Welcome Goodreads Members". You go there and follow the directions. It involves downloading a file to your hard drive and then uploading into LT.
reply
|
flag
Eric wrote: "I asked Riffle for an invite back in January. They sent me an email saying my invite would be processed, but nothing since."same here, still waiting....I just have to wonder if they weren't ready, why do the start up...
Interesting. The day after I first posted on this thread, I could not open the GoodReads site on my browser. Sent an email to GR, no response. Had to download another browser to get here.
Mod
Mod
Seems like there's often a months long wait between installments of the "Totally Hip Book Review", but I love 'em.
I was such a rabid fan of Amazon and was one of the early adopters who purchased the original Kindle (and now am on my third Kindle device). My faith in Amazon was tested today when I placed about a dozen Kindle books on my Amazon "Wish List" and, when I initiated the purchase(within less than 24 hours) all of the prices had increased, some as much as $6! These were not "Daily Deals" or flash sales and, when I made inquiry at Amazon, I was told that Amazon was at the mercy of the publisher that sets the price. While that would make some sense if it were only a single title (or several titles from the same publishing house), Amazon coud not adequately account for my experience (and did not deny the price changes). I am certain that if I left books at the counter at my local bookstore, and returned after I did some more shopping, the clerk couldn't randomly increase the price and blame the publisher. I am curious if other have had this experience with Kindle books.
Stephanie wrote: "These were not "Daily Deals" or flash sales and, when I made inquiry at Amazon, I was told that Amazon was at the mercy of the publisher that sets the price."
That's odd. I thought that's why the traditional publishers had that anti-trust suit brought against them, so that they couldn't set the prices anymore!
That's odd. I thought that's why the traditional publishers had that anti-trust suit brought against them, so that they couldn't set the prices anymore!
I also do some of my book purchasing on Amazon the nearest bookstore is over an hour away. I also utilize our local library often, due to finances and location. I Don't have any complaints about amazon.
Gail wrote: "Ann: Thanks for the information. I do understand loss leaders and I guess Amazon is going in for the kill on big titles like Game of Thrones...all part of their plan in taking over the world!"Its so tricky - I buy from Amazon and its always cost effective but I try to also buy from local book shops but always pay more - but Id hate to see book shops disappear from the high streets so try to support them where possible too - but it is tricky when trying to budget and save :)
I've worked in bookstores for years, and often the bestsellers are available for purchase in supermarkets 10-20 % cheaper - than what we as a bookstore payed the publisher for the book. I've known independent booksellers, who bought the books in the supermarket instead of from the publisher, because it was cheaper, and then sold it at a small profit when the supermarket stopped having the book.If you buy 100 dollars worth of groceries at a particular store, *because* they have the new bestseller super-cheap, they don't care if they loose 5 dollars or whatever on the book.
Mod
Someone message me and let me know if Ann got drunk enough at Booktopia to give her "uncensored" opinion of the transaction.
Mod
Mod
"like"
Carol wrote: "Listened to this podcast on the ride home today from Booktopia. Book Discovery Fitting the Pieces Together in which Otis Chandler talks about his baby, GoodReads. I realize this was presented in De..."Interesting podcast but his sniffing is a little distracting.
Chandler is interviewed on THE KINDLE CHRONICLES which is a podcast you can get on ITUNES.Kindle Chronicles now had a group on Goodreads.
Ann wrote: "What happens at Booktopia stays at Booktopia..."Ahhh, in that case I'm going to start a rumor that you stripped naked and ran down the snowy streets of Manchester (and through Northshire Bookstore) to protest the sale....lol. Now don't you wish you'd just told me?
If Amazon's reviews are so inflated, why does Franzen's Freedom get a better overall rating on Goodreads than on Amazon?
Eric wrote: "If Amazon's reviews are so inflated, why does Franzen's Freedom get a better overall rating on Goodreads than on Amazon?"Maybe Franzen doesn't know any trolls....well, maybe troll isn't the right word. I've never heard that Amazon's reviews are overall inflated but there are several "reviewers" on Amazon that read more than is humanly possible. The one I finally caught onto that was fake is Harriet Klausner.
Wow ... interesting reading the comments about fake reviewers on amazon :)
Am I the only person who doesn't read reviews until AFTER I've finished a book?
Helen wrote: "Am I the only person who doesn't read reviews until AFTER I've finished a book?"Hmmm....maybe, else how else do you know you want to read it? I find the blurbs, synopsis and dust jacket info not very informative....I usually want to know what real people (preferably people I know) think of it. I do carefully avoid reviews that contain spoilers.
I don't like to be influenced, I guess!I find my books from my friends (seldom though - they look to me for book ideas), the podcast, from Shelf Awareness and from watching my update stream on Goodreads. If a title sounds interesting, I poke around a little and then add it to my list if it sounds interesting.
I never am at a loss for something to read and I find that the more I know going in, the less I enjoy a book.
I try to read and write my reviews before peeling at others. Sometimes I'll notice the star rating on a book but I never put much stock in that simply because I know popular books like Twilight have high star ratings so popularity doesn't really = good book.
I will read reviews from bloggers I know and trust before a book's release date; but I avoid all others for fear of unlabeled spoilers. I pretty much choose my books intuitively, only going on a friend's recommendation occasionally. Even friends' recs have burnt me on a few occasions so I take it all with a grain of salt!
Helen wrote: "Am I the only person who doesn't read reviews until AFTER I've finished a book?"I rarely read reviews & the less I know the happier I am.....I had started reading a book & someone I know said-oh the baby.....& I was like-what??? what baby, less is more for me, I wanted to find out about the baby on page 5 all by myself LOL
Helen wrote: "Am I the only person who doesn't read reviews until AFTER I've finished a book?"Nope! And I definitely do it with movies, I just look at the grade! :-)
While I listen to a lot of book podcasts and I do read some reviews from trusted sources, I usually will read the book long after it's been reviewed, I don't usually read books hot off the press unless the library has it. That way I'll remember I was interested, but don't really remember what it's about! ;-) I'll hear buzz on certain books (Meg Wolitzer's is a big one right now), but that's just buzzing, I don't listen to the details, just that one magazine said it's "the book to read" this summer.
I get most of my book suggestions from my GR friends, I rely heavily on those whose tastes match mine. I now avoid reading book cover jackets, because I feel in the last few years, even those give too much away.
Chris wrote: "I'll hear buzz on certain books (Meg Wolitzer's is a big one right now)"
I'm enjoying
even as we speak.
I'm enjoying
even as we speak.
Chris wrote: "Helen wrote: "Am I the only person who doesn't read reviews until AFTER I've finished a book?"Nope! And I definitely do it with movies, I just look at the grade! :-)
While I listen to a lot of ..."
Oh I agree-I never read the book jackets LOL
Helen wrote: "Am I the only person who doesn't read reviews until AFTER I've finished a book?"I'm in the same boat...I tend to read the description and look at the overall grade, but I don't dig too much into the reviews until after I've read it. It's hard to know whether or not to trust a reviewer since everyone has such varied tastes. Like Eric mentioned above, if there is a particular buzz about a book then I'll pick it up...or get recommendations from podcasts, etc. I'm usually not at a loss for stuff to read.
I rely heavily on reviews from people I know or at least know through Goodreads enough to know that we have similar tastes. I guess I've been burned too many times by buzz and since I'm a slow reader and my reading time is so limited, I want to make sure my efforts are not wasted. It's so disappointing to me when a read is mediocre.
I know what you mean about having limited reading time and so wanting to avoid mediocre material where possible .... I find my time is really limited with work etc and I love being really engrossed in a good read .. I tend to check recommendations from good reads, from books on the night stand and from some reviews or reading back jackets I have to admit or magazine reviews on occasion.... Also of course knowing an author and reading their new material ... Also my mum is a keen reader and get reviews and ideas from her too :)
Argh! I'm definitely not liking LT: the interface is so dense (even when you exercise the option to clean up the home page,) the recommendation algorithms are off for both books and groups, and it's pretty much impossible to gain any traction over there socially. There's no app either so logging in from an iPhone brings up a ridiculously dense screen! Right now it's not looking like I'll stay there beyond the free trial subscription.
For others who made the crossing, what do you do over there besides catalog your books? Is there some level of accessibility that I'm not seeing?
For others who made the crossing, what do you do over there besides catalog your books? Is there some level of accessibility that I'm not seeing?
Mod
They also have a "Early Reviewer" section, a galley or book request area that is not as long as GoodReads. The 3 books I have received weren't literary.
i think I found LT before I found GR and have had not socializing and the groups that I joined don't seem to be very active.
Now that we've had some time to let Goodreads settle into it's new owners, are you noticing any difference? I've had a few extra marketing emails, but they don't point only to amazon, they just seem to ask if I wouldn't like to buy a certain book from a list of sellers.Also, how are the alternate websites shaping up? I got my invitation to Riffle a little while ago, but I haven't taken the time to look around the site very much. Is LibraryThing worth joining? I'm a bit put off by the 200 book limit...
Mod
http://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue...."
Saw that. Thanks for sharing, Janet. At first, I thought it was a mistake that I got a Shelf Awareness on Saturday.
Ann wrote: "I stay out of pricing discussions as a rule -- I certainly understand the need to budget and be smart with money. But I don't want anyone to think they are getting "ripped off" by a bookstore. Bookstores can't afford to discount, and if you can't afford to shop there, that's fine, but please know that independent bookstores are not trying to get away with anything."I wish Goodreads had a "like" button.
I entered to win a book from Amazon Publishing and noticed they have 1 friend. She must not have gotten the word...lol.
