My Thoughts on the Amazon Buyout of Goodreads

[A.F.]

It seems most everyone has an opinion on Amazon being our new landlords. Understandably, people are wondering whether reviews, groups, buy links are going to survive the change. The Goodreads Powers-That-Be are saying don't worry, this is a good thing. I hope that is true. Maybe this change will benefit people. I think most readers on this site may very well see positive changes.
But it is the indie authors that are worried. Don't get me wrong, I more or less like Amazon, but Amazon's track record with the indie community has been a mix of good and bad lately. The company has done some supportive things for indie authors, opening markets and opportunities, but some of its recent moves have, in my opinion, been a bit bone-headed. The review ban and removal, the email scandal over refund's for an indie-turned-traditional author, and the move towards exclusivity (and it may be this exclusivity bent that has the writers so mad about this news).
The problem, again in my opinion, is Amazon fails to separate it's book buying business from it's book publishing business. In one, readers come first, in the other authors take precedence. On Goodreads these two aspects meet head-on, and I just hope Amazon can figure out the right move for everyone.

[Sherri]

Me too. Of course I'm concerned as an indie author. I suppose we'll see what happens.

[A.F.]

Sherri wrote: "Me too. Of course I'm concerned as an indie author. I suppose we'll see what happens."

That's about all we can do at this point.

[Deanna]

Having worked for Amazon on their Reading Experience team, I see this as an inevitable and good thing (not without some bumps, of course). There is an enormous opportunity to socialize the reading experience in a whole new way that benefits both readers and independent writers. Of course, I'm also an optimist. :)

[A.F.]

Deanna wrote: "Having worked for Amazon on their Reading Experience team, I see this as an inevitable and good thing (not without some bumps, of course). There is an enormous opportunity to socialize the reading ..."

I hope it is a positive change. I just remember what happened to Shelfari after they bought it; I stopped going there because of changes made by Amazon.

[Kevin]

And that's the power people have. If we don't like the changes, we go someplace else and start all over again. I hear the former owners of GoodReads have recently come into some serious cash...maybe they'll want to try something new... :)

[Thayer]

I've just discovered that an author can no longer make cover changes to his/her own book on Goodreads. Only a librarian can. So, that is just like Shelfari now. : (

[Thurman]

Deanna wrote: "Having worked for Amazon on their Reading Experience team, I see this as an inevitable and good thing (not without some bumps, of course). There is an enormous opportunity to socialize the reading ..."
Me too!