SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
All About Goodreads
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Has Goodreads made you a better reader?
Hi AllOnly just discovered this thread, and straight away I can see a problem . . . define "better reader". Several people have immediately transferred to "Does it make you a better writer?" - and I think that is an equally valid point, maybe deserves a second thread - but better reader? What is a good reader? One who appreciates some deeper hidden layers of a book? That's a good start, but how do you know, unless you also read reviews, and probably write reviews yourself? Joining in these discussions certainly helps - it lets you communicate with your peers, and should show you what your own strengths and weaknesses are - but it doesn't necessarily work every time, some people don't know when they are out of their depth.
Goodreads has certainly given me the opportunity to discover more books, particulalrly indies - and some of them have been pretty good, some of them were unnutterable ***** - and my opinion of which is which does not necessarily agree with what other people are saying (which is the reason I am not naming any in this post).
This needs further development. Anybody?
Yeah I'm not sure what "better reader" means. For me its meant increasing the breadth of my reading. Genres I wouldn't read before I know try & some i even like and I've been more likely to give an author a 2nd or 3rd try. But most of what I've learned here pertains to better understanding why others like books I think are awful/sexist/condescending and what others are looking for which is helpful as a writer.
I would say I'm a 'better reader' because I have read books and genres I would never have even considered before I joined GR.
Like others, I'm not sure I'm a better reader but I certainly read a lot more and have tried authors/books I wouldn't have considered previously.
Being on Goodreads has helped me become aware that there are many great books out there I still have to read and helped rekindle my passion for reading.
being on Goodreads has changed the way I approach a book. Once I used to read it and never touch it again. Now I read a book, then read the reviews, get a whole load of insights and analysis from far deeper readers than me and then read it again. Really really satisfying.
Don't know if it made me a better reader. It certainly helped me compile an impossibly long list of To-Read books, though. May I live so long as to finish it.
Which, I realize, would be impossible. Even if I lived long enough to read my present list, I'm pretty sure the end would never be reached. If only because of certain updates to it as my favorite authors add to their growing list of books written. Let alone any new authors Goodreads would allow me to discover in whatever time it would take.
So, while I love the site, it does have that drawback, for lack of a better word. It's not really a drawback, but, it has that effect. I know I've discovered, and will discover, more good authors and good books than I'll ever be able to read.
But, I'm going to enjoy the attempt to do so...
Uh... no. It just helps me keep track of how many books I've read since I started rating them! But I don't give it credit. It's saved me from some very lame books with book reviews and ratings.
No, but reading other people's reviews has helped me put words to things I'd already noticed/thought and made me want to talk about books again. I spent 10+ years refusing to discuss books, even ones I loved, thanks to horrible high school English class discussions.
Yes it has. I can admit I've lazy with this current book I'm reading but overall I don't remember a time when I read so many books in one year. Maybe back in high school but I don't know how many. After this current book I hope to end the year having read 25 books. I think thats a big improvement for me.
Hmmm good question. I have always enjoyed reading so in that way no but I think it has broadened my tastes. I tend to consider books I would, otherwise, have not known about. This is also the case on Facebook.I certainly never used to review before I joined GR:)
It was through Goodreads that I discovered that a favorite author of mine, and of my brother who recommended him to me, Carl Hiaasen, was a co-author on the Travis McGee series that I read about 25-30 years ago.Without Goodreads, I'd never have discovered that. It revived my interest in the McGee series and I've begun re-reading some of them.
Love Hiaasen's books and it is a delight to find that he'd co-authored on some other books that I have enjoyed as well.
Thank you, Goodreads!
Ron wrote: "It was through Goodreads that I discovered that a favorite author of mine, and of my brother who recommended him to me, Carl Hiaasen, was a co-author on the Travis McGee series that I read about 25..."Can you confirm where you heard that he co-authored any of the Travis McGee novels? Most of them were written in the 60's and 70's when he would have been pretty young...
Conal wrote: "Ron wrote: "It was through Goodreads that I discovered that a favorite author of mine, and of my brother who recommended him to me, Carl Hiaasen, was a co-author on the Travis McGee series that I r..."I exported my list and he was listed as having written the introduction. Not as, necessarily, a co-author as I stated. That introduction could have been on a later issue, not the original.
Guess next time, I'll look into it more before I state it. My mistake, but, kudos for pointing it out for me and making me account for it.
Ron wrote: "Conal wrote: "Ron wrote: "It was through Goodreads that I discovered that a favorite author of mine, and of my brother who recommended him to me, Carl Hiaasen, was a co-author on the Travis McGee s..."Actually I appreciate you pointing it out as it looks like Carl Hiaasen has some interesting looking books. I had not heard his name prior to your posts so going to add more books to the TBR pile.
I was also surprised on the additional writer for Travis McGee. I read most of these back in the 70's (they have been a comfort read since) and did not remember another author besides John D. McDonald. He wrote a few good science fiction novels as well (see The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything).
It's definitely helped me explore my passion for reading and broadened my reading horizons! GR certainly helps me appreciate books on a deeper level.
I think that discussing books certainly lets you see books from a different side. Books I have actively disliked I now see value in. Sometimes I have seen a book from a different perspective or picked up something in the book that I missed.I am almost house-bound with ill health so being able to come and go, join discussions when I feel like it, leave when I dont have the energy. To be able to participate in a monthly read but not being under any negative pressure to read it makes a big difference and enables me to join in with discussing books where otherwise I would have fewer avenues to do this with.
I certainly get to know the genre better as other people share their knowledge, reading experience and opinions. I have discovered a lot of good books as a result.
Goodreads has certainly helped me improved my book choices. I barely knew what to get and goodreads has led me to this recommendation to another that I was barely disappointed. My bookshelf has never had more company.
For me the answer is: I'm not sure! I don't read more than before, which means that I still spend half of my days reading (either a book, a specialized magazine or something on the Internet to update knowledge I need to keep current). I don't read more books because of GR but I avoided reading some books after seeing the reviews about them in GR (thank you for saving me from FIFTY SHADES OF GREY). What it did help me most in was as an author, by reading and participating in discussions about what readers liked/disliked in the books they read. I also got to discuss with many good, interesting people on GR, which is always a plus.
Being a Goodreads member has not made me a better reader; however, it has provided me with a much better understanding of just how diverse and unique the readers are. Some of my previous perceptions, prejudices, and personal theories pertaining to readers of a specific genre have been proven wrong.
I think my reading tastes have widened since I've been on GR:)
A.L. wrote: "I think my reading tastes have widened since I've been on GR:)"cosigned to this, for sure. I have found so many great books through this site that I don't know if I would've ever found them on my own. I still pretty much read the same, but it's such a great resource for finding new and interesting books. Not to mention the cool groups you can find like this one to discuss the wonderful world of books.
I certainly has given me more books that I want to read. Just today, I added 6 more books to my to-read list. The 2014 Edgar winners were announced and I added them. Bound to find at least a couple new "favorite" authors with those, don't you think?
I don't think it's made me a better reader but is has lead to me reading more, finding people who like what I like, helped me find better books to read, made it easier for me to find great recommendations (via groups).
Yes without a doubt, i started to read a lot more last year because of the next 3 reasonsThe GR reading challenge
This groups monthly books
and finally that i get a tablet
and in this year i started to get a lot into the page even altought i dont write a lot,but i love to get in daily and check some reviews for potential books to my shelves
I'd say it had the opposite effect on me: I read less and I've become a very moody reader. I used to be able to read anything - now I'm a lot more choosey.I'm starting to think that my decline in reading is partially caused by social interaction. I know so much more about authors, I have so much more noise to slice through, etc.
It has greatly expanded my book buying habits...
It hasn't made me read more necessarily, but I do think the overall quality of the books I've read has improved. Instead of googling lists of books similar to whatever I'm reading, or just reading through an author's works, or randomly choosing books in the bookstore (and sometimes wasting my money), I can get reviews and recommendations and see what my friends are reading and enjoying, and better choose books for myself. (I also buy more books, too, oops...)
Conal wrote: "Actually I appreciate you pointing it out as it looks like Carl Hiaasen has some interesting looking books. I had not heard his name prior to your posts so going to add more books to the TBR pile."Somewhat off topic, but I just had to say that Hiaasen is pretty awesome. One of the funniest writers I've encountered. Has created some really awesome characters. One word: Skink
It has helped me enjoy my reading more. I love the keeping tabs on books I've read and as I love reading it's clearly an ideal site for me.So it may not have made me a better reader but it has made my reading better.
(That sounds so trite it will appear in a cracker or day at a time calendar next year I'm sure. Sorry)
Kurt wrote: "Yes it has. I can admit I've been lazy with this current book I'm reading but overall I don't remember a time when I read so many books in one year. Maybe back in high school but I don't know how many. ..."
Seriously, Jared. Can you delete that post? It's a PIA because we still have to scroll past it.
Thanks.
MrsJoseph wrote: "Seriously, Jared. Can you delete that post? It's a PIA because we still have to scroll past it.
Thanks."
Is it wrong that I was hoping someone'd boot him?
Jared wrote: "I don't think it helped me because at best I read about 2 600 paged books a day at minimum 1 600 paged book a day, and I haven't seen any change. ..."That's OK, Jared. We've seen the change. And, it isn't pretty...
It's definitely helped me, as well as helped me find some great titles that I never knew existed!
I think participation has not made any difference in my reading, but it has subtly changed the manner of my critical analysis.
Don't think it changed my reading, other than giving me more options on what to read. I've discovered some authors that I didn't know about and now find them to be a part of my regular reading habits.
no. my reading leveled out in high school. good reads is a fine resource.
I don't know if it's made me a better reader, but it's helped me find a lot more books to read, and I keep track of books I've read a lot more than I ever used to.
Kyra wrote: "I don't know if it's made me a better reader, but it's helped me find a lot more books to read, and I keep track of books I've read a lot more than I ever used to."Ah! What you said! :)
Yeah for sure. Too many good books recommended by community gives me a lot of reading options without losing my time searching for the good read.
Yes definitely! There's a lot of great book recommendations on this site and I feel like the yearly reading goal helps me read more. + I get to talk to people who share a love for reading, unlike those I find in real life haha.
Winaa wrote: "...+ I get to talk to people who share a love for reading, unlike those I find in real life."Boy, do I hear that! I find it very hard to find people that read, anymore. Especially in the younger generations.
A friend and I were just discussing that recently, and both of us complained that our son-in-laws just don't read a book. The internet, OK, but, not a book. They'll both spend hours on their phones but won't spend a minute with a book.
I have friends that I've told that I use the library a lot and get a response of "I didn't even know libraries were still in use."
But, on the other hand, my granddaughters, ages 4 & 7, are avid users of the library. They love books and are just beginning to read. Of course, they do love the computers with games that they get to use in the library, but, they do like the library. Especially Nana and Papa's library. Evidently, it's different from Mommie's library.
Yes. I'm a better reader because:1) I pay more attention to my reading because I know I'm going to write a review, 2) I think more about the quality of the work, pros and cons, because I know I'm going to rate the book, and 3) I can read other members' reviews and avoid books that I won't like, no matter how rave the critics' and experts' reviews, and 4) I can read other members' reviews and find authors & genres I'd never have discovered otherwise.
Ron, the girls are right - libraries are def. different and some are much more 'welcoming' than others. ;)
And, damn shame, I agree about library awareness. I knew (well before smart phones!) a single mom, three lovely little girls, lived within a stroller walk of the library for five years, didn't know about it. Damn shame.
Trike wrote: "Were you guys not steered to analyzing (and perhaps defending) why you preferred a story? Or at least taking it apart and examining its components? That sort of thing was so common to my education it never occurred to me other schools wouldn't do it, too. "No, not so much. Not enough to stick - it seemed, in my experience as a parent, that it's even less these days then what I remember as a student. And it seemed to only apply to school reading - not to pleasure reading.
Ron wrote: "Winaa wrote: "...+ I get to talk to people who share a love for reading, unlike those I find in real life."Boy, do I hear that! I find it very hard to find people that read, anymore. Especially..."
Libraries are awesome! I love it when I randomly choose a book and end up finding it to be a pleasant read. But over the years, my local library doesn't stock up on books as much as they used to, due to the widespread use of ebooks. Not a lot of people give away their books anymore. I mean ebooks are great but I'd hate to think what would become of libraries. It's kind of bittersweet.
Hahah none of my family members enjoy reading, except for me and my 5 year old sister. I think I garnered my love for it due to peer influence. Anyway, my 8 year old sister prefers snuggling up with the iPad or playing game consoles with my brother, lol.
Ron wrote: "Winaa wrote: "...+ I get to talk to people who share a love for reading, unlike those I find in real life."Boy, do I hear that! I find it very hard to find people that read, anymore. Especially in the younger generations.
"
Well I'm part of the younger generation and I love reading, so do a number of my friends. I think my generation is going to bring with them a revival in some ways of serialized works and a push harder towards ebooks. Trust me in the internet age not much is better then a serial that comes out weekly when you and all your friends read it when it comes out then you pull up skype/mumble/facetime/whatever for 5-30minutes afterwards.
But the general difficulty of finding people with similar opinions on stories is high. Because finding a SF/F reader that reads books that arn't also movies is very rare. Then after that it's like a 50% chance our opinions don't really matchup at all.
SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
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However, goodreads hasn't affected my reading much. I still devour books. I still review sparingly. (I don't love writing reviews). For me, goodreads is a fun place to chat about my favorite topic: books. It is also a good tool for keeping a list of books I want to read so I don't forget what books I want to read. It's also been a good place to learn about books I might never have otherwise discovered. So, I love goodreads, but I don't think it's affected HOW I read.