SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
All About Goodreads
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Has Goodreads made you a better reader?
I don't think it's made me a better reader, but it encourages me to read more widely. Seeing reviews from my friends pop up on my Home page -- often very enthusiastic ones -- exposes me to books I would never have looked at on my own. It's good for me to venture out of the comfort of sff occasionally and realise there's a whole world of other books out there I might enjoy.
I think it has certainly challenged me to be a more attentive reader, so when I write reviews on GoodReads I can give a better detailed review. It has certainly made me a better writer.
Yes, I read more because of the GR readers challenge and I select better books because of GR groups, my GR friends (and people I follow) and GR recommendations. Plus I enjoy the great minds that write such insightful reviews and end up getting more out of many of the books. Good stuff.An example would be The Sheep Look Up. Recommended by GoodReads. An environmental prediction made by a grumpy, malcontent, British author who was eerily prescient. Future horrific, he nails the attitudes and points of views. Never heard of it. Glad I read it, but now I'm scared...lol
My reading has changed a lot in the past few years, and participating on GR is an influence on that in a couple of ways. I read a lot on an e-reader, for instance, and while some folks don't see that as a shift, I think it is not the same thing as reading a hardcopy. Honestly, I think it's a very different medium. Goodreads has a role in that as it is a kind of marketing tool for the self-published crowd. (It's not ONLY that, mind you, but that's a big function of the site.)Probably the biggest influence, though, is participating in a few of the bookclubs. Through those I've read or been introduced to a few dozen books I'd likely not have run into on my own.
Mostly, however, I think participating on GR changes how I read because I often read with an eye towards writing a review to put up on the site, and that makes for a different reading experience. Where before I might take notes or write down a quote from a particular book, those things didn't get pulled together into a more cohesive essay--at least not since I graduated from college. Participating on GR has, in some ways, reverted my reading style back to that more academic style of reading. It's not exactly the same--I'm not prepping for a quiz--but it compares more closely to that style.
GR has certainly kick-started my lazy reading habits! I still have no time, but at least the desire is back!
I think in the short time I've been on Goodreads it has had a positive effect. The reviews are in depth, the discussions are focused and I like that if I see a book I'm interested in I have a method of capturing the title and getting it on a list.
I wouldn't say it's made me a better reader, as I've been reading every day(with few exceptions) since I was about 8. It has made reading more fun, though. Being able to come here and talk to other like-minded folks about the books I'm reading and/or love is awesome. Plus it helps me discover new reads. So while I can't say it's upped the amount I read, it certainly adds to the reading experience.
I’ve only just joined Goodreads, so it hasn’t had a chance to make me a better reader yet. However, it does make me want to re-read some of the books I already own so that I can write decent reviews of them! I’ve always loved reading reviews on Amazon, and now that I’ve discovered Goodreads I hope to write a review of every book I add to my own bookshelves. I’ve never actually written a book review myself until now, but I’d be surprised if it doesn’t make me a better reader.
I have to say although I'm a recent joinee of Goodreads, I've been reading extensively for a few years now. Gr however, has made me realise how much time I was spending looking for books I would enjoy. Now that I've joined GR I find it so much easier to find books that I know I'll find enjoyable. Also it's so refreshing to find like minded people who has the same enthusiasm for reading as I do. I'm currently studying college in England, and the amount of times that teachers have asked students how much they read, and the subsequent response more often than tnot was lacluster is surprising. BTW college in the Uk is not university, It's what you study before going to university. One thing about GR is that it's made my TBR list go out of control. I'll never catch up on the books that I want to read.
That is so true about searching for something new to read — whenever I was about to finish a book, I’d often be left wondering what to read next. Now my to-read shelf is just growing and growing...
Brittany wrote: "Absolutely. I'm discovering books I would have never thought I would enjoy or even hear of and loving it!"Same here! One of the best uses on the WWW so far. I'm discovering authors and other readers who have similar tastes everyday. It's pretty amazing.
Yes, I find a lot of books that I never would have heard of without goodreads
No I am the same reader I always was in the past, but it has put me in touch with a community of readers that I can have book discussions. It is nice to have this considering most of the time I know nobody that reads like I do. I get to flit about like a butterfly and involve myself in discussions as I see fit and see what others are reading. I am widely read in numerous areas, but I am always amazed how much I haven't read and that is fun. I have found books that I have never heard of and many of them are fantastic. I am here practically everyday.
Great topic. I think Goodreads has made me a better writer.My first two novels I wrote in a total vacuum with zero input. They were solo affairs. But the feedback I've gotten from here, especially on the first novel, has been fantastic and instrumental for my third novel.
I lurk far more than I post, mostly because I usually keep my trap shut unless there is something unsaid that NEEDS to be asserted.
But if there's a better, more constructive and mature reading community online I don't know where it is.
Papaphilly wrote: "No I am the same reader I always was in the past, but it has put me in touch with a community of readers that I can have book discussions. It is nice to have this considering most of the time I kn..."^^What he said!^^
I'm a more careful reader because I have to pay enough attention to the books to try to write good reviews.
I'd say GR has made my reading experience a more enjoyable one. Before I joined GR it was a bit hit and miss as to whether I'd enjoy a particular book. But now before I read anything I look at my friends reviews and see what they think. I can usually get an idea of how much enjoyment I'll get out of a book after reading through some reviews.
Definitely GR is a super plus. It's so nice after reading a book sharing a thoughts and learning about new books. It does take up time but for a book lover GR has been mostly a joy.
Definitely made me a better reader. I love being able to look at the stats and see if I'm staying too heavily in one genre. I've also tried many new authors thanks to book groups, friend recommendations, and reading threads. I would pay for access to GoodReads.
I don't know if it made me a better reader but it helps me accept more that I can hate or dislike a book, especially the classic ones, there's something nice to know I am not the only one that doesn't get a book like Madame Bovary.I think GR made me more a butterfly, so many books I want to read in a moment, and so many forgotten the day after. Many great discoveries but also many books I don't understand how they could be so popular.
Definitely. I read faster and have more idea of what to read next nowdays, I used to read very slowly and when I finished wander around for a few days or a week, not sure what to read next. :POf course GR also made me create a list of 900 books that I haven't read that I want to read so I guess it's also made me worse.
Its well over a year since I contributed to this thread - and while the points I made then remain valid, I now feel that perhaps Goodreads has made me a
worse
reader in that I now spend so much time reading and messaging to Goodreads, and occasionally writing reviews that over the last year I have read significantly less than I used to. I have become a bit more discriminating in what I read, but my TBR list is now enormous, and growing, and I don't think I will ever catch up with it!
Alan wrote: "Its well over a year since I contributed to this thread - and while the points I made then remain valid, I now feel that perhaps Goodreads has made me a worse
reader in that I now spend so much..."
And the problem with that is????
Papaphilly wrote: "And the problem with that is???? ..."So many books, so little time.
Alan wrote: "Papaphilly wrote: "And the problem with that is???? ..."So many books, so little time."
I figure if I never buy another book and I read two a week till I die, I should live to about a hundred and thirty five.
But for me, having huge to-read lists makes me a better reader, because I know that I can abandon unworthy books.
The one problem with that huge to-read list is I sometimes feel pressured to read faster, etc. So next year I'm going to go a bit easier on myself with the challenge, etc.
With a huge to-read list, I feel more I'm pressured to read more books, especially short books to read more numbers. That's why next year, I would set me a lower number of books to read with a number minimum for four categories (classic, SF, fantasy, non-fiction).It's probably one drawback of GR for me, letting me know that many YA books.
I would recommend setting those category numbers very low. This year I set my challenge at 52 and I made my own rules of one non-fiction, one classic literature, and one play a month. Add in my RL book group and most months all of my titles were spoken for before I got to pick just random reads. I ended up increasing my challenge to 72 and I will complete it just fine, but next year I will probably drop plays from my requirements for 2015.
What do you mean by "better reader?" That's an odd question. More well read? Probably not. More informed? Probably. In any case I read what I like and what interests me. I rarely allow others to influence what I read. I certainly take recommendations to heart, but I won't read them just because everyone thinks it's the "most awesomest book EVAR!!" If that were true I'd be reading nothing but Hunger Games (which I did read) and Twilight (which I will never read) type of books. Oy. I will give a recommendation a fair shake, but if it looks to be not my cup-o-tea I won't read it solely because you loved it. =)
Neal wrote: "What do you mean by "better reader?" That's an odd question. More well read? Probably not. More informed? Probably."Neal, I think Penny (the original poster) was pretty clear in her initial post. Did you read it, or did you only read the title? I understand not wanting to read a long thread before jumping in on a conversation, but why wouldn’t you at least read the first post? Especially if you’re going to be kind of snarky about the title?
Anyway, in regard to the original post, I somewhat agree with the way Penny described a good reader. In particular, I think it enhances one’s enjoyment of what they’re reading if they can catch the deeper nuances of it. But, if I were to define a “good reader”, I would put a heavy emphasis on reading comprehension. I feel like it’s important to take the time to understand what I’m reading because, otherwise, what was the point of reading it? I think sometimes people gloss over entire sections of a book and then they miss out on critical details that would have enhanced their over-all enjoyment of the story.
For example, I recently finished The House of the Stag in which the author told the story as if it were being compiled from multiple sources – cave drawings for the earliest parts, a play performed by actors, a “tell-all” story from a discarded mistress for one of the last parts, etc. After I had read the book and written my review, in which I’m afraid I failed to mention the story-telling method all, I started reading a few of the other reviews. I was surprised to see some people express confusion at the “disjointed” writing style. I can understand if people didn’t like the style that was used, but some people didn’t seem to even understand the reason for it. It was explained explicitly. How do people notice the intentionally different writing styles and yet completely miss the provided reason? It seemed like they missed out on an interesting and unique aspect of the story because they glossed over the brief interludes that didn’t talk about the character(s) they wanted to read about.
I don’t think Goodreads has made me a better reader, though. When it comes to reading, I pretty much read the same way I always have. I tend not to skim, and I will usually go back to reread something if I didn’t understand it the first time or if my attention had wandered while I was reading it. Sometimes I probably take this too far, because sometimes a book just isn’t worth that much effort and I should probably give up on it altogether in order to spend my time more wisely. I tend to relentlessly plow through whatever I start.
The value I’ve gained from Goodreads has come from writing reviews. I joined Goodreads about a year ago, and I hadn’t written reviews until then. Now I review every book I read. My reviews may not be sources of great enlightenment for other people, but writing the reviews is very beneficial for me personally. The process forces me to sit down and really consider my opinions about a book, and the reasons for those opinions, so that I can try to articulate it to other people. This helps solidify the story and my impressions of the book in my mind. As a result, I remember the books I’ve read over the past year far better than I would have in previous years.
I also really enjoy reading other people’s reviews of a book after I've read the book. I don’t know anybody who reads the same books I typically do, and I don’t even see the books I read discussed that often here in the forums. So it’s fun for me to read what other people thought and I think I enjoy reading dissenting opinions at least as much if not more than I enjoy reading similar opinions. It’s fun to see how different people can react so differently to the same thing. Although sometimes it can be an exercise in frustration when I feel like a reviewer missed some major point as in my example above.
YouKneeK wrote: "writing the reviews is very beneficial for me personally. The process forces me to sit down and really consider my opinions about a book, and the reasons for those opinions... As a result, I remember the books I've read over the past year far better..."I find this too. Instead of rushing immediately on to the next book like a dog trying to gobble up all the food before someone takes it away, pausing to reflect on what I thought of the book and why really helps me remember it. I have a terrible memory for books, even ones I've loved, and would struggle to tell you the main character's name or much of the plot only a couple of weeks after I'd finished it -- unless I wrote a review.
Also, looking back on the review later brings back lots of details, even if they weren't included in the review. It's like a memory jog that helps me access the fuller memories.
Ditto! I've read (officially, at least) over a hundred and twenty books, and though I take my time with many, I have a terrible memory. Reviewing and reflecting helps me remember, rather than a vague "I liked it," but not me able to remember why, or if I should recommend it to others.
Marina wrote: "Also, looking back on the review later brings back lots of details, even if they weren't included in the review. It's like a memory jog that helps me access the fuller memories."The same thing happens to me. Re-reading a review seems to bring back the images and thoughts that were in my mind at the time I wrote the review. That reminds me of all sorts of things about the book that I didn’t even write about in my review.
Yes! That's what I was trying to say earlier, but Carol, Marina, and YouKneeK, you've said it better.
Like many, I'm a little confused about what 'better reader' mean. I'm going to take the safe route and assume yes. It's helped renew my interest in reading a few years ago, made me read more, find new authors and try new genres I wouldn't have before.
Goodreads has made no difference to my reading, but I love the way I can organise my books and access information. It's like wandering through a library.
Rather than a better reader, with the help of goodreads, I read better books.
Goodreads is my comfort place. I do believe I become a more confident reader. This is the place I really belong to without people judging me for the way I read, how many books I purchased, how I criticize or praise books the way I do and so on. I also am a better reader since I made lots of both online and offline friends, who introduced me to more books I probably would not know/read and who actually knows what I'm talking about. So yeah, GR is the best thing happened in the internet.
I don't know about better, but it's certainly made me a more organised reader!
I have as little reading time as ever, so no. It is great to hear other people's insights on books. However, some other people seem to have nothing but reading time. Still, it is a good place to get a sense of what's popular or interesting.
Good reads had been a game changer for me, it had escorted in the second golden age of finding good books to read.
Goodreads has made me a much better reader. I have found a lot of books that I would have never even heard of if it wasn't for this site. It has also led me to fill up my shelves in my room with a bunch books that I want to read. I'll get to them all eventually.
It has made me a more neurotic reader. I feel like I have to complete my challenges way ahead of time. So I guess it has made me a more efficient reader – and a more determined reader. Before Goodreads, I was a casual reader. Now, I strategize and organize my reading.My reading itself has indeed changed since two hundred books ago, but who can say whether that's because I joined Goodreads or because I read 200 books. Still, it goes faster, and I do read shorter books now that used to be on my "maybe someday if I'm feeling ambitious or something" list, because I know it'll take me an hour. Sometimes I read just for the hell of it, instead of waiting for curiosity to motivate or compel me.
Another thing I wouldn't necessarily chalk up to Goodreads, but which at least happened after I joined this site and has certainly been helped by me reading more and faster, is that I learned Esperanto and improved my French. If you don't see any French or Esperanto books on my lists yet it's because I'm partway through several of them.
Alia wrote: "It has made me a more neurotic reader.... and a more determined reader. ..."Please forgive the partial quote, but I absolutely love what you say, especially these bits. I totally empathize!
GR has had no effect on my reading habits at all. The reviews seem to bear little relation to whether or not I would enjoy a particular book or series, and I don't read according to a list.I was an avid reader long before I discovered GR, and this hasn't changed.
Alia wrote: "It has made me a more neurotic reader. I feel like I have to complete my challenges way ahead of time. So I guess it has made me a more efficient reader – and a more determined reader..."Ha! I feel the same too. I feel like because of the GR Reading Challenge, that I gotta have some kinda deadline to finish the books that I'm reading. And that, I'm always thinking of what books to read next.
Though, I also liked to read before I knew GR, I didn't read at this pace before. Maybe before I read like 5ish books per year.
GR hasn't improved my reading. It helps me catalog the books I've read. I stay pretty realistic with my reading challenge and actually read a greater number of books than I think I will. I didn't really know how many books I actually read a year until I started keeping track. When I read a book I often go back over the material I read in my mind because I want to remember the story. Writing a reviews of some of the titles helps with that as well. I get some ideas what to read here as well although I own more books than I will ever get to read in my lifetime.
Goodreads holds me accountable. It applies a certain pressure to "up my game," and read analytically, to read well. To a writer (or to anyone, to anyone who THINKS) this is pretty valuable. I also think about the review I'm going to write, and small-in-number though they may be at this point, how important it is to provide an honest assessment to the people that follow me and might actually care.
SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Wild Sex: The Science Behind Mating in the Animal Kingdom (other topics)The Stone Sky (other topics)
The House of the Stag (other topics)
The Sheep Look Up (other topics)
The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
N.K. Jemisin (other topics)Andre Norton (other topics)
C.J. Cherryh (other topics)
Ursula K. Le Guin (other topics)
Elizabeth Moon (other topics)
More...
Otherwise: I'm more careful than I was before. I pay more attention to the reviews of other people. Especially the negative ones, since they often point out things that would annoy me too much to read a book.
Also, GR is good for finding new books to read. All those listopia lists, the recommendations the site calculates and of course the recommendations by other users are all great tools (although people sometimes still recommend books to me that I won't ever read but you know how this works: only chose the books you really want to read).
Oh and the site reading challenge made me read more books. That's also great.