Has Goodreads made you a better reader?

[Cheryl]

Yes!

[Papaphilly]

William wrote: "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 ..."

It is funny you mention that because I have taken much better care of my reviews by trying to explain what I think as compared to regurgitate the story. I try to give a reason why I liked the story without giving away the details.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

It is fascinating to me that reading and having to think through writing reviews seems to have the largest impact on people! It makes total sense--writing what you know is a very good way of organizing thoughts, but I'm not sure I would have considered the impact of leaving reviews on my reading habits. I'll have to check out what some of you are saying to see if I get an epiphany, too!

GR has focused my reading and made me perhaps more charitable in my reviews, because I dislike saying mean things about books that have meant something to others.

[AndrewP]

Papaphilly wrote: "It is funny you mention that because I have taken much better care of my reviews by trying to explain what I think as compared to regurgitate the story. I try to give a reason why I liked the story without giving away the details. ."

Same here. People can read the blurb if they want to know what the story is about. I try and make sure it's just my personal opinion and others may have a different take.

Goodreads has made me more disciplined in my reading. Reviews reviews help me prioritize my reading, trying new authors that I might like and skipping the ones that only at first glance might seem good.

[Holly]

If better means happier and more organised, then yes. Before GR I was limited to my local libraries and book stores for selections; now I find books at GR and track them down so I can read them. Since my tastes are out of the mainstream this has been very helpful. I also enjoy cataloging what I have read.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

Allison wrote: "GR has focused my reading and made me perhaps more charitable in my reviews, because I dislike saying mean things about books that have meant something to others."

This is like my opposite, lol. My cousin told me that she thinks it's made me more critical. O_O

She has quite a few friends who are aspiring and/or SPAs and wants me to read their stuff but doesn't want me "to be mean." So I'm not reading any of it cause what's the point of being "nice" just to be nice? It doesn't help the reader at all and it damn sure doesn't help the author. But she's the kind of reader who only reviews if it's a 5 star so she can be nice.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

MrsJoseph wrote: "Allison wrote: "This is like my opposite, lol. My cousin told me that she thinks it's made me more critical..."

This is like my ..."

Ha! I am a very picky reader. My TBR is only books I feel comfortable embarking upon--there are no surprises in my list (Those are all on a separate shelf of recommendations I'm iffy about). And if you have seen any of my reviews, I could place in the Nitpicker Championships. But I try not to make judgments anymore (ex. I don't think I've called any book on GR garbage! I think I'm growing as a person!), and if I dislike something I try to pinpoint what it was that bothered me so that I'm not making generalizations.

I totally agree though that honesty is critical. And TBH I bet those SPAs would actually prefer a low rating with a well-articulated review than nothing. I just also think hard about what I'm gonna say, and whether or not I really didn't like something or if I'm being a cranky stickler (usually it is both ^^). I've been on the internet long enough, I do not want the Rage Machine focusing its evil eye on me.

[Papaphilly]

MrsJoseph wrote: "Allison wrote: "GR has focused my reading and made me perhaps more charitable in my reviews, because I dislike saying mean things about books that have meant something to others."

This is like my ..."

There is a difference between being critical and being "mean". If you are offering constructive criticism to make the writer think, that is one level, but if you are being nasty to hurt or denigrate, that is a horse of a different color altogether. You can be tough without being mean.

[Papaphilly]

Allison wrote: "GR has focused my reading and made me perhaps more charitable in my reviews, because I dislike saying mean things about books that have meant something to others. .."

I am much the same way when it comes to reviews. I try to find something good to say about every book i review if it is an independent writer. Not because I want to be nice, but because I am not going to stomp on a developing writer because I am not out to prove their work is terrible. I am lucky so far because I have read a few pedestrian books, but I have not read any truly terrible books.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

I'm not nasty but I don't consider myself nice.

I also do not offer “constructive criticism” as that should occur prior to publishing, not after. I am not reaching out to the author for correction or discussion in any way.

My reviews can be critical but they are always from [this] reader’s POV. The audience for my reviews are not authors (yet again, that should happen prior to publishing) but the reader who thinks and reads like me. So, mostly for me and my friends/family. I do not think about the “internet” or “GR users” at large. Instead I focus on my interests and the interests of my [own] audience.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

Allison wrote: "Ha! I am a very picky reader. My TBR is only books I feel comfortable embarking upon--there are no surprises in my list (Those are all on a separate shelf of recommendations I'm iffy about). And if you have seen any of my reviews, I could place in the Nitpicker Championships. But I try not to make judgments anymore (ex. I don't think I've called any book on GR garbage! I think I'm growing as a person!), and if I dislike something I try to pinpoint what it was that bothered me so that I'm not making generalizations.

I totally agree though that honesty is critical. And TBH I bet those SPAs would actually prefer a low rating with a well-articulated review than nothing. I just also think hard about what I'm gonna say, and whether or not I really didn't like something or if I'm being a cranky stickler (usually it is both ^^). I've been on the internet long enough, I do not want the Rage Machine focusing its evil eye on me.

LOL

I wish my book lists were that tailored. Instead my TBR is slam packed full of the latest SHINY. O_O

My Mt. TBR is a lot more curated. Thank God. But it, too, is full of sequel SHINY.

I swear, I'm like a squirrel, lol.


TBR = just interested and will try
Mt. TBR = books i actually own

[Papaphilly]

MrsJoseph wrote: "I'm not nasty but I don't consider myself nice.

I also do not offer “constructive criticism” as that should occur prior to publishing, not after. I am not reaching out to the author for correction..."

My mistake, I misread what you wrote. I read it that your niece wanted you read her friends works and I thought that meant prior to publication.

I too review about what I think and how I enjoyed a book. What I try to do is give a potential reader and idea why they may want to try the book in question. I do not decide if it is well written or has mistakes. It is about if I enjoyed the book.

[Sarah]

I'm flat refusing to read a book a friend wrote just in case I don't like it.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Most of my author friends are romance novelists, and while I believe them to be good romance novels, I could die happy if I never had to read the words phallus or mons in a work of fiction ever again.

No such joy, however. I will keep reading these things as they are presented to me, and repeat "I love my friends dearly" every time I read words only found in this genre, sort of like immersion therapy, except that I'm sure that's a terrible innuendo and I don't wanna go there.

[Papaphilly]

Sarah Anne wrote: "I'm flat refusing to read a book a friend wrote just in case I don't like it."

A friend of mine wrote a book of poetry. I am not a fan of poetry and I did not understand most of hers either. I did like a few of them and told her so and she appreciated it. It was hard conversation.

[carol.]

Sarah Anne wrote: "I'm flat refusing to read a book a friend wrote just in case I don't like it."

Ditto. Although a couple of times, I read the works on the down low, not putting them on my status or adding to my shelves or anything, only adding after I finished and enjoyed.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

Papaphilly wrote: "MrsJoseph wrote: "I'm not nasty but I don't consider myself nice.

I also do not offer “constructive criticism” as that should occur prior to publishing, not after. I am not reaching out to the aut..."

That's my mistake - I used "aspiring" when I should have written something like IDK... I was trying to say for sale but completely unread (except friends/family).

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

Allison wrote: "Most of my author friends are romance novelists, and while I believe them to be good romance novels, I could die happy if I never had to read the words phallus or mons in a work of fiction ever aga..."

I'm such a moody reader and I'm hard to predict. I...don't even like to read books that family recommends to me. Which is terrible, terrible and I'm awful because of that. And my cousin has recommended like a stack of books a mile wide and I've tried...none of them.

<.<

>.>

And SHE at least can say that she's read a chapter or two of things I've urgently pressed upon her.

I'm terrible.

[Esther]

MrsJoseph wrote: "I'm terrible..."

Not you are not you just have your own taste in reading.

I feel bad enough when my friends give me the hairy-eyeball because I didn't like a book they all loved.
If I disliked a book written by a friend I would feel like pariah!!!

ETA This is especially problematic because I think my best reviews are the critical ones.
And I can be mean: I have a gag-me-with-a-spoon shelf for real stinkers and a certain book received a one word review - codswallop.

[Esther]

I think GR has made me a better reader.

I love cataloguing stuff and always wanted to keep a book journal but a physical journal just wasn't satisfying. For a start I have terrible handwriting, then I always forgot where I put the journal. After a little while I would decide that I wanted to record different or additional information and would be unhappy with the lack in my previous entries. And then there is the question of a review. Where would I put long reviews that didn't fit in the line entry of the journal??
GR solved all these problems and I love reminiscing over what I read a few years ago and playing with the stats. And shelves!! I have 2 pages worth of shelves and that is only because I have done my best to restrain myself :0)

Also GR encourages me to write a review and putting words on 'paper' helps me sort out my feeling about a book. It makes me think more clearly and examine exactly what I mean.

Most of all GR has given me book-wormy friends with similar tastes. I have become exposed to more current fiction, literary fiction. And in the scifi genre I love so much I have been led to discover new authors and subgenres that I had never heard of before.

[C Patrick]

I went through a slump, or "Readers Block" as I call it for about 2 years. I came out of it around November last year. While I wouldn't say GR has made me a better reader, it has helped me regain some of my passion and I'm back to reading as much as I used to before my slump.

[Robert]

It hasn't helped be a better reader but it has made it extremely easy to find plenty of good books to read.

[Cheryl]

:smiles:
*plenty* is the word for it, eh...

[Jacqueline]

Yeah nah it hasn’t made me a better reader. It has helped me find new books to read and put me in touch with people who have the same tastes as me though which is what makes it so brilliant. I hadn’t read in so long I had no idea where to start when I did get back into it.

I was lucky that, at the time my interest was being piqued by Stephen King’s Sleeping Beauties last October, my friend was commenting on Goodreads posts on Facebook and it was showing up in my feed. I liked the Goodreads page and found my way here and the rest is history.

I’ve gone from no books to 43 this year already. And I’m doing the Popsugar and Around the Year challenges as well as being a member of a number of bookclubs on here. Just joined a newie on here this morning. Goodreads is the first thing I open of a morning. Facebook is way down the list now.

[Tina]

I joined GR back in 2010. I can’t say for sure how much I read in a year before then, but I’m guessing an average year was 25-50. I didn’t read much differently for the first several years on GR, not until I discovered the wonderful world of audiobooks in 2016.

I am now much more willing to abandon a book if I hate it. Seeing that there are literally hundreds of books I want to get to makes it a lot easier. I’m not sure if GR gets the credit for that or if it’s just because I’m getting older.

[Beth]

I think it's made me a better reader. I read more books, my reading is more diverse (in any sense of the word), and writing reviews has been a good way to organize my thoughts.

[Cheryl]

I like your definition of "better" and agree, Beth. :)

I think some of the ppl who say 'no' to the base question have a different definition of 'better.' I definition that I happen to disagree with. I think if they chose to use my definition, or Beth's, that their answers would actually be 'yes.' ;)

[Papaphilly]

Maybe the question should be does Goodreads make you read more...

[Anna]

Beth wrote: "I think it's made me a better reader. I read more books, my reading is more diverse (in any sense of the word)"

For me this is also true, but GR is just one part of it. The whole online book community is what's helping me be a better reader, and that also includes blogs, Twitter, Booktube, etc. Simply it's the people who are doing it, and GR is often making it harder to find those people/discussions.

[Sarah]

I’m also surprised at the number of people saying no. For one thing I’m much more conscious of what I read- whether that is trying to be inclusive of authors in the minority, genre, etc. I’m reading more books that make me think rather than books for mindless entertainment (though to be sure- I still definitely read these), and I’m reading more analytically- which is helped along by group and buddy reads.

In my non-digital life, I have few people I can discuss books with, but here I find myself reading for questions I can ask others or trying to pick up on overall themes or symbolism, and I love when another reader picks up on something totally different from me and challenges all my assumptions.

And even if I’m not reading with a group- I find myself combing through reviews and trying to see what other people got from a book, especially if they had a different opinion.

Lastly- book challenges! I love reading challenges (too much). So I think joining those also pushes me to read more than I might otherwise.

[Kateb]

Papaphilly wrote: "Maybe the question should be does Goodreads make you read more..."
yes I like that interpretation better. I read a wider variety now, since various people suggest books that I probably wouldn't have tried.

I was surprised with Sarah's comment , it sounded so like my sister's comment when we stopped swapping books. If she doesn't learn or find something new in a book she wont read it.

To me a book is to entertain, so I like to be entrenched in the story. I really need to be "woken" up to stop me reading something. I read enough science and computer journals to learn things

[Sarah]

Kateb wrote: "Papaphilly wrote: "Maybe the question should be does Goodreads make you read more..."
yes I like that interpretation better. I read a wider variety now, since various people suggest books that I pr..."

I actually read lots of books for purely entertainment reasons! I was just saying I also enjoy when a book is both entertaining and makes you think.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

And even entertainment books can have things to discuss. Dresden fans can talk for hours about the stuff going on, and that's my favorite flavor of popcorn. Symbols, themes, science may not really show up much, but character growth, throwaway clues and all that comes from that discussion can benefit from "active" reading. Sort of like the difference between humming along to a song on the radio and knowing what all the words mean/what the artist was singing about.

I definitely read more, think more, and have broadened my horizons. In the bad ol' days, though I read a lot as a kid, it was hard to find new stuff, so I read "deep" into an author's bibliography. Now I'm reading wider, and while I'll always have my favorites, I think it helps me be able to engage as a reader--my frame of reference has broadened, I can see the connections better and understand the viewpoints of other readers more easily because I now share a language with them from having read some of the same books. So yeah. GR helps push me out of my comfort zone, explore, engage, and consider things more readily, even if the thing I'm considering is just the fandom :)

[Michael]

Sarah wrote: "I’m also surprised at the number of people saying no. For one thing I’m much more conscious of what I read- whether that is trying to be inclusive of authors in the minority, genre, etc. I’m readin..."
I'd really have to say I'm in the "no" category. I find Goodreads a great tool for finding new books to read, and for talking to people who share my interests (like many others, I don't have many people in real life to talk to about my reading).

On the other hand, I don't read fiction to raise my social conciseness, nor do I pick authors to meet some arbitrary ethnic or gender based quota. I've read books authored by women since I was a teen, not because they were women (Andre Norton, C J Cherryh, Ursula K. Le Guin, Elizabeth Moon, Anne McCaffrey, Mercedes Lackey, etc.) but because they were good books that I enjoyed. I'll read minority authors for the same reason, not because I feel an obligation to do so.

That does not mean I criticize people who do want to specifically read authors of specific genders or ethnic backgrounds. I have my tastes in readings and they are entitled to theirs.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

I honestly feel I am less inclined to read outside my comfort zone since joining GR.

I have to deliberately force myself to do so now - via challenges and the like - where as before GR I used to just pick up books that looked interesting. Now I feel the need to look up reviews and see what other people said, etc.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Michael wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I’m also surprised at the number of people saying no. For one thing I’m much more conscious of what I read- whether that is trying to be inclusive of authors in the minority, genre, e..."


It is interesting that you reference gender or ethnicity as a "taste" in reading! I like reading things in SFF, especially certain subgenres like soft sci fi and epic fantasy. The author's immutable qualities don't change my tastes. Often, however, their viewpoints from being outside the majority add spice to my favorite dishes (or give me new things to be cranky about!).

[Sarah]

MrsJoseph wrote: "I honestly feel I am less inclined to read outside my comfort zone since joining GR.

I have to deliberately force myself to do so now - via challenges and the like - where as before GR I used to ..."

This is an interesting point. I can see how joining book clubs, or making GR friends with people who share similar tastes could also work to limit your options or exposure to outside genres.

I also look at reviews but I take them all with a grain of salt. There's some stuff I love that I know other people despise- and there's some stuff I can't stand that I know other people love. A lot of the "classics" are good examples of this.

[Alondra]

Penny wrote: "I've been pondering this question for some time because for me the answer is a resounding yes.

I discovered this site about a year ago and although I wasn't very active at first, that gradually c..."

Not necessarily a better reader; but just maybe it has.

I mean, I have been exposed to many more authors/works; learned that I can read what I want and don't have to read what I "should." I have a better appreciation for what I do read.

I also realized that I am more diverse than I thought, even though separating books into genre's doesn't make too much sense to me. Either a book is good or its not, either it draws you in or it doesn't. Ya' know???

[Tomas]

I don't think it made me a better reader. It made me think more about the books for writing reviews, yes, but that doesn't feel like making me a better reader.
The thing that made me more active was switching to e-books (which introduced me to GR). GR gives me tools for tracking it and be a bit social about it.

[Lars]

How do we define “better” ?, better than what.

What I can say for sure is that GR has made me a more conscious and critical reader.

I’m more aware why I read, both for relaxing (killing time) or expanding my horizon and uses my to-read list to choose the next book accordingly.

Reviews from friends or people I follow are priceless to identify new books and avoid the worst mistakes.

Finally I’m far more likely do drop books if they don’t live up to my expectations as there are so many promising ones on the to-read list.

[Kateb]

Michael wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I’m also surprised at the number of people saying no. For one thing I’m much more conscious of what I read- whether that is trying to be inclusive of authors in the minority, genre, e..."

I think Michael and Mrs Joseph have both expressed my view , "better" than I did.

I used to go to a library and wander around, now I look for specific authors suggested by GR. Does this make me a better reader, I don't think so. In fact I have expanded a little into the teenage stuff, a bit into "hard " scifi recommended by Trike . I rarely read or write reviews.

[Jacqueline]

Yeah I know where you’re coming from Michael. Alison it’s a big thing over in some of the other bookclubs. There is a big push to read more by POC or LGBTQ+ or by women or people of a different ethnic background and books featuring this diverse range of people. And there’s a lot of prompts in the challenges that ask for books containing each of these diversities. And there are so many comments from people saying they want to read more by and about POC and LGBTQ+ people.

Popsugar even has a thread where you can track your diversity in reading. When I first saw the thread I thought yeah I’m diverse....I read every genre. Then I opened it and there were stats for gender and whether the books were set in different countries and the sexual persuasion of the characters.

I’m not knocking this need to read books by and about different people I’m just telling you about it but it is a big thing.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Haha! We have a Bingo about reading more inclusively, too :) We're in the wave! People can read how and what they want (though I will always encourage more visibility--people getting to know more about me and my loved ones makes it safer for us to be here!), I am just interested in classifying books by women, say, as a "taste" in reading. I tend to think of taste to mean qualities of the books, not the authors.

[Jacqueline]

Yeah I get confused about the Bingos and other games played in some of these bookclubs. To many to keep track of. I don’t actually do any challenges from this bookclub at all. I just like to read about what sci-fi and fantasy people are reading. The only ones I do are Popsugar and AtY even though I am a member of a fair few others.

I’m all for people reading about other people in their society. Maybe one day everyone will work out that the best way is to be nice to everyone. A nice Middle-Eastern man once said it in a book I read somewhere. One that a lot of racist homophobic jerks claim to have read (or have had read to them) too. Obviously there was no understanding there eh.

I’m just a little sceptical (and yeah I am a bit of a conspiracy theorist...) of some of the “oh I have to read more x, y and z”. Some of them are so obviously jumping on the bandwagon of whatever the current “it” thing is. Hopefully they do read more and actually learn something from it. As I said I’m all for making this world a nicer, safer place.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I can agree there, Jacqueline!

Goodreads is great for finding books to challenge or comfort, as needed, and I do think I've benefited from that aspect of it.

[Plaidchuck]

It's definitely pushed me to read more in sheer volume, and I've learned to appreciate breezy recreational reading instead of reading just one classic after another. I've learned that some books can just be fun without teaching something or philosophizing.

The review system is a bit sub-par to me and I'm skeptical when I see pretty much universal classics on here with a lower score. There's a lot of bandwagoning and outrage culture which is just unavoidable on social media I suppose. You do get pretty savvy on separating the wheat and chafe when it comes to reviewers.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Gary wrote: "The review system is a bit sub-par to me and I'm skeptical when I see pretty much universal classics on here with a lower score."


I'm often one of the people giving low scores to "universal classics". I often wonder what makes something a classic. I mean, sure, some classics stand the test of time... but some are just things that I think people feel like they're supposed to like because they're told that it's a "classic" and so people are like, "I can't dislike LotR. It's a classic!"

Pish.

[Sarah]

colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "Gary wrote: "The review system is a bit sub-par to me and I'm skeptical when I see pretty much universal classics on here with a lower score."


I'm often one of the people giving low scores to "un..."

I feel exactly the same about classics.

[Michael]

Allison wrote: "It is interesting that you reference gender or ethnicity as a "taste" in reading!"
Maybe "taste" wasn't the right word, but rather preferences or interests?

I also agree that reading books from different viewpoints than my own can be interesting and enlightening.

[Beth]

Michael wrote: "I also agree that reading books from different viewpoints than my own can be interesting and enlightening."

And entertaining, in addition to being interesting and enlightening. I've found new favorites by stepping outside writers who fall under my own demographic.