Play Book Tag discussion
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The new (NOT) improved Book Page
By the way ... When I use Firefox (preferred because of layout ) I am forced into the new book page. BUT, if I use Google Chrome it's still the old book page.
GO figure....
Two things that seem to be missing on the new book page:Giveaway - I got notified via email today of new giveaways on three books on my TBR. But when I checked the book's page for further info ... NO giveaway anywhere that I could find (I've submitted a comment / question through Help and "contact us" ... will keep you posted)
My Activity - used to be you could click on this and go directly to your review page. Easy to then copy that URL to point others to your review. There is no easy way to get there now. You have to click "edit" and then - without changing anything -click SAVE ... you'll then have YOUR review and you can copy the URL to point others directly to your review. S*I*G*H
Regarding the giveaway-I use the Browse section (on the top banner) to get them. The new page on that has been up and permanent for about 6 months now, for me anyway. This is the only page in their whole re-do that I like how it is set up
I am on Safari and got switched to the new format sometime this week. Maybe it's because I have the print a little bigger on my computer, but the book info is giant and I have to scroll a lot more to see details, reviews, etc. And the tag info is weird, why hit more to just see 2-3 more things? For anyone concerned, so far "See All" takes us to the familiar listing of all the tags by number of people. I only do giveaways when I get an email that something in my Want to Read has one. I hadn't won anything for years but in the last few months, I won Babel, or The Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution and All's Well. I don't want to win random books, even for free, I have too many as it is.
Or are you saying that even when you get an email about a giveaway it doesn't take you right to the correct place?
I am not a fan, but will have to figure things out.If you want to find your highlights you need to go to your profile page. I find that a bit inconvenient.
I gave them feedback during the beta phase: I hate the page because there so much waste of space, too big font and secondary information being disproportionately big - e.g. the star rating nearly takes up a whole page where it could be neatly placed below the book cover and the additional info about the vote distribution could be provided if you hover over the star rating. Or the editions, which are of no interest to most people, showing with huge icons on the first page - at the cost of reducing the books description to about 3 lines. Series information or other books by the author are all the way at the bottom of the page (which is a problem when loads are lagging)And the fact that changing my book info (date read, etc) is so well hidden...
I asked for the option to chose the "classic" look. If more people ask for that we might get it.
Sushicat wrote: "I gave them feedback during the beta phase: I hate the page because there so much waste of space, too big font and secondary information being disproportionately big - e.g. the star rating nearly t..."I gave them pretty much the same feedback. I wonder why they want to take up so much room with so little info.
Joy D wrote: "I gave them pretty much the same feedback. I wonder why they want to take up so much room with so little info..."Because they want to "freeze' the book image and the "buy now" button so it's always visible.
Booknblues wrote: "I am not a fan, but will have to figure things out.If you want to find your highlights you need to go to your profile page. I find that a bit inconvenient."
Not highlights, Fran .... I'm looking for my actual review page.
In the old book page my review was shown immediately after the editions with a heading of :
My Activity______________________________________edit_
I could click on "my activity" and go directly to MY review
e.g.: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
Then I could create a link to point other people to that review.
In the new book page there is no such way to get to my review. EXCEPT .... to click the "edit" button and once I'm in the edit review mode just click "save" without changing anything. That will then give me my review page so I grab the url and point people to that review.
OH ...
And in the older version I had a list of my activity ... tags used and the dates I tagged them as such. This info included where in my TBR list the book is (eg: 380th) ... so if I had duplicate editions (a hardcover and a paperback for example), I could delete the one I didn't want pretty easily because I knew WHERE on my tbr list the two editions were.
Joanne wrote: "Regarding the giveaway-I use the Browse section (on the top banner) to get them. The new page on that has been up and permanent for about 6 months now, for me anyway. This is the only page in their..."I went to the browse section but I didn't see the books that they had alerted me to in their e-mail. And didn't feel like scrolling through Lord-only-knows-how-many pages of giveaways to find the three books. I almost never sign up immediately, but usually put a reminder on my calendar to double check in a week or two to see if I'm still interested before I enter the giveaway. When the giveaway opportunity was right up front on the book page it was easy to double check a couple of weeks later. Now I'll have to save the actual giveaway page url.... S*I*G*H
Anyone know how to add books to shelves with the new layout? I just added a book to my TBR but can't seem to figure out how to add it to other shelves. There's no more drop down menu with "Want to Read"... but of course, the button below it is all the ways you can buy it! Yippee, capitalism! 🙄
Heather Reads Books wrote: "Anyone know how to add books to shelves with the new layout? I just added a book to my TBR but can't seem to figure out how to add it to other shelves. There's no more drop down menu with "Want to ..."Heather there is a "Want to read" if it is a new book right below the picture of the book. If you already have it tagged just click on the same box. However you only get your exclusive shelves to come up. I suppose that means you have to go back to "My books" to tag it with misc. tags...ugh this is going to be a pain in the...
Ok I tried it by adding a book-once your tag it to your exclusive shelf, your list of tags pops up
I must not have access to it yet. Everything looks the same to me. I hope it's not as bad as y'all say. LOL.I am frustrated with Goodreads, though. It used to keep me logged in (on computer, not app) for weeks at a time. Now, I'm having to log in multiple times a day!
Book Concierge wrote: "Because they want to "freeze' the book image and the "buy now" button so it's always visible...."Well of course. I should have known it would have to do with sales. That type of thing annoys me so much that it makes me less likely to buy from them.
Once you've added the book to your TBR, the easiest way is to go to My Books to add the other tags. Or... you can scroll down to "My Review", click the 3 dots on the right side, "View All Reading Activity" then "edit" (in grey just above your list of tag)However... before you add the book to your TBR, you'll see a little downward arrow next to "Want To Read". If you click that, a little window will pop up with your exclusive shelf and after you chose one, the rest of your tags will show up (as Joanne said above, post #14)
Jenni Elyse wrote: "I must not have access to it yet. Everything looks the same to me. I hope it's not as bad as y'all say. LOL. ..."I didn't want to say anything because I don't want to jinx it! LOL!
Well we can't say we didn't have plenty of warning it was coming. We had many opportunities to give feedback. I gave feedback early on, and the issues I had then were all fixed. They continued to ask for feedback, and I just wish I spent a little more time on the new pages in order to provide more feedback. It's easy to say "I'll look at it later," and suddenly it's a done deal. Having been on the other side of change projects, I think they handled the process well in terms of communication. I have empathy for them right now. Change is hard for everyone. It's frustrating to be the one asking and waiting for feedback, and it's frustrating to be the one who has to adjust to changes they didn't ask for.
I really like the new genre pages, with all the extra features. However, I dislike that they seem to be shifting from text lists to cover icons. I can't even read most of the titles on the tiny covers. I can do an easy keyword search of a list, but not the covers. I also have issues with the underlying search software, but that's a whole different issue.
Don't feel guilty for not giving more feedback. In several of my GR groups, a lot of people gave a lot of feedback over the months, and it doesn't seem that any of it was considered. I don't know of anyone who liked the new format.In general, GR has no interest in providing features members ask for, for example the ability to give ratings with half-stars. It's understandable that they are making changes in order to maximize sales, but I don't think they should pretend they are responding to our needs or preferences.
Book Concierge wrote: "Two things that seem to be missing on the new book page:Giveaway - I got notified via email today of new giveaways on three books on my TBR. But when I checked the book's page for further info ... NO giveaway anywhere that I could find (I've submitted a comment / question through Help and "contact us" ... will keep you posted) ....."
I got a canned response thanking me for my feedback on the new book page. No answer on where to actually find the giveaway info.
I also got a request to answer a survey on how I liked their response. I DID answer their survey, though I'm sure they will NOT like my response.
Another think that's missing now that I used regularly ..Under the 'my activity' banner, I had a list of tags I'd used ... including the date I added each tag. I really liked that info as it helped me understand how my reactions to a book might have changed over the years as I re-read a particular book. It also clearly pointed out if I had duplicate editions because it would show - for example - paperback edition 'to be read' added 13June2022 (359th) / Hardcover edition 'read' added 08Aug2021.
Everything all say and...I use Chrome as browser across all my devices. All switched me to Beta 2 weeks ago except my laptop and desktop remain original format. I somehow don't think what browser is in use is making the difference. My completely non-technical reasoning for this: Since devices work from apps, I suspect it is app brosers tbat changed first, and now gradually desktop software versions changing.
I made many many feedback comments and not a single one was fixed, changed, adopted. Many were same as we have all commented here. I do not for a second believe they did not get sufficient feedback to make at least some of those changes. It simply does not serve their goals - selling books, especially books they particularly want to sell.
I am particularly irritated to have to scroll through a whole bunch of reviews by people I don't know to get to info I want/need. I also hate that I cannot immediately see ALL my friends' reviews and shelving of a book.
I hate the too big size.
Ever since they put a 100 page limit on shelves you can see and search for tags on each book, you rarely can get past 15 to 20 pages even when there should be 25 or 40 or 100 pages - you get an 'unavailable' message.
Theresa wrote: "Since devices work from apps, I suspect it is app brosers tbat changed first, and now gradually desktop software versions changing...."Seems to me since the new look really appears meant for a phone, they should just use the new look for the app. Leave the site itself as is. But I suppose it's too much work to maintain both.
LibraryCin wrote: "Seems to me since the new look really appears meant for a phone, they should just use the new look for the app. Leave the site itself as is. But I suppose it's too much work to maintain both...."Agree. I do most of my Goodreads on the computer so I can see it and navigate and have a good keyboard.
Funny thing is the app view doesn’t seem to have changed at all. I use the app almost exclusively because I use my phone almost exclusively - I hate the app because its functionality is so limited but it’s almost impossible to read the site if I access it through Safari on the phone. That view also doesn’t seem to have changed. I went into the site on the desktop this evening though and got the new page. It’ll take a while to find my way around for sure.
I agree with the oddity of the balance in some places (outsized font for some things), but overall it’s a slightly fresher look. The spoiler display feature is interesting. I agree that there seem to be more clicks to get to some things though. I’ll get used to it first and then figure out if it’s frustrating or not. Probably round about the time I first write a review lol
I have now been switched to new on jy ltop and desktop.I don't like scrolling down so far to write my review, caused mostly by oversized images and print, but also because info that used to be on the side where it could be ignored has to now be paged through.
I just did 3 reviews and will now comment at that link provided.
On the "My Books" page, I use the "Write a Review" link on the right-hand side of the page in the row the book is located in. Does this still work in the new version? That way it would save all that scrolling. I am definitely going to need a workaround from the scrolling. I get so dizzy the room starts spinning and I have to spend a good amount of time away from the computer before it subsides. (Some sort of inner ear issue, I'm guessing.)
For some strange reason, it seems I've switched back to the old version.I don't know how long it will stay that way.
Anyone else have this happen?
Joy D wrote: "On the "My Books" page, I use the "Write a Review" link on the right-hand side of the page in the row the book is located in. Does this still work in the new version? That way it would save all tha..."Joy - on the My Books page, on far right next to each book is 'edit' and below that 'view'. Edit takes you directly to the write review page. That should do it for you.
Just like I have to do with any new site, with GR changes I will have to work through all the different options and links to see where they take me and what they offer. In fact, just answering Joy's question about the My Books page has helped me find a better way to navigate.
Joanne wrote: "Heather Reads Books wrote: "Anyone know how to add books to shelves with the new layout? I just added a book to my TBR but can't seem to figure out how to add it to other shelves. There's no more d..."Tried it and figured it out with your advice, Joanne, so thank you! Yikes, not very intuitive... don't love how your existing shelves are all horizontally orientated, too, so it's harder to get a look at them alphabetically... yippee.
Theresa wrote: "Joy D wrote: "On the "My Books" page, I use the "Write a Review" link on the right-hand side of the page in the row the book is located in. Does this still work in the new version? That way it woul..."Thanks, Theresa! I was hoping that capability was still there. I haven't gotten the new version yet.
I am back to having to sign in constantly.
Theresa wrote: "I am back to having to sign in constantly."Yes ... sometimes three or four times a day.
Maybe it's because my browser is out of date or something, but I don't see any changes on Goodreads anywhere. Doesn't sound like I'm missing much, though. LOL!
~*Kim*~ wrote: "Maybe it's because my browser is out of date or something, but I don't see any changes on Goodreads anywhere. Doesn't sound like I'm missing much, though. LOL!"My browser is completely up-to-date, and I still don't see the changes everyone's talking about.
My only change is the constant need to log in, even though I have cookies and other stuff enabled.
Book Concierge wrote: "Theresa wrote: "I am back to having to sign in constantly."Yes ... sometimes three or four times a day."
Yes, that's the main problem I'm dealing with right now. It's so annoying!
On the Giveaway info ...Just got a response from a live person who said the reason I couldn't find the Giveaway info on the book's page is because it isn't there (DUH!).
She pointed me to the goodreads giveaways list page.
Problem is ... the three books I was notified about in an email are NOT on that list! I know, because I checked. And I don't want to have to page through however many pages of giveaways to find the one book I want to enter. I use to just be able to go to the book's page and there it was right in front of me. Easy Peasy.
Book Concierge wrote: "On the Giveaway info ...Just got a response from a live person who said the reason I couldn't find the Giveaway info on the book's page is because it isn't there (DUH!).
She pointed me to the go..."
Of course it is not there Tessa, Bezos does not give anything away without you having to look at the advertising that he has paid for 🤬
When I click on the link in the email for a giveaway, it takes me directly to the page where I can enter the giveaway.
Joy D wrote: "When I click on the link in the email for a giveaway, it takes me directly to the page where I can enter the giveaway."Yes, it does. But I rarely enter immediately. I like to think about whether I really want that book and how it fits in my general reading plans. I usually make a note of the title and go back to it a week or so later... simply by looking up the book title.
In the OLD book page, the giveaway info was right there on the book's main page. Now it's not there, and when I looked at the "giveways" page (found by using the "browse" menu) there are OVER 1100 entries on each of the "recent" or "ending" lists. It shows only 15 at a time and there are no pages so I can't skip ahead to page whatever, I have to keep clicking the "more giveways" repeatedly to get another 15 titles. And there's no search function so I can't just look for the title I want.
Also ... I get emails ONLY for books that I already have on my tbr. For years I didn't even bother use the GR tbr list. I prefer my trusty excel spreadsheet. I would enter a giveaway only when I sometimes looked up a book that someone else had reviewed, and would notice a giveaway listed.
Tessa, I know this must be frustrating for a lot of people. I never went to the giveaways the way you did, like Joy, I go directly from the email. I browse the "ending" giveaways when I have time. What you could do for the the ones that are on your TBR is make a folder in your email and put those you get notices about in that folder, and return to them when you have thought it over and have time to get back to it. Not a fix, but something that might work for you. Also, those give ways ending the day you are looking at them are usually a small number. The the hours left on it is bolded in red.
I just looked at the "ending" list ... there are 65 books whose giveaway ends tomorrow, Aug 22 (none end today, Aug 21). The book I'm specifically interested in giveaway doesn't end until Sept 2. After I had clicked the "more giveaways" button TEN times ... I was only at 150 out of 1113 giveaways ... and the ending date was still just this week - Aug 24. I have created a folder in my email so I can save the emails for future reference. Of course, I have to remember to look at them again, so I can get to the link.
And it does nothing to address the issue of learning about a particular book that isn't already on my tbr. If I don't have the book on my tbr I don't get an email notifying me of the giveaway. And if I happen to look at a book because another member's review piqued my interest, or it was on the "readers also enjoyed" list of a book I reviewed, I won't see any giveaway info at all. Because that info is no longer on the book's main page.
Found something else missing from the new book page.If the book is a newer book and doesn't have enough shelves/genres/tags specified to trigger the "more" and "see all" prompts .... there's no way to get to the full page(s) of tags.
This is mostly an issue with very new books or those more obscure titles that few people have shelved.
A good example is A Quiet Life which is schedule to be published in Nov 2022. On the NEW book page it shows only "fiction" and "literary fiction" with no additional prompts to get to additional tags. However, if you are lucky enough to still have access to the OLD book page, you still have the option to click on the "see top shelves..." link which takes you to the expanded - TWO-pages long - list of tags already in use.
Another example of a book that is already published / released - The Elephant Girl. The new book page shows only five tags with no additional prompt. But the OLD book page allows you to "see top shelves..." and, again, you have two pages of tags. BY the way ... the OLD book page shows SIX top tags on the main page, while the new book page shows only five.
I gave feedback about that issue when we were in beta testing but apparently they didn't think it was important enough to fix.
Book Concierge wrote: "A good example is A Quiet Life which is schedule to be published in Nov 2022. On the NEW book page it shows only "fiction" and "literary fiction" with no additional prompts to get to additional tags. However, if you are lucky enough to still have access to the OLD book page, you still have the option to click on the "see top shelves..." link which takes you to the exanded - TWO-pages long - list of tags already in use. ..."Wow, that sucks! I tend to have a number of Canadian books that don't have as many tags that I still want to get to at some point. LT has the tag mash and that's usually what I initially use, but if it's for a game/challenge here and I need to see if GR has it tagged how it needs to be tagged... Booooo, GR!
Book Concierge wrote: "Joy D wrote: "When I click on the link in the email for a giveaway, it takes me directly to the page where I can enter the giveaway."Yes, it does. But I rarely enter immediately. I like to think ..."
What the heck, I just sign up for the giveaway immediately . If I decide I don’t want it, I can always give it to someone else.But generally. I only sign up for books that are on my Want to Read list so I am fine with how they do that.
As far as tags, GR even in the old format was never set up for games like ours. There’s no benefit to them in making it work for us. Although we aren’t the only group that uses tags for challenges/games.
I'm still hanging onto the old format. I feel like I have to tiptoe in and out of Goodreads very quietly so they don't find me.
Jgrace wrote: "I'm still hanging onto the old format. I feel like I have to tiptoe in and out of Goodreads very quietly so they don't find me."Mine keeps going back and forth for some reason. This second, I'm back to the old version.
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Books mentioned in this topic
Crucible of War: The Seven Years' War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754 - 1766 (other topics)Holding the Line: Women in the Great Arizona Mine Strike of 1983 (other topics)
Samba Dreamers (other topics)
A Quiet Life (other topics)
The Elephant Girl (other topics)
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Lots more clicking required to get to the info you want, and some of the info we had easy access to before seems to be missing entirely.