Goodreads 101 - How do I do [blank]

[Sandra, Moderator]

You are welcome! I was so happy when I finally got how it works...

[Joan]

I was wondering how to limit the size of my to-read pile. Everytime I log onto YLTO I end up adding more books.

[Cherie]

Joan wrote: "I was wondering how to limit the size of my to-read pile. Everytime I log onto YLTO I end up adding more books."

Good luck with that!!! I haven't figured out how yet, but you are in great company here.
It is not just YLTO - all of the groups and sites are just as likely to ADD to your TBR list. ^-^

[Sandra, Moderator]

Lol, hard one, Joan!

[Joan]

Is there an easy way to search a single discussion thread? For example in the March monthly challenge Janice paired each of us with someone else - I want to search the discussion for posts by my partner and for posts that have instructions for me personally - I tried the search function but it seemed to cover all of YLTO

[Janice, Moderator]

Like you say, the search covers the entire group. You can only filter by topic title or body. You can't select a thread and search it.

I think the way you handled it in the thread was your best alternative.

[Joan]

Is there a way to browse a particular member's reviews on the app? For example, is there a link to browse reviews written by Sarah?

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm the last one to ask about the app. I would think if you are following someone, you should get their reviews on the update feed, even on the app.

[Dawn]

Other than that your only option would be to click on a link to the person you want, usually from a comment they've posted, the name is always a link. Then you can look at their books and sort them by review. I don't think there is a way to search out a specific review though.

[Sarah]

I guess it depends on whether you want to see past reviews someone has done or whether you want to be kept up to date with their future reviews. Or both. If it's past reviews, then Dawn's strategy is best then you can work your way through the reviews they've posted. If you are interested in future reviews, then following them as Janice mentioned is the way to go.

[Cherie]

Hi Joan,

If you click on someone's name, in the on-line site, you can find a link to their reviews (it indicates how many reviews they have under their avatar). In the mobile apps (Android and Apple), I cannot see this feature.

[Joan]

Thanks for the helpful advice. I was able to find reviews by Cherie and Dem. Both were helpful.

[Cherie]

I have followed Dem's reviews for many years. Most of her books go on my TBR list.

[Joan]

Is there a way to find discussions about a particular book?

[Sandra, Moderator]

I'm not sure in the app, but in the webpage you can find discussions going down in a book main page.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Just checked, Joan, and yes. It is the last thing you have, below the community reviews, under the "discuss this book" title.

[Joan]

thanks I never scrolled that far down.

[Joan]

I know many in YLTO belong to several groups. I'm looking for a group that enjoys "homework" & "lit class" discussions. I like thinking about symbolism, allusions to other books, foreshadowing as I read; I can't help it but I understand that many do not. Can anyone point me towards a like-minded group of book-moles?

[Sandra, Moderator]

None of the groups I join or have joined in the past are like that, Joan. I'm sorry I can't help.

[Cherie]

I am sorry, Joan, I do not know of any groups specifically like that either. I looked and there are 100 pages of Group names in Listopia. Like Sandra, none of the groups I am a member of is specifically like what you are looking for either. Janice and Rusalka or Jenny may have a better idea. I understand what you are talking about, and some of our group and buddy read discussions touch on some if it, but not many and not all of the time. It really depends on who is reading and participating in the discussion. I have to laugh about foreshadowing. I only found out what this means not too long ago, when I was participating in a buddy read with Janice and Sarah and a few others. We talked a little about it during the Agatha Christie group read, I think. I think many of the members of YLTO, really are capable of being as like-minded as you want, but we don't take the time.

[Janice, Moderator]

I don't have any suggestions for other groups. Why not pick a book, set up a buddy read stating your intentions? You may find others here in this group wanting to get into an in-depth discussion.

[Joan]

Janice wrote: "I don't have any suggestions for other groups. Why not pick a book, set up a buddy read stating your intentions? You may find others here in this group wanting to get into an in-depth discussion."

Janice,
thank you for the suggestion - I'll work on that. Is there a way to tell if a book is on the to-read list of other YLTO members?

[Cherie]

Joan, if you click on any member's name, GR takes you to their page. (I am not sure if you have to be friends or not.) At least, if I click on your name, I can see your lists and there are several tools for comparison. If I click on your to-read-list, there is a "compare books" selection at the top. It says "Your tastes are 71% similar for the books you both rated. Here are 100 books you have in common". I clicked on the comparison of 100 books and can see your rating vs my rating, if the book has been read. Pretty neat, really.

Of course, this is for the on-line internet version. The mobile app doesn't do this. If you click on a specific book in your TBR list, it will show you a list of members and how they have the book marked - read or to-be-read and of course reviews, if there is one; else star rating.

[Janice, Moderator]

I think Cherie is right. The only way that I know of is to peruse others' shelves, providing they don't have their profile set to private.

[Mariab]

Joan wrote: "Janice wrote: "I don't have any suggestions for other groups. Why not pick a book, set up a buddy read stating your intentions? You may find others here in this group wanting to get into an in-dept..."

I'm always open for any kind of discussions, and even deep ones (if you don't mind my writing)

[Tejas Janet]

Joan wrote: "I know many in YLTO belong to several groups. I'm looking for a group that enjoys "homework" & "lit class" discussions. I like thinking about symbolism, allusions to other books, foreshadowing as I..."

Joan, you might take a look at All About Books. I sometimes participate there, and the discussions do seem to be along the lines that you express interest in. However, I enjoy your posts and discussion here so please don't go away : )

I agree with Janice that many here are probably open to more in-depth discussion - especially if that intention is stated from the beginning. Any book ideas for a buddy read?? I'm open to participating.

[Casceil]

Following up on what Cherie said in message 134, something I did not know until recently. When you do "compare books" on someone else's page, the default setting is to show you some limited number of books ranked by "inverse popularity." This tends to include a lot of books that one or the other of you has listed as to be read, but hasn't read yet. If you find the spot just above the list on the right where is says "inverse popularity," and click on the arrow next to it, you can get the books ranked by rating, which compares mostly books you have both rated. I find that selection much more informative. The list will also show links to any reviews the other person has written for anything on the list.

As for finding more in-depth discussions, I think there are a number of people in the group who are open to that idea, and the thing to do would be to organize a buddy read for a particular book you are interested in, and tell people up front that is how you want to discuss the book.

[Joan]

Thank you all for your suggestions and kind words. Now i can use the compare command to identify potential books for the buddy read.

[Mariab]

Casceil wrote: "Following up on what Cherie said in message 134, something I did not know until recently. When you do "compare books" on someone else's page, the default setting is to show you some limited number ..."

That is a very useful information, Casceil, thanks!

[Cherie]

Yes, Casceil. Rating is better. I clicked on your name and we share 78%.

Joan, we share 83%.

I think Janice and I are only 67%. Not surprised about that.

Long day at work. I didn't have any extra time to look at others.

[Joan]

Cherie, more importantly I've enjoyed nearly 100% of the books you recommended!

[Janice, Moderator]

To the right of the "inverse popularity" there are a few drop down menus, and you can select "read". That way you're comparing the books you've read. Then it doesn't matter whether you pick "inverse popularity" or "rating".

When I go to your page Cherie, it tells me we are 75% compatible.

[Janice, Moderator]

Oh, and if you click on "book compatibility test" which is just above those drop down menus, you get a detailed break down by genre.

[Cherie]

Janice wrote: "To the right of the "inverse popularity" there are a few drop down menus, and you can select "read". That way you're comparing the books you've read. Then it doesn't matter whether you pick "invers..."

I think it depends on which shelf you choose, Janice.
I just looked again and if I compare our READ books we are 82% compatible. If I compare our To-Read, it says 0%.
For the invers popularity rating of our common books, you were correct. I think the numbers change every day - who knows?

[Cherie]

Joan wrote: "Cherie, more importantly I've enjoyed nearly 100% of the books you recommended!"

I am glad Joan!

[Cherie]

Mariab and I are 75% compatible, but my star rating on most of the books the tool compared that we have read, my *s were more than hers. She is tough and I am probably too "giving", LOL!

[Mariab]

Cherie wrote: "Mariab and I are 75% compatible, but my star rating on most of the books the tool compared that we have read, my *s were more than hers. She is tough and I am probably too "giving", LOL!"
Yes, LOL!!!

[Cherie]

Well, that was dumb. Of course for To-Read, the number would be 0%, because we haven't read or rated them, duh.

Rusalka and I are 77%. Okay - I'm going home and read my book!
I'm in the 2nd chapter of The Bone People. Reading Maori speak is even harder than reading Aussie!

[Janice, Moderator]

I don't hold a lot of faith in the comparison figures. I'm not sure what's in the algorithm to determine the figure. I just know by reading my friends' reviews which ones have similar tastes.

[Pauline]

I've been a member for awhile now, but I still don't know what the rules are for Topplers. I have never participated in one.

Also, what do people mean by saying they are gophering? :)

Pauline R.

[Cherie]

Hi Pauline,

Gophering means they are looking for books.

Topplers come in two types here at YLTO. There is a 24hr individual one every two months, and one that is a week long, which is usually a team event. August was a 24 hr one, and the next weekly team event will be in September. Both usually have a theme that determines what books you will read. Our August toppler had a baseball theme.

You will be seeing more discussions about the September toppler soon.

[Janice, Moderator]

Check out this thread. We call it "Glossing the Glossary. You'll likely find terms to all sorts of things. :)

[Sarah]

A small correction, there isn't a Toppler in September -- they are bi-monthly so the next one will be in October.

[Cherie]

Thanks for keeping me in line, Sarah. :)

[Janice, Moderator]

Someone has to keep you in line, Cherie! LOL! Instead of mods, just call us keepers. :)

[Joan]

This is not a Goodreads question but I need some help:
I want to download a version of Stephen Fry reading Eugene Onegin
He posted a twitter about it being free at the site fryreadsonegin.com but that site does not exist.
I found some excerpts on https://soundcloud.com/oupacademic/pa... and on YouTube
Amazon does not have it.
Can anyone suggest a place I should look?

[Joan]

I'm having a problem with the GR app on an IPad mini, some words go missing a the ends of lines in other people's posts.
Do I need to change some setting on my iPad?

[Sandra, Moderator]

It happens the same to me, Joan. It is not something new. I have noticed it a few months ago. I couldn't find a solution, not even a reason, since it is really aleatory.

[Joan]

Thanks Sandra

[Carol]

Joan wrote: "This is not a Goodreads question but I need some help:
I want to download a version of Stephen Fry reading Eugene Onegin
He posted a twitter about it being free at the site fryreadsonegin.com but t..."

If he posted a Tweet identifying tha site, I recommend replying to that Tweet with a message that says, "it's not at this site. Where is it available?" I am not being facetious. As a frequent Twitter user, I'm accustomed to other users engaging with Tweets,Mao,stems by pointing out URLs that don't work. In any event, that seems like the most straightforward solution, at least to my mind.