You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
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Goodreads 101 - How do I do [blank]
I understood what you were saying. I was thinking that perhaps, by blocking an author, you wouldn't see his books in recommendations. I guess, you could click on "not interested" and eventually the algorithm would pick up on it.
Janice wrote: "I understood what you were saying. I was thinking that perhaps, by blocking an author, you wouldn't see his books in recommendations. I guess, you could click on "not interested" and eventually the..."I have tried to click it, but the rec. in the browse button has not such a comand, only the rec. in the rec. page has one. And the darn book never appears there...
Thanks Janice, nonetheless!I think, I must endure PC like a stone by the neck...
Mariab, if you have read any of his books, have you tried giving it a one star rating? Maybe that way the algorithm will learn that you don’t like his writing style.
Are you on a PC? Then there should be a link underneath the book. There's a "want to read" button , under that star ratings, and under that in itty bitty type is "not interested".You don't like the full website? Maybe it's a matter of what you get used to. The app on my cell phone and table doesn't have full functionality which frustrates me.
Janice wrote: "Are you on a PC? Then there should be a link underneath the book. There's a "want to read" button , under that star ratings, and under that in itty bitty type is "not interested"..."only in the main rec. page, but not in the "browse"
I do like the full web site, I seldom use the app
I'm not sure what you mean, then. I go to "Browse" on the menu, and then Recommendations on the drop down menu. Is that what you are talking about?
Mariab wrote: "Thanks Janice, nonetheless!I think, I must endure PC like a stone by the neck..."
URGH
Like here Janice?
Exactly, Rusalka. Thanks for posting that.
Janice wrote: "I'm not sure what you mean, then. I go to "Browse" on the menu, and then Recommendations on the drop down menu. Is that what you are talking about?"By only putting the cursor over "browser", but not clicking neither of the sub-buttons which are there, always appear (automatically) a window with one recommended book for each category you have given as your favorites in GR (I have classic, Art, Food and so). And THERE is always one book from Paulo C. When I click the Recommendations buttonin the "Browse", and get the page for it (where I can un-like it or mark it as "Not Interested",) there is no such book any more from Paulo Coelho.
I use to look only in the little window an not in the entire page, because is quickly and easier
I never look at those. From what I've just seen, they look to me to be more random "most read this week" by genre rather than recommendations. They may be based on the genres you have specified in your favourite genres. Remember, genres are crowdsourced, and The Alchemist is shelved as Classic by 3500 users so that's why it keeps coming up.
No Paulo Coelho... please... I feel for you...
Rusalka wrote: "Urgh. Just Urgh."Is that to the comment about crowdsourcing? Drives me bonkers too. How is a book that was published in 1988 considered a classic?
Janice wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "Urgh. Just Urgh."Is that to the comment about crowdsourcing? Drives me bonkers too. How is a book that was published in 1988 considered a classic?"
I thought "classic" books referred to books of a certain age but when I (briefly) joined a classic books group this was their definition.
"A classic is a book accepted as being exemplary or noteworthy, for example through an imprimatur such as being listed in a list of great books, or through a reader's personal opinion. " Wiki
One group read that really surprised me was The Stand
I've seen that controversy about classics before, and I just do not get it. Someone defined a classic as a nook that although it was written long ago, it is still updated in some way, it still "talks" to the readers. I agree. For me a classic has to pass the test of time. I am lot saying 200 years, but still.
Another genre that has debates over the definition is Historical Fiction. Some apply a wide brush and say that any book set at least 50 years or great earlier than the time of writing is HF. I'm a bit more of a purist and add that it must be about a historical event or person, or at a minimum give a strong feel for the time period. I'd go with Sandra's definition of Classic - a book that passes the test of time. People may expect books like The Alchemist or The Stand to pass the test of time, but there's no way to really know that.
It's distinguishing between "a classic" and "classics" - that is where the confusion lies. So "a classic" can be any age, read by many, made reference to in pop culture and something than many people rave about. "Classics" are of a certain age. I like a classic but don't get on with classics.
I'm inclined to agree with you guys but it a confusing area. The group I was in was called "catching up on classics" so maybe thats why they took the broader view.
Janice wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "Urgh. Just Urgh."Is that to the comment about crowdsourcing? Drives me bonkers too. How is a book that was published in 1988 considered a classic?"
It was about having Paulo Coelho shoved in your face every day. I can't imagine much worse.
But I completely agree with your point, and all the discussion since.
Good point, Sarah.HF is another one that brings controversy. I agree with you, Janice. I know it is also discussed if a book has to be written as a HF, or if a book that was contemporary at the moment but it is "old" now it is still historical fiction because of the sense of the time that brings.
I used to get all anal about it, but finally decided to live and let live. Or, define and let define. Or, you worry about your stuff, I'll worry about mine. It's just not worth it to get into heated discussions over definitions.
Exactly. I label my books the way it works for me, and that is it.
Okay, I am going crazy over this, and I think it will be useful for everyone now with the 2018 challenge. So. Does anyone know how to search for books by setting?If you look at a book, it may have setting information in the edition info. And these are clickable links. Like so:
Which is great if you just finished a book in Egypt and you want to read more in Egypt. Because when you click those links you get this:
Which only shows you the setting you clicked on, with no ability at all to search. This seems like something you should be able to do, as all the information is in the system, you just have to have a search engine that finds it. Anyone found it? I have a vague memory from years ago, but I can't remember.
I tried googling, which gave me "Setting Book Lists" (lists being the operative word) and that took me down into the Listopia rabbit hole. But I thought I would give it a go. So clicked on one and found the tags:
Click on the country I want, in this instance India, and it gives you other lists that are tagged with the same setting, but not the individual books. Which is great if you are after Indian books in this instance, I'd head to the first list here:
But where this falls down is the other list, Best South Asian Fiction. So the list is tagged with India, and there will be Indian books on there, but I have to click into each individual book (possibly hundreds) to see if it is set in India, or in The Kite Runner's case, Afghanistan.
LONG WINDED, SORRY. But essence is, has anyone found an easy way to search by setting?
There are hidden lists in Goodreads that you have to find backdoors for. I wish they'd have a site map or something. When you find a book that shows "setting" and click on it, you will go to that setting's page. Clicking on a setting of Egypt will take you here - https://www.goodreads.com/places/17-e...
If you backspace in the URL field removing /17-egypt, you'll go to the lists of all settings:
https://www.goodreads.com/places
It is cumbersome because there are many pages and no search function.
Thank you!! That's the page I remember from about a year ago, and I could not find it to save my life. But it annoys me no end. All this data. Could make a really useful, savvy, search tool for users. But no. More interested in collecting our data to sell than making a service that gives us access to the collected data.
/rant over. Just would have saved me a day.
The tool that counts how many you've read is insisting i havn't read any. I think it is the way i have up my challenge bookshelf. Can anyone help?
Did you specify 2018-astrological-challenge as your shelf when you indicated the number of books you wanted to read for the challenge? Check what you entered and make sure there are no typo's and that you have the dashes in there as well.
Aha! I didn't realise it had to be exact text. I was copying the name of my shelf. Thanks Janice - all fixed :-)
Goodreads Hack: Scan a Book Cover! Just came across this forum post:
https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/9...
Apparently you can scan in a book cover on the app and GR will attempt to find the book in its database / suggest similar covers if it can't
I wonder whether it could be (mis)used to find covers of a certain colour or with specific images
I don't have the app installed at the moment, but I'll try it out later
The barcode scanner is the only reason I have the app installed on my phone. Been using it for years and it's really helpful. Just turn your phone to mute or vibrate before using it, as the android version beeps super loudly like a supermarket scanner, which can make you unpopular in the stacks.
Margo wrote: "Aha! I didn't realise it had to be exact text. I was copying the name of my shelf. Thanks Janice - all fixed :-)"Those required dashes can throw one off if you don't realize their importance. I think it's weird that they exist at all. Glad you have it sorted.
I've used the barcode scanner to make sure I haven't already shelved a book before I buy it. I've bought too many duplicates.
Can anyone tell me, or direct to instructions showing how to post an image on GR?I've tried to follow the instructions in "formatting tips" several times and am obviously doing something wrong.
Margo, I save the image to my laptop, then upload it to https://imgur.com. That website creates the html code and I just click copy, then paste it here. I believe you need to create an account to use the site.
Margo wrote: "Can anyone tell me, or direct to instructions showing how to post an image on GR?I've tried to follow the instructions in "formatting tips" several times and am obviously doing something wrong."
@Margo... I too have requested elsewhere a 'step-by-step', 'character-by-character' walk through for "how to get the $&❅$#@$₪%^* img function to work...
To post pictures, you need a hosting site like photobucket or imgur. Upload the picture to one of these and then copy the link.1. Type < img scr=" (no space after the <)
2. Paste the link (no spaces)
3. Then type "/ > (no spaces)
It will look something like this: < img src="http.website.jpg"/ >
Note, if you use Imgur, you will need to add the extension jpg or jpeg after the link.
It's much easier to use imgur or photobucket like Kristie and Janice say, but you can also link to any image on a webpage.How I do it:
- I click on the link above the box saying (some html is okay) and copy and paste the image code example:
- paste into the comment box.
- find the image I want, right click on it, and select Copy image address
- then in the code in the comment box I replace the website address with the copied link address (just select and paste)
- this bit is the trickier bit. You want to change the width and height of your image by changing the numbers. That bettong photo is wider than it is high, so I will change the numbers to 200 wide and 150 high and see how that goes. You may need to fiddle to get the aspect ratio right, but this gets easier the more you do things as you can eyeball it. And it doesn't have to be perfect, we don't know. I've highlighted the bits I mean.
- hit post (or preview if you are playing with your image size if you wish)
So you can see I stuffed up the numbers there. I haven't fixed it, as I wanted to show you.I've fiddled with the numbers, making it 400 wide which the formatting tips say is the biggest (as it was so small). And then tried 350 which was too tall, and fiddled in preview until I got it right at 250
Awesome, Rusalka. We'll all be experts in no time. I never had any luck in posting pictures from websites. I can perhaps give it a try sometime.
Thank you for sharing Rusalka. I've wondered how pictures are placed into Goodreads and thought it would be very complicated - it took me a number of tries to work out how to do the spoiler thingy!
Rusalka wrote: "So you can see I stuffed up the numbers there. I haven't fixed it, as I wanted to show you.I've fiddled with the numbers, making it 400 wide which the formatting tips say is the biggest (as it wa..."
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.......
This is EXACTLY the teaching experience/assistance I have been hoping for...
Bookmarking ...
would this coincide with imgur too?
Art (Posting elsewhere as Whistler Reads) wrote: "Margo wrote: "Can anyone tell me, or direct to instructions showing how to post an image on GR?I've tried to follow the instructions in "formatting tips" several times and am obviously doing some..."
Glad I'm not the the one baffled by GR helpful hints Art 😂😂 😂
Thanks Kristie, that sounds simple enough 😁
Huh! ... It works ... sorta ...
Thanks, Rusalka!
Seems to work for me, Art!
Kristie, thanks for your help but seems I am technologically challenged! Tried to use the "imgur" app for a few hours this morning and all I got was a head ache. I think I'll just sit this months challenge out :(
Oh, I didn't see page 10 of this thread, sorry all! I will try to get someone to help me read through all of this later and maybe give it another go if my headache clears.
You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
Books mentioned in this topic
The Stand (other topics)The Alchemist (other topics)
The Picture of Dorian Gray (other topics)
The Picture of Dorian Gray (other topics)
The Picture of Dorian Gray (other topics)
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Ok. I may not have made myself understandable: I always check the recs which appear at the "Browse" button, and it is GR itself which always put Coelho there.
The author doesn't send me anything