Writer Sanctum

Corporate Sector => What are Amazon doing now? [Public] => Topic started by: APP on December 20, 2023, 01:34:05 AM

Title: is the book world turning against Goodreads?
Post by: APP on December 20, 2023, 01:34:05 AM

Since this article is essentially about Goodreads, I've placed it here even though it touches upon the Cait Corrain fiasco. I'm really disappointed in Amazon and how they've let the site deteriorate since they bought it. It had/has such great potential, and yet in many ways it's become a cesspool.

‘It’s totally unhinged’: is the book world turning against Goodreads?
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/dec/18/goodreads-review-bombing

Title: Re: is the book world turning against Goodreads?
Post by: Post-Doctorate D on December 20, 2023, 03:51:46 AM

I am pretty sure I stopped using Goodreads before Amazon bought them so, IMO, the site was deteriorating before Amazon bought them and Amazon didn't do anything to improve it.

Title: Re: is the book world turning against Goodreads?
Post by: cecilia_writer on December 20, 2023, 07:19:40 PM

I've never been very keen on Goodreads - I find it difficult to navigate and I only go there to look for bad reviews of books I didn't like, to see if anyone else disliked the same things. Though occasionally I've seen terrible reviews of books I did like too, and have been aghast at how violently some people express their views.

Title: Re: is the book world turning against Goodreads?
Post by: LilyBLily on December 21, 2023, 05:03:23 AM

I list my books on Goodreads and then walk away. Not a safe place for authors.

Title: Re: is the book world turning against Goodreads?
Post by: Jeff Tanyard on December 21, 2023, 07:12:44 AM

Goodreads is for readers, not authors.

My advice is to just leave it be.

Title: Re: is the book world turning against Goodreads?
Post by: APP on January 23, 2024, 02:44:55 AM

For those of you that make use of Goodreads, but are disappointed in how it continues to go downhill, this article in the Washington Post (you may encounter a paywall) describes four alternatives.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/01/22/book-tracking-apps-review-goodreads-alternative/

Title: Re: is the book world turning against Goodreads?
Post by: Bill Hiatt on January 23, 2024, 11:56:43 PM

Typically, major Amazon fixes happen only after a lot of bad press, so if there is more public criticism, Amazon might do something.

As others have said, though, it's for readers. Its only sin in that regard was that it pretended to be for authors, too.

Title: Re: is the book world turning against Goodreads?
Post by: APP on February 18, 2024, 02:33:50 AM

Another reason for authors to stay away from Goodreads.

‘God forbid that a dog should die’: when Goodreads reviews go bad
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/17/god-forbid-that-a-dog-should-die-when-goodreads-reviews-go-bad

Title: Re: is the book world turning against Goodreads?
Post by: Lynn on February 20, 2024, 02:41:22 PM

Quote from: APP on February 18, 2024, 02:33:50 AM

Another reason for authors to stay away from Goodreads.

‘God forbid that a dog should die’: when Goodreads reviews go bad
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/17/god-forbid-that-a-dog-should-die-when-goodreads-reviews-go-bad

Good article. :D Personally, I often don't even remember that Goodreads exists.