21st Century Literature discussion

For those who may have missed the million messages flying around the site, Goodreads is now officially part of Amazon. Here's the blog post from Otis making the [more or less] official announcement: http://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/41...

We'll keep you posted on anything that may impact the functioning of our group, but for now feel free to shout huzzahs or wave poster boards warning of the impending apocalypse in this thread.

I like Amazon for some things, and I like Goodreads for some things. I hope the marriage (er, sellout or surrender) works out, but I'm not confidant.

http://bostonherald.com/business/busi...

May be of interest. I'm looking forward to what the business magazines are going to say.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi...

Here's another.

I'm planning not to get upset until upsetting things happen.

http://ebookfriendly.com/2013/03/28/h...

http://www.authorsguild.org/advocacy/...

A couple more articles that may be of interest. Note the comments as well as the article for the second one.

Does anyone know a good article that discusses what Goodreads business model has been?

Lily wrote: "A couple more articles that may be of interest. Note the comments as well as the article for the second one..."

Lily, thanks for the posts, as well as the pointer. The discussion on the second post is well worth reading. Without your suggestion I would have passed it by, assuming it was just the troll-fest that most commentary sections are.

Deborah wrote: "I'm planning not to get upset until upsetting things happen."

Good plan. There are people deleting all their books and info or deleting their whole account already and the sale hasn't even actually happened yet.

While I think deleting your book lists and accounts might be a little premature I can see a hesitancy to post reviews and more people directing people to their own websites to read reviews. I do feel for all the librarians that spent countless hours populating the database that we all rely on. Perhaps Otis will compensate them for all their time and efforts though I wouldn't count on it.in the meantime, I'm with Deborah on not getting upset until I need to.

I love the idea of supporting small business. Given a choice I shop locally.

That said, my experience with Audible (an amazon property) has been overwhelmingly positive.

What is it people think Amazon will do with their reviews anyway? Eat their brains? I think the hysteria seems a bit premature.

I doubt many people believe that Amazon will eat their brains with their reviews, it is more a matter of thinking of the site as used by a group of book lovers for each other and now having it used for commercial purposes. There is a reason why those reviews were posted on Goodreads rather than Amazon. I don't have any strong feelings one way or the other but can understand why some people do. No judgment, it will most likely work out just fine in the long run as long as Amazon keeps the two separate.

Mikela wrote: "No judgment, it will most likely work out just fine in the long run as long as Amazon keeps the two separate..."

I'm someone who is not a big fan of the Amazon purchase. Discussing those concerns doesn't mean that I'm hysterical, or that I think Amazon is a giant zombie organization out to 'eat my brains'. Believe it or not, people can have different opinions without one of them being an idiot.

I agree with those who like Goodreads because it is a site that is largely for readers talking to readers, not a site where the participants are considered commodities for marketing purposes.

As for Amazon keeping the sites separate, that would be great. But how does it make any sense for Amazon to spend a reported eight figures for a site (unverified amount) and then NOT make changes?

I am fairly certain that neither Mikela or I intended to imply that people were wrong to feel that way. I think it's fair to dismiss an idea without dismissing the person who holds that view. I apologize if you were offended. No offense was intended.

Deborah, please don't apologize for me as I am one that is not pleased with the sale, however I am going to wait and see what changes transpire before I make any changes. For people who have actively posted reviews and worked so hard on helping to build the tools we use this is very disturbing news and I can understand their anger or dismay.

Two more articles that may be of interest:

http://www.salon.com/2013/03/31/amazo..."

Atlantic Monthly dips into the conversation:
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/a...

While I have some concerns about the possible influences of Amazon, I must admit some astonishment that the well-read crowd that apparently comprises Goodreads seems SO surprised -- some surprise, yes, so much? We do live within a materialistic, capitalism system, albeit with lots of nuances and twists and turns. Second, I suspect most of us have been experiencing delays from time-to-time in recent months. Goodreads has been implying the need for additional server capacity -- okay, where does one seek the necessary infusion of capital? Could Goodreads' existing business plan have supported the needs it was creating? Who knows the data processing side of the business as well as Amazon that might have been another viable partner? Sadly, my experiences with B&N over several years have suggested to me that they simply have not been able to get their IP support to match their dreams -- at least if their book clubs, number of reviews, and even their blogs are valid indicators. Their attention has been elsewhere, whereas IP capabilities have always been treated as a necessary core competency for Amazon.

Some great points, Lily. I would also argue the devil's advocate stance that the well-read crowd on Goodreads may have imputed to the founders their own altruistic love of books. Naïve, perhaps, but quite understandable. I can also understand the frustration of suddenly feeling like an economic data unit rather than a book lover. As you point out, though, it's more likely a simple matter of real-world issues of capital expenditure.

Daniel wrote: "...I would also argue the devil's advocate stance that the well-read crowd on Goodreads may have imputed to the founders their own altruistic love of books. Naïve, perhaps, but quite understandable...."

Daniel -- can you elaborate on why you say "quite understandable"? We have agreed we are talking about some of the best read members of our society. Or have I just lived too many years?

Lily wrote: "Daniel -- can you elaborate on why you say "quite understandable"?"

Probably not without exposing the issue to gaping holes of logic (**chuckle**). As a purely emotional response, though, I really can understand the reaction. People wanted or expected the founders to be as selflessly passionate about books as they were.

Taking another tack, I interpret much of the emotion as a sense of betrayal rather than surprise. Whether that's selling out on one's ideals or making a boatload of cash from the work of passionate volunteer librarians, it's seen as bad form. But that comes back to your original point, doesn't it? It's a capitalistic system and this news shouldn't come as a surprise.

Hopefully that doesn't muddy the waters too much as a response. Personally, I see many pros and cons behind the move. And as with most of the commenters above, I'm not going to get worked up over anything until the sky actually starts falling.

Thanks, Daniel. I sit here enjoying and sharing your chuckle. It is nice to recognize that we humans can be wonderfully conflicted beings, in positive kinds of ways.

As a devoted Kindle user, I'm interested to see the changes that will inevitably arrive here in the future because of this. However, I really hope that we won't be bombarding by an excessive amount of extra advertisements on the website. Still, it would be nice to be able to possibly send a review to both places at once.

The internet has always been about free-free-free user created content, contributed by people without monetary goals, which is collected and then sold for monetary purposes.

Anyone else here contribute to building the IMDB database in the early nineties? Anyone remember Google's purchase of DejaNews?