Book Lair discussion

This site has completely changed my life, it keeps me entertained for hours! Not only because it allows me to pursue my love for books but also because it is the closest thing to a social network that I use these days.
These are a few things I do here, off the top of my head:

- Read and post in Book Lair. It's great to have found a fairly close-knit community of people who share my interest in books and even have similar favourite genres. I enjoy reading everything you guys write and I have found I absolutely love participating in buddy reads!

- Browse the genres I like, looking for interesting books as well as giveaways.

- I get to organize the books I want to read much better, with customized shelves. They really help me prioritize.

- Sometimes I also browse trivia, when I am really, really bored.

- Browse specific forums looking for authors providing books I may enjoy in exchange for reviews.

- GR has completely changed the way I read books. I keep track of everything now - When I start reading a book, change status to update progress every now and then, take notes, write reviews when I am done.

- Read other people's reviews: I read friend reviews whenever I can and I also read other people's reviews of the books I am reading, to compare notes.
I always make sure I click the 'Like' button if I like a review, because I have found it counts towards stats (Best reviewers in our profile). I figure if we have a high rank, authors will consider us more for r4r. Either way, can't hurt!

- As a Goodreads librarian, I edit any book information that I see inaccurate or missing (like the image of a book cover). So if you notice anything like that feel free to let me know!

I don't use GR app on my Kindle because the only thing I find useful would be changing status or book I am currently reading and I cannot do that there.
I do not use the app on my phone either but login on my phone browser sometimes to check notifications.

So yes, with all this and probably more I have forgotten you can see how it's easy to lose myself for hours here.

What about you, how do you use GoodReads?

Well, I mostly use GR to keep track of my books. I used to use a FB app years and years ago, when I was still using FB, but then it stopped.

I like keeping tracks of my books because this way, I know exactly where I am in a series, which books I am missing, which books from my favorite authors I haven't read yet, etc. My friends also can check which books I have already read and which not to buy me ;-)

I also like to browse other peoples review, in order to see what they thought of a book. Sometimes, they are interesting points in there I didn't thought of when I read the book.

I'm having great fun with you guys on book lair too. I like discussing all those subjects on books and reading. And I discover great new books to read.

And as a librarian too, I fix everything I can. I am a little bit OCD on this point. I realized I could spend hours fixing inacurrate or missing data. Especially Chinese authors are a real mess, but there is a lot of work on most foreign authors.

Ah, I hadn't thought about people being able to tell what not to buy me! Probably because none of the people I know in real life are active here. Very smart! Especially since christmas is almost here *hint hint*

I check out books from people that actually read them. Somehow I've managed to make a couple of friends on here and we read books together. This site has been a blast the few weeks I've been a member..

Although I do know quite a few readers in life, certainly nowhere near as many as I have access to here!

I like keeping track of what I've read each year in a way that is easy to refer to. Before GR I would find myself buying a paperback because the cover was interesting only to begin and realize 40 pages in that I read it long ago. That doesn't happen anymore.

GR has changed they way I buy books. I used to mostly buy used books from thrift stores, rummage sales, used library sales, etc. I was "buying blind" for the most part, with the exceptions of my favorite authors. Now I see certain books pop up on here a lot and buy then purposely because I find them interesting after reading reviews, comments and threads. Often when much of what I see here isn't flattering! I've gotten better at recognizing what I will enjoy regardless of what others think.

I like the little "games" in groups. WYR, Running the Alphabet, etc. I like pulling up GR when I'm on hold at work and mindlessly adding an entry. It's fun!

I am not a GR librarian because I don't feel qualified for that, but I like the idea that there are many, they are varied and they ALL care about books.

I love Good Reads!

I am so happy that I am not the only one who has bought the same book twice! xD

Please feel free to start your own forum games, my imagination stopped there, sorry!

You two aren't the only ones. My town has big book sales twice a year. I try to make a list of books I want and books I already have. It never works, but it isn't a bad thing. When I realize that I have duplicates I just give them away. I see it as playing my part in getting the word out..

In our neighborhood there is a wooden box with a hinged door. You leave books in it and everyone is welcome to take or leave a book. I used to put a LOT more books in that box than I do now.

Kandice wrote: "In our neighborhood there is a wooden box with a hinged door. You leave books in it and everyone is welcome to take or leave a book. I used to put a LOT more books in that box than I do now."

Ha! We have the same thing in some neighborhoods! It's mostly meant for kids so they can get excited about reading. They look like birdhouses and they only hold about twenty books or so, but it's the same principle. I overflow the box hoping someone will fall in love with a book that I love. Every time I see that the box has been used, I get a big smile on my face. I just want everyone to enjoy this world we live in. The world of books...

I always look forward to my daily "New Discussions" email from Goodreads. (Without that, there's no way I'd be able to keep up with groups!). It makes for good lunchtime reading.

I discover a lot of books to read through Goodreads—between the groups, my friends' updates, and even the banner ads sometimes. (Alas the self-service ads that indies are stuck with using never catch my eye with their teeny tiny thumbnails. Which is a shame. Goodreads would make more money off their self-serve ads (and authors would make more sales!) if they improved the way they were presented.)

I also use Goodreads to check out reviews on books that catch my eye. I don't read all the reviews (or even all of each review)—just enough to get an idea of whether the book would suit my tastes. Reviews on Amazon are okay, but overall I think I get a better feel for the book from Goodreads reviews.

The time when I really read reviews, though, is after I've read a book. I want to know what other people thought of it and got out of it. :D Plus if someone had the same response to a book that I did, they might have other books on their "read" shelf that I might be interested in.

I don't use GR on my Kindle either. Sometimes I use the mobile GR app on my phone, but only if I'm out and about and desperate to look up something. There's less info shown on the app than on the full site.

Kandice wrote: "In our neighborhood there is a wooden box with a hinged door. You leave books in it and everyone is welcome to take or leave a book. I used to put a LOT more books in that box than I do now."

I had never heard of such a thing, ythat is really kind of people!

Nathan wrote: "Ha! We have the same thing in some neighborhoods! It's mostly meant for kids so they can get excited about reading. They look like birdhouses and they only hold about twenty books or so, but it's the same principle. I overflow the box hoping someone will fall in love with a book that I love. Every time I see that the box has been used, I get a big smile on my face. I just want everyone to enjoy this world we live in. The world of books... "

Yes, I can see how it could be a great idea to get kids interested in books, do many go for it?

Z. wrote: "I always look forward to my daily "New Discussions" email from Goodreads. (Without that, there's no way I'd be able to keep up with groups!). It makes for good lunchtime reading.

I discover a lot ..."

I tend not to pay much attention to that email because it sends me conversations where I was the last person to post, so obviously I am following it, right? Not new to me... I wish it would only send what is new to me, that would be useful.

I also generally look at reviews more thoroughly after I have read the book, to compare notes, see if other people felt the way I felt about it and if there's anything I missed. I have this system where I read a book synopsis and if it interests me then I skim through the reviews. Then I shelve the book for whatever amount of time it takes to forget everything! You see, I have found some reviews and even synopsis give away way too much. I prefer to discover the book at my own pace. I know it's something I will probably enjoy because I read those things before but it's a total surprise!

Ana, all three of my children (16, 18, 21) are voracious readers, and like Nathan says, we started this box for the children in our neighborhood. I've always been really involved with the local library and their summer reading program. The year my oldest son was in kindergarten a group of us on the library committee pitched in, bought the material and built the box. We advertised it and it's location at the library and it's been a hit ever since.

About 5 years ago someone rebuilt it to be, not only weather-proof, but to have two shelves. One is usually full of straight fiction, while the other is YA and even children's books.

Wait.. So you guys live in the same neighbourhood? You know each other in real life?

That is very proactive of you, I wish more people would do that!

No! we don't live near each other, it's just a program that a lot of neighborhoods have adopted. It's a pretty common thing here in the states.

I have always been consumed by books and one of my biggest concerns before I had children was how to instill that love of reading in them.

Ah now I get it. Yeah, I haven't heard of something like that here. Even libraries are nearly extint :( I am glad you got not only your children to get to love books, I hope they never stop enjoying them!

There is the sweetest, little library 2 blocks from my house and I am happy to say that San Diego County is just riddled with them. There are probably 20 within a 15 minute drive in any direction from my house.

I read out loud and listened to audio books with headphones on my belly during pregnancy, read out loud while nursing all three of my children (not children's books, but whatever I was reading) and taught them all to read themselves before they were five. I think it's one of the most important things I did for them as a parent.

Besides, you know, feeding, clothing and caring for them. ;)

Ana wrote: "I skim through the reviews. Then I shelve the book for whatever amount of time it takes to forget everything!..."

Ha. It only takes me ten minutes to forget everything. In one eye, out the other. ;)

Kandice

Hold up! You actually have to feed, clothe and care for children too? I'll take my books any day!

That's cool you set up a library box. I've known about them for a few years. Now I feel like I should build one. It can't be too hard..

Your libraray box thing makes me think about Bookcrossing. Does any of you know this site?

When I have books I bought in double, or when my shelves start to overflow, I just tag a BCID in my books and release them in the wild. I always hope that someone will find then and register them on the site. I love the idea of keeping track of how the book travels. Unfortunately, I only had a couple picked up. But I do not lose hope for the others!

It might be interesting for you to register the books you leave at the library box on bookcrossing, in order to track them?

Hmmmmm! That looks real interesting, Mela! Thanks for the link. I may just give it a try..

So far? Get recommendations, reviews, and ideas from friends on here. Meet cool people who are into the kinda books I like. That kinda stuff.

I use it mainly to update my progress with what I'm reading and what I would like to read.

I also like to use it to look for new authors/series.

And I joined to hopefully make some new friends as I don't really know anyone (apart from my brother) who reads alot in the real world :)

Have you noticed GR's feature that warns you if there's a giveaway of a book you have shelved? Is it new? I love this feature! How cool is this? A couple of clicks and you get a chance to win a free hard copy of a book, sweet!

Never noticed it. Where is it? How is it working?

No clue, I just got a couple of emails so it must be automatic. If you have shelved a book, probably as Want to read, it sends you an email saying there's a giveaway for that title, with a link to the giveaway page.

OK. Figers crossed.

All I can think to suggest is messing with your settings, that's odd.

It usually takes a few days but they do reply, hang in there!

Did you check your spams?

Ooh, good idea.

Oh. I spam strange status updates to try and make people chuckle that in some way have to deal with the books I'm reading.

Not email spams. Just weird status updates.

I found another new feature on GR (well, new to me at least).
Go to a person's profile, click compare books and on the top right corner 'book compatibility test'. If you are friends on fb, you can share it there.
Not sure what info they base it on, if it's just the books described or all.

It's based on books reviewed and stars you respectively gave books.

I found it odd that I didn't have that many books in common with the people who revealed high percentages, one even gave us 100% compatibility and I didn't recognize most of their titles..

That's been available for years and I used to do it all the time, but like you said there seems to be no rhyme or reason to it so i stopped.

I turned off all notifications because I was getting hundreds. I'd rather just look for new posts and check updates.

Oh oops, I didn't know it had been around that long *blush*
I only have notifications for this group whenever someone posts something new ^_^

There are probably tons of options I've never explored! It's nice when someone points out something I may have missed. Don't blucs! :D

Thanks ^_^

I think you can still change your settings to get notifications for every comment made in groups you're in.

I use Goodreads to keep track of the books I read, to enter into discussions about books I have read, to track my yearly reading goal progress, and to play games focused on literature.