Four Ways I use Goodreads

Are you on Goodreads?

How do you use it?

Does it feel like just one. more. social media thing to keep track of in your free time?

Or is it a helpful tool?

I’m of mixed mind, but I do use it in four ways:

1. As a research tool

While I was working on my World War I novel, I read a lot of World War I novels. As I’ve written elsewhere, historical novels can be valuable research aids.

(Someone pointed out that if you’re interested in political history, you should read history books. If you’re interested in social history, you should read historical novels.)

Goodreads has a listopia feature I used to discover books that might give me insight into the various venues of my story.

It also enabled me to see what The Great War books focused on–to improve my own novel, in terms of setting and stereotypical ideas (which I didn’t want in my story).

For people who are just looking for books on a subject that’s caught their interest, listopias are very helpful.

2. As a marketing tool.

I’ve run book giveaway contests on Goodreads in the past and will be running one in late August.

I also use those lists when putting together the comparison section on a book proposal my agent presents to publishers.

(Publishers always want to know similar books to yours and how your story differs from the famous.)

3. To double-check my instincts about a book.

Just last week, I read a best-selling book about a subject area I’ve researched. I waited six months on the library hold list to get a copy to read.

As it happened, I got the large print edition (it often has a shorter queue at my library), but that made for a very thick book.

Indeed, I’m not sure if that affected how I reacted, but the beginning seemed to go on and on. More than one-third of the way through the book and the ship hadn’t even left the dock yet!

The book was meticulously researched, but I got tired of the details which bogged down the story.

I had a hard time believing all the hype I’d seen about this book.

But was I the only person who thought this book dragged?

I turned to Goodreads where nearly 2600 people had reviewed the book.

36% gave it five stars. 43% gave it four.

I would have given it a three. So, I looked at the one star reviews, the two star reviews (an editor I respect gave it only two stars) and finally the three stars–and there I found my people!

This comment mirrored my thoughts:

“I guess there’s a fine line between context and filler, and the author tended to err on the latter. All in the interest of “setting the scene,” of course. But tangents about the contemporary annual sales ritual over men exchanging winter hats for straw boaters is an example of how the actual point of the story got delayed unnecessarily . . . .

It didn’t really work for me, since a lot of the narrative delaying tactics read like it had been cribbed from a “events that happened” page on Wikipedia.”

What a relief. Someone agreed with me.

I give it three stars and I sleep fine.

Though I do still wonder why World Magazine thought it one of the best books of the year . . . .

What did I miss?

4. To learn what a book was about!

I have a degree in English Literature from UCLA. I should be able to figure out novels, but sometimes the deeper meanings elude me.

Life after Life by Kate Atkinson is another thick book, rich with imagery and language usage. I could appreciate the writing, but I kept getting confused by the circuitous style.

Halfway through I hunted up the Goodreads page and spent an hour reading the reviews–including the spoilers.

I didn’t read all 16,000 comments, but the many I did read–across the star spectrum–confirmed that what I liked many people liked and what I found bewildering, many people found bewildering.

I actually felt better about the book once my confusion was confirmed by other readers!

End thoughts?

For me, Goodreads is a tool and a literature evaluation service. I appreciate it.

And maybe someday I’ll remember to post a list of all the books I’ve read . . . !

How do you use Goodreads?

Tweetables

Four uses for Goodreads Click to Tweet

Using Goodreads to explain the story! Click to Tweet

Confirming my opinion of a best seller through Goodreads. Click to Tweet