Presently, I shall be taking over the universe. Don’t be impatient, now, these things take careful planning and time. I already have an army fuelled on cake. But, to assure the doubters that the universe is in excellent hands, I occasionally write lists of WHY I’ll be such a good world ruler. Last year I wrote a list of excellently important things (like needing warp speed, sensible postage, and cheaper nerdy merchandise) that I’ll revolutionise the world with.
And today?
We need to talk about GOODREADS.
Goodreads is basically the best site on the internet. It is entirely devoted to books. It’s like Facebook but with less faces and entirely books. Even though it’s monstrously glorious already, there are things that could be better. So when I rule the world, these things will change on Goodreads.
You’re welcome.
You can also follow me on Goodreads if you want an onslaught of reviews. Seriously, I like LIVE on there. It’s so glorious. Agjkldfs Goodreads, you are life.
1. WE MUST HAVE HALF STARS! HUZZAH!
When you’re a fanatical reader who frequently gulps books whole…five stars just aren’t enough. Because, what happens when a book is really really really good, but not 5-star-good?? Where are my 4.5-star ratings?! I also crave 3.5-stars for the books that aren’t mediocre, but not great either. It pains me there are no half-star ratings. PAINS me. Look at me, in all this pain.
2. SAVING DRAFT REVIEWS.
Sometimes, while I’m in the middle of a thousand-word-review (because I’m actually super long-winded in my reviews these days), a human calls me. Firstly, this is totally rude of them. But secondly, I can’t save my half written review! I don’t want to publish it without all my thoughts! BUT I DON’T WANT TO LOSE MY HARD WORK EITHER. And when there are sticky-fingered nephews and nieces running around who believe a laptop is 100% for watching Peppa Horrendous Pig, I don’t trust unsaved reviews on my screen!
3. SAMPLE CHAPTERS OF ALL BOOKS.
Amazon does this, so why not Goodreads?! And Goodreads is 50% there with occasional samples from audio books, so LET’S TAKE THE NEXT STEP, FOLKS. I want to read one or two sample chapters from books, even pre-release books, yes please and thank you.
4. CUSTOMISED NOTIFICATIONS FOR RELEASES
Because THERE ARE TOO MANY BOOKS TO KEEP TRACK OF. How am I supposed to?!?! I used to have a spreadsheet for new releases I wanted to read, but dangit, there are too many. Basically goodreads should do the work for me. I want to be alerted when a favourite author lists a new book! I want a notification a few days before it’s released!
5. FULL SYNOPSIS RECAPS FOR EVERY BOOK
ME AFTER READING ANY BOOK EVER.
This would save lives. What if you could click through and read a super detailed, full-synopsis?! This would be perfect for series! And save sanity when I’m moaning and gnashing my teeth because I can’t remember what happened in a book that came out last year.
6. A WAY TO ORGANISE QUOTES
I’m a little quote squirrel. I get them, I hug them, I store them away for the winter. BUT THEY’RE SUCH A MESS. You can only order them in a few generic ways, but I want my own organisations. Basically I want to have folders of quotes that are easy to peruse.
7. MASSIVE WORLD-WIDE-READING-CHALLENGES
I know there’s the average “set-a-reading-goal-and-read-all-the-books” thing. But I mean like specific challenges. So you sign up and Goodreads gives you with, like, a BINGO CARD! With prizes at the end, because we need prizes. Obviously. As your benevolent Lord Ruler, I would totally give prizes. Although also as your fabulous Lord Ruler who reads so much, I would win all the prizes. But that’s the price of awesome and I’m willing to pay.
8. BOOKISH TWIN SYSTEMS
This needs happen. Immediately. You know bookish twins? The ones who basically rate and love all the SAME books as you?! WELL THIS SHOULD BE UTILISED FOR GREATNESS. So when you click “to-read” on a book your bookish-twin hates, you’ll get an alert saying “YOUR BOOKISH TWIN SAYS SKIP THIS MORONISH BOOK.” Or when your bookish-twin rates a book 5-stars, you get an instant-notification.
9. SHOW US THAT GOODREADS CARES
Like, basically, when you publish a review that’s howling with feels, Goodreads will politely ask if you need a shock blanket? Or a mop for your tears? Or a comforting olympic pool of chocolate to drown in?
10. I WANT THE BOOK TO POP OUT OF THE COMPUTER SCREEN AND LAND IN MY HANDS
Okay, okay, I know this is slightly unrealistic because authors do sort of need to be paid for their books. (Weird, I know. Apparently they eat and stuff??) And I don’t really want Goodreads to be a bookseller. I JUST GET SO OVERWHELMED WITH THE DESPERATE NEED FOR BOOKS AND THEIR PRETTINESS ON THE SCREEN THAT — AWK. EMOTION.
so how would YOU improve goodreads? i mean, obviously you won’t be world ruler because I AM…but i’m open to suggestions. (i am so kind.) do you like any on my list??! which one would you want the most?!?
OMG, CAIT THIS LIST IS PERFECT!!!! You really need to rule the world soon! And as a faithful sidekick, I am taking down notes!
YES FOR HALF STARS!!! Sometimes it’s a hassle! It’s one of the main reason why I stopped rating books, because rounding up is so hard! Do I rate a 4.5 star book as 4 stars or 5 stars is the biggest problem I have in the world!
And I really need to the new release notification thing too! I am not a person who is updated on new releases, and I mostly rely on some ultra perfectionists’ GR shelves, but I never keep tab of them! I need this function!!!
AND BOOKISH TWINS! YESSSSS!!!! It would be awesome! I am a really picky reader, so this will be help me quite a lot!
Mishma @ Chasing Faerytales recently posted…This book is awesome. Enough said || A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E.Schwab
I GOT FIRST COMMENT!!!!! YES!!!!! I WON LIFE AGAIN! YIPEEEEEEE!
Mishma @ Chasing Faerytales recently posted…This book is awesome. Enough said || A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E.Schwab
OMG. MISHMA. EXTRA CAKE FOR YOU CLEARLY xDXD (And it just kind of makes me afjdklsad with joy that this is even a coveted spot. JUST SAYIN’.) AHem. But yes. I SHALL RULE SOON AND YOU WILL BE AN EPIC FAITHFUL SIDEKICK. We can train hard by rereading Vicious multiple times. *nods* Oh you don’t rate books anymore though?!?! Omg how did I not know that. o.O I couldn’t stop rating. xD Even though I do get cranky that it’s really REALLY hard. I hardly ever read a book where I don’t have to think really hard on what I’m going to rate it. xD EVERYTHING IS SO COMPLICATED THESE DAYS. WAH.
These are GENIUS. The half-star thing… I need that… The reading challenges are amazing. I wish you could also sign up to reading challenges that others have created, and then Goodreads can keep track of them for you. Like the Popsugar challenge. I want want want the notifications as well!
Dani recently posted…Fanfic Friday No.3: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
YESSS!!! EXCATLY LIKE THAT!! Like you can even write up your own challenges nad Goodreads will format it for you?! NEED.
YES! I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING ON THIS LIST. YOU NEED TO BECOME WORLD RULER IMMEDIATELY AND IMPOSE THESE CHANGES. (Oops, was that too much capslock?)
I NEED the full synopsis-recaps, Wikipedia-style, because it would life SO. MUCH. EASIER. Like when I borrow a book in a series and then when the next book is finally released, I don’t have to go threaten the librarians to give me the earlier book? (I’m kidding about the threatening librarians part. I think.)
And I will fully support a bookish twin system. NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
I can help you take over Goodreads, if you like. 😉
Ranu @ The Araliya Bookshelf recently posted…How Do YOU Write Your Reviews? (And Some Reviewing Tips!)
I WILL BECOME WORLD RULER IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE HOW CAN I REFUSE YOUR REQUEST? I CAN’T. I AM NICE. I SHALL TAKE OVER AND RULE MAGNIFICENTLY AND EVILLY. ALSO: THERE IS NEVER SUCH A THING AS “TOO MUCH CAPSLOCK” ON MY BLOG. OMG IT IS MY LANGUAGE.
I see nothing wrong with this at all. I vote for Cait as President of Goodreads. Seriously, though, this sounds so fab. I especially back you on half stars and bookish twins. I’m not that into Goodreads, but if these changes were made, I totally would live there too.
Alyssa @ The Devil Orders Takeout recently posted…#LitLove: Ariel by Sylvia Plath
*dons crown* THERE IS NO ONE OPPOSING ME, TBH. The bookish twins would be like a bestfriend finding machine. :’)
YES. YES TO EVERYTHING. Especially, especially to half stars. Goodreads, why you no understand that a book can be 3.5 stars. I NEED THAT RATING. I NEED IT. Also, a personal annoyance of mine is the most read author thing—authors with pseudonyms should totally count as the one another. *is still angry that the Hogwarts Library no longer counts as J.K Rowling*
*cough* So yes, I would totally vote for you to take over the world/Goodreads (same thing right?). CAIT FOR PRESIDENT. That’s how this thing works right? You vote for evil people to take over the world…
I don’t even UNDERSTAND why they don’t listen to the pleas and add this. I MEAN IS ANY USER OPPOSED??!!? NOPE. *dons cape and mask and armour and goes to take goodreads* And wow, I didn’t even know author pseudonyms didn’t count to each other. THAT’s WEIRD AND SLIGHTLY INSANE. And yes, world/goodreads/universe…all much for muchness. You can vote for my evillness, but I shall be Queen not president because I like the title better. *nods*
Basically YES. I so agree with this. Especially the half-stars (OH THE PAIIN) and the quote-organisation-thing and saving drafts. YOU MUST HACK GOODREADS. Please. 😀
I WILL JUST TAKE IT OVER VERY VERY SOON, BECAUSE CLEARLY IT NEEDS ME.
Definitely with you on half stars and notifications.
To be honest I think it’s a bit lazy of goodreads not to have them. They already have the whole ones, how hard can it be to program in half stars as well?!
And notifications! New books by authors and a reminder about books being released, as you said. That would really be great! For now I can register “books to come” on my online bookshop so they will send me an email when it’s released, but I think it’s unnecessary work that Goodreads could help out with!
Also, not book related but still, Supernatural! Soon! What do think will happen with this darkness situation? And have they really managed to kill Death?
Why aren’t they updating and enhancing their site anyway??!?! It’s like a MEGA famous site and it’s sooo awesome and iT COULD BE EVEN BETTER. IDEK WHY THEY’RE NOT MAKING USE OF THIS. And notifications for when books get new covers and things too. hehe. That would be SO helfpul.
afdjlsakfd SUPERNATURAL, OMG, MA BABIES ARE GONNA GET SMUSHED. Did you see the latest trailer?!?! The one with the acapella singing??? I think it looked like Sam has the darkness stripes on his neck. o.O OMG NOT SAM MY DARLING LITTLE SAM DON’T LET HIM BE HURT AGAIN.
Haha! No, haven’t seen that one. But I guess it’s Sam’s turn after Dean having that mark of Cain for like FOREVER.. Looking forward to see what happens!
I agree with the half stars…I’ve been moaning about this FOREVER on Goodreads feedback. I like the idea of saving draft reviews as I’m so slow at writing reviews! But I don’t want endless notifications and stuff clogging up my email so there has to be opt outs for everything so I can avoid it if I want to.
Someone tweeted this post and tagged goodreads and they tweeted back and said they’d NEVER be doing halfstars. WAHHHHH. D: I really think they’re not listening to their audiences very much. :'( IT PAINS MY HEART. You can avoid notifications I think sometimes…I think you edit that setting in where you’d leave a comment…
Okay, these are ideas I didn’t think I’d want so badly. There’s the usual GR needs half-stars, and goodness knows why they aren’t listening to us and start implementing it already. But yes, the quotes ARE a mess, and it’s a no-brainer to add the chapter samplers. Hurry up and take over GR, Cait. I want these changes so badly.
Shannelle recently posted…Shannelle in Shanghai: Qibao
I don’t even know…it’s like THEY’RE IGNORING OUR PLEAS. OMG. And I mean most of my list is sensible…mostly….
Oh my gosh ! This post is HILARIOUSLY AWSOOOOME!!
Definitely yes to everything, it would’ve been soo awsome if these were actually available in Goodreads, specially number 10! 😛 And number 9, damn I need that in my life! Well, basically every point you said! *SIGHS* So count me in your quest! I’ll be happy to assist! 😀
We can just sit here and quietly wish for #10, right?! 😉 YAY. MINION CAKE ALL ROUND!!
I just want to be able to reread books without having to change the “date finished”. Because when you do that, it takes it off whichever previous year’s Goodreads challenge you have it listed against, and then that challenge ends up saying you didn’t meet your goal but you can’t fix it because it’s not 2012 any more and IT MAKES ME VERY UPSET, CAIT.
Sigh.
Melbourne on my mind recently posted…August reading wrap up
Rereading is a BIG thing that needs help too…omg, I can’t believe I forgot to add it on my list! IT MAKES ME UPSET TOO, TRUST ME.
Yes to all of these. Half stars are needed ASAP. I don’t understand how they haven’t fixed this one yet. Bookish twins is the best idea ever. I would love to know who has the same awesome taste as me 🙂 Great list – now take over the universe and get going on all of them!!
Grace @ Rebel Mommy Book Blog recently posted…Review ~ Softer than Steel
Someone tweeted this post and tagged goodreads and they tweeted back and said they’d NEVER be doing halfstars. WAHHHHH. D: I really think they’re not listening to their audiences very much. :'(
YES GOODREADS NEEDS ALL OF THESE!! Then it would be the best site on the internet. You have no idea how much not having half stars or draft reviews annoys me.
The bookish twin thing is such a great idea! Especially if it could be used to connect you to people who rate a lot of things similarly to you. It could be a best friend finding machine!
Bec @ Readers in Wonderland recently posted…#SupervillainSquad: Spoilsport
I DO UNDERSTAND THE PAIN OF NO HALFSTARS, BEC. I DO. And yesss! It would totally be a best-friend-finding machine. OMG GOODREADS COULD STALK OUR RATINGS AND THEN SUGGEST FRIENDS TOO. OMG.
YES, YES, AND YES. We need all of these ASAP. Especially half stars (I had to institute them on my blog anyway) and the synopsis thing. And sample chapters. WHY DON’T THEY HAVE SAMPLE CHAPTERS FOR EVERYTHING? I also need the worldwide challenge thing. And bookish twins needs to happen.
They need to work on their app, too. It doesn’t show me my favorites shelf or my shelf for 2015 reads or the reading challenge. And the way it sorts books on your shelves makes zero sense. I have to use the actual website most of the time anyway. Get it together, Goodreads.
Ellie recently posted…Review: All We Have Is Now by Lisa Schroeder
I’m seriously considering adding half stars onto my blog ratings at least, but I feel like because I can’t do them on goodreads, I might as well not bother here and WAHHHH IT WOULD MAKE LIFE SO MUCH EASIER IF GOODREADS JUST HIRED ME, YES. or they can wait until I take over everything. *nods*
Cait, you super little human! I love your improved ideas for Goodreads, and totally second them, m’dear! Because Goodreads is fantastic, but yeah, those 1/2 stars just have to happen. Today I read a 3 and 1/2 star book, but I didn’t feel like writing a review, so everyone is going to think I thought the book was only 3-star good. Bang it!
I also love the world-wide reading challenge idea. I’m up for it!!!
And a way to organize quotes? Yep, I struggle with that too. . .
Goodreads is basically THE BEST PLACE EVER, but yes, it just needs a bit of tweaking and enhancing, right?! 😉 And I find myself needing the 3.5 stars the most too because gahhhh, some books aren’t “meh” but they’re not “excellent” either and I feel like there’s a HUGE gap between 4 and 5 stars too SO WHERE ARE OUR 4.5 STAR RATINGS. OMG SOMEONE SEND HELP. *collapses wailing*
I ADORE ALL OF THESE SUGGESTIONS AND GOODREADS SHOULD DEFINITELY OFFER TISSUES/CHOCOLATE. Also I think they need to have an option to “reread” books because it annoys me how I have to change the date and everything.
Also, definitely yes to the bookish twins notification. I need more bookish twins.
Emily @ Loony Literate recently posted…YA Books about the Senior Year of High School
They’re like the first place we go when we’re traumatised and need help after a book, right?!?!? ERGO THEY SHOULD OFFER CHOCOLATE. And I can’t believe I forgot to mention we need rereading options but we TOTALLY DO.
I love this!!
I love goodreads, I think it’s pretty awesome.
But yes half stars!!
I love the challenge idea, that is pretty cool.
Bookish twins idea is perf.
Thanks for this post
Angel @Angel Reads recently posted…The 1989 Book Tag
I ADORE Goodreads and I wouldn’t leave it, not ever, but it could totally do with some enhancing, right!?!?
Ohmygods YES TO HALF STARS! That would really be a life-saver. It’s really hard to rate books without half points because there’s a huge difference between a 4-star and a 5-star. How about books that fall in between? WE NEED HALF STARSSSS!!!! 😀
And yeah, the drafts. I’ve lost a couple reviews before because of this. I’d written a long and detailed review then I just hit a wrong button and *poof* everything’s gone. Grrr… >.< I almost waged war against the internet.
Julie @ Books and Insomnia recently posted…[GUEST REVIEW] When It Rains by Lisa De Jong
YES THERE IS!!! And sometimes a book is nearly perfect but juuuust noooot quiiiiiite. And we need that 4.5 rating so so badly. And same with the drafts. >_> I’ve lost reviews just from being a deluded pineapple brain and hitting a wrong button and IT’S SO UNFAIR. I never write the review as good the second time.
another book? CAIT SLOW DOWN OR JUST GIVE ME YOUR IDEAS AND ABILITY TO WRITE SO FAST.
and yes yes yes to all this. I espeically love the whol ‘bookish twin’ system and yes, goodreads, SHOW US YOU CARE.
*whispers* but here’s a secret, i never use goodreads, i really hate it and it annoys me and i have WAY TOO MANY SPAMMY NOTIFICATIONS ALL THE TIME AND WEIRD MESSAGES FROM PEOPLE I DON’T KNOW. I go through phases of madly putting all my reviews on goodreads, then a year goes by, then the same thing happens.
I just can’t get into it. Maybe when you take it all over I’ll love all the changes so much and fall in love like everyone else seems to have done. 😉
Hawwa (hawwa etc) recently posted…SKETCHBOOK STORIES | chapter two
wow i should have checked that comment for typos and spelling errors. oops.
Hawwa (hawwa etc) recently posted…SKETCHBOOK STORIES | chapter two
I WILL SLOW DOWN. AFTER NANO. LET ME NANO FIRST AND THEN I’LL SLOW DOWN, PROMISE. *nods*
Goodreads just needs to show us it definitely cares, since it’s where most tortured bookworms go after finishing a traumatic novel. IT NEEDS BE THERE FOR US WITH HUGS AND COOKIES.
Agh, I’m sad Goodreads is not a good experience for you though. 🙁 I unfriend people who send me spam. It’s just rude and dumb and BLEH to them.
Coming from the Author side of Goodreads, a word on preview chapters: Goodread’s, from what I can tell, thinks it’s our job to provide them (It’s just something I’ve not done. #SoSorry.). ALTHOUGH, I noticed the other day that with books that are published on Amazon, Goodreads is now stealing their previews from said Amazon. (But, actually, posting previews before the book releases is actually a good idea. I shall probably take advantage of that from now on.)
And, YES, we need to be able to save draft reviews. Also, if they could just make formatting EASIER, that would be nice all the way around. No jumping through the hoops of code. Please. Just give us the buttons for italics, bold, and spoilers, and we’ll be happy.
And they do have a system of notification for releases – I get an email each month like this, and it’s mostly based on the authors I’ve read and genres I love. But I agree that it needs to be more tailorable. Like, if you add a book to your shelf that’s pre-release, they’ll send you an email a few days before letting you know that it’s about to come out. Nice things like that.
Kendra E. Ardnek recently posted…Upity Datity
Omg, really?!?!? I didn’t know that! 😛 But at least they do have the feature there, so that’s good. 😉 I think Amazon owns goodreads though? So that’d make sense if it was importing them.
AGH YES. Why do we still have to write reviews in HTML?!?! It’s 2015 already, gee, this should not have to happen this way. Plus I always mess up the HTML. I start off italics and then sign off bold and then my entire REVIEW is a mess. gahhhhh.
Bookish Twins is a great idea! I like to compare books with my Goodreads friends but it would be ace if a little thing popped up and said HUZZAH HERE BE YOUR BEST FRIEND FOR LIFE based on the fact we like the same books. Yes. I like it.
Charlotte @ readalotte.com recently posted…One by Sarah Crossan
YESSSSS. And you could find new friends that way too. THAT WOULD BE EPIC. <3 Like I friend tons of people but not a lot of people who actually have the same tastes as me. >_>
OMG, your list is the BEST. THING. EVER. I hope you’ll be ruler of the world soon because this list needs to be a thing and brought to life! Pretty please, Cait, let us be your minions! Love the whole list, but the bookish-twin-alert sounds EPIC.
Rebecca @ Reading Wishes recently posted…Dive Into Diversity: How Diverse Are Your Shelves? (Bookshop Ed.)
YAAAY I’M GLAD YOU LIKE IT. 😀 And naturally I will be an epic world ruler and the world will be pleased when I am queen of everything. *nods*
I would have a “not interested” button, and have it not recommend books I’ve already read. Also, when searching for a book and many choices appear, it would be faster to have the Want to Read option so we didn’t have to click directly on the book. But that’s pure laziness!
Elizabeth the Evil Overlord recently posted…Weekly ReCap 9/26
It’d be nice if the “not interested” button could make the book disappear. XD hehe, so If you really REALLY hate a book and don’t ever want to see it again, goodreads wouldn’t show you.
Wow. Yes. You are my ideal ruler, and we need to make this happen now because THIS IS INCREDIBLE!! I want ALL of these things to happen NOW!!! 🙂 Good luck on ruling the world – I’m a huge supporter! 🙂
Lisa @ Lost in Literature recently posted…Let’s Chat Double Style: Every Day + Another Day by David Levithan
I am everyone’s ideal world ruler, even if they deny it. BECAUSE CLEARLY THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT THEN. *nods*
*plots takeover*
Yes to half stars! That’s probably the complaint I hear most about Good Reads and I totally agree with it. A lot of my reviewed books end up being 3.5 stars and I always feel like I’m downgrading it on Good Reads when I put 3 stars. I also love the Bookish Twins idea!
Stephanie’s Book Reviews recently posted…Funny Friday
I hear this complaint everywhere TOO. And yet Goodreads continues to ignore us. *sighs*
OMG, goodreads is the best website ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and i do agree with a lot of these suggestions. especially the first one. NOT ALL BOOKS ARE EXACTLY FOUR OR FIVE STARS! there are so many that are three point five and its very insulting to those who took the effort to entertain me at a four star level. i think samples of the books would also be the best thing ever. oh, and i got a notification by email a few days ago that one book on my TBR list was out, so they might already be giving notifications. i’ll see if it happens again.
PS. guess who got an ARC for The Wrath and the Dawn? *SCREAMING UNCONTROLLABLY*
I AGREEEEEEEE. IT IS PROBABLY MY MOST USED WEBSITE BECAUSE IT IS SO SO GLOOOORIOUS. *hyperventilates with love* I just wish they’d update and enhance some features and just, generally, make it even MORE awesome. And I’ve had a lot of people saying they do get notifications about new books, so basically I need to check my email settings. Haha.
OMG OMG!! WRATH AND DAWN!! OMG OMG!! TELL ME IF YOU LIKE IT?!?!?!
Even I hate the fact that there are no point 5 star thing on Goodreads! And you’re so right about the quotes! Great post!! 🙂
Aishwarya S recently posted…3 Ways to Overcome Dilemmas.
It’s just so baffling how Goodreads still hasn’t updated for halfstars! D:
Excellent list! I wish Goodreads would implement everything you mentioned. It still baffles me why they won’t introduce half-star ratings, they are very useful and provides more accurate averages. I would also love the full synopsis; I was reading a book yesterday, second installment in a trilogy, and it took me a while to recall what happened in the first book, haha. Bookish twins would also be cool, I’d be intrigued to see who rates similar to me 😉
Lianne @ eclectictales.com recently posted…Eclectic Ponderings #1
AGh, not remembering what-happened-in-the-last-book is the BANE of my existence!! I wish they’d get authors to write them too, when they can, so we know they’re 100% correct and perfect. :’)
I’m still baffled by the fact that Goodreads has the time to update the look of buttons, but we still have no way of EDITING OUR STATUS UPDATES. Seriously. This is a problem.
I love Goodreads to bits, but let me edit my status updates, man. Typos are a thing. Also I once wrote whore instead of horse and that was embarrassing.
Inge @ Bookshelf Reflections recently posted…Let Me List You All The Ways In Which I Fail At The Sims
YES. I KNOW, RIGHt??! And like seriously who cares about the shape of the buttons…they seem to be doing all this little teeny tiny stuff and avoiding everything huge. -_- Why do we still have to write reviews in HTML? Why are there only a certain amount of ways you can organise your books? (NONE of which include colour *huffs*) And the status updates are TERRIBLE. I just make so many typos and don’t even notice till someone comments and says “and what even are you saying”. GAHHHH.
Fun post, I love some of your ideas!
kimbacaffeinate recently posted…Sinful by Jennifer Dawson Tour November 17th -30th Sign-Up
YAY, thanks, Kimba!! 😀
Yes to half-stars and yes to saving draft reviews. It drives me nuts when I have to save a half-done review into a word document. More challenges would be a plus too, like how many books released this year can you read? How many classics can you read? You get the picture. 😉 I liked that thing they did recently where you could see how many books you’d read from certain lists – I wish they’d make it a regular listopia feature.
Yes! Like any challenge you want too! Like read X amount of authors from your country, or read X books in this genre. IT WOULD BE SO FUN. And basically like making lists of challenges and ticking them off, and who doesn’t like ticking things off lists?!?!?
YES. YES YES. GOODREADS IS LIFE. I love it so much.
Well, about the saving draft reviews thing, I sometimes write reviews in a notepad/document on my computer and then copy-paste it when I’m done (because my internet is horrendous and it doesn’t work at my comfy chair IT’S AWFUL). Because yes it’s AWFUL when you can’t save it! o.o
Some of these are sooo good. XD
I’m mixed on half stars… Sometimes I want them and sometimes I actually NEED the structure that is only five stars. (Ooh. Question. Does that mean there would be a 5.5 star rating??? I NEED DIS.) But yes, sometimes you just need a 3.5 or a 4.5… Or even a 2.5 to say that it wasn’t AWFUL, just disappointing… etc. It might get confusing and less simple than it is, BUT IT WOULD STILL BE KIND OF AWESOME.
You need to do more of these posts about what you’ll do when you rule the world… I LIKE THEM.
ALSO I NEED TO HEAR ALL ABOUT YOUR WRITING PLEASE TELL YES ALKSDJLFKDJLKJ I WANNA KNOW ABOUT THE AWESOME CAIT-NESS!
Deborah O’Carroll @ The Road of a Writer recently posted…Fall 2015 Books
Yesss. IT IS AWFUL WHEN YOU CAN’T SAVE. Even when I write, I like save my work every 2 seconds because I’m paranoid like that. XD And it’d also be good to save the review if you’re not sure you’re ready to post or, if you read ARCs, it’s too early to post. *nods*
Omg, yes, a 5.5 rating. o.O I suppose that WOULD complicate things. I mena, it’s effectively giving us 10 stars to work with instead, right?!?
I know, right?! Once a year “when I rule the world” posts are NOT ENOUGH.
I AM DOING A WRITING POST REALLY SOON BECAUSE REEEEASONS AND WRITING IS FUN AND AFJDKSLAD I CAN’T WAIT TO TELL EVERYONE ABOUT MY BOOK.
I vote yes on all of these & I will gladly bow down to you as a loyal servant once you rule the world. ^_^
Bieke @ Istyria book blog recently posted…{Mirror Mirror} Get Ready for Halloween-Month!
OH GOOD. I AM GLAD, BIEKE. *gives you minion cake*
YASSS! MINION CAKE!!
Wait…
Is it cake for minions or cake shaped like those yellow awesome minions or minion-shaped cake for minions?
Bieke @ Istyria book blog recently posted…{Bookish Babble} Updates on my Writing Projects!
IT CAN BE ANYTHING YOU WANT IT TO BE BECAUSE I AM KIND LIKE THAT.
THANK YOU, OH WISE RULER!
Bieke @ Istyria book blog recently posted…{Bookish Babble} Updates on my Writing Projects!
I feel like if you ruled the world there would be lots of good food, so I’m kind of ok with the idea.
I would LOVE to be able to save drafts on Goodreads. The private notes section is cool, but the character limit means you can’t use it for drafts if you write long reviews.
I’d also like to see Goodreads have a better search function.
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There would be! I would take very good care of everyone in the dessert aspect, so who could complain?!?
omg, wait. Private notes section!??! How does one get to that and how did I not know about it!?? I swear I crawl over every inch of goodreads BUT I DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THAT.
I vote Cait for Goodreads President!!!
I VOTE CAIT FOR GOODREADS QUEEN. Wait. Can I vote for myself? I am.
HALF STARS!!!!! I will vote for you any day. Or join your army. Or whatever you need. Cait for world ruler! 😀
Number 4 is also awesome. And 7. And just all of them. Wait…when do you take over the world again?
MY ARMY IS A FABULOUS THING TO JOIN. IT IS FUELLED ON CAKE AND I GIVE AWARDS OF COOL CAPES AND BOOTS AND MASKS. I am taking over the world presently. Standby.
CAPES! say no more. 😀
your headings are MUCH easier to read now. Thanks, Caitboo ^^
ALSO THERE IS ANOTHER CAIT-BOOK IN THE MAKING? *grabby hands*
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Haaa. Omg, I got SO many people growling at me for those headings. 0_0 Funny thing is, I actually wrote this post FIRST and it’s just been sitting here forever and I didn’t even think about the headings when I posted it. HAHA
Pretty much YES to all of these!! Though some of them seem like a distant dream, for example adding the option for half stars can’t be that difficult! I use Letterboxd a lot, which is pretty much like a goodreads for films, and they have a half star option which is a lifesaver because of then the difference for example between 2.5 stars and 3 stars might be big!!
Milka@ReadReadRead recently posted…Stacking the Shelves (#35)
*siiiiigh* And someone tweeted my post and tagged goodreads in it and they tweeted back that they’re never doing half stars. D: NEVEr?!?! I MEAN, HELLO GOODREADS, YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO LISTEN TO FOLLOWERS. I don’t even know anyone who’s opposed to it. D:
YES to all of this, but especially half-stars. I know it’s kind of having a 10-star scale rather than a 5-star scale, which complicates the system, but half stars are really needed because books are so diverse in quality. And I think the whole notification system can be redone. Maybe I’m just doing it wrong, but I always get a ton of notifications over things that I don’t care about.
Emily Seals recently posted…in which I apologize for grad school eating my life and soul.
Ohh, that is true I guess…but at least it’s not TOO wild and crazy, right?!? Because most places have half stars nowadays! EVERYWHERE BUT GOODREADS. -_-
Will you PLEASE take over Goodreads before moving onto other world domination issues?!?!?! I mean, I’m sure there are other pressing tasks to attend to, but these are all such good ideas! Especially the half stars…and the synopsis (cough *brain like Swiss cheese* cough)…and the bookish twins! I feel like the “you may also like” algorithm just doesn’t understand me.
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YES I WILL. I WON’T REFUSE AT ALL. THE WORLD CLEARLY NEEDS ME. And the “You may also like” thing is rubbish, I agree. GAH. Mine just lists books that are published in the same year mostly. Like I’ll be adding on a new 2015 fantasy book and they’re like “here is a 2015 contemporary you might like!” and THAT’S NOT HOW IT’S SUPPOSED TO WORK. -_-
Ooh, this is a great list. I especially support the one with publication dates – it would make tracking new releases so much easier! I would also add a “currently re-reading” option because I often do just that and there’s no way of tracking how many times I’ve read a book. 🙁
Rereading!! YES. I can’t believe I forgot that…but that so needs to be an option. >_> Like so you can count a book multiple times if you reread it. *nods*
I agree that your headings are easier to read now; thank you!
I do get “a book you marked to-read has been released, woo-hoo” notices from GR. And like the rest of your loyal minions, I am most excited about Bookish Twins, Chapter Previews, and Half Stars. I am more comfortable with your platform than with that of any political candidate, come to think of it.
haha. 😉 Well I’m glad they’re easier to read. I actually wrote this post ages ago before the last, so I didn’t even notice what font I used. 😛
Omg people have been saying they get that notification. WHY DON’T I?!?! *goes to stalk notification settings*
Please add this to your list for when you become ruler: A WAY TO MAKE LISTS OF BOOKS…THAT SHOWS OFF THE PRETTY COVERS. Then you can list not just your favorite books, but books you want to read, and book covers that you think are super pretty, just GOODREADS SHOULD BE ABLE TO LET YOU MAKE LISTS OF BOOKS IN AN AESTHETIC WAY.
😀
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YES I AGREE WITH THIS TOO. More prettiness!! Goodreads is really NOT a pretty site. *sigh*
Half stars… oh, yes! All those five-star ratings on my Goodreads page bother me because they’re not really accurate. I rarely ever give five stars. Quite a few books have gotten 4.5 stars, though. So what does Goodreads do? Makes me look like I absolutely adore these books, even though I might have had small issues with them. Then I feel like I’m the one who’s being dishonest! On the flip side, I’d really like that half star for those horrible books that I want to give less than one star. For me, one star means it has at least some redeeming quality. And some books have none; we need a rating that reflects that! (So maybe a zero-star rating, too.)
The other thing I’d like to see on Goodreads is an option for DNFs. I know a lot of people rate those one star, but I don’t think that’s really fair to the author. I mean, you might have DNFed it because it was terrible, but you might’ve DNFed it because it had to go back to the library before you could finish it. I’ve been leaving the star rating blank for my DNFs, but that just seems weird. I’d like to have an actual DNF option, maybe along with a field where you could write a short answer about why you didn’t finish (e.g., the writing was terrible, it had to go back to the library, your dog barfed on your copy, etc.). I think that could be really helpful to other users who are considering reading the book.
La Coccinelle @ The Ladybug Reads… recently posted…New to the TBR Pile (42)
Ha! A zero star rating. xD I mean, I guess you could just not star it, right? But then I know some people don’t use star ratings so a non-star rating doesn’t necessarily mean bad. It’s like we need a bit UNLIKE sticker or something. Just to be blunt about it… xD
And yes! A DNF! Like that is part of the star rating part. *nods* Because I often say I DNF’d at the beginning of my review, but if you only skim read you might miss that. I usually DNF as 1-star, but, gah, yes, It needs its own rating.
I could really use #5 right now — I just started reading The Wise Man’s Fear (book 2 in The Kingkilller Chronicle) by Patrick Rothfuss, but I can’t remember half of what happened in The Name of the Wind (book 1), and I can’t just go back and re-read it because Patrick Rothfuss writes bricks. By which I mean book 1 is over 700 pages and book 2 surpasses 1,000. I just don’t have that much time!
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Yesss, this is EXACTLY why we need them!! Sometimes it’s not even logical to go back and reread massive books. Like, sometimes we don’t even want to, right!?? I’m dying because I want to read the sequel to Seraphina, but it’s been 2 years and I remember nothing and that book is like 600-pages and I don’t feeel like the reread. *wails*
I’m gonna go ahead and need you to take over Goodreads now, because these ideas are too brilliant to wait!
I’M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND AGREE WITH YOU. I just need to rule.
All hail, Queen of the Earth, Cait.
I’m in as long as I can be a duchess of a small island or something.
Jess @ Such a Novel Idea recently posted…Our Favorite Banned Books
I WILL grant you a small island and name you duchess because I AM A NICE OVERLORD LIKE THAT.
I need to start using Goodreads more, I have one but I basically forget to update it. I think you need to hurry up on your World Domination plans, because these things need to happen.
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I’m like constantly on goodreads. XD It’s probably one of my biggest loved sites, hehe.
Dude, you seriously need to rule the world. ALL THESE NEED TO HAPPEN!!!
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I DO. IT’S A CONFUSION TO EVERYONE AND ME INCLUDED WHY I JUST HAVEN’T STARTED RULING YET, SHEESH.
YES YES YES! I agree with everything on this list, especially the last one. I’d also like GR to get rid of those yuck hyphenated shelf names. I want my shelf to be called “ARCs to Read” not “arcs-to-read.” I’d also love the ability to make subshelves so I can have “Urban Fantasy” and “High Fantasy” under the “Fantasy” shelf. It’s be even better if GR automatically generated genre shelves for me.
YESSS. Basically Goodreads also needs to be prettier. *nods* It’d be fabulous if you could love hover over books and have them flip over and stuff and just be generally PRETTY and AWESOME.
1. If we’re going to make half-stars, we really should go all the way and have quarter-stars.
5. YES YES YES YES YES. I would give up everything else on the list if only this were possible.
8. I love this idea!
After #5 and before #1, my biggest complaint about Goodreads is that there’s no good way to show re-reads. I re-read all the time, and I don’t want to take books off of previous years or change the original read date. It’s incredibly frustrating. It means that Goodreads says I’ve read 139 books this year, when I’ve really read 182. Hmph.
Omg, really??! QUARTER STARS?!?! I think we need more stars. xD And I forgot to add in about rereads but, omg, that drives me CRAZY. Like I just change the year if I reread, but then doesn’t it pull it out of my other challenges? Bleh. Also the fact that reading a 20-page novella is the same as reading an 800-page fantasy. -_- I think you should get to elect if you want to count something towards a challenge.
Yes. To all of these. But especially the synopsis one because it’s not uncommon for me to review a book weeks or months after I’ve read it and sometimes I need a refresher.
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YES, me too!! And plus when it comes to author’s who have like 2 years between series releases…that’s just a killer. >_< I want to read the sequel to Seraphina but it's been TWO YEARS and I don't feel like the 600-page slog through Seraphina before Shadow Scale, gahhhhh.
Cait, you need to start ruling the world soon, because I NEED the stuff on this list to happen! Especially number five! #I have a bad memory
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I WILL. BECAUSE THE WORLD IS IN NEED OF ME TO FIX IT.
YES. OMG YES TO ALL OF THIS CAIT. xD This is reason 9,999,999 why I need you to become the World Overlord. 😉
I hate how Goodreads doesn’t have half stars. I mean, they’re obviously capable of coding it up and whatnot, but they choose not to. Half-stars are so important to me as a reader and it just irks me how they’re not even willing to try to install them. And I love the idea of having notification updates – that would be SO, SO, SO helpful and it would save a lot of time and effort. And the bookish twin idea sounds like the best thing of ever TBH. With that feature, we could totally rock the world. *evil laughter*
Thanks for sharing Cait and, as always, fabulous discussion!
YES. EXACTLY. SEE?! I AM ONLY HERE DOING GOOD AS WORLD OVERLORD AND RULER OF ALL. *nods* People should not doubt me.
I feel like it’s a little bit slack that Goodreads doesn’t update and enhance the site. I mean, it’s proved how valuable and popular it is, right?!? And other sites seem to be constantly updating, like facebook and twitter and whatnot. BUT NOT GOODREADS. D:
Yes to half stars!!! I totally agree with that! And everything else in this post! I think draft reviews and sample chapters also must happen!! Please rule the world so that this can happen! 🙂
~Sara
Sara Strauss recently posted…Inspired By: Books Turned Movies
I WILL. I will not refuse your request of dire need. *flips hair magnificently and summons dragons to begin this takeover*
I like your list! Especially the thing about half-star ratings. Seriously, it can’t be so hard! They add features like email signatures but not half-star ratings?!?!!? And saving drafts… that is the BEST too. I can’t even write my reviews directly on GR because sometimes Internet freezes and I lose my review, so I either write it in my blog first (it saves itself automatically, so no probs if the Internet dies for a moment) OR I write them in Word and then paste them on GR. Also, THE HTML. Like, seriously, WHY MUST WE STILL HTML EVERYTHING?!?!?!
Vane J. recently posted…Review: Lockdown
I knoooooow. I feel like Goodreads isn’t really interested in like changing and enhancing their site which is incredible sadness. :'( Draft reviews would also be good if you want to review the book but then it’s too early pre-release to even post it. SO THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TOO.
YES to half-stars! That would be glorious and needs to happen immediately.
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It would change the WORLD and it would be glorious. :’)
Agreed with all! Especially half stars!! we need them! and draft reviews.
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YESSSSS. GOODREADS SHOULD HIRE ME. Or, ya know, wait till I take over…
Yes, half stars! Being able to save a draft would be wonderful. I wish we could edit our updates, too. Also, remember when Amazon reviews had to be so many characters long or they wouldn’t post? I think that it should be the same with GR; that the star rating has to be accompanied by atleast a short explaination. I am tired of seeing books rated two and three stars with no explaination. Especially if they have not been pubbed yet! Then you would know it was because they “didn’t like the cover”, or the author’s last book. I think you should have to at least attempt to read the book before rating it. Too bad there is no way to regulate that! And… some way to count rereads. And… a way to choose who shows up in your home page feed; like just top friends, or something. There are some people who only come on every great long while, and then they spam to their “to reads” shelf, and like 100 other people’s reviews. I hate to unfriend them, but geesh! I do get emails from GR when books on my tbr shelf pub, but I get them on the release date with no pre-warning. 🙂
La La in the Library recently posted…TOP FIVE FRIDAY #12
Ahhh, yes, editing updates would be FABULOUS. I put in such bad typos sometimes and gahhh, don’t even notice until later that it was an unintelligible mangle. XD
I’m kind of torn about the minimum-character-reviews…because I love reviews and I get so frustrated when I see my friend rated a book I loved really low BUT DIDN’T SAY WHYYYYY AND GAH I JUST WANNA KNOW. But at the same time, I know a lot of people like to keep track of their books but don’t like to write reviews. SO YEAH. That’s a hard one. XD It’d be nice if there was like a little list of things you could check, right?! So if they rate a book 2-stars, it comes up with a list of reasons maybe why and then you tick one instead of writing a review….
YES COUNTING REREADS!! I totally forgot about that, but that’s a huge Goodreads fail. IT NEEDS CHANGING!!
Oh you know you can choose who shows up in your feed!! If you go into “edit friends”, there’s a little box beside each name and they’re ticked with “top friend”. You just untick EVERYONE except the people you want to hear from, and only they will be in your feed. That’s what I do. 😉 I unfriend people who spam me with requests. -_- It’s so annoying and RUDE.
What?! Then mine doesn’t work! I get everyone’s updates in my feed. Ugh, GR is killing me. I will contact them, but I am not expecting any help. If that feature worked it would be wonderful..
La La in the Library recently posted…BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE #THREE
YES TO HALF STARS!!!!!! When I saw your post pop up in my feed, I was like “if she doesn’t have half-stars on there…she’s not worthy to rule to world”. I complain about this missing feature frequently, and sometimes write a extremely brief review that says “this book is really 3.5 stars”.
Also, yes to full synopsis recaps! I’m terrible at remembering the plot from a book I read a year ago.
Great post!
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BUT I AM WORTHY BECAUSE I AM KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT ALL THE THINGS WE NEED IN OUR LIVES. *nods* I sometimes start my reviews with “this is really 4.5” or whatever, but it’s so annoying, because it’s not an accurate rating if you just glance at my review instead of reading!! I NEED ACCURACY, GOODREADS, DANGIT.
Oh My God YES!!!!! to all of the above 🙂 especially the half stars and draft reviews!!!!!
I am looking forward to the day when you take over the world, I’ll bring a ten tonne truck full of cake.
I WILL EAT THE TRUCK FULL OF CAKE. oh. Well. Maybe I’ll share….
Half Stars and bookish twins are SUCH. GOOD. IDEAS. You could design the most awesome website, Cait, or be employed by GR to put into working all these additions. There are so many awesome ideas here, and I’d definitely be on board to see many put into practice. GR is awesome, although it does- admittedly- have it’s issues, which have been widely commented on. But I’ve been using it since… 2011, I think, and it’s just. so. neat. Such a good idea. I’m vaguely aware that there are other, similar and also popular book reviewing sites, along a similar theme, but haven’t ever used them. GR holds my heart.
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YES THEY SHOULD JUST EMPLOY ME FOR MY BRILLIANT BRAIN. Unless, ya know, I take over the world first. There are so many options, truly. I feel like it’s odd that Goodreads never seems to update or change things? Like it’s such a huge famous site and SO many people love it and they have absolutely dedicated followers…so why aren’t they enhancing features?!?
YESSSS to #1! Half stars are a must for me, because I so frequently need them. The 3.5 one and 4.5 ones are really important in my reviews, and GR fails me when I try to cross-post!
The twin thing is an awesome idea too! I’ve found some by using their “compare” tool, but that means I have to sort through every single friend and find out what they think!
Kayla @ The Thousand Lives recently posted…Mini Reviews: Dream Things True and Breakaway
Same!! I need 3.5s all the time these days. o.O And also 2.5s. GAH. JUST ALL THE HALVES BASICALLY. I like the compare tool, but it means you have to go to their profile and just stalk them…whereas with my new and improved function *struts around gloriously* it’d pop up when you look up a random book you’re already interested in. *nods*
I love this post! Can you be like President of Goodreads and implement all of these, especially the half star ratings, and the quotes, ohmygod. New follower, btw! ;D
Blessie (Mischievous Reads) recently posted…Purple Is The New Black + Giveaway!
YES. I ACCEPT THIS REQUEST. Squee!! But welcome to my blog and the madness! CAKE FOR YOU 😀
Totally agree on all points but especially the half stars!! I try to rate half stars all the time, as if Goodreads has just suddenly heard my cries of anguish and upgraded on the spur of the moment to please me. It neeeeeeds to happen.
Tenae | Strawberry Moon Books recently posted…On the Syllabus: My Favorite College Reads, Part Two
I don’t even know why Goodreads STILL hasn’t updated to half stars. Isn’t everyone of EVER asking for them!?!?!
You have my vote for sure! Literally all your points are valid. The notifications thing is brilliant, I don’t understand why I never thought of that. It would help me soooo much. I think Goodreads also needs more information about authors in general. I know there is some info on their pages but I need more and I want it to be more structured. Like, I’d like to know when my favorite authors are finally gonna realise that there are people in Europe that would like to meet them as well…. I would like to be notified if they are on a tour and where they are going and stuff.
Kaylie @ Potterhead Reviews recently posted…Mini reviews August 2015
Omg, yes and YES for more info on authors!! Especially for the authors not on Goodreads. I mean, just because they’re not active on goodreads doesn’t mean we have to suffer with zero information about them!! HELP US OUT HERE, GOODREADS. I’d like to be notified when my favourite authors are coming out with a new book!
BOOKISH TWINS ALL THE YES
– Seriously, why is this not already a thing? I need my book soul mate *wipes tear*
– One other thing I would have added [but now it’s fixed and HALLELUJAH] would have been to make Goodreads still have suggestions for what book/author I’m referring to even when I spell it wrong, it’s such a chore having to double check spellings on the internet so I can add books to my shelves.
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I DON’T KNOW WHY BOOKISH TWINS ISN’T A THING YET. OMG. GET WITH THE PROGRAM, GOODREADS. HIRE ME AND USE MY GREAT BRAIN. And the spellings used to be so annoying right?!? I still pull up blanks a lot though if I forget a letter. grrr.
YES TO THIS WHOLE ENTIRE LIST. PLEASE. I actually didn’t know that you couldn’t save draft reviews. I mean… what? I’d have thought that, as well as half stars, would be something incredibly easy and useful Goodreads would have thought of already. Huh. A way to organise quotes and just a way to organise Goodreads in general would be great. I love it to bits but OMG GOING ON GOODREADS IS SO OVERWHELMING AND MESSY. Ack. They really ought to care about us a bit more, I agree. How about for each review you get a chocolate bar and for each book you read you get a muffin. Both of which can act as the fuel for your next reading/reviewing escapades. I THINK WE SHOULD CREATE GOODREADS MINION THINGS. Or fairies or dragons or whatever takes your fancy. Someone to do all your personal notifying/clicking/organising so we bookworms can just read, write, read, eat. Then the dragon-minion-fairy thing can deliver all your courtesy Goodreads chocolate and blankets and whisper in your ear that you should totally start reading that new book. LIKE A GOODREADS PERSONAL ASSISTANT/POSTAL SERVICE. Yep, I like that idea. Obviously, yours are all amazing too Cait – with you as ruler of the world I think we **might** be in safe hands ;-D
Rebekah @ Wings Made Of Words recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books On My Fall (Autumn) TBR
I don’t think Goodreads EVER updates. Like they update teeny tiny things, but it’s like they’re too scared to do anything big like, um, HALF STARS WHICH LITERALLY EVERYONE HAS ASKED FOR FOR YEARS. Gahhhhh. XD And it IS overwhelming and messy. It’s so hard to actually make things neat, even when all the book covers aren’t necessarily the same height. Like I loathe reading books that turn up on my shelves slightly off and it makes the whole page off. >_>
GOODREADS FAIRIES. I LIKE IT.
These are all great ideas – some I had thought of (half stars, come on GR), but some were new and brilliant. Love the bookish twin system, that really needs to happen. Hope you come into your own soon.
Lory @ Emerald City Book Review recently posted…Witch Week Readalong Poll
I don’t even know why Goodreads never updates and adds in halfstars. Like literally EVERYONE is asking for them. C’MON GOODREADS. GET WITH THE PROGRAM HERE. XD
Some of these things I’ve been wanting for years but most of these I didn’t know I wanted until this very moment. You have taken all my hopes and dreams and turned them into this blog post.
Half Stars are what I have been craving ever since I started Goodreads a few years ago because not every book is 4 star or 5 star worthy and I am sick of demoting books because they weren’t quite 5 star.
OMG chapter samples is a perfect idea to get more people interested in other books. Usually when I don’t know what book I want to read I read the first chapter to help me decide if it suits my mood/ feeling and this option would be perfect for deciding if I want to add a book to my tbr.
Bookish Twins and Full Synopsis are also things I’m itching for.
Please takeover Goodreads now!!!!! …….please 🙂
I am marvellously handy like that aren’t I? :’) Causing people to need things they didn’t know they did wherever I go. *happy sigh*
I don’t get why goodreads never updates and does some of these things, thoguh?!? Like literally EVERYONE asks for half stars. SO WHERE ARE THEY?!? And sample chapters would be just sooo gooood. Sometimes I want to see if I’m going to like a new author’s style. And I like never go onto amazon so half the time I forget that that’s even an option. Why can’t it all be on Goodreads? ONE LITERARY SITE TO RULE THEM ALL.
This list is awesome! So many great ideas. I love the bookish twin idea lol! Having half stars and notifications would also be fantastic.
Sarah recently posted…10 Reasons You Should Be Watching En Otra Piel
Squee! THANKS, SARAH! *beams*
Support for rereads other than adding new editions! That one annoys me soooo much.
Nikki recently posted…Review – The Colouring Book for Grown-Ups
Yes rereads!! I can’t believe I forgot them!
The number one thing Goodreads needs to improve is their search function! Sometimes I get the most random, unrelated titles when I try to search for a book! And then second, I would definitely love to have half stars too!
YES. OMG YES. I hate that if you don’t spell it 100% correctly they don’t know what you’re talking about. I mean, c’mon, Goodreads. TAKE A STAB IN THE DARK, DARNIT.
Oh these are all great points! I don’t use half stars because goodreads and amazon don’t allow it, so i just stick with the 5 stars system and my review will hopefulyl be enough to give the feel whetehr it’s mroe to the bottom or top half of the rating. Draft reviews would be very handy, I always write my review on goodreads and obsesisvely control C my review up till then. If I have to leave in the middle of a review (which I tyr to avoid at all costs as I hate being interrupted when writing a review) I usually copy andpaste my review on another document and then later continue, but it’s a bit unhandy.
I like amazon their look inside function, it would be greta if goodreads had that too. I know there’s a site that keeps track of new releases, but it’s annoyign havign to make an acocunt there too, if goodreads integrated that function, it would be awesome. I think synopsis for every book would be a bit difficult to implement, because who should write these and if everyone can write them, lots of boosk probably still won’t have s synopsis. It sure would be handy as I know that feeling of starting a new book and realizing I forgot parts. I think goodreads should check out this post and implement some of these changes!
Lola recently posted…Sunday Post #145
SAME. I never use half stars even though a lot of the time I really really need them. Gah, c’mon Goodreads. GET WTIH THE TIMES!! I hate being interrupted writing a review too. Gah. But it’d also be good if you needed to make like pre-release notes if the review can’t go up because it’s too early.
We just need ALL THE THINGS on Goodreads right?! one book site to rule them all1 😀
You need to rule the world. I love good reads. I need Half stars why the check aren’t there half stars and full synopsis caps I need those!! Great post
Megan @ reading away the days recently posted…Sunday Post #26- The slump is over
Why aren’t there half stars?!??! I MEAN WHAT YEAR IS IT AND GOODREADS STILL HASN’T UPDATED THIS?!??
Great ideas! I really support the half-star rating! If they can post a half-star rating, I should be able to too! 🙂
Lola (@lamplitreviews) recently posted…Weekly Round-Up: 9/20 – 9/26
HALF STAR RATINGS WOULD SAVE OUR LIIIIIIVES.
OMG WHAT A GREAT LIST. My favorite would be the last option; if only that were possible! And book twins- YES!!! That would save me so much time from choosing which book to read or not.
You know what I’d like to change? The comment section for status updates (can we tag people in comments instead of getting a notification every time someone else comments?) and also an improvement for the messaging system. We should be able to do DM’s like in FB Messenger or Twitter!
Hopefully someone from Goodreads sees this post and think about these changes! 😀
BOOKISH TWINS WOULD HELP US BE SO FANTASTIC. YES OMG YES!! I was thinking about that too after I published the post!! It actually makes me not comment on reviews because I don’t want a million notifications. -_- And tagging people would be so helpful.
Yes to all of these, especially the half star ratings and the sample chapters. I also would like the option of being able to mark a book as read multiple times. I mean, what if I reread a book, but I’ve already listed it in Goodreads? Suddenly it won’t count for my current challenge. But I read it! *sobs at the unfairness*
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YESSS. I forgot about the rereads but AGH, it’s sooo annoying how you can’t do that, right?!? I change the year so my rereads always count for the year I’m reading them, but it’s just a pain. It’ll take it off other challenges I guess? BOO GOODREADS, BOO.
God, yes! I really wish Goodreads had half-stars!
Leanna recently posted…Book Review: Edgewater by Courtney Sheinmel.
I so don’t understand why they still don’t. D:
I DREAM ABOUT HALF STARS!!!! Make this happen, when you’re world ruler, pleeeaese!
PS Can’t wait to hear about your book!
Emily @ Emily Etc. recently posted…Recently Read
I DREAM OF THEM TOO. ALL THE HALF STARS. OMG.
I’d definitely sign up for your version of Goodreads! Especially the half-stars. I really don’t get why they haven’t done that already, because almost every single user has requested it at least once. And a giant YES to the customised release notifications! One of the things I hate the most is that you can’t just search for books based on release day. You can always see the like 200 most popular books released that month but I wish I could just click on September 29th, 2015 and see which books are being released that day!
P.S. I would really want that bookish twin thing. Why doesn’t it exist? CREATE IT AND MAKE A FORTUNE, CAIT!
Jolien @ The Fictional Reader recently posted…Weekly Wrap Up | September #4
Goodreads is IGNORING US. omg. *folds arms and pouts* OMG BUT YOUR CALENDAR IDEA IS EXCELLENT. That would be perfect. And then like narrow it down…so I want to see all the YA fantasy releases for September and stuff. xD It would save lives and sanity.
YES I HAVE THE MAKINGS TO MILLIONS IN MY HANDS RIGHT NOW. GOODREADS. HIRE ME.
I would like GoodReads to get a better search system. It never seems to find the book I’m looking for and it frustrates the heck out me.
And anything I can do to help you get GoodReads to design “shelves” for quotes would be amazing. I collect quotes from my Scenic Sundays and my main source is GoodReads, but finding quotes I saved is difficult!
Terri M., the Director
Second Run Reviews
Terri M., the Director recently posted…Scenic Sundays 50: Sick Again | What makes you happy?
YES. Because it’s a pain unless you know the exact title right?!? And misspellings are killers too. I mean, c’mon now goodreads, help me out. Have a guess. I’M DOING MY BEST. *growls* YESSS SHELVES FOR QUOTES!! That would be so good, right?!? And I also wish someone edited the quotes, though YES that’s kind of unrealistic but. Gah. It’s so annoying finding great quotes with horrific spelling and punctuation. -_-
The half stars really must happen eventually. This is basically the equivalent to our shout in the void for an edit button on tweets for Twitter. ONE DAY IF WE PESTER THEM ENOUGH…. Haha yes to the bookish twin part. I would totally utilize that feature. Book release notifications would be great! I usually find out through Twitter which is a bit late and after the fact. Take over GR, Cait!! PLEASE. Nice post 🙂
Rachel @ A Perfection Called Books recently posted…ARC Review ~ Six of Crows
yes we JUST NEED TO PESTER REALLY REALLY LOUDLY AND MAYBE IT’LL HAPPEN!!?? (Omg, but I SO want an edit button for tweets. argH. xXD) And sometimes I go months without knowing a favourite author has a new book coming out. FOR SHAME. XD I need to be on top of this news. 😉
I can’t decide which I am most excited about: The Goodreads snuggles, or the fact that you also hate Peppa Pig. Man, that pig is a real piece of work. And why doesn’t her father have ANY manners? Oh right, Goodreads. They should BAN Peppa Pig, maybe you can add that to your list.
They NEED half stars. Come on Goodreads, this isn’t the middle ages! We need half stars, for goodness sake. I need to know if I am getting into a 3 or a 3.5 because that is a big difference! I also like this book twin arrangement. That would save me a LOT of time.
Also, maybe a “make this book vanish from my eyes” button? Like, a book you KNOW you aren’t reading and don’t want to have to look at EVER AGAIN, or, even worse, be TRICKED into adding to your TBR. So if I click the “GO AWAY” button on a book by Stalky McCreeperson, it’s gone forever. For me.
Can you PLEASE just rule the world already? I think you’ve put it enough time training.
Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight recently posted…This Week At Midnight (80)
OMG IT’S NOT JUST ME?!?! I hate Peppa Freaking Pig. And why do they fat shame her father so much??? Literally every episode Peppa is sitting there saying “you’re too fat daddy” and I’m like “OMG STAHP THE ANNOYING BRATTY PIGLET.” And my nephew/niece love it. Ugh. Also the gravity in their world is questionable.
YES. A Vanish Permanently button would be wonderful too. Or like an author warning, so you don’t accidentally click to-read on an author you’re sworn off?
I really truly think it’s time, you know. *runs to fetch crown and sceptre*
Give me the half stars and I will be a very, very happy girl!
Recaps would be amazing…I always feel like I win the lottery when I book has a full synopsis/recap on wikipedia or its own wikia
YES. Me too! Have you heard of the Recaptains blog?! I stalk theirs too, although they don’t have a lot of books I need recaps for. D: I think authors should write the recaps too so everything is 100% PERFECT and right. *nods*
That’s why I write my own recaps in a word doc when I finish a book >.<
It's saved me so much time (because I don't have to reread) and is a great refresher.
I'll have to check out Recaptains blog though…thanks!
SERIESous Book Reviews recently posted…Movie Monday: The Scorch Trials
Omg you do?!?! YOU ARE SO SMART. I should do that instead of just writing reviews, heheh.
These are seriously the best ideas! I know I would love Goodreads more if they had half stars and if they would implement a way to draft reviews. THAT WOULD BE SUCH A LIFE SAVER! It would even make me even more inclined to leave even more reviews! Plus, the half stars, and the bookish twin system (for buddy reads, right?!) AHHHH WHY ISN’T GOODREADS IMPLEMENTING THESE ALREADY?!
Faye la Patata recently posted…PLAYLIST BOOK TAG! (aka Awkwardly Dancing with Books)
YESSSS. Plus like sometimes you want to write a review while the brain is on fire about it, but you don’t want to post yet because it’s too early? So saving drafts would save LIVES about this. IT WOULD FOR ME ANYWAY. AND YES BUDDY READS = BOOKISH TWIN SYSTEMS TOO. Goodreads is not doing it right now because they are ridiculous and haven’t hired me as their ruler.
Most of these I do agree with, especially the improvement on Book Recommendations, however I am a little guilty of goodreads stalking as I’m not very good with keeping up with new releases, (sorry about that). So, this army of yours, is it like a “Cake or Death?” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMMHUzm22oE) type situation? 🙂
It’s hard to keep up on all the new releases right?!? I heard one of my favourite authors mention something about back-to-back 2016 releases and I’m like “WUT. I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW YOU HAD ONE.” Gahhhh.
Dear goodness Cait, aren’t you fabulous?! You literally echo my thoughts with your amazing, spot on reforms for Goodreads! I will be your loyal, dedicated follower until the end! (I wanna see these changes made!)
xoxo, Josie 💋
Josephine recently posted…Spotlight Saturday # | Weekly Feature
YES I AM. *flips hair* I WILL NOT DENY ACCUSATIONS OF FABULOUSNESS.
An army fueled on cake?! Where do I sign up?
I’m not really a hfl-star rater, but I totally agree with you when it comes to notifications because I am constantly forgetting about a book release that I put in my TBR like, a year ago. And the same with people talking about ‘the new book by X author” and I’m like WHAT?! HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THEIR NEW BOOK???!!!
And yes to sample chapters, that would be amazing and would save me a lot of time searching for them elsewhere on the internet and also for being able to save my draft reviews! I mean, COME ON GOODREADS! How have you not through of that already?!
So basically I agree with EVERYTHING and would totally vote for you for Ruler of the World (& Goodreads) and would look forward to my comforting message the next time I am emotionally unstable after finishing a book. 🙂
Hannah @ Broc’s Bookcase recently posted…Sunday Funday: Easy DIY Bookmarks
IF THINE IS MY FOLLOWER. THINE IS SIGNED UP TO THE CAKE FUELLED MINION ARMY. *nods*
*tosses cake at you*
And yes, me too!! I’m constantly being told there’s a new book by my favourite author and I’m like “BUT I SHOULD’VE KNOWN ABOUT THIS STRAIGHT AWAY, OMG.” It’s shameful really. Goodreads should be fixing our shame.
Yes, please!! You get my vote to rule the Universe and make these Goodreads changes!!
Vicki G. recently posted…An update of sorts
*dons crown*
*struts around regally*
I SHALL MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Haha. XD I totally agree with the half star thing. That would be really really handy.
Victoria Grace Howell recently posted…The Bookshelf Tag
IT WOULD. SOMEONE CROWN ME AND I’LL MAKE IT HAPPEN.
The fact that we STILL don’t have half stars is soo infuriating! It’s been HOW MANY years? The technology exists GR, WE ALL KNOW IT DOES.
AND YES FOR QUOTES! They’re all random and then *I* have to do more work by writing them down as I read, and I don’t want that.
Amber Elise @ Du Livre recently posted…Book Review: Spinning Starlight
I knoooow. And they change other random things that AREN’T HALF AS IMPORTANT (like whether authors can be friends or not) and they neglect our half star wishes?? GEE.
This might sound crazy but I’m designing a book cataloguing app that functions much like Goodreads but with all the more awesome features like half-stars, DNF feature, book release notifications (by genre, by author, by publisher etc), draft saves etc… I noticed a lot of bloggers want the same features on Goodreads you (and I do) and I thought “why not make an app for that?”. But the app design is just something I do for fun, I’m not much of a developer so I don’t know if it’s going to take off the ground.
But thanks for this post, I’m going to take note of these for future reference. We should find a way to make these things happen, especially #10. 😉
Farzy @ Books Keep Me Sane recently posted…Manila International Book Fair 2015 Recap + Tips
Ooh, good luck on your app!! I feel like that’d be AWESOME.
This is such a fun, but some oh so true points on this list. Your first point of half stars is one of the things I think all Goodreads users would happily welcome – I know I would and I don’t even typically rate in half stars!
Also, I’d happily sign a petition for number ten 😛
Jade Louise recently posted…Library Loot + Book Buying Ban
Yes let’s pretend number 10 isn’t unrealistic because C’MON NOW. BOOKS. *flails*
I COMPLETE AGREE WITH EVERYTHING. Except for the samples- I don’t know about you, but they have them for me on there, through Amazon and all that. Hmmm. BUT YES TO HALF-STAR RATINGS AND YES TO BOOKISH TWINS AND RELEASE DATES AND EVERYTHING. This is a fabulous list, Cait!
Evi @Adventuring Through Pages recently posted…Bookish Serendipity Co. Launch!
Oh they do have samples??!?! GAh, why did I not know this!!!
HALF STARS–please, I would give up my crown to you if you could make this possible! And full recaps of all books is something I desperately need! With all that useless nonsense they teach at school swimming around in my brain, I don’t have room to remember the plots of books. I also dislike the way Goodreads organizes quotes…as in there is no organization. I can’t handle it! I love this post, Cait! 😀
You have a crown? HA. THAT IS ADORABLE AND DEFINITELY A NOT-LIKELY STORY, ERIN, BUT I APPRECIATE THE SENTIMENT.
This post had me laughing and nodding along the entire time I read it! I would die for half stars in our ratings!!!! I also sure as heck wouldn’t mind full synopsis recaps for books. Right?!?! Who doesn’t read at least one series that they don’t remember what happened in the previous books? I have about a million.
Omg, I NEVER can remember anything. Particularly when it’s like over a year since the book came out. o.O How is my puny brain supposed to rememer ALL the facts plus read other books?!?! SOMEONE* FIX THIS.
* Someone meaning me *smiles gloriously*
Awesome post! I especially agree with the need for half stars. I even wanted to rate a book 4.25 stars the other day. Yes, I’m ridiculous. And, the idea of identifying a book twin is a superb idea!
Erin of TexErin-in-SydneyLand recently posted…I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak – Aussie Author Challenge book.11
No it’s not ridiculous!! 5 STARS ISN’T THAT MUCH ROOM FOR RATING, OMG! WE NEED MORE ROOM.
YES TO ALL OF THESE!!!
Half star ratings are such a necessity, I don’t know why it doesn’t have them already…does it not understand bookworms at all?
Cassie recently posted…Blog Tour: The Tribe Series
I know, right?!? I feel like Goodreads hasn’t even changed in EVER and they definitely don’t update things to suit their audience. This is why I must rule and change this. *flips hair*
AMEN TO LITERALLY ALL OF THIS.
HUZZAH. I AM GOING TO RULE SO WONDERFULLY.
I didn’t even know I wanted sample chapters or quote organization until I read this! Such a great list, and I can’t wait until you rule the world and Goodreads is fixed 😀
Katie recently posted…Book Review: Never Never by Brianna R. Srum
I WILL DO SO FOR EVERYTHING. Because I am nice like this. *flips hair*
I don’t know how I set it up or if I even did anything, but Goodreads sends me an email every time a book on my TBR is released. I usually get two or three every Tuesday. I would love one when new books by certain authors are listed though!
OMG SERIOUSLY?!?! I keep scouring through my email settings to see if I can change things but I’ve never seen anything for that. CLEARLY I NEED TO LOOK AGAIN.
I found it: Go to edit profile, emails, and scroll down to Newsletters and Other Mail. It’s the last option.
Jenna @ Rather Be Reading YA recently posted…Scaretober 2015
Omg, thank you!! I shall check this out asap!!
I really like goodreads and your vision for the site is still better! I particularly love the idea of book twins and universal challenges 🙂
The universal challenges would be soooooo fuuuuun. xD Even sans prizes. It’d just be cool to compete!!
You know, now that you mention it it’s kind of weird, I guess, that Goodreads doesn’t have sample chapters because Amazon owns Goodreads so you’d think the rights would bleed over. But I guess not. Whatever. Personally, I would just like a Goodreads that is more user-friendly, and isn’t so… gangly. Like, to be totally honest, compared to other social media sites I feel like Goodreads is like an awkward fifteen-year-old with pimples and a bad haircut. It just isn’t a pretty site!
Still, I do like the rest of your ideas. I would definitely like to find my bookish twin, that is for sure. *nods*
Heather recently posted…Snazzy Snippets (Round Two)
ONE WOULD THINK. I actually think it’s weird that goodreads NEVER updates. I’ve been on it for 3 or 4 years and it’s never changed?!? C’mon. Most other social media sites update ALL the time, but Goodreads really seems to stagnant. *Sigh* and I agree it’s not the prettiest. 🙁
i officially nominate cait as ruler of the universe so she can create this version of goodreads thar is badically something fron my DREAMS. eveeything you pointed out was just… YES. YES. YEESSSSS. other than that, i think we should begin campaigning for your rule.
alexandra @ twirlingpages recently posted…ten books to read if you like FLUFF
*adjusts regal crown* I accept this nomination. Because I have SO many ideas that are just going to be awesome. #humble
This post is so amazing. I have nothing to say. XD SERIOUSLY, GOODREADS SHOULD HIRE YOU.
Also, fun fact, I am not on Goodreads… but after reading this blog post, I think that will soon change.
Brianna da Silva recently posted…How To Make Time to Read (When You’re Super Busy)
YES THEY SHOULD. WHY HAVEN’T THEY YET. REALLY?? WHAT IS THEIR PROBLEM? I AM PERFECT FOR THEM. And you’re not on goodreads?!? Omg it is LIFE. Even though it could be better. heh.
It is a shame, indeed. O.O
Brianna da Silva recently posted…How To Make Time to Read (When You’re Super Busy)
You echo most of my concerns regarding Goodreads. You should definitely do these things when you rule the world!
Dre @ Sporadic Reads recently posted…Review 260 : Shadows by Paula Weston
I WILL. I HAVE A LIST. I just need my ruling crown and throne.
Yes to all of these! I especially like the sound of bookish twins! 🙂
Lauren @ Always Me recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Books To Read If You Like These Popular Titles
It would be soooo helpful. xD
Yes! Half stars! Because sometimes a book isn’t that great , but it’s better than rounding down. I honestly would have thought this would have been implemented by now, it surely can’t be that hard, can it? That’s a brilliant idea about the challenges too, that you can add challenges yourself like, read 20 books by female authors and have them displayed on your profile. I mean, we have quotes, friends, even comments on our profile pages so what’s one more element. I don’t think Goodreads is interested in developing or making any new functions for the site, the only change we’re likely to see is purchasing directly from the book page I suspect, especially being now owned by Amazon. I demand you rush through this world domination and take this to the Goodreads powers that be.
Kelly recently posted…One by Sarah Crossan
YES. THAT WOULD BE SO COOL TOO. And then you could make any sort of challenges you want and afjdlkas it would be so fun. I would have a great time beating myself. :’)
But I agree too that Goodreads doesn’t seem to be ever doing updates. Which is stupid. I mean, they’re the biggest book site out there…why aren’t they growing with their audience!??!? I didn’t know they were owned by amazon though. IS EVERYTHING OWNED BY AMAZON, OMG?!?
But, you know I can’t refuse you Kelly, so OF COURSE I will rush and take over the world ASAP just for you.
This is BEAUTIFUL! Yes to everything!
Grace Meredith @ Loving My Lit recently posted…Weddings & Graduation & Decisions, Oh My! ~ Cover Reveal for You’ll Find Me In Manhattan by Jill Knapp
YAY I AM GLAD YOU APPROVE.
I love this so much and now I can’t wait for you to take over the world (or at least Goodreads). I desperately need a save draft option more than any other feature. Sometimes I just procrastinate. I will start a review and then get distracted by other stuff. Lately though, I have been starting my review in a Word document on my computer. That way, I can write at my leisure and then just copy and paste when I am done. It works, but a save draft option would work so much better.
Cynthia @ Bingeing On Books recently posted…Banned Book Week Celebration and Giveaway!
Yesss, Goodreads needs get onto this draft feature. And also I sometimes have to NOT read a book because I have to review straight away and if it’s too early to leave a review then I can’t read the book. SO A DRAFT FEATURE WOULD FIX THAT TOO. Even if you could schedule your reviews!! OMG SO MANY OPTIONS.
First of all, YES TO EVERYTHING, CAIT.
Secondly, how has Goodreads gone this long WITHOUT half stars? It’s mind-boggling. I write it in my review if I remember. Half-stars are important.
There is a thing where you can see how many books you have read in common with someone, but I’ve read so many books it is hard to find someone I don’t have 100 books in common with! Bookish twins notification needs to be a thing!
I was literally thinking about the need to have my GR quotes organized LAST WEEK. You are in my head!
I have the same issue with series. I can remember the general plot, but not how it ended necessarily. I went to read the second book in Becca Fitzpatrick’s Hush, Hush last year and I was so lost. I had no idea what was going on so I had to toss it aside, especially since I have no idea in what bookshelf/box I had buried Hush, Hush.
IT IS MIND BOGGLING. I don’t think they really take note of what their users are asking for, tbh. >_> Because I’ve yet to meet a Goodreads user who is opposed to half stars. (I mean, some people are indifferent about it, but I think the majority says yes!! FIX THIS, GOODREADS, OMG.) And yes! I’ve used the comparing thing occasionally, but I think if it was honed a bit it could be soooo cooool.
Unorganised Goodreads quotes are the BANE OF MY EXISTENCE. I can never find the quotes I’ve saved so what’s the point?!?!? Goodreads is like an organisation site for goodness sakes. And yet they can’t organise their quotes/?!??
*sobs* Exactly, about the series. There are sequels I genuinely really want to read, but I don’t remember enough about the firs books SO I CAN’T READ THEM AND IT IS PAIN. Sometimes I don’t want to/don’t have time to reread, you know?!
I prostrate yourself at your feet, oh Wise and Benevolent Queen! I am willing to offer absolutely no money (because student loans), no expertise in world-ruling, but about half my soul and an ability to shout really loudly online (for marketing purposes, obviously) as my contribution in goods and services in order to make this happen.
I am also formally submitting a petition for you to consider including:
11. A revolutionized search bar where getting one letter in a title wrong does not include in Goodreads going WUT, IS THAT EVEN ENGLISH but actually pulls up closely-matching suggestions instead;
And 12. An option to be notified every time a book’s metadata is changed (which you can check off for every book you like in your TBR), so when A TITLE is finally added – you are immediately notified. When a synopsis is revealed – you are immediately notified. My #12 is your #4’s second cousin.
I shall now take my leave of you and proceed to roam around your castle until I figure out where and how I can subscribe and/or follow you around. You will therefore be seeing more of me. (In a non-threatening way, I promise. I make things sound creepy as a hobby. Tumblr claims it has to do with my being a Scorpio. I think it has more to do with my Hannibal collection. We are taking it to court.)
Lexie recently posted…FAN ART: THRONE OF GLASS BY SARAH J. MAAS
RISE, NEWLY FOUND MINION. *offers you cake* I accept all shouting online to make me world ruler. I ACCEPT IOUs TOO OF COURSE.
And omg yes and yesss to your contributions. I HATE how Goodreads is like “I have no idea what you mean because ONE LETTER IS WRONG” and then huffs off. Gee, Goodreads. TAKE A WILD GUESS. GAH. And I also wish it was able to find books if you spell them differently. Like colour/colour and honor/honour kind of things. That ALWAYS messes me up.
Zomg yes!! When it gets a cover or a title!! 😀 THAT WOULD BE THE BEST.
Great ideas. I really like 5 and 8.
I think I’d try to crack down on profanity in reviews. Some people tend to use the f word while reviewing books that don’t have profanity, and I don’t think some kid who is looking at the reviews should have to see that.
Also, I’d want to crack down on reviews based off the first five pages. If someone didn’t read past the free preview on Amazon, they can’t tell the reader anything the reader won’t find by reading the same free preview. It’s like reviewing a movie based off the trailer.
Yay, I’m glad you like my post! 😀 I think swearing in reviews is just freedom of speech. *nods* But I can see how it’d bother some people. And I don’t mind did-not-finish reviews either but THE REVIEWER HAS TO SAY SO!!! Otherwise it’s completely not fair, right?!? I’ve reviewed a few books and didn’t finish them, but I always say that at the beginning of the post. So people can just skip my review if they want and go on to a review of someone who finished.
HAAAAALF-STAAAAAARS. ALL THE YES. I literally read your intro to this and thought to myself “if Cait doesn’t mention half-stars in this I might throw this beautiful, triple-layered, velvety chocolate cake with creamy chocolate frosting goodness at her head.” But you mentioned it, so you get to eat the cake instead! Huzzah!
Also, #9. is brilliant. And #8. I need a bookish twin system like now. (Usually I just cheat and check to see if you’ve rated something like two stars or less before I hit the “to-read” button . . . but this is so much better.)
Kate @ The Magic Violinist recently posted…September Wrap-Up
YAY I GET TO EAT THE CAKE. And even though I don’t really use half-stars much….I totally WOULD if Goodreads had them. *sigh* OMG YOU CHECK MY RATINGS?!?!? *flails* I hope my reviews don’t lead you astray. 😉
Omg this is literally everything I want and more on Goodreads (especially for the book to fall out of the screen and into my hand ahah) I’m rooting for you to rule the world!
Wow you nailed this! Yes to the half stars and the full detailed synopsis and the bookish twins…..love this!
Nancy @ NY Foodie Family recently posted…Friday Favorites {Week 32}
Hey Cait,
For recaps of series’ books check out Recaptains 🙂 http://recaptains.co.uk/recap-list/
Also, can we be NaNo buddies? Oh pretty please with books on top! I will give you all the OMG-I’m-Dying-NaNo-Killed-Me cake of ever! Promise 🙂
this is amazing and goodreads needs to make all of these things happen. especially half stars and especially the synopsis things. i added you on goodreads and i can’t wait to stalk you and your reviews 🙂
Aw, yay, thank you, Kristen!! 😀 NEW BOOKWORM FRIENDS ARE THE BEST! 😀
OMG I LOVE THIS POST!!! GR SHOULD TOTALLY TAKE THESE SUGGESTIONS ON!! It’s such a good point about the sample chapters! Why is that not already a thing???? And I would die of happiness to have a book twin!! And notification for new releases!! Do you know how much that would help me!? SO FLIPPING MUCH! Great post!!! (You should start your on GRs type site – I’d totally join – plus it’d be your first step to world domination!!)
Amy @ Book Enthral recently posted…Everything, Everything by Nicole Yoon // Fun, Fast & Cute!
YES GOODREADS SHOULD HIRE ME AND I’LL JUST GET ALL THIS STARTED. *nods* Or, ya know, I’ll just take over the world as planned and force them to change mwahhahahaha.
Oh my gosh! Yes please! Especially the quotes! I have added and liked so many quotes and everytime I want to find something I have to go through every page!
http://misslagalag.blogspot.com
Cha recently posted…Friday’s 10 Happy Things | Vol 3
Omg these ideas are all perfect, and the half stars – why is that not already a thing?! That’s the one I desperately need.
Katie recently posted…A Foodie Instagram
This is flawless! You mentioned everything I want – there’s nothing more to add! 😀 I love the idea of saving draft reviews – I mean come on, this is a basic necessity!! One slip and the whole review has been wiped! (I know from experience) Also – YESS to quote organisation and YESS to notifications for new releases – book lovers like to be organised *flips hair*
Amen to the need to save half-finished reviews! I never want to submit mine until I think it’s EXACTLY PERFECT.
Speaking of sticky-fingered nieces, do yours always go for the screen before the keys? My one technological blessing is that my niece thinks everything is a touch screen.
Alison’s Wonderland Recipes recently posted…Ariadne Oliver’s Homemade Applesauce
I think there’s book plattform called Lovelybooks where there actually are reading challenges (I think theres a monthly topic that you can read about) and even book clubs where you can get ARCs for free, if you’re a blogger and promise to review the book too. That would even make the bouncing of the books from the screens real. But, as many things I’m mentioning and no one knows what I’m talking about, it’s German 😛
Oh my goodness. This. THIS!
Thou ist brilliant.
I want the half stars and the bookish twin the most! There are SO many books demanding half stars! *sigh*
Also, as for saving review drafts, I try to highlight and copy it into a word doc if I can’t finish it in that moment. I’ve lost way too many reviews. -.- I learned my lesson.
Nadine Brandes recently posted…What’s The Point of Christmas Ornaments?
Wow. So, uh, when I posted this comment, I guess I didn’t scroll down because I was like, “How are there NO COMMENTS on this brilliant post? Well, at least she’ll know that I thought it was brilliant.” And then somehow my computer updated and it’s like, “Um, dork, she has like 260 comments.”
So…here’s my comment. 😛 You may or may not see it. 😉
Nadine Brandes recently posted…It’s Release Day! But. . .I Have Some Tragic News
I definitely see your comment!! 😀 And THANK YOU so much for taking the time to comment…afjdklafsd I love all comments. *gives you cake* AND YUS LOSING REVIEWS IS THE WORST. I’ve lost some and honestly…I haven’t even felt like wanting to review it again. *dies* XD And half stars = we need them so much.XD Goodreads! Hear our pleas!
11. a way to organise authors. like, your favorites and stuff