If not goodreads, what?

Am I the only person who doesn't see why it's a big deal that Amazon bought Goodreads? I haven't noticed a single change on the site. I use it to keep track of what I'm reading and get recommendations for new books. Maybe there's some change in the community, but I haven't seen it.

rwm4768 said:

Am I the only person who doesn't see why it's a big deal that Amazon bought Goodreads? I haven't noticed a single change on the site. I use it to keep track of what I'm reading and get recommendations for new books. Maybe there's some change in the community, but I haven't seen it.

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That's pretty much how I use GR, though I tend to use the lists more than recommendations. I can recommend my own books (lord knows I've got tons to read). The lists appeal to my obsessive side. I don't use the groups much.

Whatever problems there are with Amazon (and there are plenty), I'm not sure they screwed up GR in some terrible way.

Dave Hardy said:

Whatever problems there are with Amazon (and there are plenty), I'm not sure they screwed up GR in some terrible way.

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It's still early...

One thing I've noticed the past week on goodreads, that could have been their earlier, is a section where they are asking authors if they would be prepared to pay for premium accounts and how much, for stuff like being able to contact readers about events, new books releases and the such. I never responded, and kept thinking it would be just opening up the door to spam. My guess is though, they would make it opt in from readers, but I could think of nothing worst than receiving hundreds of emails from writers flogging their books and imagine I would only select a few writers to hear such events or promotions - so in affect my guess is as a writer any monthly fee would just be a waiste of time, unless you were already very successful.

rwm4768 said:

Am I the only person who doesn't see why it's a big deal that Amazon bought Goodreads? I haven't noticed a single change on the site. I use it to keep track of what I'm reading and get recommendations for new books. Maybe there's some change in the community, but I haven't seen it.

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If it's not a big deal for you, then it's not--I don't expect everyone to feel as I do .

GR was a place where readers went to connect with readers, keep track of books, exchange reviews, find new books to read, etc etc etc. I participated for a variety of reasons. None of those reasons was to make money for Amazon. Now GR has lost its independence I no longer wish to be part of it. *shrugs*

wow clearly I've been out of the loop here. I did not know Amazon bought goodreads. Though I think it makes sense because they have kindle, and all.

It makes sense for Amazon. I an not sure that it makes quite as much sense for Goodreads.

veinglory said:

It makes sense for Amazon. I an not sure that it makes quite as much sense for Goodreads.

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More resources, more/better/faster servers--maybe?

It makes sense for Amazon. I an not sure that it makes quite as much sense for Goodreads.

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Moneyhats! The purchase price wasn't revealed officially, but inside sources cited claim it was $150 million.

Amazon appears to have revoked affiliate status from Goodreads' rival Lovereading here in the UK, cutting off a major source of income stream from a competitor. The casus belli appears to be that Amazon say Lovereading were artificially inflating that income by shady techniques like 'cookie stuffing', something Lovereading denies.

Medievalist said:

I don't think it was collusion, and Amazon was not a victim; authors, publishers and readers were the victims.

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I would never describe Amazon as a victim, not with a straight face. But both Apple and the publishers wanted to counter Amazon's control of the burgeoning ebook market's price structure--thus Amazon was, in fact, the target of the attempted "collusion" (the DOJ's term, not mine).

Apple of course sees it differently, and since they have the money to fight the suit, I say let the courts take their course.

Saw this recently:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/15/us-apple-justice-ebooks-idUSBRE94E03620130515