Litwit Lounge discussion

One of Goodreads' newer features that you've probably all noticed are the "status reports," that let you periodically report what page of a book you're on. I've been using this feature, in the few months since it's been added; but when a fellow Goodreader asked me yesterday WHY I use it, about the best answer I could think of was "because it's there" --which isn't much of a reason! :-) I don't know if anybody else is really interested in what page of a book I'm on; and truth to tell, I don't follow my friends' status updates very closely.

What do the rest of you think about this feature? Is it worth using, or just a nuisance? (When the status updates aren't masked on a completed review --and sometimes they're not-- a bunch of them can be a real pain to scroll through to get down to people's comments, especially if it was a long book; and I know there's been some discussion of that in the Goodreads Feedback group.) And as an aside to my friends, who'll see this post in their updates: if you can't comment on it because you're not in this group, but you have a thought about it, go ahead and message me with your opinion. I'm really curious about people's preferences in this matter!

I like this feature but haven't used it much lately. Like Werner, I haven't really noticed what page numbers other people are on but when I was entering my own, I imagined it would give others an idea of how far I had gotten in that book -- therefore giving some type of indicator as to how much I may be able to discuss it.

Also, I did at one time think it was fun simply to record my progress. Often though, when I first enter a new book I am only in the first few pages of it so it seems pointless to enter the page number at that time.

I don't use it. In part, because I think I'm already being obsessive enough in listing every book I can remember reading and wanting to post every new book I read now. ;) I also don't think anyone needs to know how quickly or slowly I'm reading a book--somehow there's extra pressure involved in that. If I manage to read a book quickly, great. If not, my generalised sense of self-criticism is enough. Plus, I doubt any of my 'friends' really care. It's like Twitter that way; I don't like Twitter because I don't see the need to report my activities and I don't believe anyone is really that interested in the small details: On page 14, just stopped at Sonic for a drink, must put the dishes away, etc...!

Yeah, imagine how much time it would take detailing all that trivial minituae if one was having a moody day. ;) Maybe some would care how we feel but it seems too conspicuous to detail my tasks & chores on a daily basis.

I have tried a wee bit of blogging, too, but have found most people ignore the blog and just post greetings. So if I really want to discuss a subject, I may be better off posting it as a topic on a message board.

Alice wrote: I hadn't thought much about it and the only time it really came in handy for me was when I had to turn Ghost Story back in to the library and then when I got the book back looked here to see where I had stopped reading.

Actually, I love that idea. I've had to return several items without finishing and try to save the page numbers on little scraps of paper. We all know how that kind of thing goes. I am definitely going to utilize it for that purpose, if nothing else. Hmm, wonder if I can find some of those scraps...

I didn't know about the status report thing - actually I'm glad I didn't or I too would have used it 'because it's there'. Now I can see that it's been trialled and rejected by other readers whose opinion I value, so thanks , now I don't need to.

I always use it every time I sign in as I felt I am supposed to give an update or whatever. I actually just prefer plain email. I have a friend who periodically just types up her "generic" email about what has been happening and sends it around to everyone.

Yes, it does feel stressful like I am back in college with a report due! I am also having trouble with goodreads email, anyone else having problems besides Barbara? I know she is having problems too.

The advertisements are crossing my space there so I am sure they are determined to make me click on them! I can't see what I am writing! Thanks for the feedback.

I like the page number thing but I didn't realize that it generated a status update down in the comments area each time I used it.

I usually do it when I first start reading a book and then forget to use it after that. It is a wee bit discouraging to see you are only 11 or 15 pages into a book when you feel like you've gotten so much out of it already, but then lately I'm reading almost exclusively non-fiction.

Some days I read off and on all day long so very tempted to type it in if I get on to do a neverendingquiz question. Think I did about 4 today on Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince. (but falling asleep so not sure)

Theresa wrote: "I like the page number thing but I didn't realize that it generated a status update down in the comments area each time I used it.

I usually do it when I first start reading a book and then forget..."

Just had a nice surprise as I typed in the page number of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and then a neverending quiz question came up for me on this book! That made me very happy! I didn't know that happened! I guess it only happens on very commonly read books.