Play Book Tag discussion

In my home, we have two desk-top computers - my husband's and my own. His computer is newer and has had all of the updates. Mine has not. As it happens, the new GR version is on my husband's machine. I still have the older version on mine (which I like so much better).

Jgrace wrote: "I'm still hanging onto the old format. I feel like I have to tiptoe in and out of Goodreads very quietly so they don't find me."

I wanted to sign on from work at lunch today, but specifically didn't, worried that it might flip me to the new look!

I have been flipped back on most devices for no reason I can discern. I don't think updated vs. Non-updated device or computer software or browser has anything to do with it.

I do notice that on the devices where I was flipped back, it is making me login all.the.time.

I wish it would settle as it is a PITA.

Theresa wrote: "I do notice that on the devices where I was flipped back, it is making me login all.the.time.

I wish it would settle as it is a PITA. ..."

And I have the opposite experience. In browser A (my preferred browser) on my desktop I have been switched to the new NOT improved book page. And I have to sign in over and over again all day.

On the same desktop in browser B, I'm still on the old preferred book page. And I do NOT have to re-sign in.

I think they are just messing with us to get people to quit the site.

I've had the sign in issue occasionally, but not every time. And the page is loading very slowly. I got that 'took too long' notice several times while I was working on reviews yesterday.

All my devices (Apple) are on the new one. I also was getting lag but I was away from home so I thought it was the wifi.

I don't think friend's reviews show up right under the book like they used to, is that right? I am more interested in what you all thought of a book than some random stranger. But I haven't done a lot of scrolling because it's so annoying.

Robin P wrote: " I am more interested in what you all thought of a book than some random stranger...."

I agree with you. I often, like to check how everyone rated a book before going ahead with it.

And I am back to the old view again!

Booknblues wrote: "Robin P wrote: " I am more interested in what you all thought of a book than some random stranger...."

I agree with you. I often, like to check how everyone rated a book before going ahead with it..."

Ditto - really only care about friends reviews and now I have to hunt for them. The old page was more versatile on one page given it was laid out both horizontally and vertically.

Several GR groups I am in are having this same discussion and nobody likes the new format. Some people felt they could have helped if they had submitted feedback on Beta, but I assured them that lots of us submitted multiple negative responses and they were all ignored.

Robin P wrote: "Several GR groups I am in are having this same discussion and nobody likes the new format. Some people felt they could have helped if they had submitted feedback on Beta, but I assured them that lo..."
It would have been helpful to know their objectives in the upgrade (aside from more sales, which is a given). I do not think it helps sales to make the site harder to use, and certainly people who hang out here and take part in games want a site that is easy to navigate and find info for challenges. All these word of mouth reviews help sell books so if they turn off people who use the site regularly, they will ultimately lose sales, not gain them.

On the question of why the multiple logins, it's probably due to making changes needed once they launched their new format. There will be issues that need to be fixed, and when software is updated, it has to be re-deployed which normally involves server reboots and kicking people off the site while the updates take place.

Book Concierge wrote: "By the way ... When I use Firefox (preferred because of layout ) I am forced into the new book page.

BUT, if I use Google Chrome it's still the old book page.

GO figure...."

Yes, and I have always preferred GR on Firefox.

This is VERY frustrating! There was an award-nominated novel I helped get them showing by joining a chat on it. It's a dark literary novel by someone I knew years ago (she was in college at that time) called Samba Dreamers by Kathleen De Azevedo.

I just checked, and sure enough, only three of the tags are showing right now.

Karin wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "By the way ... When I use Firefox (preferred because of layout ) I am forced into the new book page.

BUT, if I use Google Chrome it's still the old book page.

GO figure....."

There are only three tags on the main page of the "old" view as well ... though, of course, on the old page you have the option to "see all tags" ... lacking on the new page.

My latest dealing with new page - both good news and bad news.

I wanted to use some of the ebook highlights I had from Kindle App in my review of Holding the Line: Women in the Great Arizona Mine Strike of 1983. I could not find them on the new book page or review page. I ended up in help center for the new page.

Bad news: Help Center is poorly organized, provided me with a blank page to my search request with not even a 'none found'. Mostly by accident I found 'Kindle highlights' in a general FAQ that got me to them.

Good news: they are easier I think to find and access. On My Books, under your list of shelves is My Activity. Under that is Kindle Highlights and Comments. Click on it and all the books pop up that you have highlights and comments in, click on list and Voila.

Theresa wrote: "My latest dealing with new page - both good news and bad news.

I wanted to use some of the ebook highlights I had from Kindle App in my review of [book:Holding the Line: Women in the Great Arizona..."

You can also find them on your profile.

Good to know there are two ways into that.

Hard to believe, but I actually have something positive to say about changes at GR. Not precisely the book page,tho.

I was scrolling through the list of Sept. publications

https://www.goodreads.com/book/popula...

When I found one that I liked, I clicked to mark it as 'want to read'. Immediately, I also got an easy to read pop up of ALL of my personal tags, so I could put the book on my personal shelves. Much easier than the tiny tag list on the old book page when I wanted to add a book. I haven't seen this kind of popup anywhere else on the site, but then, I'm still not seeing the new book pages either.

I figured out, on my own but perhaps it has been discussed somewhere and I missed it, how to get to see my review for posting a link in certain places so that it doesn't go to the main book page. You click on the date of the review instead of on a spot at the bottom of it.

I can't figure out how to see all shelf tags for an individual books. Could someone fill me in on what I need to do or where to look?

SouthWestZippy wrote: "I can't figure out how to see all shelf tags for an individual books. Could someone fill me in on what I need to do or where to look?"

You click on see more...that adds 3 more and another see more. Click on this see more and the old format page of shelves loads. It is 2 steps to get to it.

I swear they want to discourage groups who do challenges.

Jgrace wrote: "When I found one that I liked, I clicked to mark it as 'want to read'. Immediately, I also got an easy to read pop up of ALL of my personal tags, so I could put the book on my personal shelves. Much easier than the tiny tag list on the old book page when I wanted to add a book. I haven't seen this kind of popup anywhere else on the site, but then, I'm still not seeing the new book pages either....."

I just tried this, and it does work well. The only issue I have is that it involves scrolling and scrolling (and more scrolling) since you can only see 1 or 2 books on the entire page.

Theresa wrote: "SouthWestZippy wrote: "I can't figure out how to see all shelf tags for an individual books. Could someone fill me in on what I need to do or where to look?"

You click on see more...that adds 3 mo..."

THANK YOU, Theresa! I agree, they are making it unnecessarily harder to interact and find things.

PLUS I hate having to prove I am not a robot. That got old quick.

Another unpleasant recent change which I'm sure is part of the beta becoming permanent:

Anyone else notice that if you don't click cleanly on whatever link you are aiming for or if the page hasn't quite fully loaded (all that advertising delays in a LOT), you automatically get taken to a new page for whatever advertising is in the general vicinity of the link you thought you clicked?

It's awful. You have your cursor over the link, the hand appears and if it is the slightest bit above or to the side - a fraction of a mm - or some ad has not fully dropped - you get the f***ing ad.

Yes that has happened to me several times-infuriating!

Something that has been happening in another group: People are getting see-sawed back and forth between old and new-this happening to anyone here?

On browser 1 (my preferred browser) I've been switched to the new version ... no going back and forth ... strictly new pages.

But on browser 2, I still have the old book page.

I see some switching back and forth but it's becoming pretty constant new version. I switch between 2 tablets, laptop and occasionally phone so hard to keep track if it is happening on all or just one of the tablets.

What I find kinda hilarious and cringe about this new version.... EXACTLY like Storygraph aesthetically. Which is the new competition.

Oddly, it has switched on my home computer but not my work computer.

After being one of the first to be switched to the "new" version I am now back to the old! Anyone else? So frustrating

Joanne wrote: "After being one of the first to be switched to the "new" version I am now back to the old! Anyone else? So frustrating"

I am switched back and forth without rhyme or reason.

Theresa wrote: "Joanne wrote: "After being one of the first to be switched to the "new" version I am now back to the old! Anyone else? So frustrating"

I am switched back and forth without rhyme or reason."

I have recently only been on the old page. Before that I would switch back and forth.

I recently got the old page back. I actually didn't notice because it looked right. I hope it stays for a while. Before that, I kept getting the new page with a popup box telling me how great it was, and even if I clicked "Got It", it would happen for every book.

I FINALLY have the new book page. I'm in the minority, but I actually love it. I think it's clean looking, very inviting, and it has all the information I want/need. I don't get why people hate it. To each their own, I guess.

Jenni Elyse wrote: "I FINALLY have the new book page. I'm in the minority, but I actually love it. I think it's clean looking, very inviting, and it has all the information I want/need. I don't get why people hate it...."

Goodreads has announced (in the Help site) that they've returned to the OLD book page for everyone. That only a few people were "treated" (my words) to the new book page as an experiment and that they are looking at the feedback they received. Once they've tweaked the new book page some more they'll roll it out to everyone.

Well, I still have the new page, and wish I had the old one back. I am trying not to use it much since it involves so much scrolling, and I still have the problem of becoming dizzy if I do too much scrolling.

I also have the old book page back! I don't mind the new page, though I agree it could be tweaked (to be a little more intuitive). What I hate most is getting used to one format and then having it switched back again!

The main issues most of us had with the new page was the giant size that required a lot of scrolling and, for groups like ours, access to all the tags was changed. If we can only see some of the tags, it messes up our games.

I think they got so much bad feedback that they went back to the old design. I bet they are going to develop yet another design that will be more than a few "tweaks."

Shelly wrote: "I think they got so much bad feedback that they went back to the old design. I bet they are going to develop yet another design that will be more than a few "tweaks.""

Not everyone went back, though, so it's still a mystery.

Ok, I am now back to the new page for the first time in days.

It is growing on me. I don't have issues with scrolling, but like to find what I'm interested in more toward the top.

I don't find it hard to find the other shelves.

It still cracks me up that the "new" format is a direct ripoff of Storygraph.

I am using both, but I think there is too much already archived here and activities in progress, like the groups, for people to ever fully move over to Storygraph unfortunately :(

Meli wrote: "It still cracks me up that the "new" format is a direct ripoff of Storygraph.

I am using both, but I think there is too much already archived here and activities in progress, like the groups, for..."

That doesn't surprise me at all. Social media sites love stealing from one another to try to stay relevant.

Is Storygraph any good? I've heard about it but never tried it.

Joy D wrote: "Shelly wrote: "I think they got so much bad feedback that they went back to the old design. I bet they are going to develop yet another design that will be more than a few "tweaks.""

Not everyone ..."

To ad to the mystery, I saw on another group that quite a few people had, just this week, switched to the new for the first time!

Heather Reads Books wrote: "Is Storygraph any good? I've heard about it but never tried it."

I think so! It's kind of hard to give a good, in depth analysis since I mainly just log reading there for now, like I am not using groups or anything. No photo feature to capture the barcode to add or search books though which I use often. The review format is easier, like you can click on pacing, tone, etc without writing a full review which I like.

I just got switched to the new page today.

Meli wrote: "Heather Reads Books wrote: "Is Storygraph any good? I've heard about it but never tried it."

I think so! It's kind of hard to give a good, in depth analysis since I mainly just log reading there f..."

Thanks for the info! I might have to check it out. Apparently you can import your reviews and stuff from GR which is good because I have soooo many. Being able to rate a book half or quarter stars really enticed me – I've been wishing GR would do that for yeeeeears. But IDK about the algorithmic recommendations. I'm always sorta wary of those, since they can be influenced so easily. Although GR has its own biases with promotion, I feel like the "recommended" section is usually so off base I don't even bother, and still get most of my recs through word of mouth, especially through PBT.

I'll have to test it out and see if I like it. 🤔

Oh yeah, that is the other plus - the rating system!
I imported all my Goodreads data and it was very easy!
And I think the real draw is it has no affiliation with Amazon. GR is owned by Amazon, so Storygraph is meant to be an alternative.

I have been on Storygraph for several months and almost never use it. My Feminerdy Book Club, the majority of whose members are half my age or thereabouts, were eager to try it out for the group, mostly to use the 'buddy read' discussion feature which automatically shows where you are in the book when you post to the discussion to all so you can avoid spoilers (which is pretty cool but I find other aspects of the buddy read somewhat confusing to use). Feminerdy use of that function has completely fizzled out after the first couple of months. When I got my new tablet and new phone 3 weeks ago, I didn't even download the app onto them. (I still have my old tablets with the app downloaded).

You are able to export your library on GR to Storygraph, but I don't think that includes reviews written, though I have not really checked. However, after you do that, you have to update it on Storygraph and GR separately. They are NOT linked in any way so no automatic updates on your library when you update one. Another online time suck.

I am still of course a member on it, and once in a blue moon check what's happening - see if any Feminerdy members are discussing the current book - but I just can't be bothered to update my reading there as well as on GR. I just don't have the time. I also frankly just find it irritating and certainly no better than GR.

I don't use any recommendation features on GR nor would I ever on Storygraph. If you saw my apartment with its numerous massive TBR and Read Towers and crammed shelves, and my ebook library on both Nook and Kindle, you will see that I do not need any random recommendations, I find books just fine on my own.

As for the social aspect, haven't really engaged except with Feminerdy - again no interest and no time. Even Feminerdy isn't engaging there.

I'm fine with GR as my book and review 'storage locker' and reading social arena. I plan to download (or 'export' may be the correct term) my personal tracking (Theresa's Tumbling Towers) thread on PBT to my computer so I don't lose those. And if Storygraph really does have the ratings and reviews along with the library, then I'll do another 'export' from time to time to catch the new.

Another issue is 'friends' -- most of us in Feminerdy provided a different avatar and ID on Storygraph -- finding friends from GR to connect again on Storygraph, not so easy if others have done the same thing.

To sum up my review of Storygraph - I feel too old for it in some undefinable way. I just don't have and don't want to spend the time learning it unless I have to. I don't need it. It gives me nothing new or better that I need or want to use everyday.

One of the things I'm finding with Feminerdy is that the majority of the other members, who are as I said about half my age (which is fine I have lots of young friends, close friends), a generational gap really, is that they spend a lot of time online playing games and engaging in various social media. They are app addicted I think. Feminerdy has a GR page which is solely used as a library. Also a FB page which is barely used since we stopped using the chat room (original admins are no longer involved, have not been for years, and don't respond to our requests to appoint new admins so we cannot change anything on the page. I think I will have to email FB about what to do.) Inability to update or change the FB page and problems and limitations with the chat room led to joining Discord whose chat/zoom feature is really good, and is a good fit for polls, virtual meetings, discussing meeting dates and books to read. It also feels very young to me as a whole -- cutesy avatars and heavy emoji use, upbeat 'let's put on a show!' energy (for those of you who know the Andy Rooney Judy Garland movies) about everything, and they just had weeks of promo to colleges and college kids to join and use its features that popped up the minute you opened the page. I just felt so old when logging into it! However, Discord is working really well for our meetings and picking dates and books. I have not spent any time exploring what it offers beyond Feminerdy and doubt I will.

Now Feminerdy has added Storygraph bringing the app count for the group up to 4. It just makes me tired and feeling old. 😅

Great info, Theresa. I often feel old when looking at info from Book Riot, as it is run by and apparently aimed at young women. I also don’t want to deal with any other book site unless GR becomes completely unworkable.

I don’t even post reviews on GR, I just do them on this site, and not very book I read. Too many books yet to read, too little time to spend documenting them.

It's rather exhausting I find. It took me a while to get comfortable on GR. Heck, I joined around 2013 but barely used it until 2016 when I started using it to track my Popsugar Reading Challenge reading. It was a couple years before I started rating and reviewing and then joining groups. I wasn't really engaged on GR until late 2018 - and I'd been a member of GR for 5 years!

If PBT or any of my groups (which are few) moves to a new home, I'll learn then.

I'm just relieved that my needlework group, the Metrostitchers, has no competing social media options other than FB!

FYI - I have had GR open on my computer for at least the last hour - possibly longer - as I catch up and post and update as I got behind during vacation. It's been the old book page every time I went to a new book or to a book on my shelves. Until just this minute when I clicked on Crucible of War: The Seven Years' War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754 - 1766 to add to my Want to Read shelf and others. Now I'm on the new book page again when I click on a book link.

I just roll my eyes at this point.

That's the main problem for me, Theresa, is there is no use for Storygraph if people aren't using it and none of my groups, I guess it is mainly just PBT, uses storygraph so it is superfluous at this point. I find it user-friendly, and with the recent GR update they are almost identical, so there shouldn't be anything new to learn with the site.

Theresa wrote: "FYI - I have had GR open on my computer for at least the last hour - possibly longer - as I catch up and post and update as I got behind during vacation. It's been the old book page every time I we..."

Earlier this morning, I was on the new and then moved back to old and when I clicked your link still on the old.

There seems to be no rhyme or reason. I hope they get it sorted soon.