Skip to content

ANDI HAYS

— my little corner of randomness —

Menu
  • Here’s What I Have to Say
  • Tidbits About Me
  • Sites I’ve Helped With
  • Disclaimer
Menu

Good Reads and Shelfari

Posted on August 21, 2009January 11, 2012 by Andi

Ok. So after I played with Library Thing a little more, I realized you can only add a certain number of books for free. So I decided to do a little more sleuthing to see to what else was out there.

I came across Good Reads.

Andi's  book recommendations, reviews, favorite quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists

This is a very large community out there of book lovers. What I haven't been able to figure out is if recommendations are given on the books you have read like Library Thing did. I am not sure it will be a deal breaker if it doesn't, since it is free and you can add as many books as you want.

It's quite easy to use and I was able to import my list I started from Library Thing into it. That way I didn't have to enter them all again. I did re-rate them since that didn't transfer over with the importing.

That being said. It has a lot of pros, but I wasn't completely satisfied. So I did a little more looking.

I came across another site I am really in love with. It's called Shelfari.

Shelfari: Book reviews on your book blog

Share a book review on Shelfari, where this reader meets fellow readers.

Chuck has taught me a lot about user interfaces and how appealing and easy things can be when they are done well.

I love that this site places all your books on a book shelf. You can even modify the wood your shelf is made of. Now, yes, Good Reads also displays your books in this layout, but they aren't sitting on a book shelf!

Another thing I like about it is the way you add your books. I have chosen to allow it to ask me a number of questions when I add a book. Why? Because you can choose if you are reading it, plan to read it reading it currently, can rank it there, then you can add if you own it or if it's on your wish list, then gives you similar books by that author or books like it at the end you might like to read before adding it.

You can skip a lot of those steps, but I like being able to categorize them. You can then look at the books on your shelf based on this.

When adding a book, you also have a chance to give a review or description of the book for others to see. You can also make note if you have loaned this book to someone and who has it and what condition it was in when you gave it to them. Of course, that cannot be viewed by anyone other than yourself. But what a neat idea.

Both sites allow you to add “tags” to the books you added so you can categorize them. I have not utilized this feature yet.

Shelfari is a newer product, so they are adding new features to it and appear to be receptive to user's ideas and suggestions. I also found it took me slightly longer to find things and navigate on their website than Good Reads. But once I found it, I had a bit of a “DUH” moment.

As I said, Good Reads has a larger community than Shelfari, so there are more book opinions. They both have a lot of groups to join and this might be the replacement for the recommendations that Library Thing has. But not having the recommendations will not be a deal breaker for me. Because Good Reads and Shelfari are free and that wins out. But I am still trying them out and deciding what I like best.

So has anyone out there used either of these? Do you have opinions or thoughts on them that might be useful?

And since I have not completely decided which one I am using, I have been importing new books I add to each of them. But before too long, I hope I'll pick one that I like better and stick to just one. 🙂

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Pinterest
LinkedIn
Instagram
GitHub

Instagram

minihays

⛸️❤️
#hayskidsyearlyphotos #hayskidsyearlyphotos 📸
10 Alex turned double digits () ❇️10❇️ 

Alex turned double digits (😧) a little over a week ago and celebrated with some friends over the weekend. He is the happiest guy around and we hope he never changes! 💚💙🎉
12 I’m almost two weeks late posting abo ✨12✨ 

I’m almost two weeks late posting about Dannie’s bday, but she had a fabulous day celebrating various times with friends and family She was thoroughly spoiled and is so very loved! 💗🎉

minihaysreads

Anyone else use @loopearplugs? I got a pair last y Anyone else use @loopearplugs? I got a pair last year and I love them so much. They are wonderful in so many situations and really help me focus when there are lots of noises around.
Books & Bracelets! My new favorite activity has be Books & Bracelets! My new favorite activity has been creating bracelets to go with some of my favorite books. This was my first little and I loved these books and their little wrist friends so much. 🤩😍

More little creations are being added to @technicallyscattered.
When you volunteer at the book fair, you’re obvi When you volunteer at the book fair, you’re obviously going to come home with some new books! I think there was only one I regret not buying. Next time!
My youngest might have found our new favorite way My youngest might have found our new favorite way to read together! Under a blanket with a reading light!💡

haysonthelake

The new dock stacks so nicely on the shore! The le The new dock stacks so nicely on the shore! The legs even store inside. So smart!
Chuck’s dad came to help us take out the dock an Chuck’s dad came to help us take out the dock and Alex wanted in on the fun, too. It was so cute to watch three generations of Hays men hard at work. 😁 (Don’t worry…I helped, too!)
#the jet ski lift has been so helpful for moving around the dock sections and it turns out it’s fun for rides, too! 💦
Cleaned up the space under the porch and deck a fe Cleaned up the space under the porch and deck a few weeks ago for the winter. I love the kayak hanger Chuck found!
It’s spooky outside…Mother Nature sent us tric It’s spooky outside…Mother Nature sent us tricks today. Hopefully the neighbors are giving out treats tonight! 🎃❄️

Links

  • MadeByChuck.com
  • My Wish List
  • Our Photo Gallery
  • Wish List – Alex
  • Wish List – Dannie
  • Wish List – Maddie

Categories

Alex Baby Journal Books Crafts Dannie Food GiST Glendalough Lake House Lessons Maddie Parenting Products & Places Randomness Seattle Social Distancing Tech

Archives

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
© 2025 ANDI HAYS | Powered by Superbs Personal Blog theme
Menu
  • Here’s What I Have to Say
  • Tidbits About Me
  • Sites I’ve Helped With
  • Disclaimer