Just read this from Seattle.pi.com:
"Now, a Seattle startup by the name of Shelfari is hoping to change the way people catalog and discuss books from their personal collections."
Hmmm. "Myspace meets Amazon.com?" Aren't we already doing this?? I feel like the book-blogging community is just that -- a community of like-minded folk who enjoy chatting about their books, adding titles to their never-ending TBR lists, all the while rejoicing in someone's good fortune (BAFAB or a R.I.P. Challenge prize), sympathizing with a personal loss, or sharing juicy details about the latest House episode.
Why does this new website irk me?
Anyone? Anyone? Class?
Because we hate it when someone thinks they've invented what we already are familiar with? Not to mention excel at?
ReplyDeleteI love talking books with you. (And gardens. And shoes. And touching around the edges of loss...)
I echo Bellezza! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a lot like LibraryThing. But free. I never liked that you have to pay for LibraryThing if you have more than 200 books. I have WAY more than 200 books!
ReplyDeleteI've been messing with it all morning and so far it seems neat. I don't think I'd use it like a blog or anything though.
I poked around on that site a bit last night - I like our little bookblogging world much better!!
ReplyDeleteI think it irks me because of the bit about the site owners making money off what we're already doing, here. I'd much rather go to Amazon via a blog friend's link and hope they make a commission than a couple of young, upstart entrepreneurs making a percentage off my interests.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I didn't really check it out too thoroughly because I'm too happy here (and in my email -based book groups) and I'm a stick-in-the-mud. I don't want to look elsewhere for discussion and ideas.
Seems to me like this niche is already being filled by LibraryThing. I don't mind paying for the site - someone's go to pay for it somewhere, and for me, the cost is a small price for the enjoyment I get.
ReplyDeletePersonally, my pet peeve about this site how they've combined two words to make a non-word. I hate when companies do that. It just annoys me.
Thanks for all your comments.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Bellezza. It annoyed me that they acted like they came up with this incredibly unique idea that we've all been doing (either on blogs or in list groups like Yahoo) for YEARS! And I love talking books, gardens, shoes, etc. with you, too. :)
Heather, I've considered LibraryThing. I even got an email from Tim Spalding -- of LibraryThing -- shortly after I posted my blog entry, offering me a free account. I'm not sure I have the time or inclination to catalog ALL my books right now, but if I did, I'd definitely go with LibraryThing. I like the little widget that I've seen in other bloggers' sidebars. We'll see...
SuziQ, one of the reasons I like our blogging world is that we have much more freedom to create our own blog design and post pictures of pets and family and crafts, in addition to talking about books. I think Shelfari is far too limiting, at least for this reader.
Nancy, I agree! You know, I keep thinking about becoming an Amazon Associated (or whatever they're called!), but just haven't gotten around to it. Wonder if it's worthwhile. I don't suspect I'd make much $ with the "click-throughs" but I suppose every little bit helps.
Lesley, I don't mind paying for something like LibraryThing either, especially since it's such a small fee. A year or so ago I used some software called ReaderWare (I think!) to catalog all my books on my computer and I can't remember how much it cost, but I'm sure it was much more than LT's fee.
This is SO COOL. I'm onboard!
ReplyDeleteAndi, I'd love to hear how you like this after you've used it for a while. Have fun!
ReplyDelete