# Online Book Lists/Recommendation Sites

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-book-lists-recommendation-sites/224492>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [January 15, 2004, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-book-lists-recommendation-sites/224492 "2004-01-15T01:18:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![TheRealJohnPeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TheRealJohnPeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheRealJohnPeat)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-book-lists-recommendation-sites/224492/1 "2004-01-15T01:18:12Z")

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Is there an equivalent of IMDB for Books - or even a website where you just maintain a list of what you’ve read (and how much you enjoyed them) and which then offers recommendations based on other people’s lists?

Seems an obvious ‘niche’ if there isn’t one certainly 🙂

Anyone know any useful resources (aside from Amazon? 🙂

JP

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**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-book-lists-recommendation-sites/224492/2 "2004-01-15T01:29:58Z")

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[Dopers 50-Book Challenge](http://www.livejournal.com/community/dopersread50/)

There’s no need to actually do the 50-book challenge, but we’re listing the books we’re reading and some info about each one. Some people are linking to their current and past lists as well. It looks like there’s a LOT of help there…

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**Author:** ![TheRealJohnPeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TheRealJohnPeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheRealJohnPeat)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-book-lists-recommendation-sites/224492/3 "2004-01-15T15:27:57Z")

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It was actually the 50 book Challenge which made me wonder about this as a whole.

I must admit I can’t find ANYTHING - which surprises me.

Perhaps people are too-busy reading to do it - wheras Movie-goers have all-day to write IMDB etc. 🙂

JP

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**Author:** ![Shortie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Shortie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shortie)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-book-lists-recommendation-sites/224492/4 "2004-01-15T17:17:12Z")

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Try looking in the various rec.arts groups, there’s probably an active one for your favourite genre. Nowadays I search for titles on rec.arts.sf.written before I buy, and I’ve got a bunch of good recommendations from what people have said there.

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**Author:** ![Politzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ab097/32.png) [@Politzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Politzania)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-book-lists-recommendation-sites/224492/5 "2004-01-15T20:33:14Z")

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Try Allconsuming.net – users set up accounts that search their blogs for book references, or you can enter books & your opinions manually.