# Starting a Straight Dope Goodreads group **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 29, 2007, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-a-straight-dope-goodreads-group/417384 "2007-08-29T17:36:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-a-straight-dope-goodreads-group/417384/81 "2007-09-04T13:25:14Z")
I’m in, as Shirley Ujest. Deciding to turn over a new page in life, I’m going to only put in books that I’ve read in the last two of three years. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-a-straight-dope-goodreads-group/417384/82 "2007-09-04T14:15:50Z")
[QUOTE=Shirley Ujest] I’m in, as Shirley Ujest. [/QUOTE] Did you join the SDMB group there? I wanted to add you as a friend but didn’t see you there. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-a-straight-dope-goodreads-group/417384/83 "2007-09-04T18:34:25Z")
[QUOTE=twickster] Did you join the SDMB group there? I wanted to add you as a friend but didn’t see you there. [/QUOTE] [del]I am missing something, how do you join the group please?[/del] This site looks like fun. I might need to fix my account name though. Never mind I figured it out. Thanks all. Jim ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-a-straight-dope-goodreads-group/417384/84 "2007-09-04T21:04:07Z")
How often will this happen? I compared shelves with **SmartAleq**. We have 19 books in common, and they’re all by Stephen King. Guess I need to read some Mercedes Lackey. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-a-straight-dope-goodreads-group/417384/85 "2007-09-04T22:21:52Z")
Hey, give me a break! I just started adding books and I figured I should start with the prolific writers first–and they don’t get much more prolific than King and Lackey! I got some more added by rating a bunch of\*\* Eleanor’s\*\* books. This site is going to drive me buggy, I can tell… too much fun, TOO MANY BOOKS! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-a-straight-dope-goodreads-group/417384/86 "2007-09-10T16:00:58Z")
So I decided to go back and start entering books I read before August of 2006. What’s funny is that I can’t remember most of them and am just staring at the screen in a daze. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-a-straight-dope-goodreads-group/417384/87 "2007-09-10T19:44:30Z")
Ok, when I first signed up, it wasn’t working properly for me, but today it seemed to work all right. I’m in the group, and friends with anyone who asked, so y’all can compare shelves with me. I’m only adding recent/current/to-read now, because I’ve read too many books to start adding old ones right now (I should be cleaning the kitchen). Oh, and I’m signed up under my Doper name, for your convenience. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-a-straight-dope-goodreads-group/417384/88 "2007-09-11T19:35:04Z")
I know it’s said that you can never have too many friends, but I really only enjoy comparing books with people I actually know. This includes all my fellow Dopers, of course, so let me please request again that if you are registering at GoodReads under a different name than your Dope name, let us know (here or there) your Doper-Alias. I’m not going to accept friend requests from people I don’t know, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-a-straight-dope-goodreads-group/417384/89 "2007-09-11T20:14:07Z")
[QUOTE=Athena] I signed up. And a whole bunch o’ you sent me invites to be your friend, but I don’t know who you are because you don’t use your Dope name. So hi, all you anonymous friends o’ mine! Neato site. And just what I need… more reason to spend cash on books… [/QUOTE] And then you will have to drink more coffee so as to fully maximize all your time so as to be able to read more and more books. Thus keeping Juan Valdez off the streets and in the feilds picking beans with his donkey. Athena, we thank you for your service. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-a-straight-dope-goodreads-group/417384/90 "2007-10-03T05:05:47Z")
Just joined. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-a-straight-dope-goodreads-group/417384/91 "2007-10-03T15:26:34Z")
Oh, the fun you’ll have friending all of us. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-a-straight-dope-goodreads-group/417384/92 "2007-10-03T17:15:52Z")
Oh yay! I joined Goodreads a couple of weeks ago, but didn’t see this thread until today. I’m in, as Misnomer. 🙂 Not much on my shelves yet, mostly the “to-read” list, but I’m working on it! ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-a-straight-dope-goodreads-group/417384/93 "2007-10-03T19:05:15Z")
[QUOTE=Jodi] I know it’s said that you can never have too many friends, but I really only enjoy comparing books with people I actually know. This includes all my fellow Dopers, of course, so let me please request again that if you are registering at GoodReads under a different name than your Dope name, let us know (here or there) your Doper-Alias. I’m not going to accept friend requests from people I don’t know, sorry. [/QUOTE] Wise move, **Jodi**. I guess I wanted to know what the entire world was reading, so I’ve been promiscuous with friend requests. Now I get long lists of book reviews in many, many languages I can’t even begin to understand. I can’t “un-friend” them – it wouldn’t be gracious. I wonder what those folks make of my book lists? Suppose I’ll never know. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-a-straight-dope-goodreads-group/417384/94 "2007-10-04T02:31:46Z")
i joined last week and am still fiddling with it. i seem to have 0% compare scores with everybody ☹ should i add books like the Xanth series? where i loved as a child but wouldn’t be caught dead near one now? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-a-straight-dope-goodreads-group/417384/95 "2007-10-04T02:40:18Z")
[QUOTE=shijinn] should i add books like the Xanth series? where i loved as a child but wouldn’t be caught dead near one now? [/QUOTE] Ditto, I added many of them to my list. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-a-straight-dope-goodreads-group/417384/96 "2007-10-04T02:41:41Z")
[QUOTE=shijinn] i joined last week and am still fiddling with it. i seem to have 0% compare scores with everybody ☹ [/QUOTE] We’re 80% now. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-a-straight-dope-goodreads-group/417384/97 "2007-10-04T13:14:47Z")
[QUOTE=shijinn] i joined last week and am still fiddling with it. i seem to have 0% compare scores with everybody ☹ should i add books like the Xanth series? where i loved as a child but wouldn’t be caught dead near one now? [/QUOTE] The compare tool isn’t terribly accurate. If a person has entered books without giving them a rating, they won’t show up at all in a compare. If two people have entered different editions of the same book, those won’t show up either. I have some Asimov in common with you, we’ve just entered different editions. And I read lots of the Xanth books when I was a kid, but I haven’t entered them. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-a-straight-dope-goodreads-group/417384/98 "2007-10-04T15:42:23Z")
**What Exit?** okie. **jsgoddess** i cheated and it’s 100% now 😛 **Eleanor of Aquitaine** ah that explains why i’m 0% with **What Exit?** despite adding the books from his list. maybe i should try to rate the old books. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-a-straight-dope-goodreads-group/417384/99 "2007-10-04T17:34:22Z")
This group is the bomb: before I joined I only had something like 13 books, but now I’m up to 127 – and I’ve only rifled through the lists of a few of you so far! 😃 I find that the site can suddenly become very slow, though most of the time it respons well. At first I thought it was just my connection at work, but other sites still responded normally – and then I noticed it at home last night, too. Has anyone else noticed this? Is it normal for Goodreads to take forever to connect every now and then? I also have a question about book editions: is anyone going to care which edition I add to my shelf? Usually I take the time to add the “correct” one, but for classics sometimes I don’t bother. I also haven’t been bothering much when I’ve read a lot of books by the same author: I tend to add the first edition that I come across. So my shelf might say that I read the paperback edition of P.D. James’s _The Lighthouse_ when in fact I read the hardback. Will that kind of thing ever matter on the site? ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-a-straight-dope-goodreads-group/417384/100 "2007-10-04T17:39:26Z")
[QUOTE=Misnomer] This group is the bomb: before I joined I only had something like 13 books, but now I’m up to 127 – and I’ve only rifled through the lists of a few of you so far! 😃 I find that the site can suddenly become very slow, though most of the time it respons well. At first I thought it was just my connection at work, but other sites still responded normally – and then I noticed it at home last night, too. Has anyone else noticed this? Is it normal for Goodreads to take forever to connect every now and then? I also have a question about book editions: is anyone going to care which edition I add to my shelf? Usually I take the time to add the “correct” one, but for classics sometimes I don’t bother. I also haven’t been bothering much when I’ve read a lot of books by the same author: I tend to add the first edition that I come across. So my shelf might say that I read the paperback edition of P.D. James’s _The Lighthouse_ when in fact I read the hardback. Will that kind of thing ever matter on the site? [/QUOTE] I think loading the book cover images can hang it up sometimes. Also, if you set the number of books displayed to 20 a page it will load faster than if you set it to 50 or higher. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-a-straight-dope-goodreads-group/417384.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-a-straight-dope-goodreads-group/417384.md?page=6)