12 votes

How do you log your reads?

Personally I've become less and less fond of Goodreads but there doesn't seem to be many good alternatives. Plus the app is not great. Does anyone know any open source/free alternatives?

29 comments

  1. [5]
    klieber
    Link
    There's lots of things I don't like about Goodreads, but I actually find the book tracking to be fine -- what limitations are you seeing with it?

    There's lots of things I don't like about Goodreads, but I actually find the book tracking to be fine -- what limitations are you seeing with it?

    10 votes
    1. [4]
      acr
      Link Parent
      What I had trouble with was when I was trying to organize my shelves. It gave me some trouble. I can't remember exactly what it was. But I was trying to organize some books and for some reason it...

      What I had trouble with was when I was trying to organize my shelves. It gave me some trouble. I can't remember exactly what it was. But I was trying to organize some books and for some reason it seems like it wasn't very organized. Like it made it hard to organize books by some category system I was trying to do.

      Now I just put books on there that I want to read or books I have read.

      1 vote
      1. [3]
        moredhel
        Link Parent
        I’m in the same boat, I only have two lists, books I’ve read, and books I want to read. I’m looking into a content-management-system because I’m wanting to start with movies too... I’m also keen...

        I’m in the same boat, I only have two lists, books I’ve read, and books I want to read. I’m looking into a content-management-system because I’m wanting to start with movies too... I’m also keen to leave notes on things I’ve read for future me.

        1. [2]
          jamesbvaughan
          Link Parent
          For movies, I really like Letterboxd. It's great for managing lists of movies you've seen or want to see, and you can use it to leave reviews/notes on movies.

          For movies, I really like Letterboxd. It's great for managing lists of movies you've seen or want to see, and you can use it to leave reviews/notes on movies.

          1 vote
          1. moredhel
            Link Parent
            Thanks for the link, I'm going to have a look at this! I may just end up throwing together a simple wordpress sight though tbh.

            Thanks for the link, I'm going to have a look at this! I may just end up throwing together a simple wordpress sight though tbh.

  2. [4]
    Thea
    Link
    I track with a bullet journal. I'm a luddite though, so your mileage may vary.

    I track with a bullet journal. I'm a luddite though, so your mileage may vary.

    6 votes
    1. [3]
      nor
      Link Parent
      I've heard of bullet journals before, and a friend used it in the past. Might have to look into it sometime. Not a luddite but understand the hesitancy with technology. What's your reason?

      I've heard of bullet journals before, and a friend used it in the past. Might have to look into it sometime. Not a luddite but understand the hesitancy with technology. What's your reason?

      3 votes
      1. Thea
        Link Parent
        It's not so much a hesitancy with tech, I'm tech-native in every sense of the word. I have a good reads account but don't use it, and I like the creativity I can build into a bullet journal. I...

        It's not so much a hesitancy with tech, I'm tech-native in every sense of the word. I have a good reads account but don't use it, and I like the creativity I can build into a bullet journal. I drew a bookshelf and i illustrate in books as I finish them. It makes me happy to look at it.

        6 votes
      2. moredhel
        Link Parent
        I’m in IT but love my bulletjournal. It’s prregty sparse, but is just nice to have a different medium for organisation. Also the flexibility is lovely, I don’t need to worry about whether my...

        I’m in IT but love my bulletjournal. It’s prregty sparse, but is just nice to have a different medium for organisation. Also the flexibility is lovely, I don’t need to worry about whether my idiosyncratic list is going to work in the new todo app

  3. EightRoundsRapid
    Link
    I don't. Never felt it was necessary.

    I don't. Never felt it was necessary.

    4 votes
  4. [3]
    not
    Link
    I'm curious, people who use goodreads, why do you use it? I've personally never felt the need to use any site to catalog my reading.

    I'm curious, people who use goodreads, why do you use it? I've personally never felt the need to use any site to catalog my reading.

    3 votes
    1. nor
      Link Parent
      Generally a social thing. Sharing your reads and recommending some to others using it is nice. I use it for commenting and posting reviews as well.

      Generally a social thing. Sharing your reads and recommending some to others using it is nice. I use it for commenting and posting reviews as well.

      3 votes
    2. NoirAngel
      Link Parent
      I like lists. And stats. I love going back and checking how much I read (or not) and when, and while Goodreads doesnt offer that many, its the best there is.

      I like lists.

      And stats.

      I love going back and checking how much I read (or not) and when, and while Goodreads doesnt offer that many, its the best there is.

      1 vote
  5. eitaporra
    Link
    What do you think is wrong with goodreads?

    What do you think is wrong with goodreads?

    2 votes
  6. [5]
    Comment deleted by author
    Link
    1. [4]
      nor
      Link Parent
      Account customization on mobile is horrendous and requires connecting to your browser. It's also a bit bloated, and I'd prefer something a little lighter. That being said I will continue using it...

      Account customization on mobile is horrendous and requires connecting to your browser. It's also a bit bloated, and I'd prefer something a little lighter. That being said I will continue using it for it's reviews as it's probably got the biggest base for that.

      Sidenote: JBP's 12 Rules for life is tagged under philosophy and that bothered me a bit haha

      3 votes
      1. [3]
        elf
        Link Parent
        Well, just because it's philosophy doesn't mean it's good philosophy, right?

        Well, just because it's philosophy doesn't mean it's good philosophy, right?

        2 votes
        1. [2]
          nor
          Link Parent
          I'd think it'd fall under self-help more though if I'm being honest

          I'd think it'd fall under self-help more though if I'm being honest

          3 votes
          1. elf
            Link Parent
            Yeah, I think self help is the more accurate tag. I'm not actually familiar with the site so I was assuming it allowed multiple tags.

            Yeah, I think self help is the more accurate tag. I'm not actually familiar with the site so I was assuming it allowed multiple tags.

            2 votes
  7. [5]
    Algernon_Asimov
    Link
    I don't log my reads. I'm not sure why people do this. If anything, my bookshelves and my kobo are my "log" of what I've read (excluding books I didn't like and decided to get rid of). What's the...

    I don't log my reads. I'm not sure why people do this.

    If anything, my bookshelves and my kobo are my "log" of what I've read (excluding books I didn't like and decided to get rid of).

    What's the purpose behind logging your reads?

    1. [3]
      dfin
      Link Parent
      It can be interesting to look back over it. If you have a timestamp there isn't much guesswork as to when you read it. I view it in the same vein as tracking weight. I like looking at my progress...

      It can be interesting to look back over it. If you have a timestamp there isn't much guesswork as to when you read it.

      I view it in the same vein as tracking weight. I like looking at my progress over the long term.

      2 votes
      1. [2]
        Algernon_Asimov
        Link Parent
        Progress? That makes reading seem like work or a duty, rather than something you do for enjoyment. :/

        I like looking at my progress over the long term.

        Progress? That makes reading seem like work or a duty, rather than something you do for enjoyment. :/

        1 vote
        1. lhandley
          Link Parent
          It's also useful as a reference: for example, if a quote pops into your head but you can't remember where you read it, you can look back over your list to narrow down the options. If I didn't keep...

          It's also useful as a reference: for example, if a quote pops into your head but you can't remember where you read it, you can look back over your list to narrow down the options.

          If I didn't keep records (in a .txt file on my laptop... what more do you need? :P), I doubt I'd be able to remember much of what I read three years ago, especially the books I ended up not keeping (mainly for space reasons). I like to have something to call those books back to mind.

          1 vote
    2. silva-rerum
      Link Parent
      To remember what I read, and more importantly to remember what I thought about what I read. I read a lot (not just books), and don't have a great memory, so logging what I read aids in recalling...

      What's the purpose behind logging your reads?

      To remember what I read, and more importantly to remember what I thought about what I read. I read a lot (not just books), and don't have a great memory, so logging what I read aids in recalling information and where it came from, but it also ensures that I don't end up unintentionally re-reading something (which has happened -_-).

      Logging doesn't matter as much when I'm reading for fun, pleasure, or relaxation. But it's made an immense difference when I'm reading for research or learning. So really it depends on your motivations for reading in the first place.

      1 vote
  8. dfin
    Link
    My bookshelf. :) But actually, now that I have a Kindle, I just use Goodreads. It's automatically synced. So when I finish a book there's a screen that pops up that gives me a one-touch button to...

    My bookshelf. :)

    But actually, now that I have a Kindle, I just use Goodreads. It's automatically synced. So when I finish a book there's a screen that pops up that gives me a one-touch button to log it to Goodreads. I never really use the site/app, but when I do get the year-end emails those are always interesting to look at.

    If I wasn't doing that, I'd probably just use a Google Sheet.

  9. DonQuixote
    Link
    I journal, in OneNote. I have a section titled Books, reading and to Read, and try to gather my thoughts sometimes during or at the end of a book or both. Which reminds me ... (see you later.)

    I journal, in OneNote. I have a section titled Books, reading and to Read, and try to gather my thoughts sometimes during or at the end of a book or both. Which reminds me ... (see you later.)

  10. NamelessThirteenth
    Link
    I don't. Never really had a need to.

    I don't. Never really had a need to.

  11. CR0W
    Link
    I am on Goodreads, but I have not devoted any time beyond keeping a list of to-read and read books. I originally signed up to keep track of a book series I was reading since there were so many...

    I am on Goodreads, but I have not devoted any time beyond keeping a list of to-read and read books. I originally signed up to keep track of a book series I was reading since there were so many involved. A few times I have made the mistake of reading book reviews there, and the book I intended to read was ruined by those reviews, so I don't do that now. Then there are the toxic reviews. I've heard about Library Thing, but have not given it a try.

  12. Whom
    Link
    I also would love to break away from Goodreads. Awful website, if only for how disorganized it is and the very restrictive rating scale. The community isn't great, either, but you can't hope for...

    I also would love to break away from Goodreads. Awful website, if only for how disorganized it is and the very restrictive rating scale. The community isn't great, either, but you can't hope for much better with something so widely used.

    I would just like something equivalent to RYM or MAL / AniList for books, but it doesn't seem to exist.