Goodreads: It's What Your Friends Are Reading

Read any good books lately? It may seem a cliche, but with satellite TV, the Internet, iPods, and Blackberries, it seems fewer people are spending time reading books. There are those old-school literary vultures among us, however, who will continue reading no matter what technology hits the market.

For that crowd, there is Goodreads, where you and your friends can share all of your favorite literature. This site has listings of thousands of books, from the immortal classics to those just falling onto the shelves. A great example would be any of Dr. Seuss' classic kids' books (e.g. Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham); you can add them to your Goodreads list and recommend them to your friends and family.

Also, like any good bookstore, Goodreads isn't limited exclusively to fiction. Cookbooks, such as Tucker Shaw's Gentlemen, Start Your Ovens, are listed as well. Half the fun of joining the site, too, is the chance to write your own book reviews. Although sites like Amazon.com give you the same ability, Goodreads tends to have better-written critiques.

Meet the Author

Another feature unique to Goodreads is the chance, as a member, to connect with your favorite authors! Such famous masters of the written word as Neil Gaiman (Stardust, Anansi Boys) and Paulo Coelho (The Alchemist) have profiles and lists of their favorite books as well. As a plus, you can even contact some of these authors by e-mail, and who knows? You just may get a response! For those Associated Content writers who love to interview celebrity authors, this may be the perfect spot to search for some. Plus, there are many authors on the site who have recently published their first book; it's likely that they wouldn't turn down the chance for an interview.

Did You Get the Memo?

For the message board fiend in all of us, Goodreads also has "groups," where people discuss such literary topics as J.K. Rowling's legendary Harry Potter series; "Ladies in Literature" (specific to Georgia, because members meet locally); and "1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die." Like virtually all message boards, each of Goodreads' groups are overseen by a moderator, whose job is basically to ensure peace and quiet within (and prevent such annoyances as spam and obscene language). While it is by no means required for you to join a group on the site, it may expand your library and give you the chance to meet like-minded readers.

In addition to "Books & Literature," the discussion boards have branched off into completely unrelated topics as well: "Geography," "Friends and Common Interest," and "Just for Fun" are a few of the more popular subjects. Of note: one topic found in the "Just for Fun" thread is entitled "They Who Laugh At Things That Aren't Funny." Lest you think that such groups detract from the quality of the site, however, all can post books that they, collectively, are reading.

If you become bored with simply reading and writing book reviews within the site, there are also a number of videos available online as well. In one, author Stephenie Meyer (of Twilight fame) discusses the series that has made her famous, and how others have reacted to it. Some are more abstract, like music videos; they are definitely worth viewing! By the way...in case you're wondering, many, if not all, of these videos are available on YouTube as well.

Test Your Knowledge

Yet another fun feature on Goodreads is the "Never-Ending Book Quiz," in which the trivia questions are all written by members. A sample question, you ask? "In The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, why is the Earth destroyed?" It wouldn't be fair to spoil it by giving the answer here, but join up, and you can create your own questions! Members can also rate the quality of trivia questions, and a percentage scale will tell you whether or not your question was popular (as if you care).

Where It's At

Finally, Goodreads also gives you the chance to advertise or search for literary events in your area. Many are related to authors giving book tours, so if you join, you just may be able to meet one of your favorite novelists in person!

Besides having its own site, Goodreads is also available to those who are on Facebook. As on the parent site, you list your favorite books, write reviews, and recommend reading to friends. The Book Quiz is also available on Facebook. If you make an update to your profile within Facebook, it will transfer to the main site as well. Spread the love!

So, whether you're an author, an avid reader, or someone searching for a good book, Goodreads is definitely the site for you. There's no limit to membership, and it doesn't cost you anything...you might as well join today.