Exploring Goodreads

Published Jun 03 2008, 02:38 PM by Sharon Steel

I finally got around to reading my May email update from Goodreads.com, one of several social networking sites for book nerds like me. (I use it primarily to keep track of my own current reading habits / progress; I’m less interested in reading/writing reviews.) Since I joined about a year ago, the site has continuously improved; recent updates include the ability to purchase books directly from your “To-Read” list, and an addictive, reader-formulated book quiz.

Also fun to see is the list of “Movers and Shakers” -- that month’s most popular books. May’s top five are: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver (read it, loved it); Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (sci-fi YA about a society where everyone gets prettifying plastic surgery at age 16 -- sounds good); a twofer of Tweak by Nic Scheff and Beautiful Boy by David Scheff (a boy’s tale of crystal meth addiction and his father’s story of dealing with it); The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak (heard great things about this book, started it, couldn’t get into it, didn’t finish it); and The Road by Cormac McCarthy (definitely on my to-read list, and currently being made into a movie).