Goodreads makes me rethink reading
If you love to read, you are most likely to have a Goodreads account.
Goodreads have become the go-to site for readers or self-proclaimed booklovers. It even caught the attention of Amazon, the largest online bookseller, who later acquired the platform in 2013.
Goodreads founders, couple Otis Chandler and Elizabeth Khuri Chandler intended the site to be “a good way to find books through your friends.” It has features for users to review books and recommend their favourites reads to their network.
As a social network, your activities are visible to your connections. They can see the books you read and your thoughts on them, along with the books you are coveting. I mean, that’s the idea of social media platforms, right, sharing and connecting with others.
But not for me.
I can’t recall the exact reason why I joined Goodreads, but my existence there is going to reach a decade soon. The reading challenge used to be my favourite part of the platform, as it fueled my motivation to read. I tried to review all my reads, sometimes revisit them to see if there’s any change in my opinion.
The thing about works of art is they leave a different impression every time you revisit them. Being able to identify and analyse the different feelings is interesting.
Joining Goodreads should have been a joyful experience, but I’m starting to have doubts. The reading challenge somewhat makes me think that I read only to reach my goal. There is a tracker that tells whether you are ahead or behind schedule. Sometimes I speed up my reading to make sure I’m on track, losing the ability to savour the book. It makes reading a productive activity instead of leisure.
Another issue is the review. There were moments when I rated a book lower than what I intended to just because I saw others giving it a bad review. Reading other people’s opinions made me realise flaws I did not notice before or never considered as one in the first place. I start losing confidence in my judgement and my taste.
Does what I read matter? Is it bad if I like a low-rated book? Does it mean I have bad taste?
I don’t know. But I feel dumb when finding out that I like a book that everybody else finds terrible and vice versa. It’s like actually enjoying the controversial mint chocolate flavour.
Obviously, that was not what Goodreads intended to be. People can have different opinions, and Goodreads encouraged discussion between readers. I mean liking something considered as bad by others is okay. As long as the work doesn’t disrespect anyone or contain harmful consequences (like Mein Kampf).
And despite how insecure it made me, I never once thought about leaving the site. Heck, I learn how to write reviews there (lots of insightful and well-written pieces, still can’t believe people really wrote that for free). Still, I find it interesting how social media changes the way I see my hobby.
