Hate Goodreads? Try Shepherd's Book Lists
Laid up in Port Townsend with a bad back—and a lot of good books!
Okay, how many people hate Goodreads? Ooh, that many? Yeah, I miss Shelfari, too, but it is gone. And I think Goodreads maybe on its way out, too. Earlier this year, publishing guru Jane Friedman said that the review site, “hasn't been all that well maintained, or updated,” and that it had not “kept up with what you would expect from social communities or apps in 2023…” She went on to say that, “It does feel like Amazon bought it and then abandoned it.” I agree.
Goodreads is hard to use, badly run, and confusing for authors and readers. For example, they have Honeymoon at Sea listed as two books, since there are two versions so far (ebook, tree book) and so I have 3 reviews for each version of the book instead of 6 reviews for the book. Get it? Nor do I! To read some more about the new and not-so-improved Amazon-run Goodreads, and whether it’s a “good thing” or not, check out this 2022 BookRiot article by Sarah Nicolas.
I’m seeing great things on a newish site called Shepherd—here’s their home page which looks a lot like this little screenshot image I’m gonna drop right here.
The site has lots of cool book lists, compiled by thousands of authors, on hundreds of subjects. I did one earlier this year about my favorite Baja California non-guidebook books, called The Best Nonfiction Baja Books that Can Transport Your There.
Shepherd recently started asking authors for a list of 3 favorite books they read in 2023—not necessarily written in 2023—and the results are so intriguing. Quite a few people chose Tom Lake, by Ann Patchett, which I loved, as all of my subscribers know by now. You can find out why I chose that book and what my other two book picks were at my Three Favorite Reads of 2023 but I’ll add an image that gives it all away.
Anyway, I think Shepherd is a fun site, and a great idea. After all, we don’t always want to read a new book, but we always want to read a book that comes well recommended—especially if we can see that the person reviewing it has good taste, by looking at their other recommendations. And every list links to other lists, so you can wander through a library of reviews without leaving your computer or device. I think the concept is a win-win, and hope that it thrives, so I became a Founding Member. You can support them by buying a book on the site—they link to both Bookshop.org and Amazon.
For my author friends, Shepherd is looking for more authors to become contributors: Here’s a link to Shepherd’s favorite reads of the year program so you can compile your own list for them. Or email forauthors (at) shepherd.com for the template (they’ll be taking 3-favorite-reads of the year submissions through December 31st). They also have more marketing ideas coming up, like ways for authors to introduce their characters and villains to readers, and meet readers through interesting stories. It’ll be interesting to see them grow—and hopefully give Goodreads a run for their money.
Things have been quiet for me in the last week because I hurt my back while lifting Ready off the boat (Mid-lift, I decided to carry her over to the gangway and twisted and tossed her up into a better carrying position, all without straightening up first). OUCH. I am pretty sure it is a pinched nerve as the pain radiates down my leg. So, it’s been bed rest and a heating pad (thank you for getting that Russel!) and plenty of ibuprofen and some old and new movies. We loved “Flora and Son” on Apple TV; it is a sort of musical, by the maker of the wonderful film “Once.” If your youngsters are old enough to handle hearing the F-word (a lot—they’re Irish!), I’d consider it enjoyable for the whole family.
And I’ve been reading, of course. So next week there will be book reviews, and hopefully the link to my interview with August McLaughlin on “Girl Boner Radio” will be ready, too. And I’ll definitely let you know how Russel and I did at our big Yacht Club slideshow which is coming up on Tuesday night. Luckily, I was already planning to sit at the laptop and run the slideshow while Russel paces the “stage”, so I will be fine for the presentation, even if my back isn’t 100% recovered by then.
Lastly, tomorrow is November 11, which makes 34 years since these two crazy kids took off on a 26-foot sailboat bound for Baja, planning to spend a month in transit and a few more months exploring the beaches and anchorages of the Sea of Cortez.
Our “honeymoon at sea” became a life-changing year, and led to us spending the next 33 years aboard sailboats. And the honeymoon continues, even today…
hasta pronto!
Wow, congratulations for 34 years on a sailboat! I’m curious about what kind of boat are you on now.
Thanks for the info on Shepherd's Book Lists. I'm going to check it out. I've always struggled with Goodreads