Taking The StoryGraph plunge

[Desertway]

Or not?

I imported my GR library quite awhile ago, used TSG for a bit, then got frustrated and went back to GR, having to add all my recent books from TSG. Then I revisited TSG, enjoyed it, and had to add all my recent books from GR.

So in the last few months I've been using both, thinking it would be no big deal. I mean, how long does it take to add a book? Turns out, longer than you might think. For me, they both have their annoying quirks. GR involves a lot of "where in the hell did they move that feature that I use?!". TSG seems to require an awful lot of clicks to get where you want to go. Using one service is no problem, but using both of them is getting old.

I'm particularly enjoying the reading journal feature of TSG, which is much better than GR's private notes (that I can never find). And their recommendations are amazing. I wish TSG had the (ugly) single page view of my entire library that GR has, but I can live without it now that I'm getting used to the way TSG does things.

Bottom line is that I'm nearly sold on TSG and ready to drop GR, but I'm concerned about TSG's longevity. GR is a behemoth with infinite resources. How can TSG compete with that? They made big splash in the early days because so many of us were unsatisfied with GR for a variety of reasons, but it's hard to stay in the news once you've been around awhile.

How many of you have made the switch?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Desertway

Or not?

I imported my GR library quite awhile ago, used TSG for a bit, then got frustrated and went back to GR, having to add all my recent books from TSG. Then I revisited TSG, enjoyed it, and had to add all my recent books from GR.

So in the last few months I've been using both, thinking it would be no big deal. I mean, how long does it take to add a book? Turns out, longer than you might think. For me, they both have their annoying quirks. GR involves a lot of "where in the hell did they move that feature that I use?!". TSG seems to require an awful lot of clicks to get where you want to go. Using one service is no problem, but using both of them is getting old.

I'm particularly enjoying the reading journal feature of TSG, which is much better than GR's private notes (that I can never find). And their recommendations are amazing. I wish TSG had the (ugly) single page view of my entire library that GR has, but I can live without it now that I'm getting used to the way TSG does things.

Bottom line is that I'm nearly sold on TSG and ready to drop GR, but I'm concerned about TSG's longevity. GR is a behemoth with infinite resources. How can TSG compete with that? They made big splash in the early days because so many of us were unsatisfied with GR for a variety of reasons, but it's hard to stay in the news once you've been around awhile.

How many of you have made the switch?

I'm using both GR & TSG. It's no big deal to add books to both.

[astrangerhere]

I've fully transitioned. I had a few false starts earlier this year, but I've gone over 100% now.

[icallaci]

I am currently using both. I am very impressed with TSG's recommendations and similar reads. I never bothered looking at those in GR because they were so ... off. I also really like the way TSG shows random books from my TBR pile when I first sign in. I've rediscovered several books that I had completely forgotten about simply because TSG popped them up when I signed in. So far it's not a big deal for me to update both sites.

[Desertway]

Originally Posted by icallaci

I also really like the way TSG shows random books from my TBR pile when I first sign in. I've rediscovered several books that I had completely forgotten about simply because TSG popped them up when I signed in.

Yes, that is a very nice feature. I've had quite a few, "Oh yeahhhhh....I forgot all about that" moments.

[Sirtel]

Never used either and not planning to. I manage my library in Calibre on my PC and that's all I need. I don't want or need recommendations, journals, notes, statistics, nor any social activities. Reading, for me, is a private and solitary pleasure.

[Desertway]

I use Calibre to manage my owned books, that's all. I read alone, but reading connects me to writers and others who have been touched by beloved books. I've never thought of it as solitary.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Desertway

I use Calibre to manage my owned books, that's all. I read alone, but reading connects me to writers and others who have been touched by beloved books. I've never thought of it as solitary.

I get it. Most people like to talk about the books they read and swap recommendations. I'm weird because I don't.

(Actually I'm even weirder... I don't use any social media either. MR is the only place I regularly visit)

[Desertway]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

(Actually I'm even weirder... I don't use any social media either. MR is the only place I regularly visit)

Weird AND admirable

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Desertway

Weird AND admirable

Thanks, but nothing admirable about it. It's just a personality trait (extreme introversion). Social media is just too noisy and overwhelming for me. I prefer to hang out with my cats in the peace and quiet of my home, and mostly interact with close family members.

[icallaci]

I don't really use the social aspects of either GR or TSG. I like to discover new books that I wouldn't normally be aware of and that are outside my usual sources/authors/genres. TSG is turning out to be excellent for suggesting books that might otherwise fly below my radar.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by icallaci

I don't really use the social aspects of either GR or TSG. I like to discover new books that I wouldn't normally be aware of and that are outside my usual sources/authors/genres. TSG is turning out to be excellent for suggesting books that might otherwise fly below my radar.

It was an aversion to "forced socialising" that prompted me to drop GR 4+ years ago, long before TSG existed. The fact that TSG's 'social' features are all strictly opt-in is still one of its most appealing points for me. Like you, I've found several books that I never would have without it, and have done so without 'noise'

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

...Like you, I've found several books that I never would have without it, and have done so without 'noise'

Well, I don't want any book suggestions, recommendations or popular lists either. I already have far more than I could read in 500 years and have my own means of keeping track of what's current, which suit me better than GR or TSG.

[MSWallack]

I tried TSG last month. It seems really interesting. But I was having a really hard time figuring out how to add books that I'd read earlier this year (I wanted to add them in order to try using the various stats and reports) but couldn't figure out how to add what I needed. So I sent a support request. Crickets. So I sent another support request. Crickets. I didn't bother sending a support request for the other queries that I had about using TSG.

[Karellen]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Never used either and not planning to. I manage my library in Calibre on my PC and that's all I need. I don't want or need recommendations, journals, notes, statistics, nor any social activities. Reading, for me, is a private and solitary pleasure.

I couldn't agree more. I am the same.
I don't have the need to shout from the rooftop that I read that book. I read because I want to lose myself in a story.

And the only reason I have been using GoodReads since I started my reading journey two years ago, was so I could fix and perfect the information in my Calibre library, but I soon discovered that not all the information in GoodReads is accurate and I would have to double check quite a lot using Wikipedia or the publishers and authors websites/blogs.

As for recommendations, I still browse real bookshops and listen to friends recommendations.