GoodReads

I recently closed my account on a professional social networking site and viciously "unfriended" nearly fifty people on on another site. I guess I was feeling a bit over extended, but it had also occurred to me that I wasn't gaining anything from being thusly connected and many of my online "friends" were people who I hadn't seen in years, let alone spoken to or engaged with in 2011 (or 2010 for that matter). I think this may have been a nice gesture to make to myself as the year closed.

On the other hand, I have opened an account with the virtual Pandora's box that is GoodReads. I don't need another social networking outlet, and I certainly don't need another virtual time-sucking tool, (I suspect you don't either) but this one is a gem...

GoodReads is a space for readers to catalog the books they've read, books they want to read, and explore books the website suggests based on how readers rated the books they've already read. Readers can organize books on virtual shelves and create their own library. GoodReads also provides statistics on how many books and pages you've read each year if you input the dates you finish each book. Probably not the most important research, but I thought it was interesting to see my progress.

Further exploration allows readers to connect with fellow bibliophiles, recommend books to one another, and comment on each other's books and reviews. I can't tell you how much time I've spent reading one-star reviews of books that garner nothing but five stars from other readers. The blind hatred alone is priceless.

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I hope that as the year draws to a close you find yourself in a peaceful and pleasant place. I will be with dear friends as the clock chimes midnight, and will be in bed a half hour later :) I also hope that our readers look forward to 2012 and the books they'll read. I'm excited to explore books with the Riverview Book Club for another year and share what I find here with you, our fellow promiscuous readers.

Happy New Year!