#bookhype

I previously posted that I’m trialing two different Goodreads alternatives. The main reason is the Amazon thing. I have been anti-Amazon for years, but never extended that to Goodreads because I figured it was a free service so I wasn’t supporting them monetarily. 

Of course, I’m still giving them plenty of data, which is what I recently realized. Plus there are so many ads now, the recommendations mostly suck, and the website is so slow to load. Up until last year there really weren’t too many alternatives, but now that there are I thought it would be a good time to try them out.

Thoughts I had when deciding whether or not to sign up - 

Book Hype:

I really like the layout. It’s simple and clean, and I like how the books you’ve read show your rating at the top. But honestly, the fact that the colour scheme is pink does play a big part in why I like the visuals so much. It’s my favourite colour!

You can follow different series, which is super cool. You’re able to see how many books you’ve read out of the total and be notified when there is a new release

Speaking of new releases: the creator mostly made the site because she wanted to keep track of books she wants to read that are upcoming, so there’s a personal page for that

The stats page is really cool and so pretty (yes, because of the pink)

This website is less well known, so there aren’t too many users

The Storygraph:

So many people are raving about this, so the user base is definitely large

I like how you don’t just rate with stars, but also moods and pacing. Moods aren’t necessarily important to me, but they can definitely add more context to the book blurb. You can add content warnings as well, which is so helpful

There are also a ton of stats. I love data!

The book challenges seem fun

The look is a little more clunky, and from what I’ve seen, profiles only show a small and random selection of books on specific lists

Some features you can find free on other sites are part of a paid plan. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing because it’s great to support the growth of an awesome product, but just something worth knowing

I love how responsive the creators are to users and that they have a public list of features that are coming in the future

The biggest draw for most people is the tailored recommendations. I’m usually pretty good at finding my own recommendations, but this is still intriguing

Book Hype

The Storygraph

I will post updates with how I like each one in case anyone is interested.

I hate to admit it's the case But maybe it's time to vacate Resort to a back tracking slate And join those who told me so late

They said Colchesters beyond repair And all it ever breeds is despair But was that always the script? I feel like I've given up on you Your's was the pristine setting Of a spotless prime time family sitcom I would've let go of so much ambition Just to be cast in that security But why didn't you want it too? Every attempt leads me to be refused I rip the canvas apart to be true But your content to leave me black and blue The vacant stares, the missed messages The short talks, the disappearing effort You never used to turn down my love What on earth's changed, to earn your disdain?

I just want to time travel my soul My morals, My outlook, My cells Back to walks in the forest And awfully planned picnics in the park In the pouring 4AM rain, just passing the sunset Eating peanut butter sandwiches in the shade Who was that with? Krissy, Rosie, Nikki? I don't know anymore Their faces have degraded into blanks The memories are becoming fabrication Who's memories am I stitching together? They feel like strangers in my own remembrance

Tears are making a comeback in my eyes Cos the town I've loved with all my heart It doesn't recognise me anymore It wants me out, It can't stand the sight of me I've happened upon your corpse wondering Yomi Your face twisted and contorted Am I a foreign object, pollen to be excreted? Cos that's exactly how it feels Apathy poisoning my pours My skin dries and my heartbeat slows to a crawl

Colchester... I don't recognise you anymore I don't feel as safe on your soil like before This love isn't healthy, for a creature of my imagination I need out of you, as much as you need me out too