The Sunday Symposium: Don't tell me what to read! (Unless, you know, I might actually like it.)

I don't know about you guys, but I am so tired of getting Goodreads recommendations from peeps that I haven't ever interacted with, let alone trust.  (And don't even get me started on those damn event invites! Grrr!) I receive multiple recommendations daily for books that I have no interest in from people who, I suppose, are trying to help promote the author's work.  Kind of like a blog tour or book blast, but even more annoying.

Two things:  First, I think it's time to purge my friends list on GR.  (Jen at YA Romantics posted a really great piece on how to do just this awhile back so that you can personalize your preferences and simplify life. Now I just need to do it.) I know...it's my own damn fault for providing "friend me on Goodreads" as a giveaway entry.  I've since learned to suggest following my reviews instead, but I still receive a lot of friend requests regardless.  And I don't mind these, as long as they're people who actually intend to interact with me.

Second, don't recommend a book to me if we haven't ever discussed books together before, if you haven't even looked at what's already on my shelves, or if what you're suggesting is a book outside the scope of what I usually like to read.  I write for a YA book blog, though I do occasionally throw in an adult, new adult, or middle grade novel to change things up a bit.  But if you're dead-set on recommending something to me, it should probably be YA. A lot of the recs I get through GR are indies, which is fine, but I'm really picky about which ones I read.

Mostly, I just want the recs for erotica to stop. Please?!?

You know what else I want to stop?  That whole judging a person by what they read/have read thing.  I read Hush, Hush three years ago and I enjoyed it at the time, but now I can't make myself read that final book.  My reading tastes have just changed soooo much.  But by no means do I disparage anyone who's still a fan of this series or any other. Every reader is different and we're all going to like different stories.  We all go into a story expecting different things, and we're all going to take something different away from a story.  It's not right, nor is it fair, to judge each other based on these things. I've been seeing this more and more lately on GR, and I find it really aggravating.

*steps off of soap box*

I also find it aggravating when other services recommend books to me.  Like the emails from B&N, Amazon, and Audible...though I know that's probably all set up in my preferences, if I'd ever deign to update them. But they arrive in my inbox so often and they can be rather annoying, especially when they're prefaced with something like "for fans of" or "since you loved book x".  But I ranted on that topic already.

Anyway, pretty much, I'm only going to read something recommended to me if it's from a trusted source who's grabbed me by the shoulders (or you know, the virtual equivalent) and exclaimed that I absolutely must read this book, that it will somehow change my life.  For instance, Em wants me to read Tell the Wolves I'm Home, and on the flip-side, I've made her swear to finally read The Sea of Tranquility. Apparently, we really like to make each other cry.  But thems the breaks when you're accepting recommendations from trusted friends.  :-P

Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up. (Sorry, our cable was out and I tend to watch that whenever the opportunity presents itself. :D) While Goodreads is making changes, I'd love it if that recommend feature would go the way of the dodo, 'cause I don't see any way to turn it off. Besides, I get my recs elsewhere...

Labels: the sunday symposium