January scraps #3

Bookish things I'm reading, browsing, thinking about, coveting, working on, and planning for the year ahead.

An Ant's Guide to Being an Ant by Zoe Meagher, illustrated by Julia Darling

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The Big Switch

I think it’s time. Since the year started, I’ve been looking for more small ways to make a difference, and I think finally switching from the Amazon-owned Goodreads to the independent platform, The StoryGraph, for my personal reading log is something I can do to avoid contributing to and relying on a monopolistic and unethical ecosystem.

It’s such a tiny thing, I know. But it feels right. And a bit overdue.

I have been an avid user of Goodreads for many, many years, and despite the overwhelming upsides to making the switch, it’s a big plunge for me! Here are some of the reasons that I have convinced myself to do it (and may convince you, too?):

• On The StoryGraph, you can create or join highly customisable reading challenges that align with your specific goals, like reading more diversely, exploring new genres, or trying books from underrepresented authors.

• The StoryGraph has a clean, modern interface compared to Goodreads, which admittedly has become quite outdated and clunky.

• The platform provides more detailed information about books, including page count breakdowns and content warnings.

• Unlike Goodreads, The StoryGraph is ad-free.

• The StoryGraph offers more personalised recommendations based on your mood, preferred genres, and reading patterns. You can select descriptors like “lighthearted,” “emotional,” or “fast-paced,” which helps the platform tailor suggestions to your exact preferences.

• One of The StoryGraph’s standout features is its emphasis on tracking the mood of books you read (e.g., adventurous, dark, reflective). It provides a pie chart breakdown of your reading habits, which is great for readers aiming to diversify their choices.

And here is the big one:

• If you’ve been using Goodreads for a long time like myself, The StoryGraph allows you to import your Goodreads data, so you don’t lose your reading history. Phew.

So, based on all the above and more, I think this is the week of my Big StoryGraph Switch! I’ll let you know how I go.

Have you done it? Are you considering it? Am I making a big deal out of nothing? Be honest! Comment below!

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Song of a Blackbird

This week I’m reading the upcoming graphic novel release, Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout. It’s out on 4 March and is a fictionalised story based on true events. There are two intertwined timelines: one is a modern-day family drama, the other a thrilling true story of a WWII-era bank heist carried out by Dutch resistance fighters.