I have been playing around with widgets today trying to find the perfect a suitable library-type widget for displaying current and past reads. I found the Now Reading widget and it seemed great. It was simple, didn’t require me to sign up to a website (Shelfari, anyone?) nor did it provide me with intrusive graphics (Shelfari, again). Unfortunately I’ve discovered that Now Reading is so simple that it is difficult to manage.
So far I have added my novels by authors A to B. That’s a measly 50-something novels*, for your information. Now Reading requires me to first add books, then click on a different tab, then decide whether it is “on hold”, “currently reading” or “finished” then I can go back to initial page where the book has already been sorted according to its status - and I start the process again. It is clumsy and not entirely intuitive. I’m not too sure about the status updates either as I have a tendency to dip in and out of books (what do you mean that I’m the only one to use most of my books as reference?!). Finally, I wanted a straightforward “to be read” option which I cannot seem to find.
Any book/library widgets you can recommend?
* yes, I still mourn the passing of my old book collection. I had to part with 7/8ths of my collection when I moved from Denmark to Scotland. The loss pains me daily and I keep finding glaring omissions in my collection. Plus I am sure I have a particular book but then I realise that I used to have it. It’s no fun at all.
Comments 2
Ah, the bookwidget problem. I think I’ve given up on that one. One of my problems is, that they often require for the book to be listed on Amazon, and most of my Danish books seem not to be.
With regard to you lost book collection, the 20-odd volumes I carried home with me that evening still live happily on my bookshelves. If that’s any consolation.
Posted 16 Jan 2008 at 8:13 am ¶I think I shan’t use it to track my library but simply as a quick tool to track my reading. These days my books are hopelessly mixed up with D’s books, anyway, and people might be confused by the eccentricity?
I get you on the Danish books not listed on Amazon. I have the same problems (obviously) but I also have a fondness for old editions (19th C to mid-20th C). Amazon doesn’t list those either (for obvious reasons).
I do miss my books. Looking at the bookcases I can almost SEE where I ought to have books but I have not. I have a problems
Good to know my books are in a good home, KM!
Posted 16 Jan 2008 at 12:26 pm ¶Post a Comment