I have been using Goodreads since 2008 and have over 200 books on my list. I know I have read a lot more but I have been careful not to mention books while I serve on an award committee. For example, I only included one book during 2011 when I served on the Printz Award committee, and I will be hesitant to include anything that remotely refers to the material I am currently reading for YALSA's Excellence in Nonfiction committee. While I realize that I can set my Goodreads to private for these purposes, I'd rather simply avoid any question of impropriety.
When I looked at Listopia, I was both encouraged and disappointed. The same titles crept up in many lists, and many of the "best" lists contained what I would consider "most popular" rather than best. But as Goodreads is an amalgam of all readers, I also found that aspect illuminating. The best lists that I encountered were the Brand New Lists, which were timely and specific.
I recommended A Feathered River Across the Sky by Joel Greenberg to Paula Gallagher, because I know that she enjoys reading natural history such as books by Bernd Heinrich. I also recommended Corey Whaley's new book Noggin to Maureen Roberts, as we have talked in our department about the book and she finds the cryogenic time-travel storyline fascinating.
Goodreads is a great place to keep track of what I have read and what my initial impressions about books were during and after. I will continue to use this tool, mostly as a way to manage my reading, but occasionally the various bells and whistles available as well.
