Rating: minus 4 on a scale of minus 15 to plus 5.
Another review which no one will read. The revision is much more satisfying than the original and perhaps illustrates the lens through which I view the site, membership and titles offered by Kindle Unlimited.
Before I start, I must visit the YouTube. This was made possible by channels Doctor Who/Be Kind - Reality Genre Studios, NCMI, AllShorts, Anark, RevolutionarythOt, Red Glasgow, Munecat, Keffals, LuckyBlackCat, ScaredKetchup, Fiona Hill, Leeja Miller, Heather Cox Richardson, Dark Brandon, Library of a Viking, Geo Girl, Reese Waters,
Scallydandling About the Books, Willow Talks Books, Luke Sherlock,
Jake Broe, Atun Shei Films, Welcome to Ukraine, The Great War, Autistic Jenny, Yao Hui, Matriarchetype, Narrowboat Pirate, Ship Happens, Sailing Melody, The Wild Food. The Narrowboat that James built, Ukraine Today, The Leftist Cooks, Jessie Gender, elder gal, The Gaze, Dungeons and Discourse, The Players Aid, Maisha Jo, Avoid the Chaos, Kyiv Post, Miniature Adventures, FightYourOwnBattles, Guard the Leaf,
This Bahamian Gyal, Outlaw Bookseller, Prime of Midlife, Matthew Thomas Gillespie, Amie's Literary Empire, Paul Warburg, RFU News, Depressed Russian, Miniminuteman, JimmyTheGiant, Tod Maffin, Georgia Fawcett, Up and Atom, Amadeus Quartet, Amanda's Mild Takes, FAFO, Tale Foundry, Chem Thug, Gutsick Gibbon, Octopus Lady, Library Ladder, Princess Weekes, Jay Exci, The Fungi Files, Underthedesknews,
Kat Blacque, Business Basics, Isaac Arthur, Science Fiction with Damien Walter, Mythology Matters, Josh Johnson, Ukraine Matters, The Ritual Kitchen with Laura May, Nomadic Crobot, Kathy's Flog in France, Delamer, ATP Geopolitics, ExtinctZoo, Honest Government Ads, Nini Music, KernowDamo, Times Radio, Sort of Interesting, The Mindful Narrowboat, Lore Reloaded, Reads with Rachel, Portable Orange, TallGirl6234,
Interesting Times, No Justice, Belinda Strnad, Acollierastro, Fun Size Reader, Shitty Book Club, Yanis Varoufakis, Renegade Cut, Chasing Oz, Natasha's Adventures, Tom Powell, Political CUSTARD, Art by Annamarie, Read Rant Review, Scientific American, Professor Tim Wilson, Your True Shelf, Underthedesknews, Broken Peach, GLOBAL PRINCESS, Petticoats and Prose, Irish Myths, Owen Jones, Tom Nicholas, Kopke613.
I saw recently an idiot who whilst insulting an essayist, complain to her that I list trans creators among my channels. The epidemic of the Snowflake (poorly socialised, uneducated whinging US man-child) continues unabated. A trigger warning then.
Among the channels which I list are included the autistic, military historian, geologist, bi, WOC, Canadian, het, photographer, architect, model, tall, intersex, marine biologist, economist, asexual, socialist, Bahamian, older, chess player, trans, redhaired, married, queer, anthropologist, linguist, physicist, lesbian, Indian, autist, musician, culture critic, primatologist and other creators known as Women.
Almost as threatening are channels featuring the futurist, train enthusiast, Danish, archaeologist, philosopher, zoologist, fashion historian, book reviewer, other LGBTQI+, Estonian, Welsh, short, reenactor, anarchist, boater, ginger, mathematician, other neurodivergent, military boardgamer, chemist, Australian, other BIPOC, woodworker, modeller and other creators known (outside the USA) as Human Beings.
If the voices are not stilled, seek emergency therapy, convert to Taoism or develop a hobby such as Reading.
My feelings towards those clods are similar to those of the captured Ukrainian infantryman recorded by his captors. He with cigarette in mouth and visible contempt for his captors, said simply "Glory to Ukraine" before being machine gunned by Moscow's savages.
Unto the book, dear friends. This like the previous book is a magical backdrop for a standard elf-human romance. The characters do not really carry much depth. The elves actually seem more real than the humans, which is strange.
I do not remember details but I expect that there will be battles against evil forces and minor victories. In the background, there is intrigue for the needed tension. In the foreground the action will consist of "Will they, Won't they".
There is nothing wrong with this if you are expecting a romance. The book is not particularly memorable but still has more heft than most of the Unlimited science fiction selections.
I did not note any particularly anti-human elements in the character representation, interactions or the story itself. This is a pleasant, if thin story that passes time.
It seems that the quality of most current US science fiction, fantasy and romance is not very good. Even editing seems to be optional in Amazon's selection. I for the first time watch rather than read science fiction/fantasy.
I appreciate the products of the video services, the worst of which is superior to Low and No Effort print, if only for interesting visuals.
For recommendations in fiction, Goodreads are useless to me. On the YouTube there are myriad channels but the finest discovery was that of the book channels. 😍 The reader communities hosted are of varied interests, tastes and histories interested in all things bookish.
They are far different environments to the horror which Goodreads are become.
Consider treating this as a potentially hostile site. 🤔
Goodreads do not encourage discourse. As example, I wrote a short negative review of Powers of the Earth by Travis Corcoran. It is a sorry imitation of "Atlas Shrugged" set on the Moon. It had been blurbed by Goodreads as akin to a Heinlein classic. It is no longer.
The story is that of a heroic rich twat, who enlists the military to overthrow the US government in order that he not pay taxes. My judgment was that this type of drivel while common in Unlimited and popular amongst a segment of readers in the Goodreads science fiction space, was unhealthy, dangerous and now prophetic.
The writer, Travis Corcoran self described as libertarian (now anarcho capitalist without millions), advocate of chattel slavery (popular US position with pending enabling legislation and State of Utah completing the first slave labour camp for the homeless), veteran, employee of an unnamed US agency and admirer of Putin (another popular US stance).
He is certainly a MAGA hero, who has yet to realise that he is not a member of the ruling class.
The outraged Travis and six fellow patriots spent a year and pages of comments demanding my response.
Comments addressed my apparent narcissism, the evils of socialism, my intellectual deficiency, the creation of all history by white men and more. I had hoped for new insights into Cucuteni-Trypillia culture but life oftentimes disappoints.
The layers of irony pained my poor communist soul.
The final comment was delivered by a Claes Rees Jr aka cgr710, now ka Clayton R Jesse Jr who after referencing the contents of the last message exchange between myself and a Goodreads friend, proclaimed that They had "won" (?).
I discovered that They had launched a year long campaign of vile sexual, racist, anti-LGBTQI and similar comments against apparently every channel I mentioned (which continues in a muted form).
They failed to expand their social life and the archaeologist, linguist, mathematician, attorney, teacher and other female creators were not impressed.
Despite that failure, They did increase the global overabundance of unpleasantness and also delivered a splendid self-portrait of the Snowflake (vicious, poorly educated US man-baby) to a multinational audience.
Quite the Victory. Goodreads discourse at its finest ??
Claes Rees Jr.
Don't be a numpty. Be a smarty. Come and join the Communist Party. 🙂
Glory to Ukraine. Glory to the Heroes. Crimea is Ukraine.
I have earned a stepaway before continuing. This next is courtesy of Doctor Who/Never Cruel or Cowardly -Ozar, NCMI, Silicon Curtain, Ukraine Calling, Roisin's Reading, CBC News, Julie and Martin on Rhapsody in Blue, World of Antiquity, British Museum, Canadian Dominion, NFKRZ, FAFO, The Real Transfusion, Alison Talks Books, Willow Talks Books, The Angry Astronaut, Elthin, The Norse Witch,
Miniature Adventures, Viva La Dirt League, Deerstalker Pictures, Lena Down Under, Haropones, Reese Waters, Mom on the Spectrum, Tod Maffin, Ukraine News TV, NerdForge, Esther Natukunda, Russian Media Monitor, Anne Applebaum, Mr Newberger's AI Funnies, The Military Show, TheMonsterPainter, CoachD, Camper Vibes, Caleb Howells, Megalithhunter, Ukraine Matters,
Joseph Reads Books, Jean's Thoughts, Roomies Digest, Owen Jones, Cruising the Cut, Cruising Crafts, Paper and Moose, Whitenoiz CA, Brigitte Empire, Raw News and Politics, Your New Zealand Family, Dark Brandon, 2 Germans in Britain, WhoCulture, Military Aviation History, Chris Norlund, Upon Reflection, CDN Newswire, Anton Petrov, Shades of Orange, Clockwork Reader, Emily Linge,
ThatDaneshGuy, Sean's Journal, Words in Time, danainspired, Irish Pagan School, Narrow Gauge Shop, AllShorts, Kozak Siromaha, Jason Jay Smart, DW News, TLDR News EU, CBC News, Purple Sweater, Professor Gerdes Explains, Bell Tube, IMY2,
The Hickson Diaries, Fran Blanche, TonyMichaelsPodcsst, The Military Show, Greeno Eats, The Irish Rose, The Korean Vegan, The Enemy from Within,Harry Sisson,
Parkrose Permaculture, Jay Reed, Diaries.of Creativity, Brit Telly, South Flicks, Mr Newberger's AI Funnies, Dark Skies, Dark Seas, Central Crossing, Cappy Army,
Tom Powell Jr, Squirrel Narrates, TheWolfPit, The Mindful Narrowboat, Dry Bar Comedy, Bo Time Gaming, Savy Writes Books, Quinn's Ideas, Kaelynn Partlow, JoeFish, Green Face Media, Kaelyn Grace Apple, Ukraine Calling, Dreamloop Cinema, Econ Lessons.
Ominous music begins. 😊 There is a curse on criticism first labelled by Noam Chomsky as manufacture of consensus. That is the primary function of this site which benefits the political culture and profit from more than books but film and other art.
The ratings reflect the erosion of critical thought and mindless consumption. US readers are dedicated to the cult of the mob. I am not surprised to see member gangs engage in doxxing, stalking, threats and soon I suspect, Swatting against the one star reviewer. This occurs across Goodreads science fiction and romance, with no acknowledgement from Amazon.
Before Goodreads I had assumed that the stupidity associated with US citizens, was limited to a small percentage. After several years of Goodreads comments, scanning US YouTube and revisiting other US media my opinion changed. Americans are as a nation in fact terminally stupid.
25% of the population gleefully marched towards fascism expecting a white nationalist, working class utopia. There are activists and resistance but it is not fully formed yet. They also seem to be a minority.
The rest of the population can not be bothered to save themselves, pretend that the police state will not impact them or do not notice it developing. It is a sad realisation.
Recently I saw that a 32 year old white male had shot a 68 years old or so, wheelchair bound retired black veteran in broad daylight on a crowded "progressive" Seattle, Washington beach in full view of a crowd.
Many bystanders reported that the victim was well-known to the community, yet none intervened.
The black veteran had declined to provide his ID to that thug, who verbally abused and demanded proof of his victim that he was a veteran. This white male then shot the wheelchair bound man in the chest.
The most stunning aspect of the episode was not that the shooter loudly shouted that he felt his life threatened after his murder attempt. It was not the video showing him calmly aiming and firing his weapon from perhaps twelve feet distance. It was not that the victim survived. Since it occurred in the US, it was not even that the shooter was charged with simply "assault", as the victim was black.
It was to me that no Seattle news outlet covered the story. I found it only after the video reached YouTube and white YouTubers did comment on and were upset by the lack of publicity.
My second shock was that none of the hundred or so nearby white onlookers, challenged the attacker before the shooting. He would certainly have not dared shoot or even threaten a mother or father of one the many white children present.
There are limits, even in the USA.
The video showed his smugness magically transform into loudly declaring to the crowd that he was defending himself against an elderly "black".
This is the pool from which your fellow US Goodreads member are drawn. This is what is normalised by a very large percentage of US readers. Something to consider.
My message history was shared with these mental members, which allowed a request from Pine Gap Centre of Australian Security that they interrogate the one friend whom I occasionally messaged. The attempt on my personal information failed but two outraged customers were created.
Amazon were unconcerned until we advertised our experience. No acknowledgement, No apology, No explanation but all visible harassment on my pages was reversed or masked. I did receive a notice that Kindle would no longer support Goodreads and the icon was removed. My keyboard has recently again been reset to split screen but now without the reset option. The cowardly, petty persistence of these diseased employees is astounding.
For some reason I do not feel safer. 🙂
I saw that a seventh ex-employee of EBay was sentenced for harassment of a couple whose small ecommerce channel was deemed unkind to EBay. The couple were awarded several millions and that ex-employee had been the EBay Chief of Global Security or some such. All of the above occurred before the present restructuring of the US government. I would remain wary of any US data corporation.
Some precautions are recommended. Remove all personal information from Goodreads profile and avoid messaging. Remove the Lurker, those friends who never post. They are monitors for comment gangs or employee generated dummies not admirers.
Given the Goodreads penchant for Altering customer pages, the screenshot of the odd, ugly or threatening are valuable. That should suffice. There are alternative sites and BookTubers will discuss them.
Kindle are another matter. Do Not use Kindle Files, Contacts, Calendar or Email. Amazon read emails without notice or permission. If not American, nothing further need be said.
Do Not "purchase" Amazon E-books, as you own only the device not the download. These may be altered or deleted at Amazon's whim. I made that same mistake.
Searches with Silk should be innocuous and non-critical. There are alternative ebook sources and BookTubers will discuss them. They may also suggest alternatives to ebook purchase.
To implement these cost nothing, to not may well do. It is good practice to remind self periodically that members and employees drawn from a twisted population. Healthy socialisation and morality are considered bad form among US patriots. Ominous music ends. 😊
Be safe and may we all discover good reading. 🤗
Some of my favourite YouTube channels.
NCMI, Mary Trump Media, The Blazing Redcoat, AllShorts, Sarah Z, The Ritual Kitchen with Laura May, Tara Mooknee, Munecat, Some More News, Brittany Page, Novara Media, Ship Happens, The Juice Media, Linguoer Mechanic, Owen Jones, Philosophy Tube, Sort of Interesting, Monday to Monday, The Dystopian Boatman, Ben and Emily,
Mythology and Fiction Explained, Books and Lala, The Piano Guys, Lady of the Library, Prime of Midlife, Natasha's Adventures, The Narrowboat Pirate, Sabine Hossenfelder, Naughty Nana DUZ, Answer in Progress, FAFO, Cruising the Cut, Crecganford, Medieval Madness, Jill Bearup, Karolina Zebrowska, Evie Lupine, Bernadette Banner, Boat Time, Important Naval History, Adult Wednesday Addams -2 seasons,
Swell Entertainment, Engineering with Rosie, The Piano Boat, Tulia, TVP World, With Olivia, Jessie Gender, The Templin Institute, Dakota Warren, Alizee, Alice Cappelle, Katie Montgomerie, Jessica Gagnon, Kozak Muzon, France 24, What Vivi did next, DW News, Merphy Napier, The Irish Reader, Noelle Gallagher, Abbie Emmons, Big Ships, Ashley Ottesen, SarahHesterRoss, J & J's Military Report, Outside Views,
Lily Alexandre, Daniel Rubin, Kathy's Flog in France, The Lore Labyrinth, Red Viburnam Song, Olly Richards, Dan Davis History, Luciana Zogbi, Cindy's Villa, Dead Good Books, Reading Wryly, Kazachka, Three Arrows, The People Profiles, Mythic Concepts, Steam Punk, Lee Francis, Emily Linge, Venom Geek Media, The Welsh Viking, The Pioneer.
Travelling K, Rebecca Watson, Eleanor Morton, Mrs Betty Bowers, Yarmak, Zoe Baker, Kelly Hays, Maggie Mae Fish, Invicta, Vlad Vexler, Tibees, Gingers are Black, Up and Atom, Filaxim Historia, The Carpenter's Daughter, Anka Daily News, Brittany the Bibliophile, Guard the Leaf, Britain Archive, Bookshop by The Sea, Maggie Mae Fish, Art by Annamarie.
I wish you a gorgeous morning, an invigorating afternoon, a cosy evening, a splendid night and may we all continue learning.
Hope and Courage are never long separated.
Dictum, Sisters of the Light