Ramblings

Bloviating: to you, from me. Chide me if you will. algot@runeman.org

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Fri, 24 Jul 2009

Internet Book Database of Fiction

Common it is not. Common it is.

The Internet Book Database of Fiction is a site on the Internet which focuses on book reviews created by registered users. People read a book, add it to the database with easy to use forms, give the book a rating and perhaps also add a review. Over time, the list of books has grown large. The reviews help me make decisions about some of the reading I want to do.

Participating in the forum discussions about books and words is a pleasure. I read an average of one novel a week. I share that information in a couple of ways. Here on my own Web site, I keep a list of "Recent Reading" and I also post about my feelings on the Internet Book Database of Fiction (IBDoF). There is a central database there of authors, books, ratings and reviews. Then there is the associated group of Forum topics. Many are clustered in a "Reading Room" forum. Some forums widen the scope of discussion beyond books.

What is NOT common is the insight of the participants. The discussions are not trivial (unless the forum topic intends trivial comments). My experience is that the discussion stays civil, avoiding the kinds of "flame" comments I see elsewhere on the Internet. That elevates the site to a level I appreciate. I enjoy participating in the discussions no matter whether the others agree with my opinion. We can comfortably celebrate our shared enjoyment of a particular book or genre of writing. We also compare in civil discourse our disagreements. That civil tone of the discussions is accomplished with humor in the form of emoticons sometimes to emphasize the intent of humor. The written word lacks rising inflections and it isn't always easy to guarantee a joke is taken as intended. Writing with care helps too, of course.

What IS common is the shared experience. IBDoF participants meet on common ground and share information, opinion and love of books and words. Friendship develops in spite of not meeting directly, face to face. The common ground of sites like IBDoF is wonderful.

I say "Thank you" to the developers and maintainers of IBDof. Thanks for the chance to have uncommmon fun and express myself to/with others about a common interest. To anyone who reads this blog, I say to you, drop in at IBDoF, read some book reviews, check some forums. If you like what you see, register as a user and join the fun. I look forward to "seeing" you there.