Another “Literary Dealbreaker”: Is Goodreads A Dating Site?

Vetting the bookshelves of prospective paramours is one thing, but auditioning new ones solely based on their reading preferences — as expressed on a bookish social networking site — is quite another. Or is it? Whatever: An appalled Goodreads member forwards this email: “My first message on goodreads went to the prettiest picture. What did you think of the Gessen novel?I am currently reading beautiful Children by charles bock,it is quite good.Recommend any other books? Look forward to hearing back from you.” “CREEPY!” she says. Apparently, she wants to use the site only for its declared purpose, which is to “get great book recommendations from people you know.” But is that really why people are members? Come on,’fess up.

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