Diane's Reviews > Off-Topic: The Story of an Internet Revolt

This is the 125th book I've read this year. Out of all those books, I declare this one to be the most passionate.

Since you're reading this on Goodreads, you are probably aware of the ongoing censorship battle with the site. This book is an excellent compilation of essays and reviews written by fellow Goodreaders who are upset by GR's abrupt policy changes and by its random deletions of posts that were deemed "off-topic" or relating to "author behavior." I described the deletions as random because one thing the book proves is that enforcement of the new policies was ad hoc, and that not all reviewers were treated the same.

Some of these pieces you may have already read when they popped up in your news feed. Several were new to me, and some even introduced me to marvelous new writers. (Hello, Arthur Graham!) My favorite essays were Emma Sea's "Why GR's New Review Rules are Censorship," Ceridwen's analysis of the initial deletions and her lovely afterword, everything by Manny and Mr. Graham, and Kelly's "One Foot Out the Door."

I, too, have been upset by the changes, but nothing I've said about it has been as clever or as well-written as many of the essays in this collection. If you care about the Goodreads community, if it has changed your life, as it has mine, you should read this book.

Update
The downvoting campaign on this book is pathetic. Just wanted to say that in print.