BookShout: Read Books Socially

There have been times when I wished paper books were more like blogs. I love paper books, but I sometimes wish I could get the same type of feedback and interaction as with a blog. I want to read what others say about ideas in a book. In fact, when I find a book at my favorite used bookstore, I will try to find a copy where someone has made marks and notes.

Maybe I'm alone on the buying marked up books. But I'm not alone in wanting to know what others think of books I'm reading. A new app called BookShout could be a good way to read books and share notes and thoughts with friends reading the same book.

The Dallas based company is focused primarily on Christian books at the moment. Although, I think they plan on expanding in the future.

Once you sign up for BookShout you can browse through their selection of Christian books. Buy books with your friends and create circles of people you would like to share notes with.

You can use BookShout for your local Bible study or small group. Or you can create a virtual book club with people all over the world.

Share your notes via Facebook or Twitter or share them with your circles. The multicolored highlights makes it easy to see and reply to other people's notes. If you want to take notes for yourself you can even take private notes.

I have ebooks in too many formats already including Kindle format, Nook format and even Apple format back before I saw the Android light. So, while BookShout looks like an interesting and useful concept, I feel like it's just one more separate app for my ebooks that will require me to buy my books again in their format.

Right now it's only on iOS but soon it should be available on Android.

Books can be dangerous. The best ones should be labeled "This could change your life." ~Helen Exley