tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195641087108033893.post2907306238448105842..comments2023-10-24T06:53:11.917-04:00Comments on mere et filles: On Rating Books (and book reviews).Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047968915708927082noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195641087108033893.post-67926244698399305262015-02-06T17:26:40.918-05:002015-02-06T17:26:40.918-05:00For me - 1 - AWFUL. 2 - OK - ehh. 3 - Good/Avera...For me - 1 - AWFUL. 2 - OK - ehh. 3 - Good/Average. 4 - Very good. I enjoyed the story/made me think/enjoyable to read. 5 - GREAT. I thought the story was fabulous/unexpected/page turner/beautiful writing/spoke to me/made me think. I do reserve 5 stars for what I think is the best of the best. Something I would recommend over and over again.<br />As far as reading others reviews, I don't pay a whole lot of attention to the Goodreads or Amazon reviews. I might check out a few, but typically I find books based on reviews/blurbs in magazines or the newspaper, recommendations by friends, or simply perusing the library shelves. - DeeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195641087108033893.post-58546642854465802332015-02-06T10:27:02.538-05:002015-02-06T10:27:02.538-05:00I'll give a book 5 stars if at the end I'm...I'll give a book 5 stars if at the end I'm like "wow, didn't expect that", or just "wow". 4 stars for a book that keeps me interested from start to finish, 3 stars if I just don't "get" it, or feel like the author didn't do a good job of convincing me of the characters or plot. 2 stars for those books that seem stale, redundant and don't live up to expectations or reviews. 1 star for something that was just poorly written and uninteresting. I only finish 1 star books of they are for book club cause I usually change my mind after discussion. If I don't finish a book it might get 1 or no stars. Lydiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07582941768111781554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195641087108033893.post-59863323351821482832015-02-06T09:09:22.474-05:002015-02-06T09:09:22.474-05:00My ratings are similar to yours. To love a book en...My ratings are similar to yours. To love a book enough to give it a five star review I want to connect with it deeply and to have it "rip my heart out". I've tried to relax that standard some and go with a great emotional connection, not necessarily sad. I am not generous when it comes to 5 stars, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the book. In any case, all of our ratings are subjective and what is a 3 star for you may be a 5 star for me. margenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00203284423648703855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195641087108033893.post-21252585052139066582015-02-06T08:46:11.068-05:002015-02-06T08:46:11.068-05:00This is indeed an interesting subject and I'm ...This is indeed an interesting subject and I'm afraid I have absolutely nothing to add to the discussion. I don't rate books 'cause I don't really use a tracking system...tho' I've been with Good Reads since it first started. I think we're I to rate a book, my schematic would be more like Carole's. <br />Cheers~Honoréhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17328955991011872557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195641087108033893.post-9658557717851687142015-02-06T08:41:34.911-05:002015-02-06T08:41:34.911-05:00Most books I read get 3 or 4 stars. 1=I didn't...Most books I read get 3 or 4 stars. 1=I didn't like it, I may or may not have finished it, 2 star=It was okay, could have done without reading it 3 star=it was good & entertaining, 4 star=well written, great characters, gives me new insights & I loved reading it, 5star=exceptional, grabs me in a certain way, new insights, & I want someone else to read it. I often have difficulty choosing between 4 & 5 star ratings...sometimes it is close! I try not to let my ratings be influenced by other people...we all have our own tastes and opinions when it comes to books! It is all good!Debbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00305099786659577370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195641087108033893.post-60443343513119863552015-02-06T07:37:02.382-05:002015-02-06T07:37:02.382-05:00This is a really interesting subject! I tend to gi...This is a really interesting subject! I tend to give most books 3 stars - never less because I wouldn't finish something that I wouldn't rate 3 stars or higher. A 4 star rating means I loved it - the writing, the setting, and all. Most of the books I read tend to get 4 stars and I think that's because I am very pick about what I add to my queue. A 5 star rating means that I want to go out and hand the book to every person I see and say : READ THIS!Carolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09438414339444169303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195641087108033893.post-66790017931652034602015-02-05T23:30:31.374-05:002015-02-05T23:30:31.374-05:00I can't wait to read all the comments on this ...I can't wait to read all the comments on this great topic! To answer your questions - I use stars pretty much like you do, but differ a bit on the 5 star rating. For me, a 5 star book is one that has it all - a unique story and characters that I feel connected to, but it must always be exceptionally written. A 5 star book may be one of the best I've read in its genre, or even transcend its genre; it makes me think and want to read further, and often haunts me for a long time afterwards. Books don't often make me cry, so I can't use that criterion!<br /><br />I do pay attention to others' ratings when I'm deciding what to read, but I've changed my methods in the past few years. I used to look for books with many 5 star ratings, thinking that meant it would be an amazing book. Now I get my recommendations from what gr friends are reading, NYT, NPR, etc., and then I look at the 2 and 3 star ratings for the books I'm considering. Often people writing those reviews seem to do a better job of explaining just what they didn't enjoy about the book, and then I can make a better judgement whether that book might be for me than I might be able to from a fluff 5 star rating. So yes, I do look at others' ratings, but I do that mainly if I'm spending money on a book. I'll try almost anything if I'm browsing at the library, and I've discovered some of the best books I've read that way. Thanks for a post on a topic I'm always interested in!Bonnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11608328439375705263noreply@blogger.com