tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post3268241011134814533..comments2024-03-20T08:13:24.605+01:00Comments on Bingeing On Books: DISCUSSION: Striving for Ratings PerfectionCynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-58958449957779566492015-10-20T08:25:18.570+02:002015-10-20T08:25:18.570+02:00Lyn, you are so right. I do think when someone giv...Lyn, you are so right. I do think when someone gives out all 5 stars, there is something off. But the fact that I am picky means that when I give a 5 star, you can known it's because I REALLY loved it. Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-44541760358998145442015-10-19T19:11:46.513+02:002015-10-19T19:11:46.513+02:00Nicole, I really wish Goodreads and Amazon did hal...Nicole, I really wish Goodreads and Amazon did half stars. I would probably give out a lot of 4.5 stars!Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-81372227418656625392015-10-19T19:10:57.038+02:002015-10-19T19:10:57.038+02:00Shannon, ooooh you are such a rebel for creating 6...Shannon, ooooh you are such a rebel for creating 6 stars. There are probably only a handful of books I can think of that would get a coveted sixth star. Yeah, it is better to be happy with the book than miserable. I am probably too stingy with my five stars, so if you are too free, then you can balance me out. :)Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-69908247215342670032015-10-19T19:05:41.093+02:002015-10-19T19:05:41.093+02:00bornandread . . . oh yes, a rating out of 100 woul...bornandread . . . oh yes, a rating out of 100 would be so awesome!! I have read some amazing books that got 5 stars this year. So when I read a book that is amazing, I just can't help but play the comparison game. If it has even one flaw, I just can't do it. Sigh. Oh wellCynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-50173795873769901772015-10-18T06:11:11.419+02:002015-10-18T06:11:11.419+02:00Right? I never really gave anything lower than 3 s...Right? I never really gave anything lower than 3 stars when I first started to use GR. Even at 3 stars, I had a lot of guilt. If I finished it and didn't want to shred the book, then it was 5 or 4 stars, period. I had a HORRIBLE rating system.<br /><br />As for getting picky, that is actually a good thing! If you rated everything at 5 stars, then your balance would be off. You now have a whole slew of books that have set the bar. Before I did online book blogging or ratings, I had no base of comparison. But now? I have a list of books that set the standard, and, yes, my own ratings have become pickier and picker. I have given more 2 stars this year that all the other years combined, But I like being more honest and fair with my own personal ratings.<br /><br />For me, I see it as an accomplishment in my hobby. :)Lyn Kayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10471867801089862828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-76470200032020859862015-10-15T02:21:19.127+02:002015-10-15T02:21:19.127+02:00I think this has happened to just about all of us ...I think this has happened to just about all of us the longer we've been blogging. I don't give out 5 stars as often anymore either - but I do half stars, so 4.5 isn't <i>that</i>uncommon for me!<br /><br />Nicole @ <a href="http://feedyourfictionaddiction.com" rel="nofollow">Feed Your Fiction Addiction</a>Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addictionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08637114079800138680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-50125946429040677832015-10-14T06:05:17.720+02:002015-10-14T06:05:17.720+02:00I am basically the worst with this, because I real...I am basically the worst with this, because I really think it is a crap shoot whether I will rate a book 5 stars or 4 stars. Or 4.5 stars. I am glad I added a 6th star for my FAVORITES- those I am very, very selective with. Because if I can't really find any big flaws AND I loved the book, it is getting five stars from me. Only if it has that extra something will it get the 6th. <br /><br />I DO worry that I am too free with my 5 stars but... meh. I guess it's better to be happy with the book? Idk. I will just tell myself that I even out for the ridiculously LOW star givers out there ;) Great topic! <br />Shannon @ <a href="http://itstartsatmidnight.com" rel="nofollow"> It Starts At Midnight </a>Shannon @ It Starts at Midnighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10043593641190645773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-15440242934026714272015-10-13T13:33:35.939+02:002015-10-13T13:33:35.939+02:00It is SO hard to rate a book without comparing it ...It is SO hard to rate a book without comparing it to something else. I try really hard to judge each book on its own, without thinking about what ratings I have given other books, but I inevitably find myself thinking 'oh I gave that book a five, and did I like this one as much?' Also, five stars doesn't leave a lot of room for diversity...maybe if it was out of 100 it would be easier!? ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-64550925618063133202015-10-13T12:36:02.780+02:002015-10-13T12:36:02.780+02:00Thanks Kimba! Most of my reviews are generally 3&#...Thanks Kimba! Most of my reviews are generally 3's and 4's too. I have gotten better about picking books I know I will like, so luckily one and two star books aren't super common. Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-19675864797567599572015-10-13T12:34:59.093+02:002015-10-13T12:34:59.093+02:00You are so right Trish! If you have to think about...You are so right Trish! If you have to think about it, it isn't a 5 star read. Generally, a 5 star read makes me feel EVERYTHING and stays with me long after I stop reading it. Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-55503781056885039532015-10-13T06:46:30.988+02:002015-10-13T06:46:30.988+02:00A Five star blew me away, I couldn't stop read...A Five star blew me away, I couldn't stop reading and it was perfection for me..it gave me that book high I chase. Typically my reviews fall between 3 and 4. Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15658833731713991138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-88962553077604323812015-10-12T23:01:04.175+02:002015-10-12T23:01:04.175+02:00I think sometimes I am being too hard on books. B...I think sometimes I am being too hard on books. BUT then I read a 5 star book and I immediately know the difference. A 4 star book is one I loved but a 5 star book is one that blew me away. I can't even put it in to words but when I read a 5 star book, I instinctively know it! If I have to ask the question, is this 5 star, then the answer is no.<br />And nope, it doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to move me in some special way that only a few books do. Your figs work out at just about 10%, that sounds about right to me and that's why they are so special.Trish @ Between My Lineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08517849083417759188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-29175588595031147062015-10-12T21:46:44.260+02:002015-10-12T21:46:44.260+02:00Thanks Ramona! I am so glad others have this issue...Thanks Ramona! I am so glad others have this issue. I have always been a big reader, but the numbers of books that I read have gone up dramatically since I started blogging. You are so right that we can't unlearn what we have learned . . . or in this case unread what I have read. :)Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-10251449694513803752015-10-12T21:45:19.801+02:002015-10-12T21:45:19.801+02:00Good points Betty! I am really not crazy about the...Good points Betty! I am really not crazy about the rating system either. That's why I don't use them on my blog. I would love for Goodreads to come up with another way to rate, besides stars. Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-65730551180409751362015-10-12T21:43:27.005+02:002015-10-12T21:43:27.005+02:00Thanks Lisa! I am so glad someone else agrees with...Thanks Lisa! I am so glad someone else agrees with me. 5 star books are ones where I wouldn't change a single thing. I have loved and adored many four star reads, but if there is even one thing wrong with it, then I can't bring myself to give it five stars.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-55445007034997967012015-10-12T21:27:13.040+02:002015-10-12T21:27:13.040+02:00Kwizgiver, that is a great way to look at it! If I...Kwizgiver, that is a great way to look at it! If I can't shut up about it, then it probably deserves that five star rating. :)Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-31816713490219119482015-10-12T21:26:00.730+02:002015-10-12T21:26:00.730+02:00Jeann, oh I am so glad someone else agrees with me...Jeann, oh I am so glad someone else agrees with me and has this problem too! There are many, many four star books that I LOVE, but something about them just stops me from giving that coveted five star rating. :)Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-28679878033670468792015-10-12T19:48:38.681+02:002015-10-12T19:48:38.681+02:00It's a perfectly normal progression, Cynthia, ...It's a perfectly normal progression, Cynthia, I noticed it in myself as well. The more you read, the more sophisticated your "palate" becomes, and therefore the more difficult it is to actually surprise and wow it. I'm not sure how I feel about it, but it's not like we can go back to simpler times and unlearn what we have learned.Piecraft Bucharesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07033299926919228774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-14463933911257109222015-10-12T18:41:07.826+02:002015-10-12T18:41:07.826+02:00I am not crazy about a rating system. If I enjoy t...I am not crazy about a rating system. If I enjoy the book and would read another book by the author, the rating doesn't matter. After so many years of reading I know what I like and seldom do not finished a book. If I have question on the book I give the book the higher ratin. I find some harder to write reviews than others.<br />An example I have finished the book it is one I really enjoyed; I rated a 5 I am sure if I wanted dissect the book I would find errors. My purpose is to let others know how I like that book. My English were always my lowest grades. <br /><br />Betty Louisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17101347044373274853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-86766139536691330952015-10-12T16:36:56.305+02:002015-10-12T16:36:56.305+02:00I'm with you, I have a really hard time with r...I'm with you, I have a really hard time with ratings (which is why I don't use them on my blog.) I reserve my 5-star ratings on Goodreads for books that are so special that they really stick with me or move me, or books where I simply can't think of a thing that I'd change or complain about. 4 star books are really good, but just don't have the same impact on me. It's all subjective, of course, but I know I'm pretty stingy with my 5 stars!Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14278177602258496039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-43630975120436893292015-10-12T16:14:11.166+02:002015-10-12T16:14:11.166+02:00Usually a 5 star means I won't shut up about t...Usually a 5 star means I won't shut up about the book, that it moved me enough to tell everyone I run into about it; the book meant something to me. I don't give out many 5s. And I don't think everyone will love the book as much as I do, but I still want everyone to read it.Kwizgiverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02030855903021576354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-784447717798196992015-10-12T14:39:11.582+02:002015-10-12T14:39:11.582+02:00Yup, I definitely know what you mean! I think the ...Yup, I definitely know what you mean! I think the more books we read, the more we have to compare them to. Five star books are flawless, but I can still love a 3-4 star book as well.Jeann @ Happy Indulgencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02080126376029467613noreply@blogger.com