tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post6311952681366437782..comments2023-12-26T18:33:04.681-08:00Comments on Writability: Discussion: How Do You Rate Books?Gabe (Ava Jae)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04778524723148508140noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-48159861295628458682015-06-11T03:16:24.519-07:002015-06-11T03:16:24.519-07:00You know, I think I just follow the Goodreads defi...You know, I think I just follow the Goodreads definition: if you hover your mouse over 3 stars it says "I liked it" and that's how I've just interpreted it lol.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-23974783772550631012015-06-09T06:36:35.028-07:002015-06-09T06:36:35.028-07:00A 3 for me probably equals 'OK' to 'go...A 3 for me probably equals 'OK' to 'good' book for most others. I'm just picky. ;)Melissa Maygrovehttp://melissamaygrove.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-10823137844799911972015-05-26T08:10:26.327-07:002015-05-26T08:10:26.327-07:00I definitely acknowledge that the "drive-by-1...I definitely acknowledge that the "drive-by-1-star" thing is an issue and I don't understand why people rate books they haven't read (which is something that's already happened to me—I've received a one-star rating even though my book doesn't have any ARCs...which is weird). <br /><br /><br />So I suppose in that sense I get it. But I also understand why readers don't want to leave reviews sometimes...so there are two sides to it. Ultimately, reviews aren't for the author though, they're for the reader, which is another thing to remember (though obviously a review with some explanation is helpful to readers too). <br /><br /><br />I don't know that there's a right/wrong answer to this. It's a lot to think about!Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-33455255017520663752015-05-26T08:04:43.164-07:002015-05-26T08:04:43.164-07:00The problem with that is that people who didn'...The problem with that is that people who didn't read the book can leave what I call 'drive-by 1-stars,' and there's no way to know if they read it because they didn't say anything about the reasons. Some authors whose book ARCs had only gone out to a few people they know have gotten 1-star ratings (no review) from people who couldn't have possibly read the book. Requiring reviews (or requiring it to be a verified purchase) would cut down on those.Melissa Maygrovehttp://melissamaygrove.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-77288453355742418922015-05-20T03:17:39.278-07:002015-05-20T03:17:39.278-07:00I think it's definitely helpful when there'...I think it's definitely helpful when there's <i>some</i> sort of explanation. But I'm not sure I'd say it needs to be a requirement. Some people just aren't comfortable saying why they rated a book low, which I kind of understand.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-27653697106655637382015-05-11T04:02:19.068-07:002015-05-11T04:02:19.068-07:00Speaking as an author, I don't think people sh...Speaking as an author, I don't think people should leave low review without an explanation. Actually, I don't think sites should allow them to do that. Speaking as a reader, I want to know why someone rated a book one or two stars. Just as with 5-star ratings, I'm hesitant to give much weight to a very low rating if the reviewer doesn't give their reasons. And, sometimes the reasons they give actually make me want to buy the book.Melissa Maygrovehttp://melissamaygrove.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-74195668125484736812015-05-07T04:59:41.905-07:002015-05-07T04:59:41.905-07:00Yes, but I'm not talking about your opinion on...Yes, but I'm not talking about your opinion on the rating. I mean it "business-wise". <br />You are not a potential purchaser/reader of your book. And, besides, you already know how good it is and like it, I suppose. :) <br />I'm talking about what it means for your potential reader and the chance that someone will buy your book based on your average ratings. Don't forget that ratings are used by potential readers to decide whether they should buy your book. If your average is 4 stars or above, of course everybody would think your book is probably good and maybe would buy it, if they are interested. But if your rating is 3.2 or less (which appears as 3 stars on Amazon, for instance) many readers wouldn't be so sure it can possibly be a good book and will look for something else.<br />For instance, I'd never buy a book with an average rating under 3.5 (visually) on Amazon, actually I wouldn't even go on reading the blurb, and in most cases I'd rather see 4 stars before clicking on "buy it". I'm a very selective reader, and many readers are like me.<br />I think that there's nothing worse than wasting your time reading a bad book.<br /><br />What I mean is that, if someone likes your book and would like that more people read it, they should give at least 4 stars, otherwise they are not really helping you.Carlahttp://www.anakina.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-57401343538693990952015-05-07T04:27:40.995-07:002015-05-07T04:27:40.995-07:00Maybe, maybe not lol. Three stars, to me, still me...Maybe, maybe not lol. Three stars, to me, still means it was liked. And I mean, hypothetically, four stars could bring down an average rating if you have anything about 4.0 (and four stars isn't bad!). So...I guess we'll see. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-58660893544752196822015-05-07T04:24:47.261-07:002015-05-07T04:24:47.261-07:00LOL! Even if you consider it positive, it actually...LOL! Even if you consider it positive, it actually decreases your average rating (unless it is already 3 star or less), so it can't be positive.<br />You'll understand it very well, once you have your first book published. You'll hate those reviews saying your book is so good but only giving 3 starts. :-/Carlahttp://www.anakina.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-52835907515182120652015-05-07T03:54:38.539-07:002015-05-07T03:54:38.539-07:00Really? Huh. I wouldn't have guessed. I saw it...Really? Huh. I wouldn't have guessed. I saw it as the opposite—it's positive because it isn't negative. lol!Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-72180610814593077732015-05-05T13:24:50.726-07:002015-05-05T13:24:50.726-07:00It's negative because it isn't positive, i...It's negative because it isn't positive, i.e. it doesn't increase your average rating. Actually it makes even harder to you to get your rating increased. It's a matter of numbers. :)Carlahttp://www.anakina.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-89640179031068814562015-05-05T10:13:19.968-07:002015-05-05T10:13:19.968-07:00I generally start my scale at 4 stars. 4 stars go ...I generally start my scale at 4 stars. 4 stars go to books that are good and that I enjoy. I rate most books 4 stars. I tend to reserve 5 star ratings for books that I love enough to want to re-read many times, are of a really superb quality, or "blew my mind" - even changed my way of thinking - in some way. I used to be pretty free with 5 star ratings, but literature classes in college got me thinking more critically about the quality of even "fun" books that I read purely for entertainment...Shelby Mnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-55535274328837379662015-05-05T03:26:08.179-07:002015-05-05T03:26:08.179-07:00It seems like a lot of people are, which I think i...It seems like a lot of people are, which I think is fair! I like to think that I'm just super good at picking books I'm going to totally love. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-50668114982086904932015-05-05T03:25:39.912-07:002015-05-05T03:25:39.912-07:00That's a good point. I haven't one or two-...That's a good point. I haven't one or two-starred something (or wanted to one or two star something) that didn't already have a decent number of reviews, but I can definitely see how you might hesitate.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-85838248695437976262015-05-05T03:24:42.472-07:002015-05-05T03:24:42.472-07:00I understand why some people are stingy with five ...I understand why some people are stingy with five stars (and to be fair, I have to love a book to give it five stars)...but I like to think that maybe I'm just <i>really</i> good at picking books I'm going to love. :DAva Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-16098159300553290092015-05-05T03:24:04.226-07:002015-05-05T03:24:04.226-07:00Wow! I never thought of considering those kinds of...Wow! I never thought of considering those kinds of feelings while picking star ratings. <i>Very</i> interesting...<br /><br /><br />The three-star rating seems to be the most controversial. Some people like myself consider it still a good rating, but many don't! I suppose it makes sense as it falls right in the middle of the spectrum.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-30251977845488263262015-05-05T03:22:30.100-07:002015-05-05T03:22:30.100-07:00That's so true! I try not to start reading tho...That's so true! I try not to start reading those to begin with when pleasure reading. I still haven't DNFed anything I bought if only because I feel like I want to get my money's worth...but usually I'm pretty good about picking books I actually end up enjoying.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-40029638055664904652015-05-05T03:21:16.534-07:002015-05-05T03:21:16.534-07:00lol! I like your explanation for your star rating ...lol! I like your explanation for your star rating system. I think that's fair about thinking whether or not you'd like to re-read. I don't re-read very often anymore though, if only because I have too many books on my list (that said, the exception lies with books with sequels...because I often re-read the previous book before reading the sequel so I remember what happened). <br /><br /><br />And I also rarely read 1 and 2 star books (at least, when I'm pleasure reading) if only because I usually test books out before buying by reading a sample, which has been a pretty good indicator of whether or not I was going to <i>really</i> dislike it (or on the flipside, really like it).Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-3698324739074861882015-05-05T03:18:36.153-07:002015-05-05T03:18:36.153-07:00I think that's fair. And I'm also generall...I think that's fair. And I'm also generally selective about what I read, so I totally understand that—I often test-run books before buying, so it's rare that I end up slogging through a book I really dislike...unless it's assigned for class or something. But otherwise, it generally doesn't happen. <br /><br /><br />I also agree about not rating books i haven't completely read. It feels unfair to me to rate something that I haven't completely finished, but I know some people feel differently.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-48002728762095351212015-05-05T03:15:47.402-07:002015-05-05T03:15:47.402-07:00That's so interesting! I can understand why yo...That's so interesting! I can understand why you might want to review without the star ratings, particularly if people are frequently misunderstanding your ratings. I actually agree with your three-star rating, and I've found it interesting that some people interpret three stars as not so good. <br /><br /><br />And yes, Goodreads really needs to get with the program with half star ratings. <br /><br /><br />P.S.: No need to apologize for a thoughtful response! I never mind. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-78501935217497058662015-05-04T22:58:03.869-07:002015-05-04T22:58:03.869-07:00Good post! My rating system is pretty similar, exc...Good post! My rating system is pretty similar, except that I'm a little stingy with a five star rating. However, maybe it's time for me to rethink that!Candice Williamshttps://oyescribes.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-54780149256429416382015-05-04T19:27:42.513-07:002015-05-04T19:27:42.513-07:00I'm the same way Heather - I used to NEVER dnf...I'm the same way Heather - I used to NEVER dnf books, but now I realized there are too many good books out there waiting. I just don't have the time to finish things that are looking to be a one or two star in my world.Carissa Taylorhttp://carissa-taylor.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-11624345038292546922015-05-04T19:26:14.416-07:002015-05-04T19:26:14.416-07:00That's pretty much exactly how I review too. S...That's pretty much exactly how I review too. Sometimes if I am going to give a one or a two star review though, I wait until there are a decent number of reviews so as not to skew things too negative, but that's just me.Carissa Taylorhttp://carissa-taylor.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-2410665417628748532015-05-04T16:29:54.440-07:002015-05-04T16:29:54.440-07:00I agree! I just find I tend to think a lot of what...I agree! I just find I tend to think a lot of what I read is very good...maybe I'm really good at picking books. Or maybe I'm just really excited about books. Who knows? lol<br /><br /><br />That's interesting about the 3 stars. I think that seems to be the one that could be good or bad depending on who rates it. Hmmm...Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-72587166230738095012015-05-04T16:28:51.874-07:002015-05-04T16:28:51.874-07:00Yeah, those are the cases when no review is probab...Yeah, those are the cases when no review is probably better. lolAva Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com