tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7214724225155037304.post3300384994516905136..comments2024-03-19T02:33:43.280-04:00Comments on Girl Who Reads: Tips on Thursday: RatingsGirl Who Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12567066995224650190noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7214724225155037304.post-26131021571527910232012-04-14T19:47:36.760-04:002012-04-14T19:47:36.760-04:00Thank you very much for the thought-provoking post...Thank you very much for the thought-provoking post.<br /><br />I review quite a few books myself on Smashwords and Goodreads, but only rate books which I deem, in my honest opinion, to be worthy of either four or five stars, being, books which I feel that have been amazing, interesting, worthy of comment etcetera. <br /><br />I don't rate books below four stars as I only like to make other readers aware of books which I have liked for the above reasons, but this is a personal decision on my part.<br /><br />I have read quite a few books which I haven't been unable to finish or would not have awarded four or five stars to; I feel it is not fair to post a review about something which is only half-read,or struggled to read, in essence.<br /><br />In the end, though, opinions vary greatly; what may be my favorite, may not be someone else's, this is what makes things so interesting; the difference of opinion that abounds!MarCarringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14784197987432660565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7214724225155037304.post-38373207115355886792012-04-12T14:00:04.495-04:002012-04-12T14:00:04.495-04:00I don't mind 3 star reviews, as either a reade...I don't mind 3 star reviews, as either a reader or writer, as long as the reviewer explains what didn't work for them. <br /><br />What I can't stand, is when a three star review is given and no review is provided.JB Lynnhttp://jblynn.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7214724225155037304.post-33125072552726834972012-04-12T13:56:30.788-04:002012-04-12T13:56:30.788-04:00You could always just give a brief reason why you ...You could always just give a brief reason why you gave it 1 or 2 stars on Goodreads. Saying you found the book dull, uninspired, trite, or boring would be helpful. Otherwise I just have to imagine why you gave it 1 star. <br /><br />It definitely is a hot topic write now.Girl Who Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12567066995224650190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7214724225155037304.post-82453157779762922162012-04-12T13:45:18.803-04:002012-04-12T13:45:18.803-04:00I've been reviewing quite a bit more lately, a...I've been reviewing quite a bit more lately, and am still feeling my way, but it does seem like most reviews I write are 3 stars, meaning I liked it, but it didn't rock my world.<br /><br />I have had authors feel angry with me for that. Now that I am reading more Indie, I do what Coral (above) mentioned - I drop a book if it doesn't grab me in the first 25%. <br /><br />I tend to NOT write 1 or 2 star reviews because I can be somewhat sharp-tongued and arrogant, and I would rather not trash someone's book. I will rate books 1 or 2 stars on Goodreads, however, without a narrative review, mostly because I am working to get all books I read listed there for my own reference. <br /><br />Maybe I hope the 1 or 2 stars will be less hurtful than my words might be? Usually that rating is earned because I found a book dull, uninspired, trite, or just plain boring. I'm not sure how a wordy review can be helpful in those cases.<br /><br />Great topic - LOL - the same one I've been talking about on my Thursday blog!SM Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02991536645592985414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7214724225155037304.post-79654379472567850352012-04-12T11:46:59.599-04:002012-04-12T11:46:59.599-04:00I don't think it is wrong or anything to have ...I don't think it is wrong or anything to have a rating system as long as there is info somewhere on what it means. I will occasionally refer to stars in my reviews. People are use to seeing ratings (Stars, thumbs, letter grades, etc) with reviews.Girl Who Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12567066995224650190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7214724225155037304.post-24435802972720655702012-04-12T11:45:45.081-04:002012-04-12T11:45:45.081-04:00In the beginning, most of my reviews were 3 stars....In the beginning, most of my reviews were 3 stars. Then I saw an upswing in 4s and 5s. I am hopeful that it means I was finding truly great books.Girl Who Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12567066995224650190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7214724225155037304.post-76370638815993986872012-04-12T10:58:59.713-04:002012-04-12T10:58:59.713-04:00I do use the star rating system on my blog, but I ...I do use the star rating system on my blog, but I have a separate page where I explain how books fall on that scale. It's very similar to the GR scale. And should books fall anywhere below a 3, I do my best to include something positive in my review to offset the negative.<br /><br />Great topic!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05224144362122882987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7214724225155037304.post-42032155399041509232012-04-12T10:54:36.784-04:002012-04-12T10:54:36.784-04:00I don't rate on my blog either but have to on ...I don't rate on my blog either but have to on Amazon/Goodreads. <br /><br />I have gotten knocked for giving 3-star reviews but it does mean it is a good book, just not one that grabbed me. <br /><br />The thumbs up/down is like the rating system on YouTube and yes, 3 stars would be thumbs up. <br /><br />I've been told that since I don't do 1/2 star ratings that I'm more of a book recommendation than a reviewer. <br /><br />I'm not sure I agree because if I can't finish a book I can't very well rate it fairly or if I do struggle through it not enjoying it I'll be even more ticked off when writing a review. hehe It's a catch 22 I know. <br /><br />Bottom line, no one is paying me to review books so I can review them as I please. <br /><br />I don't feel beholden to the author to give it a 4-5 stars for their sales and sometimes if I find typos or sloppy editing then that's an automatic one star deduction. <br /><br />I have gotten more picky entering my second year of reviewing Indies so I am tossing books that don't 'grab' me in the first 25%.Coralhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02211853852350425927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7214724225155037304.post-500363704011376662012-04-12T10:37:56.471-04:002012-04-12T10:37:56.471-04:00Great post Donna. I agree with you 100%. I don'...Great post Donna. I agree with you 100%. I don't use the star system for the very same reasons.Teresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01337919035210017251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7214724225155037304.post-76294687827913096002012-04-12T10:26:36.448-04:002012-04-12T10:26:36.448-04:00It is rare that I finish a 1 star review. I have o...It is rare that I finish a 1 star review. I have on occasion fishined one because I felt the negative view pointed needed to be represented. Since I do not post reviews of books I do not finish, I forced myself to finish it.Girl Who Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12567066995224650190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7214724225155037304.post-70347662969102210292012-04-12T10:24:15.150-04:002012-04-12T10:24:15.150-04:00I agree, the review (and not the rating) is most h...I agree, the review (and not the rating) is most helpful.Girl Who Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12567066995224650190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7214724225155037304.post-77990716606122751732012-04-12T08:53:07.835-04:002012-04-12T08:53:07.835-04:00This is a fantastic post! I've been lucky tha...This is a fantastic post! I've been lucky that over the years I've been reading I've developed an eye for books I'll like - mostly fours, the occasional fives. Since I've started taking a chance on more things, I have noticed 3s. They're NOT bad books, just as you say - they may just need some development or not be quite the right fit for me. I hate writing 1 and 2 star reviews as it ruins my blogging day and I've found on the odd occasion that a book is 1-2 stars I don't want to finish it. Too many good books in the world!<br /><br />When my husband's book came out he said 'I'd love a three star average. I'll know I'm on the right track then.' To me, that seems a much more sensible approach. As an author, do you want to learn from your reviews or are they purely as a sales tool?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14001956228473172980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7214724225155037304.post-17632113809324973342012-04-12T08:08:15.567-04:002012-04-12T08:08:15.567-04:00Great post! You definitely bring up a good point. ...Great post! You definitely bring up a good point. I think a star rating system works if you explain the rating scale (like Goodreads). Personally I like to read reviews rather than see a star rating. I want to know why you liked it or why you disliked it. I'm more inclined to read a book because of the reviews rather than its star rating. The thumbs up or thumbs down thing could work, but again I'd like to see a review accompany that.Kimberly Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12845467011052237684noreply@blogger.com