tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post5260090623858247545..comments2023-11-26T08:55:00.075-05:00Comments on Steph Su Reads: How Do You Use Ratings? Pt. 1Steph Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09834692034486125015noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-86178155615476862182010-03-03T20:50:24.450-05:002010-03-03T20:50:24.450-05:00Some great ideas and thoughts in this post -- I so...Some great ideas and thoughts in this post -- I so appreciated seeing how in-depth your ratings are. It makes me think that I need to revise how I do ratings/if I do ratings on my own blog. <br /><br />Thanks!Katiehttp://readwhatyouknow.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-75383873543661632892010-02-27T20:08:13.501-05:002010-02-27T20:08:13.501-05:00I rate things with halfs and out of 5 and I always...I rate things with halfs and out of 5 and I always laugh when I look a your ratings because they are so much more in depth than mine. I too base my ratings off the writing, originaltiy of plot, character developmemt and whether or not they are flat. When <br />I'm on the fence about a book (like you say, when there are books that don't appeal to you but you think other people may like them), I usually just go with a 3.<br /><br />I'm curious are there ever any books you regret giving them the rating you did (for better or for worse?) I was going through some odler reviews and I realized that A) this summer I need to re-write my earliest reviews because they are terrible, haha! and B)I've given some books ratings they didn't deserve (non deserved hgiher ratings instead lower, but I don't want to change them because that's not too fair).<br /><br />I agree though, I don't think publishing companies care about ratings from blogs it's all about the publicity. Some readers may care (if a book gets a 2 or lower rating and it's not a book I wanted to read, I won't bother with it unless I have nothing to read) about ratings but that's it.<br /><br />Another great discussion post, looking forward ot next week (how do you find the time for these posts?!)<br /><br />And I'm soooo excited to read the Red Umbrella. souless sounds excellent as well. And I must get Bleeding Violet before March is over! And I haven't finished the Agency yet (will be done this weekend) but I definitely trust your judgement and so far I agree.MissAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11042352415616854651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-15732205342334232392010-02-27T17:09:22.749-05:002010-02-27T17:09:22.749-05:00Funny. I was just thinking about these ratings......Funny. I was just thinking about these ratings..... and so I had fun reading this and also, since Melissa Walker is a very dearheart—love that you loved Lovestruck.Beth Kepharthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14236487532413398431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-6746477834781728482010-02-27T09:58:02.394-05:002010-02-27T09:58:02.394-05:00Wow, you have thought about this so much more than...Wow, you have thought about this so much more than me. I am so subjective about my ratings. I go on gut instinct and my own experience with the book. I'm pretty clear on my blog that it is all about how I feel about a book so I don't worry about it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14379159908572573355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-16500851676916489582010-02-27T06:48:01.310-05:002010-02-27T06:48:01.310-05:00This is a great post, and it's been really int...This is a great post, and it's been really interesting hearing about all the factors that go into a rating for you. <br /><br />This is an issue I struggle with. I dropped ratings for my blog reviews at the end of 2009, mostly because I suspected that people don't take them in the manner they're intended. No matter how good your explanation, I think that people use them as an at-a-glance guide where five out of five means excellent and three out of five means average. I just couldn't get my head around writing a review about a book I thought was well-written, well-executed etc and then sticking a three star rating on it because the fact it's not a genre I'm particularly into means I'd never love it as much as other books which are less well-written. Because someone who loves that genre might glance at my rating and think I'm saying it's just average, when actually it's *the* book for them. Now without a rating, they might hopefully get from my review that it is the book for them, without letting the fact that it's not my favourite genre get in the way. <br /><br />Of course, I still put reviews up in places where I do have to rate out of five stars. There, I try to be as objective as I can but really, total objectivity is impossible. Like you say, there's always going to be a little bit of subjective moodiness.<br /><br />What I do like with ratings is a system where you're able to match your likes to someone else's and then see how someone with similar taste rated a particular book. That's why I like Goodreads. I know that if my tastes are 89 percent similar to someone else's then I should pay attention to their rating of a new book - 12% similar, not so much. That's kind of the experience I have reading your reviews because I've been reading your blog regularly for quite a while, and I know that in many areas we have similar tastes. Your explanation of your ratings actually sounds really similar to the way I was previously rating books, only much more clearly thought out. You have a lot of self-awareness about the process and that is admirable. In contrast, there's another blogger whose reviews I never agree with, even though I think she's just awesome. So I read her reviews and basically prepare to think the opposite. It's all about context for me.Laurenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06483030255023873716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-12322975289455762702010-02-26T21:54:34.224-05:002010-02-26T21:54:34.224-05:00Great post! I have been trying to figure out how t...Great post! I have been trying to figure out how to really do a good job at rating with stars and your explanation has really helped me in thinking that through. Sometimes we all just need to have that, "well, duh!!" moment of clarity! Great job!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-27914039751701157482010-02-26T21:42:58.904-05:002010-02-26T21:42:58.904-05:00Great post! I love posts like these. I personally ...Great post! I love posts like these. I personally don't have number/star ratings, as I feel that I can't place a specific number on each book I read - way too much stress - but I understand the appeal.The Book Owlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01294811526135516050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-6626634438973807972010-02-26T17:26:09.422-05:002010-02-26T17:26:09.422-05:00This was a great post. Part of the reason I don...This was a great post. Part of the reason I don't rate books is that I know I would bend and probably award things without fully thinking it through like you have. Besides, I feel like it is all so subjective that giving it a star rating wouldn't work for me.<br /><br />To be perfectly honest, I don't pay attention to ratings on blog posts, but I read the content. Words and description do a lot more for me than an image of 4 or 5 stars.Alliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18420476898132383974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-91081979359545873322010-02-26T16:47:30.691-05:002010-02-26T16:47:30.691-05:00Great explanation! The comics were cute too. I'...Great explanation! The comics were cute too. I'm one of those bloggers who breaks things down and comes of with and x/50 final rating. I personally like it when bloggers do that and I think that pretty much summarizes the whole review with just a glance. I like the star rating system too, but sometimes I have a hard time figuring out exactly how many stars to give.The Library Lurkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04576061157066013536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-84436388205053586032010-02-26T16:26:29.812-05:002010-02-26T16:26:29.812-05:00I have never used a rating system myself. and yet...I have never used a rating system myself. and yet I really like it when other bloggers use them. Go figure.<br /><br />Also, I got some LOLz from those comics. :)J.T. Oldfieldhttp://bibliofreakblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-10823000132376857382010-02-26T15:28:02.478-05:002010-02-26T15:28:02.478-05:00Wow. What an amazing post. I really got a kick out...Wow. What an amazing post. I really got a kick out of how you broke down each of your ratings. <br /><br />As for me, I don't have any hard and fast rule for ranking a book - I actually don't even use a ranking system on my blog but for other sites like GoodReads, I tend to follow along similar lines as you. A 3 if it's something I'd liked but had issues with along the way or just was pretty good. But 5s? those are harder to quantify. They have something special. Sometimes I rank and book and then after re-reading it or thinking about it for a few weeks, I'll even go back and change the rating. I figure if I'm still thinking about it, I probably should either up it or lower it. <br /><br />Thanks for the thoughts though. I'm thinking I should hammer out something akin to this too.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00007037401143598285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-34975622651002562382010-02-26T15:09:56.592-05:002010-02-26T15:09:56.592-05:00Really fantastic, informative post! Ratings are de...Really fantastic, informative post! Ratings are definitely a hot-button issue, and I would say that I use a very similar system (and rationale) to yours -- right down to the 5-star (with half stars) rating system. (I've been known to give .75 stars, too, if I'm being honest.)<br /><br />Though I think I'm consistent with the <i>way</i> in which I judge books, much of my gut-reaction to a book is very intangible. <br /><br />And, the more I read, the harder it is to read a book in isolation... not comparing it to other awesome young adult books I've read, for example. <i>Fat Cat</i> (oh, how we love <i>Fat Cat</i>!) basically wrecked me for YA right now; nothing I'm reading matches up. And that includes <i>The Lonely Hearts Club</i>, which I just finished today! Totally agree with your assessment!Meg @ write meg!https://www.blogger.com/profile/15837479897570974834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-81397598652035375502010-02-26T14:25:50.166-05:002010-02-26T14:25:50.166-05:00I *love* how critical you are. Seriously.
I'...I *love* how critical you are. Seriously. <br /><br />I'm not. I mean, in real life, I am. But online, I'm not. Every time I try to give a book a "star," I think "Well, I'd only give it 2...but I can see how someone else would give it 4." I'm so wishy-washy with assigning stars that way because I think I'm hyper-sensitive to how subjective it is.<br /><br />On the other hand, I truly appreciate it when people like you take a firm stand. I know your reviews are trust-worthy and honest!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11431700962951592287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-64831849683523518902010-02-26T14:20:42.173-05:002010-02-26T14:20:42.173-05:00Well, that was certainly comprehensive!
I am not ...Well, that was certainly comprehensive!<br /><br />I am not so analytical in my ratings - they are more of a gut reaction. A 5 star read for me isn't necessarily perfect, but it has to be something I loved and would heartily recommend to others. <br /><br />But then, I don't post my ratings on my blog (with the exception of the zombie chickens during this month for dystopia february, but that has to do with how I rate them within the genre, and not overall).<br /><br />I like LibraryThing's rating system since they let you use half stars. Sometimes, you just need half a star!Lenore Appelhanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16664671644163369772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-86570340229498592452010-02-26T13:38:19.607-05:002010-02-26T13:38:19.607-05:00makes me want to re-work my rating system to make ...makes me want to re-work my rating system to make it more comprehensive. Sometimes a book will get my highest rating because I know the students will love it even if I didnt...<br /><br />Sometimes a book is so incredible I can't describe it accurately and I do that gushing thing...it scares me cause i'm not a gusher. <br /><br />I enjoyed this extra special glimpse into your soul..er, blog.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15682700901945724953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-47411034553779272362010-02-26T13:22:51.196-05:002010-02-26T13:22:51.196-05:00Lol, Anon.
Great post. You have such a great wri...Lol, Anon.<br /><br />Great post. You have such a great writing style, I forgot I was reading about a potentially dry topic like rating systems.Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07471888892825724116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-17886139421818672232010-02-26T12:25:11.080-05:002010-02-26T12:25:11.080-05:00wow, what a great post! it's nice to know tha...wow, what a great post! it's nice to know that there is so much structure and thought that goes into your rating system.<br /><br />i keep thinking about doing the same for mine, but keep putting it off. well worth the effort though, so thank you for taking the time to put this together.the little readerhttp://thelittlereader.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-4978967719501277522010-02-26T11:51:30.023-05:002010-02-26T11:51:30.023-05:00Great explanation of your rating system!
I don...Great explanation of your rating system!<br /><br />I don't use a rating system on my blog. I tend to go into detail on books and talk about what worked and what didn't for me and I just feel a rating system wouldn't work for me, since I can't really par how I feel about a book down to mere stars, like I agonize over what to rate a book on goodreads. If I give a book which is clearly brain candy but entertained me 5 stars, I wonder if I'm being judged for not being deep enough. Same goes for if I read a book and it didn't move me/I felt meh about it and gave it three or two stars. On my blog, I can avoid all that and not be cumbered by stars or tacky graphics.April (BooksandWine)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15268544465552896599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-25661102780810871022010-02-26T11:14:37.628-05:002010-02-26T11:14:37.628-05:00I love how you actually have a system as to how yo...I love how you actually have a system as to how you rate the books you read. Mine's 1 to 10, and it's pretty much what I think the book deserves. I should probably make it more uniform though haha. Thanks for inspiring me!Simply_Meganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07436996813673801003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1214401809446305406.post-86641653867813943922010-02-26T11:00:36.866-05:002010-02-26T11:00:36.866-05:00Very nice explanation of ratings. I give it four s...Very nice explanation of ratings. I give it four stars!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com