Posts
Hey guys!
I know a lot of sites out there have rating systems for the books that have been reviewed. Plenty of them are creative, but I've been a bit hesitant on adding a rating system to my own site. While rating systems can be helpful to determine if the book really is worth reading, there are so many factors that actually go into the rating, and I've felt that a mere half star or whatnot does not always do the trick. I mean, I could absolutely love a book, but another person may not like it as much, say, because it's from a historical era they do not particularly take interest in...
Do a certain # of stars really express enough? What if a book is really creative, but the characters not very well developed?
Should I be gudgmental & give a rating for a book in the first place?
What do you guys think? Should I add a rating system or not?? Comment to this post w/ your opinion and explain it, and I'll give you an extra entry into either the Elite contest or the Swan Kingdom contest (just let me know which)! Thanks!
[EDIT] Thanks for everyone's opinions so far! I'll appreciate further opinions, but if you'd like an extra entry into either contest, please comment by tomorrow at midnight, because after that, no extra entries through this will be given--sorry! [/EDIT]
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Series I Like
Thanks to i'm loving books!
12 comments:
I don't really have a solution to your problem, but I agree that just giving a book stars doesn't necessarily work. I know I've loved books, recommended them, and my friends have hated them.
I know the Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books (is that what it's called? I always forget) rates books with Q points and P points. Q is for quality and P is for popularity among the age group. So say, the new Gossip Girl book might get 3Q for quality but 5P because kids wanted it yesterday they want to read it so bad.
Maybe you could adapt that rating method somehow so that it works for your site.
~Betsy
Oh wait, it's VOYA that uses the Q and P rating system. Sorry. :) I subscibe to so many review magazines it's hard to keep them all straight sometimes.
Sometimes I feel that way too...like I enjoyed the book overall...but there were somethings I didn't like. I guess just explain why you gave them the rating that you did....(ha, I should take my own advice)hope it helps
Oh, I don't know. I like ratings because it's an easy way to review something, you know? Like someone looks and goes "Oh..it got 4 out of 5 stars, must be good" but I think the actual REVIEW explains what you liked and didn't like...so I don't think it'll hurt, unless people don't read the actual review...which in that case, it's their fault.
So it couldn't really hurt, but it doesn't need to be there if you have a good review. It just depends on what you like and want to do.
...I only entered The Elite contest, btw. :)
-Lauren
Here's my tiff with the rating system: Everyone has different standards. WHat is a 3 to me might be a an 8 or a 4 with someone else, even if we like it exactly the same. And there are so many factors to squeeze into a number from 0 to 5. I completely disregard rating systems and just look at what the reviewer has to say. That's where all the important things are.
PS...I'd love to get an extra entry into the Swan Kingdon contest. Thjat book looks stellar, and the cover is pretty sweet.
I personally don't use a rating system because if I did I'd end up giving books quarters and eighths of stars. I wouldn't be able to stick to any rhyme or reason and I just find it easier to write out what I think so that people can really get what my opinion was. Stars or points just can't explain all of a book for me. There is the benefit though of easiness and the fact that you can organize better with stars. I personally like the "just write what you think" approach.
PS. Elite contest please!
I don't use a rating system. I believe a rating can be useful, but I think it's more informative to just discuss the parts of the book that left the biggest impression (positive or negative) in the review.
I just made my own rating system up. I do it from 1-5 stars, and in the review i sometimes explain why. It is all about your opinion.
Kyle
btw i have entered in the swan kingdom contest.
Okay. I recommend a rating system. It is a) extremely helpful to the reviewer and b) extremely helpful to the readers. The Maelstrom developed ours due to our theme and adoration of the number 7. But that won't work twice.
Hmmm... I recommend something having to do with access codes. Because it's the Book Vault and every Vault needs an access code, right? It could be like five numbers and each would represent something (characters, plot, etc.) and you could explain the system on the sidebar or in a post. I think that would be really cool.
Sorry for my rambling. Good luck with this conundrum.
*Aella*
PS If this was helpful, I would love to have an extra entry to the Swan Kingdom contest :)
I think the only time I seriously consider someone's star rating is when it's either really bad (one star) or really good (5) stars. I feel everything else in between there is just a matter of opinion. But I will take note is someone really really liked it or really hates it. I think strong feelings one way or another is when I take note. And then when multiple people start reviewing something with the same star rating I either stay far from the book or run right out and buy it! Hopefully that helps? I don't do rating either, so I understand where you are. Good luck!
I entered the Elite Contest!
I do give books ratings on my LibraryThing account and on Amazon. But I don't on my blog, usually. I thought about it, but I think the reader can tell from the review itself whether it's something he/she wants to read, since everyone's taste is different. If I say in my review "there was this loooonnng cricket scene" and you hate cricket, then you might think twice about reading it. But if you love cricket, you might be like - YAY I am reading that RIGHT NOW!
Extra entry for Elite please :)
Post a Comment