Tell Me Something Tuesday, a meme started by CambriaHebert, but now hosted on Rainy Day Ramblings. It is a chance to get to know your fellow bloggers by sharing fun stuff, discussions and more. Grab the question and post your answer on your blog and link up at Rainy Day Ramblings! Have fun!
This weeks question:
“Let’s talk ratings, what rating scale do you use? How do you feel about reviewers that give out the high ratings on a regular basis?"
I use the 5 star scale (listed on the left column). I use the 5 star scale because it seemed like the most universal system and fits with other places I post reviews (like goodreads).
As far as reviewers that give out high ratings, it doesn't bother me. Perhaps it is just because they love reading so much. Perhaps it is because they hate to give low ratings. It doesn't bother me because it is their choice. I don't really know bloggers like that off the top of my head. The ones I follow seem to have a good eye and a critical mind for the books they read.
Besides... aren't these scales really arbitrary anyway?
Still, I admit I do tend to stay in the 3-4 star range. Often if the book is flawed but still entertains and I enjoyed it, I don't usually give it a lower rating than a 3. That still is inline with what I list on the side there. I also admit to taking away 1/2 a star for cliffie endings. I really hate those and feel in most cases are totally unnecessary. If the book is good I'll read the next one without the cliffie! I also don't give 1 star ratings lately because I don't usually get through those with the volume of books that I have and so it often ends up as a DNF.
So, what about you? What do you think about ratings?
I hate ratings cos I suck at giving them. I do not give 5s and I give 3s to most books
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. Ratings can be a bit hard.
DeleteHmm, interesting reading, you make some great points.
ReplyDeleteWith regard to cliffies: A bit annoying when you sometimes have to wait up to a year for the next instalment in a book but they generally don't bother me that much. However I can understand your deep dislike of them and certainly agree that if the series is promising it doesn't take a cliffie to get me longing to read the next episode.
As for ratings.... I personally find they mean nothing to me as I sometimes think a book is worth a five star rating because of one aspect of the story and yet a different rating for another aspect. Not something I use on my blog but as you say other sites do ask for them. Worst of all being NewBooks magazine which asks for a rating not only for a personal read but also a group read.
I just think cliffies are totally unnecessary and I hate it when it is employed so often. That goes for all media.
DeleteRatings are only really good for a quick look-see but doesn't decide if I'll like it or even get the book.
I think rating are more of a general gauge. I am with you on the taking off though--I have certain things that automatically knock off points: cliffies, abuse, love triangles.
ReplyDeleteYes! General!
DeleteIt depends on how the other stuff is handled as to if I'll knock off stars for it.
I hate rating books because I'm a big wimp and if I don't want to give a book a 4 or a 5 I tend not to post a review. But like I said, that's because I'm a wimp who doesn't like to hurt people's feelings.
ReplyDeleteLOL
DeleteI do know what you mean. However, I personally have found that even a 2 star rating may not keep me from getting a book. It depends on what is said on the review.
People are too attached to the rating system. I only include it because it keeps it consistent within the places I review.
I'm terrified of giving anything below a 3. Don't get me wrong I have, but I've felt terrible about it. I tend to go into more detail if I don't like a book because I feel I need to explain EXACTLY why I don't like it. Also I had an author go crazy on me for giving her book a 1 and it kinda traumatized me. I don't want to hurt the authors feelings either. So I try to be specific so they know it's not personal.
DeleteWe rate with the same system but like you I don't really pay attention to the ratings on reviews, The review itself influences me.
ReplyDeleteI'll look at it, but I'm with you, it is the review itself that determines my choices.
DeleteI give 3.5 and 4 most often as well. If I finish it is usually above 2
ReplyDeleteIf I don't finish, there is just a DNF and no rating for me.
DeleteI stopped rating a while back. (No particular reason. Might pick it back up again. Might not. *shrugs*) But I do like reviews with ratings because it gives me a quick idea of how the reviewer felt even before I read the review.
ReplyDeleteI do it because it keeps it consistent. True as well that it gives you a quick idea. :)
Delete"Often if the book is flawed but still entertains and I enjoyed it, I don't usually give it a lower rating than a 3."
ReplyDeleteSame here Melissa! It has to be riddled with errors and poorly written for me to give it 1 or 2 stars, or something has to happen that's so absurd or offensive that I can't possibly in good conscience give it anything higher than that. I like seeing a rating on blogger's reviews, it helps me kind of succinctly summarize their review, but like Kimba, it's always the review itself that makes the decision for me to buy or not buy a book:)
I'm almost to the point that if it is so offensive I may not finish it and go onto another book. So, I think it is rare that you'll get a 2 from me, but it has happened.
DeleteI'm with you both, it's the review itself that determines it. I've picked up 2 rated books and enjoyed them. It's all opinion, nothing more. :)
I stay within the 3-4 star range too. I never give one star (it's happened just once or twice) - if I bother to finish a book, it deserves more than one, and if I DNF, then I don't rate at all. I also rarely give 5 stars, I reserve that for books that are really special, as a way to make my enthusiasm known to my readers. With me, 4 stars mean I loved a book, and 4.5 I adored it. 5 starts is for life-changing reads only.
ReplyDeleteI think I only gave 1 star to a book I found very offensive but finished. Now, I don't think I'd even finish them so they are DNFs (no stars). My 5 stars are for those that I just had so much fun I would love to read again!
DeleteI do admit I pay attention to your 5 stars since you don't give them out often. :)
"If the book is good I'll read the next one without the cliffie!" YES. Why do authors feel like they have to suck you into book two with a cliffie? Either I'm going to read more or not, they're not changing my mind with a last minute cliffie, ever. I hate ratings because I really suck at them, and I mostly base my decisions on other people's reviews rather than paying close attention to their ratings. But I think most books are in the 3-4 range for me too. Cliffies, love triangles and poor writing can send me over the edge though. :-)
ReplyDeleteI've actually found a couple of love triangles that have worked, but it is very rare. :) However, cliffies never work for me and have only minimal impact on me if it is a long running series and has only had maybe one cliffie in the whole series. I've become harsher for books that do that to me. I just hate those things!! :P
Deletewell I'm trying to not read the books I don't like, so it's possible that I don"t have a lot of low rates, but it happens. And if I give 5/5 it's really because I love it. I have a lot of 4 books and some 3 because it was ok.
ReplyDeleteI think I average about 4 stars on my blog. I DNF books that I don't love within the first 50-100 pages and that eliminates those 1 and 2 star reviews. I have some 3 stars, but honestly, I know a lot of those books I DNF ARE good books, I'd even give them 3 stars, but I don't want to read a 'just okay' book, I have MILLIONS of books I want to read, so if it's not wow'ing me I often set it aside too. So I don't even have a lot of 3 stars. I have been tougher with the 5 star ratings this year though.
ReplyDeleteI use 1 to 5 bites (or stars) but I'm thinking about changing it. Not sure.
ReplyDeleteI think my average is 4 stars as I don't give out 5's very often. I like ratings so I can see at a glance what the reviewer thought of the book, but like you said, the ratings are subjective anyway.
ReplyDeleteI hate the star system. I give them on goodreads and amazon because they require you to put them in, and I use them for one blog I guest review on because she asks me to. But otherwise I don't use them on my own blog. They just are too vague. I mean I might give a book 3 stars because it needed editing or something but I would have given the characters 5 stars because I loved them. Or the story 5 because I loved the story. I don't have DNF's I just don't. Even if I hate a book I still finish it. There are only 2 reasons I do this. 1- I'm stubborn. 2- I'm an eternal optimist. I am convinced that at some point the story will take a turn for the better and I will love it. & I'm terrified that if I don't finish it then I will miss that part.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately if I don't like a book it takes me forever to read it and then writing the review is just terrifying because I'm afraid of crushing a writers feelings or having them go crazy on me(had it happen). I'm also afraid that someone who loved the book will flip on me too. (had that happen too)
I HATE cliffies. I HATE love triangles. I think they are being overused in by writers today as a way to keep people buying their books. It's basically become a cliche and when I see it start to form in the book I kinda just sigh and know that I'm it's gonna effect how I rate it. Even if I enjoyed the book above and beyond I will still mention the fact that there is a cliffie or triangle in it. The only difference is I have enjoyed it despite these things. (The Unfinished Song saga is a great example of this, at least in the cliffie department)
I guess that's the best reason that you have to have reviews to go with your stars at least then you can explain why. Usually the time I look at reviews is if I'm going to spend money on a book. Then I always check out the 1 star reviews first. Don't ask but I've bought more books based on 1 star reviews then on 5 star reviews.
I use a 1-5 scale although I mostly give out 3, 3.5, and 4. I used to be a bit more generous but lately I've gotten a lot more tough and I feel like I give more 3's than anything else. I wish Goodreads, Amazon, etc. allowed half ratings because that's something I use a lot.
ReplyDelete