Rating Books
I'm uncomfortable with rating books. Sure, it's a quick, easy way of expressing one's opinion. The problem with it, for me at least, is its finality.
How we rate a book-- our opinion of its worth--depends entirely on our mood, age, circumstances, and other factors that change like the weather and season. In fact, even these last can influence how we feel about books-- one might give "The Brothers Karamazov" five-stars in winter, but in summer only give it one or two.
For most of us, the way we rate a book is based on the way we feel in the moment and not upon a list of criteria (like the rating system of hotels, which takes into account all the services provided). What services do we expect from a good book? Thought-provoking ideas? Laughter or tears? Escape from everyday life? Or does that change as well?
This is why, on my goodreads page, I don't have any ratings. I love talking about books-- their pros and cons--and even have a list of all-time favorites. But I am very leery of rating them, which, it seems to me, puts an end to all discussion.
How we rate a book-- our opinion of its worth--depends entirely on our mood, age, circumstances, and other factors that change like the weather and season. In fact, even these last can influence how we feel about books-- one might give "The Brothers Karamazov" five-stars in winter, but in summer only give it one or two.
For most of us, the way we rate a book is based on the way we feel in the moment and not upon a list of criteria (like the rating system of hotels, which takes into account all the services provided). What services do we expect from a good book? Thought-provoking ideas? Laughter or tears? Escape from everyday life? Or does that change as well?
This is why, on my goodreads page, I don't have any ratings. I love talking about books-- their pros and cons--and even have a list of all-time favorites. But I am very leery of rating them, which, it seems to me, puts an end to all discussion.
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Anita
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Sep 03, 2012 05:44PM
I had that same feeling about rating books when I joined Goodreads, I am not qualified to say whether a book is great literature or not. Now I just realize that the ratings are all about me; how much did I love this book - was reading it an enjoyable experience or some kind of survival challenge? When I give a book 5 stars it is because I found reading it a highly pleasurable experience - not because I believe it is "better" or more worthy than any other work.
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I agree wholeheartedly, Anita. I guess what I was trying to say is that the same reader would give completely different ratings at different times. I read two lesser known Kurt Vonnegut novels this week and they blew my socks off, but I think they spoke to me more now than they would have when I bought them-- 20 years ago!And then we are biased by our personal, self-imposed snobbisms ... somehow, even if we laugh like hell at "Bridget Jones' Dairy" or what have you-- we feel like he is too "lite" for major stars.
Like Anita, I've simply started rating based on how much I enjoyed the experience of reading the book. Not trying to be literary. There's not much I love more than getting absolutely immersed in a book - being unable to put it down - looking forward to when I can pick it back up. And, then, continuing to have images from the book pop up days and weeks after finishing the book. Sometimes I'll change a five-star rating when I can no longer remember much about the book several months later. But, that rarely happens. Usually, five stars indicates I connected with the book in a way that sticks with me.
exactly - Celia Rivenbark makes me laugh out loud every time I read one of her books - I am always going to give her high marks, even if it is not high lit! I am always mindful that a person with feelings wrote that book before I blast it - again, trying to make it more about ME than about the author, because I wouldn't want to hurt their feelings. I have noticed that many people do not share that particular notion.
Well, I am way late to this particular party, but Anita expressed how I approach the ratings. Perhaps interestingly, I don't feel "qualified" to review books, which is why I term what I write about them here as reactions.PS I wound up here because I wanted to know what you rated The Road, Dana! :-)
I'd rather write out an impression/reaction than try to give them numerical value. Last year, I quickly bailed on The Road after a bad first impression (of the stark, manly style-- which seemed artificial and overly-wrought); last night, I was riveted to the page, horrified at that vision of our world (and soooo happy it hadn't happened-- I HATE cold weather! not to mention cannibals). So, how to translate either experience into numbers? It makes me uncomforable. And besides, I hate math.
Frannie wrote: "Like Anita, I've simply started rating based on how much I enjoyed the experience of reading the book. Not trying to be literary. There's not much I love more than getting absolutely immersed in a ..."Frannie, that is exactly how I feel. If I give a book five stars, it means that I inhabited the story and felt like I was coming for air when I put it down. The story will follow me around and I can't wait until I can pick up the book again.
Most of the books I rate are either four or five stars because I usually cannot finish something I don't like. And I am certainly not going to rate a book that I did not finish.
