My rating policy 2015

My rating policy (as of Jan 2015):

I'm only rating books with 4 stars this year. At the end of every month, I'll go through my 4 stars and see which books I feel still touch me and bump it to 5. All books less than 3.5 stars (in my personal opinion) will not be rated, but will appear as read on my bookshelf.

It doesn't mean these unrated books are bad--in fact, many will be very pleasant romps--but I want an easy, by sight record of those books that worked more emotion out of me than expected. Books I wouldn't hesitate to recommend/gift to my best-friend.

Thank you for understanding!

(Also, out of principle, I won't be rating any books that I am any way involved with producing; i.e. writing/beta-reading/editing, etc.)
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Published on January 02, 2015 04:01 Tags: rating-policy-2015
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message 1: by Ami (new)

Ami Interesting policy. May I ask the reason?


message 2: by Anyta (new)

Anyta Sunday Ami wrote: "Interesting policy. May I ask the reason?"

Not every book is going to be a favorite for everyone--I get that, and I wish I could just rate accordingly, but sometimes I find myself in an uncomfortable position as an author to judge other author's work.

I guess I kinda feel hypocritical when I bring up issues in other people's work that are likely issues in my own books (I guess it feels like I'm being super cocky, like I've got it down (when I know I have spades still to learn), and it's really not like that at all.)

As for the 5 star part . . . I want to be a little more selective with handing them out. I want it to be like a prize-giving. Something special. And I like the idea of letting a story sink in and seeing how it "sticks" before I rate it up.


message 3: by Suki (new)

Suki Fleet I like the idea of not rating altogether...just reviewing maybe, but gosh, for one I'm too lazy and two my skills are inadequate to write the reviews some stories deserve. Anything I've really enjoyed gets a 5 from me but some stories just blow me away and they deserve more.

I agree with you about judging. Personally I don't rate anything below a three as I don't finish stories that don't work on some level for me.


message 4: by Lori (new)

Lori What a great idea! I dislike giving low ratings, but if I'm reviewing for the blog I feel I have to be honest in my feelings of a book. I try to be constructive and always say reading is a very personal thing and just because I don't like something, doesn't mean another reader won't. I five star books that just sweep me away when I'm reading them. When I fall into the world the author gas created...wow, that feeling, it's the best feeling in the world! I four star books that I really enjoyed and three star ones that I've liked a lot but didn't consume me. If I'm reading for me and not the blog I generally dnf a book that will be a low rating for me.


message 5: by Anyta (new)

Anyta Sunday Suki and Lori:

Of course everyone can rate/review as they feel comfortable. I LOVE reading other people's reviews and appreciate the candidness of their ratings, and as a reader, I'm totally on board with saying/expressing/rating as you see fit, but I've been feeling weird about doing it as an author as well.

I toyed with getting a different account for reviewing and rating, but that's spreading myself too thin at the moment, so I settled on this idea to see if it works for me this year.

I guess, if I don't feel like I can be honest, it works better for me to not rate at all. :) (That's why I liked the idea of only rating the stories if I think I'd buy it for my best RL friend)--that also means that there will be heaps of enjoyable/fun stories/romps that I just won't rate. Nothing personal.

I think as a reviewer for a review site, it's even more important to be honest about ratings and reviewing as you see fit--but since GR is a place for me to rate how I will, I just want to try this and see how it works for me.


message 6: by Ami (new)

Ami Well, I have been selective in my 5-stars read for years and years, even before the whole Goodreads policy with the BBA fiasco. So I could understand if you want to be more selective of your 5-stars rating.

But well, sometimes the content of the review is more important for me than the rating. I need explanation NOT the rating itself. I mean, if I see someone rating a book without ANY comment, I tend to get curious. So it's better to have review without rating than the other way around ^^


message 7: by Lori (new)

Lori Anyta wrote: "Suki and Lori:

Of course everyone can rate/review as they feel comfortable. I LOVE reading other people's reviews and appreciate the candidness of their ratings, and as a reader, I'm totally on bo..."


I really think it's a great idea. Xx


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