Cheryl’s Comments (group member since Jul 30, 2011)

Cheryl’s comments from the More than Just a Rating group.

That's a good idea - not to let oneself ramble on, but to stick to the most important points. Thanks!

Thanks! :)

Of course, most words like this are subjective, but I have indeed found 'likable' to mean too many diverse things to too many ppl.

I really like that sample of your review. That's what I aim for, but I don't often succeed.

Welcome! Writing reviews isn't fun for me, I'd say, even if I'm not so much 'writing a review' as 'filling in the comment box.' It's a bit like work in that it gives me a satisfying sense of accomplishment, and in that sometimes I just get tired of it!

So I can def. see how you, with your history, might not always want to go to the effort! I hope you see ideas around this group that will make you happy with whatever level of effort you choose to put in. :)

Good point. There are certainly times when I don't believe that the reviewer has read the book... and being non-specific or distracting with images is evidence that indeed, they may not have.

Neat! I sure wish that I'd started keeping track when I was a kid.

Lots of good information, L J, thank you!!

In another group, the ever-helpful L J posted:

"I tend to search by ISBN because in the past I was often looking for a specific edition of book. Before GoodReads I searched ABE, AddAll, or WorldCat. Before that I searched Books In Print and used ISBN to confirm I'd found correct edition. Before ISBN I used Library of Congress number to identify correct book.

"The following is an abbreviated version of ISBN section of my spiel on identifying books.
Using ISBN as identifier is not perfect. Not only are there many books printed before ISBN, publishers re-use ISBN on multiple printings of a book. This leads to confusion whether edition is paper or e format. E editions are even more prone to cover changes than print editions but that doesn't change the edition ISBN anymore than cover change of paper book changes edition.
Ideally for book buyers, publishers would only re-use the ISBN if later printing is exactly like earlier printing, cover art, size, etc. but that is not the case. If the main body of text remains the same publishers are likely to consider book to be a later printing of the same edition even if it looks very different.
Different groups view ISBN differently. Book collectors, used and collectable book sellers and many others connect the ISBN to the first printing. Book owners usually associate ISBN with edition they own and may not realize ISBN can connect to multiple printings. Sellers of new books connect ISBN to newest printing because that's likely what they have for sale.

"In the late 1960s when ISBN was introduced I was told how wonderfully useful it would be going forward because it would make different editions easy to identify. Multiple printings of same edition would have same number, which made sense as some books go to second and third printings before street date but are identical except for indication of which printing. At that time most did not anticipate how edition and printing would be defined so that what to the book buyer was a new edition, to the publisher was just a new printing whether it looked the same or looked very different.

"The official ISBN website says "ISBN is the unique identifier for every title, edition and format." Notice it says nothing about printing. Most book buyers or owners probably don't know the difference between edition and printing and, other than collectors, most have never even heard of state.
ISBN website: https://www.isbn-international.org/"

"Adding to the conversation." Good point, Data. Thank you for adding to this one!

Ah, don't fret about the vocal minority. I'm sure your reviews have helped ppl who didn't say so!

I love personal reviews. I don't read professional ones. When I used to, before GR, they'd very often lead me astray... I can't tell you how discouraged I'd been by so many choice made back then.

You, my GR friends & fellow readers, deserve all the thanks I can give for helping me find so many wonderful titles that I'd never have found elsewise.

I too will look at other reviews when considering whether or not to dnf.

Bumping this thread... we've gotten many new members and I want to their takes! :)

(Without reading it, you mean?)

In any case, my opinion remains the same. I will often say something like, "I don't often read in this genre; nonetheless I'm giving it a low rating because it was predictable and cliched."

Or sometimes I'll say something like, "I think this is probably a four star book because I enjoyed it even though I have never read in this genre before. But maybe it's just ordinary, and I'd know that if I had read more like it. So I won't rate at all."

Again, reviews matter so much more than ratings. :)

Btw, I almost never rate books that I don't finish, but I do review them, often with more care than books I did read through.

I'm always glad to see discussion on the group. I really appreciate learning how other people approach this and other issues.

:smiles:

Yeah, I tend to write reviews as if I'm talking to a friend who I think might be interested in the book. I don't even try to be objective... although sometimes I will say that there was something about it that *I* liked, and some things about it that I imagine some *other* readers would like.

Tbh, Raymond, your comments above would make a perfectly wonderful review imo.

Welcome!

Yes, the different ways that different people use the star rating system does tend to some decent books getting lower community ratings, and to related issues.

Hence the group! *More* than just a rating means A Review, Too! It's so helpful to readers considering whether to read a particular book if there are reviews that talk about why a reader appreciated or was frustrated by a book.... :)

:smiles:

That's exactly the problem, Raymond. Not to pick on you, but until these conversations I never would have thought of interpreting somebody's use of the word likable to mean something more like apt or authentic or interesting.

Welp, I'm going to have to remember that the word probably doesn't mean what I think it means, and skip reviews that use it then!

Well, if you just don't rate, it works as 'no rating.' It doesn't affect the community average rating or anything.

Raymond, when I read outside my genre and don't feel as if I can speak to fans of same, I don't rate. I review as best that I can, and I do try to read to broaden my horizons, but that reviewer was unfortunately self-centered, didn't think of consequences.