Constant Reader discussion
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Would love to discuss what everyone thinks makes a book deserve 5 stars
message 51:
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Mary Ellen
(new)
May 25, 2013 06:48PM
I am pretty stingy with 5 stars, though I give a lot of 4-stars. I think 5 stars are books that blow me away, that I want to recommend to everyone right after I read them. That when I say, "It is a great book," there is no "but."
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What makes a book get 5 stars from me is when the characters of the story feel like they are alive and truly do exist. It's as if when I explore the world, I would be able to stumble upon them.
For me the book has to not only captivate me but become a part of me. It has to have Fascinating characters, a captivating plot, gorgeous vocabulary, an underlying Philosophical meaning that keep me thinking long after its done, It has to become part of my thinking process.. The book becomes alive in my mind... Like an imaginary friend, always with me, giving me advice, observations on the world. It has to be like glasses, changing my outlook, making it sharper of blurry, darker or pinker...
A book shall be realistic which portraits charecters near to daily life with imagination. When I read I shall empathise with the roles played by them.
It has to be a book that sticks with me after I've finished reading it, and one that I feel I would never get tired of re-reading. I'm sure there's more criteria that I would consider if I really sat down and thought about it, but those are the most basic and most important things in my personal opinion.
Books that deserve 5 stars are books that I would have liked to have published or I am publishing.
Back in the good old days when a job included both vacation time AND sick time, if a book was a five star, I wouldn't hesitate to call in sick to stay home and finish the book.
This is actually a more complex question than I first thought. I have only just joined this website and at first was grading books I had read a lot higher than what I truly thought of them. Rarely does a book get five stars from me, but the ones that do are the books that are life changers for me. They are the books that had me gripped, engaged every emotional part of me, had me thinking about the story when not reading the book, had me seeking people to tell and share the book with and when the end comes and the final page is turned there is a sadness about it. It is also usually a book I would never give away, due to the fact that it meant a lot to me and would be something I would re-read again.
There's always something magical about a five star book - whether it be the way it has been written, the world and the characters created or the story.
A hard thing to find a true five star book, but once you have found your five star it's worth the read.
A book that keeps me engrossed and not just engaged while I am reading it, makes me think about it while I am away or done with it. A book that I would want to read again and again.
The first thing a five star fiction book needs are great characters. They have to be ones that I can empathize with, even if they aren't the nicest people in the world. If I don't like the characters, then I don't care how great the plot is; I won't like the book. For example, I love epic fantasy and I really, really wanted to love A Game of Thrones. But after Eddard Stark died I realized that I didn't give a damn about any of the other characters. There was no point in me continuing. I know plenty of people who rave about the whole series, but I simply disliked the characters.I have to have a book that throws me into the world of the book, where I never want to leave. And this can be done in non-fiction as well as in fiction. If the book is able to change my life in some way, then it's a definite keeper and is a book that I will reread throughout my life.
Nancy wrote: "The first thing a five star fiction book needs are great characters. They have to be ones that I can empathize with, even if they aren't the nicest people in the world. If I don't like the characte..."Nancy, I'm with you on Game of Thrones. I liked the first book (hated that part about Eddard though), but then lost interest halfway through the 2nd book. I just realized I didn't like enough of the characters nor did I care enough to know what happens to continue reading at least 5 more books at 800+ pages a piece LOL. I've never watched the show either and I never will.
A 5-star book is all-encompassing love. If a book takes me away, and I willingly surrender myself to it (totally indifferent to its pedigree),and I find it painful to leave its side until fully sated...well, that's a 5-star.
I never gave stars to books until I came to this site several years ago. Honestly, to me, to give stars to a truly good novel was like giving stars to your children. Each is an individual, with strengths, weaknesses, quirks, delights, not something to be standardized into a rating system.That said, when posting my books here, I realized the only way to convey some sense of my reaction to a book was to attempt to give stars. I attempted to find criteria by which to select how many stars, and I sort of have them, but basically it comes down to my emotional reaction to a book and whether it lingers with me.
If I didn't particularly like a book, I give it an extra star above my "liking" if it is well-written. For example, I really don't like Faulkner, so when I read one of his novels, I usually give it 3 stars because I appreciate his writing, even if I didn't enjoy the book. If I loved a book, I take away a star if I perceive flaws. There are many books to which I've given 3 stars which I really liked, but demoted due to quibbles.
Five stars for me is actually whimsical. If the moon is in the right house, and I had a great dinner, and I finished the book and went, "Wow!", it might get 5 stars. My 3 and 4 star ratings are actually a better reflection of what I thought of a book.
It's easier for non-fic as there can be more objective criteria than for fiction. Was it readable? Did it meet my expectations? Was it as informative as I'd hoped? Moreso? Things clearly explained? Was it worth the time I spent with it? Enough detail, too much detail? Still, I find it more subjective than it would seem. I think I tend to give 5 stars to non-fiction which addresses a question or information I've long been looking for and finally found, which also meets the criteria I just listed.
And, I started including my comments about a book (here called "reviews") in order to explain my personal likes or dislikes about a book beyond the number of stars. I think books, fiction or nonfiction, can be objectively considered really good or really poor, but I'm not the one to do it. So, I try to give anyone reading the "review" a sense of where I'm coming from in rating the book.
Which has lately become too much trouble. So I may go back to just listing and giving stars.
Brooke wrote: "Alison wrote: "any comments? For 5 stars I need a story that feels like my best friend(s) died when I close the book - a story that takes me somewhere else completely - where I no longer exist bu..."This is exactly how I feel about 5 stars. At the end of the day books are really a personal experience - what I love and gives me a book 'hangover' isn't necessarily what captures the next person. I can only rate how a book makes me feel and you have worded that far more eloquently than I ever could!
I need it to be well written (obviously) and I need to know I can read it again and again without my love for it decreasing.
My answer? Books need strong and well developed characters for me to give them a five star rating. The settings don't need to impress me, even though that's a great addition to have as well. My favorite authors (J.R.R. Tolkien, Donita K. Paul, and Alister McGrath) all have great characters, none of them are mary sues and none of them are boring. If the author can't make their characters interesting, then the whole storyline probably wouldn't be worth reading. So, great characters is a must for me.
There are many, many good postings here. When I read the novella, RITA HAYWORTH AND SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, I knew that I was reading a classic and that it had lasting merit. Same with Tolkien's novels. Same with Hemingway's memoir of Paris in the 1920s, whether it is the original edition, A Moveable Feast or the "re-worked" edition, A Moveable Feast: The Restored Edition. Same with Goodnight Moon or War and Peace. It really gets down to recognition of lasting quality in a work. But the key question then becomes how subjective is that recognition and how does cultivation of tastes affect that recognition. I wish I had more answers. I do enjoy thinking about what makes a book great. Maybe that's why I also enjoyed reading Robert Pirsig's personal memoir, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values, in which he tries to find what makes good writing good and where quality resides.
Kim N - Lost-In-A-Book wrote: "Quinn wrote: "Five stars--as a writer, I always want to apologize for not giving 5 stars, as I know the feeling of falling short, and the joy of getting it just right. For 5 stars it has to have a ..."I agree with you about having to like the characters. Even though I thought Casual Vacancy was well written, I just didn't like any of the characters. I read it through to the end hoping some of them would improve along the way, but they really didn't. So I only gave the book 3 stars.
I read an interesting article on this recently - http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/cu.... So this has been on my mind lately.
Jody wrote: "Kim N - Lost-In-A-Book wrote: "Quinn wrote: "Five stars--as a writer, I always want to apologize for not giving 5 stars, as I know the feeling of falling short, and the joy of getting it just right..."Interesting article Jody.
and I guess I have to edit what I said, I do prefer to like the characters in a book (for 5 stars I do have to like or love the characters) but for other ratings, I don't necessarily have to like them but I do have to be okay with spending time with them. Very much like real life. I don't have to like everyone (and they don't have to like me), but I do have to be comfortable with spending time with them.
If a book is so good, that I can't put it down, I will give it at least 4 stars. For the fifth one, the characters needs to feel as my best friends, and the story must not end when I read the last words. If I keep thinking about the book and go around holding it to my chest while being upset because its over (i do that yes) then its probably 5 stars worthy
Isabella wrote: For the fifth one, the characters needs to feel as my best friends, and the story must not end when I read the last ..."I do that too!! It's a thin line between this world and the many I read about.
It needs to be interesting sand have believeable but romantic characters. Also i have to want to learn more about the characters and hope for a sequel.
For 5 stars, it has to be one of the best books I've ever read. The writing has to be such a joy to read that I want to read it again. And it has to give me something - some hope or insight that goes beyond the story. Setting, characters and plot are all important but the writing makes the biggest difference to me. I'd read a book about a fork if it was smart, witty and beautifully written.
I think I have given a five star review in the past....generally I do four stars, but if I DO five stars, its usually because the book means a lot to me, one of those books I wish i had written myself, or something in that vein. I try to write a review with the stars though, to explain why i gave it such a high mark. I think it's important to do that, otherwise it looks lazy.
When reading a book, I don't like to be confused, the author has to let me know what's going on throughout the course of the story. I have to know who's who, and who's against who. I stopped reading The Iron Helm by Douglas Niles because I had no idea what was going on, who the real hero was, or who the real villian was. It was very confusing. So, making sense is a must for me to rate a book five stars.
I'm quite generous with my five star ratings. If I find a book is deeply satisfying at that point in my life, or satisfying for the type of read I will award it five stars. Few books would get this if I were to award perfection.
I am pretty stingy with my 5 star ratings. I hold my 5 star classifications for books that really make me feel something. Intense happiness, sadness or any other real strong emotion. I can enjoy a book easily but very few books really suck me in emotionally.
Wanda wrote: "Do you re-read your personal 5 star books, and if so, which ones? Fiction and nonfiction, short novels and long novels?"I re-read certain books to visit characters I miss--like A Prayer for Owen Meany, which I have read many times because I love Owen so much.
Beth wrote: "Wanda wrote: "Do you re-read your personal 5 star books, and if so, which ones? Fiction and nonfiction, short novels and long novels?"I re-read certain books to visit characters I miss--like A Prayer for Owen Meany, wh..."
Interesting! I find I have re-read A Widow for One Year because the absent son, the living daughter, and the mother were so impressive. I can't shake their characters.
When I first joined GR, I rated books I enjoyed as 5 stars as I felt that 2 or 1 stars were horrible ratings unless the book was terrible. I then learnt more about the GR star system and how it's skewed positively, so that 3 stars is 'I like it' rather than 'it was average'. So now, I use 5 stars for books that really grab me and enthrall me. Or for the classics I'm rereading from my childhood (The Chronicles of Narnia is one such series, the magic of the stories is just beautiful) Maybe one day I'll have time to go back to the first few I rated and re rate them as I do now.
For me, it's mostly the story and my reaction after I've finished reading it (whether bad or good ). If it makes me react, or if it has changed me or my viewpoint, then it's 5 star worthy.
Elizabeth wrote: "Beth wrote: "Wanda wrote: "Do you re-read your personal 5 star books, and if so, which ones? Fiction and nonfiction, short novels and long novels?"I re-read certain books to visit characters I m..."
Irving creates such memorable characters--they become almost like family!
I agree. Also, that I care a lot about the characters enough to wonder what their futures would be [if they are survivors after a battle, for instance] and the book ends. Or, if they die, what their futures w ould be like had they survived...sympathetic characters are very important.
5 stars for me is a novel with interesting characters and plot, with the overall effect of the novel making me see something in a new light.
A. wrote: "I think awarding five stars should be a rare and special thing reserved for the truly outstanding. I give four stars to any book I thoroughly enjoyed and had felt only a few misgivings about missed..."Hi everyone. I feel those who think a book is ONE or TWO stars--they should not review the books in this site. I have seen readers going into lengthy bashing of the author and his/her work severely in this Goodreads site. Just place the star(s)and walk away--instead of humiliating the work/creator.
Yes, watch TV or a movie instead--even those mediums are churning mediocre stuffs.
-Norm :)
Normen wrote: "A. wrote: "I think awarding five stars should be a rare and special thing reserved for the truly outstanding. I give four stars to any book I thoroughly enjoyed and had felt only a few misgivings a..."Good point. I wouldn't bother finishing a book if I disliked it that much.
I would give 5 stars to a book if I felt that I was dragged into the story from the very beginning, and immersed in the telling from one end to the other.The characters do not have to all be nice, I sometimes think it takes more skill to write about an evil/nasty character, than about a nice/good one. If, and this has happened on more than one occasion, I start to deliberately slow my rate of reading down as I get towards the end of the book so that it will not be over so quickly, I would definitely give five stars.
I have also given 1 star reviews, but these are rare and usually because I have found it so difficult to get into a book that I have given up reading it after a couple of chapters. Life is too short, and there are too many other books out there waiting, to force yourself to read something you don't like. This is a sad realisation that I came to a while ago, as I have always felt that you should always try to give a book your best shot. Unfortunately, some things do not get better the longer they go on.
Maria wrote: "I would give 5 stars to a book if I felt that I was dragged into the story from the very beginning, and immersed in the telling from one end to the other.The characters do not have to all be nice, ..."Very true. Most novel's first 20 odd pages are well written and it sucks the reader into an empty void in the middle of the book and there may/or may not be a great ending for the story--to me, these are not the sincere writers--those who want to write 10 books a year and be the next Top100 rockstar.
A story deserves 5 star rating when the story disturbs you even after you read it. That only shows how influential the story is. And for me, a very good story stays.
I'm pretty quirky about what constitutes a five star rating to me. I find that it's a five star book if I feel that the writer reached me (the reader) in a way that no other author has. Most of the time, the tell-tale sign is that I continuously think about the book long after its been finished. I don't necessarily think that my five star rated books are to be referred to every reader because I do believe the connection I felt to the story is for me. A four star book is a book that I would readily recommend. I mainly think about how well its written and if the story plot stands out.
Currently, most books that I have picked out to read are three stars worthy. This is probably because the book doesn't seem to be any more special than any book in its genre. The quality of writing is enjoyable but not outstanding.
Books that are two stars worthy are books that didn't really do anything for me as a reader and fall under the category of mindless reading. It's not bad enough that I wouldn't recognize the name of the book if mentioned in a discussion but it may be a story I wouldn't recall immediately.
1 stars... I don't do...
0 stars... I don't even make an effort to recognize.
For me, a 5 star book has to be character driven. If I don't care about the characters, the rest is futile. Also, I love a book that doesn't have pages and pages of unnecessary detail. It's boring and I skip over it anyway.
It has to draw me in, make me feel some strong emotion, is cliche free, has twists and turns that I don't see coming, and a plot and characters that I will remember long after I finish the novel.
A 5 star book isn't just a book, it's an experience I as a reader step into. I want to feel transported in time, place, and feel and see what the characters are feeling and seeing.
It has to draw me in, make me feel some strong emotion, is cliche free, has twists and turns that I don't see coming, and a plot and characters that I will remember long after I finish the novel.
A 5 star book isn't just a book, it's an experience I as a reader step into. I want to feel transported in time, place, and feel and see what the characters are feeling and seeing.
To get ☆☆☆☆☆, a book must be free of typos and poor grammar. Deduct ☆☆ 1. if the characters aren't credible, or are cardboard-cutouts; or 2. The hero isn't likable; or 3. Characters are inconsistent. The hero has to solve his problem by his own efforts--no miraculous interference by third parties or incredible coincidence. You can get him/her INTO trouble by coincidence, but never OUT. Deduct ☆☆☆ if he doesn't solve his own problem.
In most stories, the hero has an inner problem which he also resolves by his efforts and through what he learns/gains from his struggle with the outer problem. Deduct ☆☆ if he doesn't have this character arc. Detectives (~Poirot, Holmes) sometimes don't change much, but they often learn something they didn't know before, as a minimum. Maybe drop ☆, it that's not the case.
The ending should satisfy. The wrap-up should be as short as possible. Bad ending, deduct ☆☆☆☆☆.
J. wrote: "To get ☆☆☆☆☆, a book must be free of typos and poor grammar. Deduct ☆☆ 1. if the characters aren't credible, or are cardboard-cutouts; or 2. The hero isn't likable; or 3. Characters are inconsisten..."I really like your ideas!
For me a five-star worthy book is one that takes up permanent residence inside your head long after you have finished reading it.
Sherry wrote: "I really like your ideas! ..."Thanks, Sherry.
The circumstance of life of at the time of reading seem to force itself on my grading curve. I can not seem to separate the two. Also as time goes on what was once a 5 stars may no longer be, I am not going to revisit a review. But I wonder if it right to judge my past for not knowing better? =)
Michael wrote: "The circumstance of life of at the time of reading seem to force itself on my grading curve. I can not seem to separate the two. Also as time goes on what was once a 5 stars may no longer be, I am..."I agree with you! The grade u give to a book depends so much on the time and circumstances you had read that in!!
Can readers cite some of their 5* books.
Some of my 5* books include:
Song of the Fairy Queen 
P.S. I Love You
The Lion, the Witch, and the WardrobeA really varied mixture :)
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