I want to comment on how I work the 5-π ranking. Long ago I set the following standards, but these are subject to revision/revisit. . π My lowest rank: "Did not finish..." Any book I attempt but do not read from start to finish gets this rank. There's some fiction, but textbooks are good examples. I exclude books like anthologies. Said book may contain a good story or info, just can't plow through the prose. . ππ 2nd lowest rank: "I can boast about it..." Rank comes from a quote attributed to Bertrand Russell about reading. Books I can boast about reading include non-fiction, research & historical works, but often these fail to inspire a re-read. . πππ Mid-spot rank: "I enjoyed it..." Rank also comes from Russell--he had only 2 motives for reading a book. Ranking will often be fiction, but not necessarily so. I'll remember some passages & usually re-read parts if not all of this book (Tolkein & Rowling are examples). So πππ for me is high praise--not "average."
ππππ 2nd highest rank: There are two possible ways for 4 π: 1) "It's too short..." or "I regret spending the money..." The point is that the reading experience was soooo enjoyable & soooo quick, it's may seem I didn't get a good $$$ value--like a thrill ride at the park, I want it to keep going. 2) The book is thought-provoking in that it shakes my personal foundation of what life is about. Β· πππππ My highest rank: " "Interrupted my Life..." There's a fine line between this rank & the previous. Books at this rank, I'll lose sleep over (to read), neglect commitments &/or be late for engagements. Capote's "In Cold Blood" was one of the 1st books I read with this experience.
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My lowest rank: "Did not finish..."
Any book I attempt but do not read from start to finish gets this rank. There's some fiction, but textbooks are good examples.
I exclude books like anthologies. Said book may contain a good story or info, just can't plow through the prose.
.
ππ
2nd lowest rank: "I can boast about it..."
Rank comes from a quote attributed to Bertrand Russell about reading. Books I can boast about reading include non-fiction, research & historical works, but often these fail to inspire a re-read.
.
πππ
Mid-spot rank: "I enjoyed it..."
Rank also comes from Russell--he had only 2 motives for reading a book. Ranking will often be fiction, but not necessarily so. I'll remember some passages & usually re-read parts if not all of this book (Tolkein & Rowling are examples). So πππ for me is high praise--not "average."
ππππ
2nd highest rank: There are two possible ways for 4 π:
1) "It's too short..." or "I regret spending the money..."
The point is that the reading experience was soooo enjoyable & soooo quick, it's may seem I didn't get a good $$$ value--like a thrill ride at the park, I want it to keep going.
2) The book is thought-provoking in that it shakes my personal foundation of what life is about.
Β·
πππππ
My highest rank: " "Interrupted my Life..."
There's a fine line between this rank & the previous. Books at this rank, I'll lose sleep over (to read), neglect commitments &/or be late for engagements. Capote's "In Cold Blood" was one of the 1st books I read with this experience.