How do book ratings even work?

I've been doing (almost) weekly reviews on this blog for around a year now, and I've come to the realization that my rating system is extremely inefficient. Basically, I rate a book on a scale of 1-5 stars, in two different ways. Either:

1) Based off of how strong my emotions are reacting to the story,

OR

2) How well written it is IN SPITE OF how strong my emotions are reacting to the story.

Let me explain. We're going to compare three different examples: November 9 by Colleen Hoover (which I reviewed on Wednesday), Pinch Me by Adena Halpern, and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling. Let's start with the most recent.

I just read November 9. At the time of writing this, I just finished it last night (instead of doing homework lol whoops). If you haven't read my review, I'll summarize it for you: I LOVED IT A CRAPTON. It started out fluffy and cutesy and turned into a soap opera halfway through and I ain't even mad because I loved every second of it! So, obviously, I immediately went on to Goodreads and rated it five stars, because I was on an emotional high that I never wanted to come down from.

Now, despite how much I loved this book, I recognize that it's not perfect. It's got some issues. (And I identify those issues in my review, if you wanted to know what they are.) But I made the conscious decision to forego all that in favour of a five star rating, because that's what I do when I adore a book--I give it an immediate five star rating.

Now, I'm going to hit you with an extremely unpopular opinion that's going to get me kicked off the internet--I don't like Harry Potter. I'm sorry! I tried! I forced myself to read the first book a couple years ago, and I had little to no emotional attachment and/or reaction to the story. Even watching the movies, I'm indifferent. I just don't give a crap about wizards, I guess.

Anyway, my initial reaction (or lack thereof) made me want to give the book a pretty low rating. Like, a two. Or maybe even a one. (Which is unheard of--a one-star book is one that I don't finish, which means that I don't rate it because I feel bad reviewing an unfinished book.) But still, on Goodreads, I gave it a solid three. I question this, given my passionate indifference to it.

But here's the thing--it's actually really well written.

Even though I couldn't bring myself to care about the characters, even if I felt that the plot advanced too slowly in parts and I have 0 intention of ever picking up the second book, I can still acknowledge the fact that it has some great bits. The description is really well written, and the world is one full of imagination and wonder. Even though I, personally, dislike the book, I can see how so many people fall in love with it.

And then there's Pinch Me, an adult fiction book that I read shortly after Harry Potter, and gave it the same rating. HOWEVER. I enjoyed this book a hell of a lot more. I liked the premise better, I liked the writing style better, I liked the characters better. I rated it lower on my scale due to smaller things, like absurdity of some of the plot points, or the overall goofiness of it that just can't be taken too seriously.

Still, though, the more I think about it, the more I'd like to bump it up to four stars.

Actually, I think I'll do that now.

That basically proves my point right there: I have no consistency. Zero! I make it up as I go! I have no system, no protocol to figuring out what I should rate a book. It's just "Eh...sure, we'll go with this." I almost feel like five stars isn't enough--because how can I rate two books that I enjoyed differently the same number of stars? More importantly--do my ratings really mean anything if I just go back and change them later? (Which I do. A lot.)

(If you'd like further discussion on rating books, I recommend this video by Ariel Bissett on YouTube.)

How do you normally go about rating books? Or do you just simplify your life and not even bother?

Until later,

- Justyne

More Books

Because you can never talk about books too much.

I got a Goodreads account a few months ago, finally, despite the fact that I was extremely reluctant to do so. (I was ticked off with it constantly trying to log me in when I didn't even have an account, thus making me unable to read anything on the website without being signed in. Despite the fact that making an account ages ago would have solved this problem, the fact that it was bothering me made me stubborn. I DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE IN.)

I have to admit, I really, really like the website. I like keeping a record about everything I've read, I like updating a status about what I'm reading, I love rating it and writing reviews...

I find it funny, actually, how much I enjoy writing reviews for the things I read. Even the things I didn't enjoy as much as others, I really enjoyed writing and talking about them. It's a little weird, considering how little I enjoyed English class. I've been trying to figure out, lately, why that is.

Whenever I was in English class, no matter what we read, I never had any real interest in it. Pretty much anything I said in any essay wasn't a result of me looking at it critically, or giving my true thoughts about it. It was always about me trying to say things that seemed smart, or things that my teacher would give me good marks for. Maybe the reason I enjoy it so much now is because I'm not being forced to think too deeply about everything, or being rushed to finish it by a deadline. I move at my own pace, talk about the things that I picked up on, and that's that.

Either way, I'm certainly enjoying it now.

I've written several reviews over on Goodreads, if you wanted to go check them out! I'm thinking of making book reviews a regular thing I do elsewhere, be it on this blog or a different blog or something else entirely. I'll keep you posted on where I go with that (if I go anywhere with that).


Until later,

- Justyne