Books #35

[wishiniwasskinny]

I started a new system recently. As I have SO many books in my WTR list on GR and needed a way to slim it as I’m so susceptible to recommendations or adding books I read about or hear about and I actively seek out books to read haha. So now, if I read about a new book coming out online or something and look at it on GR. for it to make it on to my WTR list, a fiction has to be 3.5 or higher and a non-fiction 4.0 or higher. It’s not helped much hahaha

 

[Booklover]

I finished Prep today! I really should prioritise reading American Wife and Rodham.
I’m surprised her books aren’t more highly rated on Goodreads but then maybe it’s just my perception that anything with a 3 star average is ‘low’ - and obviously books / ratings are subjective..

American Wife is really good. Haven't read Rodham, although it's been on my tbr list for years! Also highly recommend Romantic Comedy too. My copy of her new short stories arrived Saturday, and that's next on my list after my current read of Everything's Fine by Cecilia Rabess - a debut from this author and really good so far.

 

[emmer_moans]

My rating system - not that anyone asked or cares - is 3 stars is a good, solid read. I have thought about changing it though since I think Goodreads ratings may affect authors (?)

For me, 0 is for DNFs
1 is 'why on earth did I finish this'
2 is for poor
3 is for solid, enjoyed somewhat
4 is great, learned something, enjoyed a lot, good writing etc
5 is fantastic and will re-read

So a 3 is good. I wanted to differentiate between a 4 and a 5 because there are lots of books i think are amazing in the moment but forget about later and won't reread, and then there are those that have a profound effect or are just so well written or funny that I know I will reread them.

 

[AllieBee]

My rating system - not that anyone asked or cares - is 3 stars is a good, solid read. I have thought about changing it though since I think Goodreads ratings may affect authors (?)

I think we probably all vary a bit in how we score books. 3 for me would be one that was average, not good, not bad enough for less. I would do

5 stars - excellent, book hangover, may reread or want to read next in series (if in a aeries)
4 stars - very good, enjoyed very much
3 stars - ok, storyline ok, would.neither re read nor recommend and wouldn't read more by the same author
2 stars - bad
1. Terrible.

 

[chickhicks86]

I had a random bookshop purchase this weekend that I can’t put down- The Trading Game by Gary Stevenson. Real life story about being a trader in London - only half way through but it’s very well written and fast paced so far. Don’t feel like it’s going to have a happy ending mind you!

Added this to my list, thanks!

 

[chickhicks86]

I finished Prep today! I really should prioritise reading American Wife and Rodham.
I’m surprised her books aren’t more highly rated on Goodreads but then maybe it’s just my perception that anything with a 3 star average is ‘low’ - and obviously books / ratings are subjective..

I am reading Prep at the moment, I'd forgotten how much I love her writing. American Wife is fantastic, but I loved Romantic Comedy too. Yet to read Rodham.

 

[anniemouse]

I think we probably all vary a bit in how we score books. 3 for me would be one that was average, not good, not bad enough for less. I would do

5 stars - excellent, book hangover, may reread or want to read next in series (if in a aeries)
4 stars - very good, enjoyed very much
3 stars - ok, storyline ok, would.neither re read nor recommend and wouldn't read more by the same author
2 stars - bad
1. Terrible.

I’d say mine is similar to yours. I do give out a lot of 4s but that’s probably because I’m easily pleased.

 

[Chocolategoggler]

For me, 0 is for DNFs
1 is 'why on earth did I finish this'
2 is for poor
3 is for solid, enjoyed somewhat
4 is great, learned something, enjoyed a lot, good writing etc
5 is fantastic and will re-read

So a 3 is good. I wanted to differentiate between a 4 and a 5 because there are lots of books i think are amazing in the moment but forget about later and won't reread, and then there are those that have a profound effect or are just so well written or funny that I know I will reread them.

The difference between 4 and 5 for me is the burning need to own it and have been up till the early hours reading it.
4's don't fall into that category despite how good they were.

 

[Chocolategoggler]

I think we probably all vary a bit in how we score books. 3 for me would be one that was average, not good, not bad enough for less. I would do

5 stars - excellent, book hangover, may reread or want to read next in series (if in a aeries)
4 stars - very good, enjoyed very much
3 stars - ok, storyline ok, would.neither re read nor recommend and wouldn't read more by the same author
2 stars - bad
1. Terrible.

This feels like my scoring system. I couldn't put my finger on the word for number 3's but average is it.

 

[CommentBelow]

American Wife is really good. Haven't read Rodham, although it's been on my tbr list for years! Also highly recommend Romantic Comedy too. My copy of her new short stories arrived Saturday, and that's next on my list after my current read of Everything's Fine by Cecilia Rabess - a debut from this author and really good so far.

I read and really liked Romantic Comedy!
Somebody on the thread (sorry - can’t remember who!) recommended CS’s previous short story collection - so adding that to my list too.

 

[CommentBelow]

For me, 0 is for DNFs
1 is 'why on earth did I finish this'
2 is for poor
3 is for solid, enjoyed somewhat
4 is great, learned something, enjoyed a lot, good writing etc
5 is fantastic and will re-read

So a 3 is good. I wanted to differentiate between a 4 and a 5 because there are lots of books i think are amazing in the moment but forget about later and won't reread, and then there are those that have a profound effect or are just so well written or funny that I know I will reread them.

I have a similar approach to 5 ratings. I used to be more ‘this was really good, better give it a 5’ but now I’m saving that rating for truly ‘wow’ books that I would recommend/rave about.

 

[Mamacita]

For me, 0 is for DNFs
1 is 'why on earth did I finish this'
2 is for poor
3 is for solid, enjoyed somewhat
4 is great, learned something, enjoyed a lot, good writing etc
5 is fantastic and will re-read

So a 3 is good. I wanted to differentiate between a 4 and a 5 because there are lots of books i think are amazing in the moment but forget about later and won't reread, and then there are those that have a profound effect or are just so well written or funny that I know I will reread them.

Mine is very similar! 3 is often a book i enjoyed but it's not life changing and i might forget it.

 

[SaintLeo]

Somewhere Beyond The Sea - sequel to The House In The Cerulean Sea - is a Kindle deal today. I know there are lots of THITCS fans in this thread so might be of interest!

 

[LydiaDeetzHat]

One of my current reads Never by Rick Astley is on Kindle deal today. I highly recommend even if you are not a fan . He just comes across really well in it and so far it features some great anecdotes. I had no idea his childhood was so unusual either

 

[LydiaDeetzHat]

My rating system - not that anyone asked or cares - is 3 stars is a good, solid read. I have thought about changing it though since I think Goodreads ratings may affect authors (?)

mine is as follows

5 stars V rare for the most amazing
4 is a really enjoyed or really well written
3 is like you a good solid read but not partic special
2 is a just ok
1 is poor didnt enjoy
0 is total crap and I have given it but usually will up to a 1 if i;m feeling generous.

 

[LydiaDeetzHat]

I think we probably all vary a bit in how we score books. 3 for me would be one that was average, not good, not bad enough for less. I would do

5 stars - excellent, book hangover, may reread or want to read next in series (if in a aeries)
4 stars - very good, enjoyed very much
3 stars - ok, storyline ok, would.neither re read nor recommend and wouldn't read more by the same author
2 stars - bad
1. Terrible.

i sort of vacilate between my scale and one like this if i think about it more but VERY rare will i give a 5. has to be really exceptional

 

[CommentBelow]

Mine is very similar! 3 is often a book i enjoyed but it's not life changing and i might forget it.

I think because of my own (unjustified) view that less than 4 star is low I feel bad to give 3s - partial stars is one of the reasons I love StoryGraph (but still rate on Goodreads too) - but I should prob downgrade books like Flawless to 3.. enjoyed the read but it’s not equal to other 4 stars I’ve read recently eg. Remains of the Day (4.5 on StoryGraph).

 

[Honeystar]

For me it’s:

1 - awful and DNF
2 - rubbish but managed to power through
3 - solid and enjoyable
4 - really enjoyed and would actively recommend
5 - amazing can’t stop thinking about

I do have to admit I am pretty generous giving out 5 stars but why not

 

[Mamacita]

I think because of my own (unjustified) view that less than 4 star is low I feel bad to give 3s - partial stars is one of the reasons I love StoryGraph (but still rate on Goodreads too) - but I should prob downgrade books like Flawless to 3.. enjoyed the read but it’s not equal to other 4 stars I’ve read recently eg. Remains of the Day (4.5 on StoryGraph).

Personally i think i would prefer a 0-10 system, i always find 5 star one difficult to distinguish between books partial stars would be helpful on goodreads though.

 

[ScoutFinch]

For me, 0 is for DNFs
1 is 'why on earth did I finish this'
2 is for poor
3 is for solid, enjoyed somewhat
4 is great, learned something, enjoyed a lot, good writing etc
5 is fantastic and will re-read

So a 3 is good. I wanted to differentiate between a 4 and a 5 because there are lots of books i think are amazing in the moment but forget about later and won't reread, and then there are those that have a profound effect or are just so well written or funny that I know I will reread them.

This is similar to how I rate. I wish we could do half stars on Goodreads. I usually round up if I would give something .5 but I don’t round 4.5 up as to be a real 5* it has to be amazing