Thursday 24 April 2014

Ratings: Consistency and Inconsistency



Ratings. This topic has been on my mind a lot recently, and I really need to get my thoughts down in text. I joined Goodreads on the recommendation of a close friend of mine about a year and a half ago, and it was the first time I began “officially rating” books I suppose you could say. Sure, I had my favourites and those automatically got five stars, and everything else sort of blurred together as the stars decreased. I quickly realised that this was just not going to work in the long term, so I became more conscious of how I rated the books I read.


I’ve always considered myself a character driven reader, and I don’t think that’s changed much. The first thing I usually remember about a book is the characters and whether I connected with them or not. Lately I’ve noticed I’m paying a lot more attention to the world-building side of the books I read. I’d still class myself as a character driven reader, but I’ve become more aware that the books I love have a balance of both these aspects.


Since starting blogging, I’m looking back over books I read a few years ago and I’m questioning myself on my rating system yet again! I'm considering doing some changes to my rating system since my blog is still in the baby stages. It hasn’t left my mind since I posted one of my Top Ten Tuesday’s a couple of weeks ago. The majority of the books I included in that list I’ve given 5 stars to on Goodreads. But for some of those I included, if I read them for the first time today I know I wouldn’t have rated them as highly. Twilight is a good example of this. I think I’d still like it, but it probably would have gotten closer to a 3, maybe 4 stars rating at most.


Twilight isn’t the only book I have this problem with. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire was the first New Adult book I read. I remember gushing about it and saying it’s one of my new all-time favourites. The very next book I chose to read was Easy by Tammara Webber. I thought it was a billion times better, and made Beautiful Disaster look silly! This was the first time a blatant inconsistency in my own rating system was shoved in my face. How can I say just ignore what I wrote a few days ago, I hadn’t a clue what I was talking about?!


And this is what I find so hard about establishing a consistent rating system: each and every book I read changes my expectations for the next one.


I love finding new favourites and trying to get as many people to read them as I can so we can all gush over the awesomeness. The down side, each time my expectations go up, and I realise my ratings are even more inconsistent.


Every year I always reread Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I love it, and I love re-visiting the characters, as well as Longbourn and Pemberley. I never re-rate it. I don’t need to as it’s always a 5 star read. I haven’t reread many other books in the past few years, as new books are catching my eye all the time and the shiny and new will take precedence.


Since I’m considering this topic, it makes me wonder what I would do. What if I ended up hating a book I loved in the past? Does my new view of the book discredit what I thought of it the first time I read it? Or does it show I’ve grown as a reader and my expectations and priorities have changed and nothing more? I have no idea! And this is where I need some help.


Do you or have you ever changed how you evaluate and rate the books you read? And do you think it's OK to change how you rate your books going forward without changing the ratings on books read in the past?



12 comments:

  1. Hmm let me think. I started using Goodreads about 3 years ago, but I didn't rate the books I read in my middle/elementary school years, just because I knew I wouldn't be able to rate them.

    I definitely think it's OK to change how you rate books. I usually go with my gut feeling on a book, so I don't have a consistent rating system.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, I haven't rated (or added to Goodreads for that matter) a lot of books I read from ten or twelve years ago, mainly because I don't remember enough about them other than a vague feeling of "like" or "didn't like."

      Thanks for stopping by Val :)

      Delete
  2. I agree with Val, it's fine to change ratings on books read in the past if your perception of it changed. People are always changing, something I would have loved 3 years ago I may only just like today. Great post Alma
    Monique @ Mo_Books

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I guess what holds me back is that feeling that the rating I gave a book originally is like a snapshot in time of when I read that book... Guess my sentimental side is coming out a bit too much! I have noticed I'm a lot more reluctant to give 5 stars these days. 4 stars has become my go-to rating for really good books! Thanks Monique :)

      Delete
  3. I struggle with this same exact problem, and I feel especially bad knowing people might see the books I gave a higher rating to than I should. Then again though, it is kind of interesting to go back and see what I liked at that time period so I usually keep my ratings because that's how I felt at the time. Plus, I'm lazy ;) Awesome topic!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "I feel especially bad knowing people might see the books I gave a higher rating to than I should." <-- Yes, this! It's exactly what makes me obsess for while after I finish a book trying to get as accurate a rating to reflect my feelings. Great point.

      Delete
  4. I've changed ratings on books before! Sometimes I rate too soon after I finish and I'm on like a reading high "OMG this book was SO great the ending was perfect woohoo I just finished a book," kind of thing. Then the next day I take a look at my rating, attempt to write a review, and then the flaws come to light and I realize, well yes I enjoyed the ending, but really there was a ton of other stuff that was either wrong (IMO) or silly or felt out of place, etc.

    As of right now I've got on consitent rating system. I just kind of go with the flow (which is not exactly easy to follow - oops!).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm very guilty of this, too. I tend to rate a lot higher that I should especially if I loved the book, so recently I've tried to avoid immediately rating or reviewing. I make a few notes for a review after I finish reading, then I write a proper review a few days or up to a week later. It gives me a clearer mind, and I'm not usually in complete fan-girl mode!

      Delete
  5. I agree with twilight being a 3 for me I'm pretty sure that's what I gave it, actually I think that's what I gave all of the books except the last one...that one got 4 stars if i revisited the stories today I think my rating would be the same. I've always been an avid reader i guess i'd say i'm a feeler how does the story make me feel? Did it reach out to me a certain way and pull strong emotions from me or was it just meh? The stronger the feels the higher the rating...I find that if I start comparing books to each other its unfair to the author and the story. ex Anne Rice Vampire Chronicles & Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter Series vs. Michelle Reed Vamp Academy & Lauren Kate's Fallen Series all amazing authors and all amazing books similar aspects but the characters are so diverse and the authors highlighted dif parts of their stories...the worlds they built...Don't ever stress about how you felt about a book you read in the past, maybe the planets were aligned just right for that particular book...No big! best part about reviewing books is its your opinion and if you look back and think hey what was I thinking just know that you are growing as a person and changing...Last month I used to drown my french fries in ketchup this month its honey mustard will it stick? am I betraying Ketchup? Who Knows?! Only thing to do is enjoy life one french fry at a time condiments be damned! Or in your case one book at a time past book experiences out the window! Know your changing and thats a great thing!! whew I better get out of here before people start throwing virtual tomatoes my way ;) solid post love dont fret embrace your transition and know its for the best...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yeah, I know the feeling! Emotion and feelings are what I usually base my ratings on. If the characters jump from the page, and I actually feel their pain/love/terror/happiness etc. I'm extremely happy. My problem is, my feelings on the books overall constantly change!! I'd like to have at least a little consistency, with some wiggle room for those awesome books that stay with you forever. Thanks Ria =)

      Delete
  6. Good Lord. I need to ease up on the coffee.Clearly. :0/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahahahaha! Not at all, I can never have enough of the stuff!

      Delete

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...