This morning when I awoke, my first thought was my book review for Murder by Mushroom and the ‘Okay - 2 stars (a so-so read for me)' rating I'd assigned it.
(Interpretation: I felt guilty.)
You see, my rating list goes like this:
------------------------
Excellent - 5 stars (one to re-read; definitely a keeper)
Great! - 4 ½ stars (a keeper)
Very Good - 4 stars (excellent one time read)
Pretty Good - 3 stars (I enjoyed this story, but was not blown away by it)
Okay - 2 stars (a so-so read for me)
Poor - 1 star (not worth the bother!)
---------------------------
Well, that's fine for most books, but Virginia Smith's Murder By Mushroom didn't fit. Why? Because like I said in my review, it was well-written, but not near enough romance for me. Yet it is a book worth reading because of the way it covers gossip and everything that it entails, like hurt, betrayal, and repercussions.
So, when I got back from church today, I had decided to up the rating a notch. So I sat at my computer and pasted in the next higher rating:
Pretty Good - 3 stars (I enjoyed this story, but was not blown away by it)
But you know, that's not right. I didn't enjoy the story. I kept waiting for the romance... the hugs and kisses and handholding of 2 people getting to know each other. Of course I can't give you details because that would spoil it for those of you who haven't read the book. Suffice to say that I wanted more and did not enjoy what I received.
So, I asked my teen daughter who is an avid Love Inspired Suspense fan what she would do and she said, ‘Why not 2 ½ stars?'
Why not, indeed. I checked my rating list and realized that it goes from an Okay book to a Pretty Good one - no mention of a Good one.
So, I've added a new rating:
Good - 2½ stars (Good writing and story line but not my cup of tea)
I feel much better with this rating.
www.anitamaedraper.blogspot.com
www.newsfromthepews.blogspot.com
book ratings
I hate book rating numbers. A well-thought out comment is a lot more helpful. I have seen reviewers hate a book but tell me enough to let me know I would love a book. I find I have to disregard ratings from certain professional sources a lot because they seem to have different criteria than I do. Certain inspirational books mean more to me than perhaps others just because I go more for contemplative approaches to spirituality than the more charismatic approach. Other readers might want just the opposite. I really prefer newspaper-like reviews that describe the books and do away with the ratings. Personally, I feel ratings are a bit silly really....just me, but a rating reduces a book to a number and the whole point of fiction is to expand beyond the towards on the page.
AKA Merri
Family Challenge Team: The Spine Breakers with my dh Glenn AKA Phaedrus
ratings
These are the ratings we use
Last year we had a Pretty Good too that we ended up eliminating, So if the book doesn't fit Good or Very Good now it will be Good+. I think we went to a rating system because there were only so many ways to say I really liked this book. We also have a sensuality rating. The rating system was put together by teammate KatherineT and other members of the challenge last year. For the complete ratings see http://community.eharlequin.com/content/book-review-ratings
Christa ~ Quiet Canadians ~ 2008 Challenge Blog
My Shelfari Page
You know, I actually agree
You know, I actually agree with you and might just drop the number/star part altogether.
This is my first year reviewing books 'in public' and I started off in January using the one given on this site like the one you have there, Christa. My earlier reviews reflect this.
But the explanations didn't work for me...you think maybe it's b/c I'm a BAChristian that I had trouble with: Excellent: I'd have to kill you if you take this book away
Ya think?
Also, except for the Love Inspired line, a book has to be excellent before I have room to keep it.
So, then I found the ratings I'm using now and like them much better.
You mentioned the heat level ratings - I still use the list I found on this site but had to change the wording again. I mean, where it says, Sensual: I'd share this book with my mother (moderately explicit lovemaking, no "forbidden" words) well, let's just say I wouldn't share it with my Mom! (BAC again)
Come to think of it...I'll never hear the end of it if my mom ever reads my earlier post 'A Girl Can Never Have Enough Chocolate'
or even the racy pirate story Cunny Callie of the Calista Queen I left on the writer's challenge board yesterday 
. Hmmm.
I think I'll stop here and get back to my wreading.
www.anitamaedraper.blogspot.com
www.newsfromthepews.blogspot.com