Do you have a rating system? Should you have a rating system?
A rating system is a quick glance, snapshot, showing your opinion about the book. Two movie critics used the thumbs up/down rating system. It’s the quickest method any of us have of showing our likes and dislikes to anything…thumbs up, like; thumbs down, dislike.
A rating system, say anything out of a possible four, is a gauge. One out of four, and you can be pretty sure the reviewer either didn’t like it or didn’t mix with it. Two out of four, and, you guessed it, an average reaction to the book. Four out of four and you’ve hit BINGO with the reviewer. Using a five measure and you have a middle ground of three which is open to any interpretation in my opinion.
Why use a rating system? It’s quick and easy.
Each reviewer, I know, takes considerable time to write their opinions about what they are reading. They strive for balance and fairness. This isn’t grade school writing, we’re not, you’re not, answering with a simple—I like this because—or—I do not like this because. Although, since I first wrote this article the reviewing scene has changed dramatically. I’ve seen reviews which simply state: I like this book. As well as reviews that clearly show…if you’ve read the book…the reviewer is strictly out to tarnish and act “trollish” because their remarks have nothing to do with the story within.
Your words may very well determine if someone is willing to spend their money on a particular book…on someone’s hard work.
Using a rating system, you are placing a value on the book you’ve reviewed. And with that said, why then have I gone away from rating the books I read?
I didn’t like how I felt after placing a number value on someone’s hard work. My reviews have always been more a conversational talk between me and friends (my readers) the author, and those who follow the author. How could I give a lower rating to a book I know I didn’t mix with? But, how could I give something a higher rating when I didn’t like it because I didn’t mix with it? It’s the catch-22 of reviewing, I was danged if I did and danged if I didn’t.
Now I let my words speak for myself.