Someone over on Bluesky asked how people who use half stars in ratings use them. It’s taken me a while to come up with a basic rating system that works for me. I assume every book I read is going to at least be 3 stars (I liked it in the Goodreads view of things1).
I rate things in 3 areas: the story, the characters, and the pace. Each one is worth half a star. If I liked the book and none of the 3 was a standout, then the book stays 3 stars. If I really liked any of the 3, the book gains a half-star. So, I really like all three give a book 4.5 stars. If I know I’m going to be reading the book again, then it becomes a 5.
Now, if I really dislike one of the three areas, then the book loses half a star. So if I really disliked all three, the book would end up with a 1.5-star rating. And if I hate finished the book 1 star.
What I Finished Reading
Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
Loved, loved, loved! 5 stars!
What I’m Currently Reading
Emma by Jane Austen
I haven’t discovered anything new yet, but I am really enjoying this reread!
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
I don’t know why it has taken me this long to read this book. It’s January’s pick for one of my book clubs, and I wasn’t sure about starting the year with a book with such a heavy topic, but Morrison’s beautiful style of writing has a way of coating the heaviness of the text.Empire of the Sum: The Rise and Reign of the Pocket Calculator by Keith Houston
I haven’t picked this back up yet, my copy just arrived so I have to find where I left off.
1 star = did not like it, 2 stars = it was ok, 3 stars = liked it, 4 stars = really liked it, 5 stars = it was amazing
I think this is a good topic for discussion because everyone has so many opinions on a rating system! I give a book three stars if it was fine. That's it, just fine. Nothing remarkable but I'd probably recommend. Four stars is when the book really rocks my socks and there is something that I really love about the story. Five stars is a high recommendation and a probably will read again.
Based on my GoodRead's data, most books are three stars. I've given a few two and one stars lately because holy geeze, were some of the writing was bad, plot was terrible, the characters were unlikeable, or something.