Today's question: Do you use a rating system on your blog? How do you feel about using the rating system provided on sites like Library Thing and Amazon? When looking up information on a book you are interested in, do you use the ratings provided by these sites (or similar sites) to help you make the decision on purchasing the book?
I started using a rating system a few months ago when I felt I couldn't totally express myself with just my words (I need to work on that) I use stars 1-5. It probably goes something like this:
5- Favorite
4- Really Good
3- Good-ish
2- Has some problems
1- Probably finished out of obligation
I like Librarything's rating system the best, with the half star ratings. I use the same thing on my blog. Usually on Amazon I round up the half a star sometimes down half a star. I use a lot of half stars apparently!
I often look at the ratings of a book, if they are all similar I tend to believe them, if they are all over the place then it's hard to tell how I personally would enjoy a book. When looking at ratings I also read the reviews that go along with them.
Do you use a rating system? Do you find ratings helpful?
I am like you in that I need to read the reviews along with the ratings to get the full picture. Sometimes ratings don't tell the whole story and might be based on "I didn't like the title, it was misleading so I gave it 3 out of 5" Even though the book could have been fantastic!
ReplyDeleteWell, ratings are rather subjective, and I find it most helpful when it is accompanied by, say, a paragraph of the rater's opinion. But I agree with you; I like the half-stars in LT. Every site should have that!
ReplyDeleteI don't use a rating system, but it doesn't bother me when someone does. I do prefer reading the reviews.
ReplyDeleteI think that reviews help, but they are still someone's opinion who may or may not share my opinion. Although if a book gets lots of good reviews, it's probably pretty safe.
ReplyDeleteI love my rating system. It's unique and definitely me. (I think it makes sense too but who knows.) It was hysterical to read Beth Fantaskey's reaction to getting a "winged monkey" lol http://persnicketysnark.blogspot.com/2009/01/persnickety-snark-rating-system.html
ReplyDeleteI think rating systems are necessary because it is possible to like something but grade it low. And the exact opposite too. Ratings allow you to be a little more methodical in your reviews.
I use a rating system on one blog and not on the other. I find rating hard.
ReplyDelete1 star - Probably finished out of obligation.
ReplyDeleteThere are some books I finish out of obligation, but I've never given them one star. Usually I find something redeeming about them and rate them higher. I have to actively dislike a book for it to get a 1. And so far, only two books have gotten that rating, neither of which I've read recently so they are not on my blog.
1 star for me means absolutely hatred, LOL. I'm also a big fan of the half-stars. I think because it's easier to rate something on a scale of 10 than a scale of 5. When I try to translate them onto Amazon, I'm never sure which way to go.
ReplyDeleteI think the most perplexing thing is people on LT who write positive reviews and talk about how much they loved a book and then give it two stars.
I use the half stars when I rate my book in my reviews too.
ReplyDeleteYou know, it really seems funny that those 1/2 stars make such a difference, but they really do! I love being able to use them on LT. Sometimes a book really is half-way between two ratings!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and participating in Thingers last week! I've got the post up for this week. ~ Wendi
Steph Su- Half stars can mean so much can't they!
ReplyDeleteBermudaonion- I didn't use them until I decided maybe I needed them until my reviews got stronger.
Adele- You have the best rating system ever, but really, where are the tapirs??!?!?!
Liviania- Yeah I think it's a sort of gut feeling.
Lenore- I think the only one star rating I could recall was for a LT Early Reviewer's book. I did not like it, man it pissed me off! But I wanted to finish it so i could provide a review. Besides that if I book is bad enough I just won't finish it. That doesn't usually happen though because i always think it's going to get better, same with movies!
Meghan- I agree with you there. I feel like maybe I sound like I LOVE books i rate around 3 stars, I mean I like them sometimes I just don't like them as much as others, you know?
Melissa- it would be a sad world without half stars!
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