Good morning!
While trying to write the beginning of a review post for “Emergency Contact” the other day, it just dawned on me that it can be quite hard to figure if I wanna give a 4 or a 5 stars sometimes.. Which made me think of writing this!
Star ratings are absolutely rigged; although the system might be similar from one blogger to another, the parameters and what defines each stars will always vary from person to person — this is why some bloggers chooses to drop the stars completely and start using another concept entirely.
Which makes total sense, knowing that a review (from a book or otherwise), is purely a opinion that we have on something. Although there might have some quotes within the book, or « canon » things that the author had said.. nothing is really « pure facts ». As we all know that it’s said that nobody ever reads the same books, as it’s from one’s perspective on the written words.
Now sometimes, I frankly don’t really know what the split between a 4 and a 5 stars is within my own reviews. Although I have set perimeters that I can base myself on, sometimes the end consensus of how many stars that I choose to give is based on gut-feeling.
For no reason in particular, or for reasons that I can’t personally express right now, this book feels like a 5 rather than a 4 to me kinda thing; or vice-versa.
Does that mean that the review is « garbage » or lying?
No- because a review in itself is an opinion. I believe that you can choose to go with logic and detailed processus (like a separate note for the plot, one for characters, one for settings, etc.) aswell as a more « objective » approach if you want.. or you can absolutely do the opposite. Be more subjective and go with how it personally made you feel- thoses are my favorites, but there’s no real way to review.
Do you do the same as me?
What is your difference between a 4 and a 5?
Great conversation here! There’s definitely a discourse to be had about the weight and value of each star. Some reviewers are very serious about it, while others are super casual. I think at the high end of the spectrum I worry less about 4/5 stars than what the meaning is of 1/2 stars, because those ratings can hurt a book… especially a small, new book without many reviews yet. :/ I do agree that everyone is entitled to their opinion and we need to do what feels right to us. And it’s partly why I like reviews more than ratings – I’m far more interested in *why* something was good or bad from a reviewer I trust than just the stars.
Great post!
Yep- same! And hey, most times a « bad » review with low rating might be the reason why I even pick up a book! If I know that the reasons they picked for not liking it are things that I loves, for exemple.
Even when DNF-ing a book, I’d tend to give it the « basic » 3-star rating anyway; As it’s not a bad nor a good grade, it’s in the middle — the only exception would be if there’s something truly problematic with it.
I would say that a 5 stars has something unique and very special. It must give me all the feel!s
That’s true; my problem with that is that errh, everything gives me all the feels 🤣🤦🏽♀️