Yes, I have more to say ask about ratings.
Yes, my ability to thrash a topic to death knows no bounds.
Yes, it is Teh Awesome and not anything to do with laziness.
Yes, I’m reasonably sure about that.
Moving on…
The question:
Once you’ve rated a book, do you ever go back and change it?
My answer:
I do.
Not always, but often enough to make me wonder if anyone else notices that I change my ratings.
Because the world revolves around me and my opinions.
Obviously.
*hair flick*
Why do I do it? For two reasons: firstly, it could be I’ve had a day or two to rethink my initial rating; and, secondly, I may have read something similar and had a change of heart about the rating of the earlier book.
Oh, and as a rule, I tend to re-rate lower.
Shocker, I know. 😛
So, are you a moody rater too?
Kris + Books = Good. *Sometimes*. 
Sometimes.. sure. Isn't that the prerogative of women? I tend to do either up or down, depending. Sometimes I rate higher if I find myself talking the book up more than my rating says. For example I rated something 4 stars but kept telling ppl how great it was so I went and upped it. Whereas I rated something else 3 but kept trashing it so I rated it lower. I've done that with numerous books.
I've also gone in and deleted ratings/reviews for personal reasons too.
Who says ratings are about books!?
With the mood change, so does the rating… Sometimes higher, sometimes lower; but they do change.
And then it messes up my previously posted monthly summary… do I change that as well? That's the question I'm struggling with. Or should I just not post my ratings in the summary? Should I just write little blurbs of my impressions? But then that's reviewing, and I suck at reviewing… GAWD! What are you doing to me?!
Sometimes. Not often but sometimes I go back to books I read a long time ago and think “You know, compared to other 4 star books I've read recently, that was no hell”. Mostly I can't be bothered unless I run across it. I don't go searching through my list to see if there's something I want to change, but if for whatever reason that book comes up I will. I usually pick the box “Don't add to my feed” so no one knows. LOL
I find myself doing it on BE. I read a bunch of books, then I go in and put the picture, basic info including my rating and blurb. Then later in the week I'll go back to do the review usually after it's percolated in my brain for a day or so (or longer) and go “Hmm, I actually liked it better on reflection” (or worse). So no one ever sees those changes and it can be up or down, not from and A to a C but maybe from a C+ to a B-, just that little tweak.
It is usually upward though, since I find sometimes I have an initial not so great rection to a book that is “different” but the more I think about the more I appreciate those differences. I'm a bit like a kid with a new food, in that my initial reaction to something outside my normal range is met by immediate resistence, but after I consider it I find I did like it afterall.
No, as a rule I don't change my rating. At least I can't remember I did it. I know it is easy to add or loose a star at GR but I can't remember doing it.
When I am not sure a about a rating I leave it open. Sometimes I will add my stars later
When I reread something, I often end up changing the rating.
I do, but I'm also lazy. So for the most part what happens is that they change in my head and they don't get changed on goodreads. There's actually a lot of books on my goodreads read list that have 4 and 5 star ratings that I don't actually think deserve those ratings.
Maybe I should get off my ass and take care of that!
I've changed my ratings a lot more lately. Usually it's for two reasons. The first, is if I gave the book a low rating and find myself wanting to reread the book again. It either deserved a higher rating or I'm a glutton for punishment. The other reason, is I have this fear of giving the one star…I know, smack me Kris…but I do. However, if I DNF the book in fear that I may destroy my Nook because it'so bad, shouldn't I be tossing out more ones? So, I find myself going back, putting my big girl pants on and marking the books a lower rating.
Sometimes I will raise a rating if the books ends up the best example of a particular type of romance or trope.
Where I end of reading it again and again to remind myself what works for me.
Sometimes I will lower a rating if I find myself just not wanting to read that certain eBook anymore once I am done with it no matter how much I originally can appreciate how well it was written it just ends up holding no further interest to me.
That is the exact reason why I DO NOT rate with stars. Something might be awesome for me today but suck for me tomorrow (this totally happened with the Tri-Omega Mates series and I got called out on it! LOL But it was fun).
I've never actively searched out a book to change the rating but sometimes I'll come across one on GRs and have a WTH was I thinking moment. It usually happens with books I read early in my M/M reading and generally the rating goes down a bit.
Yeah, I've done it a couple of times when I couldn't stop thinking about a particular book, so went back and upped the rating. I've also just reread one from a year ago and realised that as m/m romances go, it's worth another star. I've got to know the genre better now and don't expect quite as much as I used to…
Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Sometimes I waffle on a rating and change it a day or two later.
I rarely reread books, so I've never changed a rating on a book that I've reread. If I like something enough to read twice, then it has to be a five-star read for me.
yep. Usually its a book I was already swaying back and forth between ratings. I rate it, continue to consider and go back and change…I might even go back again and change it back. 🙂
Kassa: “Who says ratings are about books!?”
Well, obviously! Ratings are about hormones, chocolate highs and trash talk. It's just time everyone admitted it.
“I've also gone in and deleted ratings/reviews for personal reasons too.”
You are a bloody tease! TELL ME!
Mariana: “GAWD! What are you doing to me?!”
Having fun messing with your mind??
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Tam: “I find myself doing it on BE… So no one ever sees those changes…”
I used to do that when I was reviewing. I generally got called on it before anything was posted. Yeah.
“I'm a bit like a kid with a new food, in that my initial reaction to something outside my normal range is met by immediate resistence, but after I consider it I find I did like it afterall.”
Great analogy, Tam. Me; I'm just a bitch. 😛
Ingrid: “When I am not sure a about a rating I leave it open. Sometimes I will add my stars later.”
I never even thought about doing that, Ingrid. I'll keep that approach in mind… if I ever start reading again. *sigh*
Chris: We are Khris. 🙂
Alaina: “There's actually a lot of books on my goodreads read list that have 4 and 5 star ratings that I don't actually think deserve those ratings.
Maybe I should get off my ass and take care of that! “
You should. Then you can join the rest of us mean girls. ;P
JJ: “So, I find myself going back, putting my big girl pants on and marking the books a lower rating.”
*points up at comment to Alaina* Don't wuss out on us, JJ. 😉
“… I'm a glutton for punishment.”
I feel like doing my worst impression of Sassy Gay Friend, “What, what, what were you thinking?!”
Teddy Pig: “Sometimes I will raise a rating if the books ends up the best example of a particular type of romance or trope.”
This struck a chord with me. When I re-rate it's usually because the book ended up being not as good or a better example of something I particularly like in that genre.
Miranda: “Something might be awesome for me today but suck for me tomorrow.”
Exactly. 🙂 It's also one of the reasons why I avoid reviewing because I tended to get called on what might have been a relatively favourable review, but still gave 'low' ratings. It's annoying.
Lily: “It usually happens with books I read early in my M/M reading and generally the rating goes down a bit.”
That makes sense especially as the genre continues to grow and change.
Josephine: “I've got to know the genre better now and don't expect quite as much as I used to…
Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
Erm, I have to say that it doesn't sound particularly good to me. Need more info. 🙂
Eyre: “Sometimes I waffle on a rating and change it a day or two later.”
Yup. That's also very Libran of you, Eyre. ;P
Jase: “I might even go back again and change it back. :)”
LOL. Now that I'm pretty sure I haven't done, although, sheep that I am, I'm prob'ly going to start doing it now. If for nothing else but to fuck with people. *hehehe*
I do sometimes change my rating. But not very often. Mostly because I couldn't be arsed. 🙂
Lori: HA! And people think I'm lazy! The truth comes out. ;P
Kris, I love how you always have something nice to respond with for everyone!
But, what do you mean I haven't earned my mean girls badge yet?? Just cause I have a 4.16 rating– that's not even high in the grand scheme of things!
Actually, I'm sort of afraid to see what it'll be if I go back and change the ratings of books I read early on in my m/m reading days. Chances are it'll be lower than yours!
Being a mean girl sounds like fun, though. I'll have to get around to it when I get back from my break from goodreads. I've been beating myself up for some of my responses to the whole author/reader/reviewer/goodreads warning system and I need to just not go there for awhile. The whole thing was so upsetting and I finally realized that goodreads just shouldn't ever cause that kind of stress. Ever.
I change my ratings very occasionally – could be up or down, but overall, I think it's rare.
Alaina: “Kris, I love how you always have something nice to respond with for everyone!”
But, of course. The 'let them eat cake' approach is just so 18th century. 😛
“I've been beating myself up for some of my responses to the whole author/reader/reviewer/goodreads warning system and I need to just not go there for awhile. The whole thing was so upsetting and I finally realized that goodreads just shouldn't ever cause that kind of stress. Ever.”
Oh, hun. So sorry to hear that you got caught up in the horribleness of a wankfest. Not good. (((HUGS))) I too learnt that I was getting too invested in the crap and decided to never get involved… directly. Instead I just get my digs in from the sidelines. Much more fun. 😉
Kaetrin: I think that officially makes you the nicest person here, Kaetrin. You need to rub off on us more… in the non-frottage sense. 😛
Actually, I just did. I gave the first part of The Rifter four stars and the couldn't work out why I didn't state four and a half stars, so I went back and added it. Ahhh, what Kassa said 🙂
Yes, my ability to thrash a topic to death knows no bounds.
I wouldn't say thrash. I would say…explore thoroughly 🙂
Yes, I've changed book ratings before. It usually happens after I've reviewed it. After reviewing it I might realize I liked it more than I originally thought or I might realize there wasn't much I actually liked about it. I dare someone to call me on it. I dare them. *glares* 🙂
I've changed a few ratings in the past and keep meaning to look again at the ratings of my early reads – I was so much nicer then before being corrupted by the naughty m/m squad, of which Kris is the High Priestess. Haven't yet, but probably will if I reread them.
Orannia: Snap! LOL.
“I wouldn't say thrash. I would say…explore thoroughly :)”
Oh, of course. That's definitely it.
*cough*
FV: “I dare someone to call me on it. I dare them. *glares* :)”
Challenge accepted. I am now going to go through you reviews and your ratings and compare the two. Any discrepancies will result in a wankfest.
As soon as I can be bothered, that is.
Juni: “I was so much nicer then before being corrupted by the naughty m/m squad, of which Kris is the High Priestess.”
We are Queen. Kassa is Our High Priestess. 😛
And Edict:
Thou shalt go forth and re-rate.
The lower the better.
Make it so.
Yes, all the time. I can't help it. One day I'll think meh, it was so so and then the next day after eating some carbs I might change to higher rating.
Erm, I have to say that it doesn't sound particularly good to me. Need more info. 🙂
Hehe, I've read so many poorly edited, cliched books now (even though I try my hardest to avoid them), that I've realised this one was actually rather a gem. I think at the time I read it it just seemed to have too much pointless sex and not enough tension and angst between the lovers, but reading it again it was all good fun – nothing profound, but an entertaining read. I'm going to rereview tomorrow – it was JL Langley's Tin Star.
It was only the second m/m novel I read – I think I just expected too much from it the first time, and was disappointed. My expectations are considerably lower now I know the genre better…
I don't think I have. I think sometimes I'm aware that I'm not in the right frame of mind to read a certain type of book but carry on regardless. And I think I'm aware when writing a review that perhaps on another day, if I'd been in a different mood it might have been graded slightly differently.
But I think this is something I'm more aware of when a book is so-so. I think if a book is excellent it will have the ability to transport you regardless.
KC: I agree. Carbs do make you nicer. Which explains a lot actually.
Josephine: Ah ha. I get you. As I said to TPig, when I re-rate it's usually because the book ended up being not as good or a better example of something I particularly like in the genre. Usually the former. Apparently my expectations were low to begin with. ;P
Lesley: “I think if a book is excellent it will have the ability to transport you regardless.”
Yes. When you read a book that wows you, you are able to forgive things which would ordinarily annoy you. 🙂