The other day Jen totally horned in on my ratings series with her post about ‘the dreaded three stars’. This included a discussion about what 3 stars actually means to readers and authors.
Besides the fact that Jen is clearly a stealer, a few of the comments reminded me of this and what I’d written in relation to the even-more-dreaded *:P* 2 star rating:
At goodreads, a reader gives a book 2 stars when they think ‘it was ok’.
This explanation says it all because, while I probably won’t look at it again, the book was a relatively pleasant distraction for how ever long it took me to read it.
Sure it may not have blown me away or anything, and I could have easily gone straight on to the next story without giving it much of a second thought, but it really, truly was okay.
It was. Really, truly okay, that is.
Which leads me to my point…
A ‘2 star = okay’ at goodreads is not the same thing as a ‘2 star = meh’ at other reviewing sites.
One indicates a level of satisfaction was had and the other indifference.
So, no, these are not equivalent terms.
And, yes, everyone should get the fuck over it already.
Kris + Books = Good. *Sometimes*. 
True, I only describe books <2 stars as meh. :D
Tell me that word veri isn't fucking with us all: subittel
I kind of ignore the “definition” at Goodreads.
I tend to equate the ratings with school grade. 2 stars out of 5 is 40%. If my kid brings home a test result of 40% that is not “OK”. It's not AWFUL, that would be 20%, but definitely sub-par.
I tend to grade along the letter grade we use at BER
1 star = F
2 star = D
3 star = C
4 star = B
5 star = A
Now if I could only get a damn half star.
Okay, I am concerned with the word veri. Mine starts with “sub” as well. Is it trying to tell me something? However if Jason comes up with one that starts “dom” I'll know it can't be trusted.
Mine is subtitle if you unscramble it.
Altho this one is mangur.
Chris: *high fives* And that's the way it should be.
I thought that read sub-titty for a moment. Heh.
Tam: You're wrong. Maybe 'sub' is an indication of you being 'subpar'??
I apologised but that obviously isn't enough for some people.
Humph!
I don't often give 2 star (or my equivalent of 'Poor') reviews. A book would have to either a) really, really annoy me to the almost point of throwing it across the room or b) bore me half to death, before it gets 2 stars.
I agree though my definition of 2 stars is not 'it was Ok' so, like Tam, I just ignore that at GRs.
The veri word obviously likes me: lamor – or should that be l'amour 🙂
Jen: I know you love me, but even that won't buy my forgiveness for you (a) being a stealer and (b) being wrong about 2 stars.
I'm terrible. If a book doesn't get 4* or more stars I won't rate it. I don't blog but I do have a book journal and that's where I tend to rate things. It also helps to keep track of all my books.
I only read books others, such as Jessewave rates 4* or above. But even then the blurb has to catch my eye. I have a large list of DNF. But I'm fussy. I love the BDB series but I couldn't get into LKH books. Love to become invested in a world so I prefer series even if they take years to write.
So no 3* for me… But saying that I have read some 3* that I have lode and would have rated higher.
Tish
Hmm, well if you look at it that way then there really is no reason for authors or fangirls/boys to get in a snit is there?
The problem is that even if I have read (several times at least) how the GR rating system is supposed to work I tend to “forget”. I blame the all those years of schooling where getting a 2 on my tests was a horrible day when the world would come crumbling down around me and visions of being a world class failure would dance around my head. I don't think I would have survived more then two years of mandatory Latin 😛
In that regard giving 2 stars (or *gaspshudder* 1 star) seems kinda harsh. So no, to me 2 does not equal an OK book. Instead it's more like “Well that was pretty much a waste of time and money?”.
Tish: “I'm terrible. If a book doesn't get 4* or more stars I won't rate it.”
You wuss. If you're not pissing people off with your ratings at goodreads, then you're not really living. 😛
Eva: “Hmm, well if you look at it that way then there really is no reason for authors or fangirls/boys to get in a snit is there?”
Exactly! You're my new BFF, Eva. You're welcome!
“So no, to me 2 does not equal an OK book. Instead it's more like “Well that was pretty much a waste of time and money?”.”
I take it back. 😡
Also, I'm disappointed that so many of you have been indoctrinated into the good vs bad, white vs black thing through your education. That's what The Man wants you know.
Oooh, eye-opener! I'm like Tam. I've grown used to the 2-star signifying a D, something really flawed. Maybe from Amazon.
So maybe those GR readers who gave some of my books 2-stars REALLY meant they thought it was ok, not memorable but not flawed. I can totally live with that! 😀
2 stars to me means I skimmed through it. 1 star means it wasn't worth finishing. A skimmable book can be okay, so for the most part I agree with GoodReads' rating; but the point is I rate books on my scale, not theirs.
Well, I follow the goodreads definition of stars, as that was my intro to ratings. I'm more of a “DNF = F” school of thought…
Val: “So maybe those GR readers who gave some of my books 2-stars REALLY meant they thought it was ok, not memorable but not flawed. I can totally live with that! :D”
Glad I could help, Val! lol
Heidenkind: Does that mean your ratings from your blog are exactly the same as at goodreads? I think that's interesting and I might follow up on that in another post because I do know that some people change theirs to match the goodreads rating descriptors.
Thanks for the idea! 😉
Mariana: While GR wasn't my introduction to ratings, it gells with me better than other systems I have used. Oh, and I'm also in the DNF = F school of thought. 🙂
I don't give grades but I think I would have to agree with Tam. If I give a book a two it's usually a stupid premise that bored me or just a badly written book but a good idea.
Tracy: You're wrong as well. I'm so disappointed in you all.
I'm only just getting to gripes with giving three stars…
Hun, you just need to hang around me a not more. 😛