Not the Best at Rating Books
As a member of the free community at GoodReads.com, one of the activities that I enjoy is being able to share my review of a book with others and engaging in conversations about the reading experience.
Writing a review about a book you've read is optional, as is rating the book from one to five stars. I may not write a review each time, but I do always provide a rating. The issue for me is, if I don't like a book, I'm not going to read it to the end. I'll give it a few chapters to grab my interest, but beyond that, it's a no-go.
On the site, a three-star rating indicates "liking" a book, with stars in either direction more or less so. I will never give a book I've read to completion anything less than three stars, or why would I have read it in the first place? As for books I don't read completely, I don't feel it's fair for me to rate them at all. My book ratings, therefore, will always be three or more stars.
Since my shelves at GoodReads help me to keep track of the books I've read, I've not known where to file the titles I've begun to read but didn't hold my interest. I'm just going to create a new shelf for these books.
How about you? Do you stick with a book once you've begun reading it, no matter what? Or like me, do you give it a chance to grab your attention, then put it away if it doesn't?
FOPP - BookRating - RatingBooks - ReadingHabits
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Comments
melody23 wrote on October 9, 2015, 2:08 PM
I haven't read much for fun over the last three years with reading so much for uni but usually I am exactly like you, if a book doesn't grab my interest in a few chapters its a no go for me. I actually have a pile of books that I have accumulated over the last three years because I kept picking up things I wanted to read but then couldn't face actually reading them since reading has been work for the last three years, I really need to get a start on them soon.
1CoralLevang wrote on October 9, 2015, 2:23 PM
I try to read. I give it a chance, but sometimes, it gets shelved for months, if not years.
1Feisty56 wrote on October 9, 2015, 2:28 PM
I can imagine pleasure reading during your years at university had to take a back seat. Now, though, you're through with that and can read to your heart's content.
Feisty56 wrote on October 9, 2015, 2:33 PM
Not everyone enjoys reading for one reason or another. I wonder if audio books might be more suited to your tastes. When I had a fairly long commute to and from work, I listened to audio books much of the time.
JohnRoberts wrote on October 9, 2015, 3:17 PM
When I select a book, it's pretty much something I want to read or at least sounds promising. There are many disappointments but I have the compulsion to finish what I start. I would give less than 3 stars to many books.
1wolfgirl569 wrote on October 9, 2015, 5:37 PM
If I am not into it after about 3 chapters I just chuck it. I am not going to remember what I read anyways
16snowroses.6doves4peace wrote on October 9, 2015, 5:40 PM
I'm better at rating some books than others. I've been in that situation where I'll start a book, but not be able to finish it because it bores me. Or sometimes, as not too long ago, because of the subject matter. Not long ago, I finished a really great book called FIVE DAYS LEFT by Julia Timmer Lawson. I highly recommend it.
1Feisty56 wrote on October 9, 2015, 8:20 PM
I'm a fairly compulsive person myself, but unless I have no other reading material available to me, I can't seem to make myself get through a book I don't enjoy reading. Perhaps if I stuck it out I would eventually grow to like it -- something I'll have to work on in the future.
Do you happen to be a member at Goodreads? I'd be interested in reading some of your reviews there.
Feisty56 wrote on October 9, 2015, 8:22 PM
I recently read more than 100 pages into a book for which I'd read rave reviews. I continued my reading thinking I'd find the story more interesting if I just kept going. It didn't happen. It's funny, though, because my compulsion to finish what I start keeps nagging at me. I may revisit the book in the future.
Feisty56 wrote on October 9, 2015, 8:25 PM
Thanks for the book recommendation -- I'm going to put it on my "Want to Read" shelf. : ) Are you a member at Goodreads? It's a totally free site that you might enjoy if you're a reader, which I'm guessing you are. Folks there not only read books, but listen to the audio books, too.
wolfgirl569 wrote on October 9, 2015, 10:57 PM
I am never bothered by that thankfully, it just goes in the trash or to good will when I give up
1Paulie wrote on October 10, 2015, 4:37 AM
When I was in high school, I remember having to read "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens and write a book report about it. I didn't like the book after getting into it and after I finished it my book report was very poor. I had no choice but to read through the whole book.
1JohnRoberts wrote on October 10, 2015, 7:56 AM
No, I am not a member of Goodreads. I have checked it out but I am not interested in it.
1Feisty56 wrote on October 10, 2015, 10:35 AM
Time is precious -- that's a practical way of looking at it and deciding how we want to spend our unscripted moments.
Feisty56 wrote on October 10, 2015, 10:38 AM
Ah yes, reading assignments! There one had no choice but to read the entire book, especially because back then, other than Cliff Notes, there was no way to get around it. I never took the Cliff Note route, always sure I would be found out.
Rufuszen wrote on October 10, 2015, 1:04 PM
I am hopeless at reviewing books. If a book doesn't maintain its hold on my attention, then I do tend to drop them
1Colibry21 wrote on October 10, 2015, 2:13 PM
I do try to give books a chance. Although some books just don't grab my attention, and it's hard for me to continue to the end. I will try to read at least the first few chapters.
1Feisty56 wrote on October 10, 2015, 3:08 PM
I've read quite a few reviews written by others and realize mine pale in comparison, so I just do the best I can to give someone else an idea to help him/her determine whether they want to give the book a go or not.
1Feisty56 wrote on October 10, 2015, 3:10 PM
Yes, I do try to give a book the chance to catch my interest, but if I'm not there by 100 pages or so in, it's not happening.
msiduri wrote on October 10, 2015, 5:48 PM
I like goodreads, though there's a limit. I don't get too involved in the different groups, but I write reviews, link reviews to Examiner and also Person Paper.
1Paulie wrote on October 11, 2015, 4:39 AM
I never took the Cliff Notes route either. If I had in a college lit course, I probably would have gotten at least a B instead of a C.
paigea wrote on October 13, 2015, 2:53 PM
It would have to be pretty bad before I would stop reading it.
1Feisty56 wrote on October 13, 2015, 3:20 PM
I'd not thought about linking the reviews there to here or elsewhere -- good idea. I have joined one group, but not active in it really. I'm not very "verbal" on any social media, preferring instead to read and glean info.
Feisty56 wrote on October 13, 2015, 3:31 PM
You must be a passionate reader!
allen0187 wrote on October 20, 2015, 1:53 AM
I stick to a book to the end even if it doesn't quite interest me early on. It is developing the discipline to finish a started task that actually motivates me to go on.