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I guess I rate based on my level of enjoyment of the book. A 5star review is evidence that I really enjoyed the book and any errors were minor enough so as not to detract. Books that were 4 starred for me usually were books I really liked but couldn't quite get past the bad editing or the writing style. Sometimes a really great ending or thought-provoking storyline will trump a few errors or a wordy writing style.
Sometimes my reviews are really short- one or two-liners. It's usually because I enjoy reading more than writing reviews, and because I don't enjoy reviews that tell me the entire plot. If a book I'm considering has only 5 star reviews, I am more likely to consider it if the reviewers have some reviews that are less than 5 star reviews. If it's all "best book ever!" type stuff, then I'm way less likely to believe, and may skip the book. Or I may check out amazon, as reviews tend to be less false cheering over there.
I don't think I have any 1 star reviews because those are the books I don't finish and delete. My reviews are not going to win me any accolades, but I only write them to let other readers (and the author) know what I thought.
No, the books I rate as 5 stars may not compare to true classics, but rather to my level of enjoyment. First and foremost, I read fiction to enjoy myself. If it opens my mind to new possibilities or makes me think about life, bonus!
Last edited by GraceKrispy; 08-07-2010 at 03:02 PM.
Reason: Trying new iPod touch and his touch typin is tricky. Did I get all the errors yet?
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