So I’ve finally managed to pull over every book from my Goodreads account. It took several weeks and I discovered that several of the reviews left were completely blank or in desperate need of some beefing up. In fact, of the ninety-three drafts I have waiting to be posted, only six of them are truly ready to be posted as of this moment. I have twenty drafts that have my opinions in them, but are in need of some information about the story line or simply more elaboration other than, I hate Nana Mama (which is quite literally, something I said A LOT while reading the Alex Cross novels two years ago.)
So if you’ve kept up with the math, then you realize that leaves sixty-seven drafts. All of which, don’t have a single word written about them. In fact, it turns out I went almost an entire year of just rating the books I was reading without reviewing them. So why am I bothering to reread and write these reviews?
Because as I look back on particular books, such as the Pretty Little Liar books and The Walking Dead comics, I find myself questioning why I rated things the way I did. At least with nearly every Alex Cross book, I had mentioned things I couldn’t stand and what I liked. But as I see three star ratings for Pretty Little Liars, which I remember distinctly disliking and being utterly frustrated with, I don’t understand my rating. Why does a book I know I disliked, have a three star rating, but books in The Walking Dead series, I enjoyed have the same rating? I can’t honestly tell you.
I suppose this all boils down to my issue with a five star rating and even my style of reviewing (or at least what I try to maintain.) I feel a five star rating system limits how much you can truly rate a book. I have very, very few five star ratings. And yet, the majority of my books hold a three star rating. I can’t help this comes from constant need to try and find something positive about a book I have read. The fact is, I typically can at least appreciate what the author was trying to accomplish or if the book itself annoyed me, I can see why others may like it.
So many questions, so little time. Anyways, long story, short: I will be continuing to reread books I’ve read over the past few years, as well as the ones from my childhood and eventually my pre-Goodreads era. And the evidence of this is beginning to present itself in the checkouts I have from the library. Maybe after a time, I’ll reconsider my rating system. But for now, I want to focus on continuing to add my reviews.
This week’s library loot includes:
- The Superior Spiderman by Christos Gage
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer: No Future for You by Joss Whedon
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wolves at the Gate by Joss Whedon
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Time of Your Life by Joss Whedon
- House of Night: Destined by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast (Reread)
- 172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad
- The Secret Circle: The Captive Part 2 & The Power by L.J. Smith (reread)
- Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard (reread)
- Pretty Little Liars: Flawless by Sara Shepard (reread)
- Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (reread)
What did you pick up from the library this week? Or what are you planning on putting on hold? Leave me a comment and let me know!
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