SarahJeanJacket Book Rating Scale

What do you mean no 5 point reviews?!

Book Rating Scale

1: Not for me. Didn’t finish reading it. Will pass my copy along. *Out of respect for the authors, I will not be posting these books. Maybe they are right for other people. If you’re drawn to it, go for it. I don’t want my negative impression to impact your decision to support a book or author.

2: Finished it. Had some problems with it but also had some good things to say. Will pass my copy along.

3: Liked it. It was entertaining. Many good things to say about it. Not compelled to read it again. Might pass my copy along, might keep it.

4: Loved it. Made an impact in my life. Cannot stop thinking about it. Will probably read it again. Will recommend it to anyone who will listen. Earned a place on my bookshelf.

Only 3s and 4s make it onto my bookshelf.

I’ve created a way to rate the books that I read, something objective to put alongside my subjective written reviews. A ten-point scale seemed like there was too much space between the numbers, too many options. And I don’t like the five-point scale for the middle number, the “indifferent” score. The four-point scale wins because it forces me to pick one way or the other: either I liked it or I didn’t like it. It’s simple, easy to understand, and can apply to so many other things. I frequently think of this scale when drinking wine: is this a 2 and I won’t buy it again? Or is it a 3 and I would buy it again? The 1s and the 4s are the easy ones. I know when I really like or really dislike something.

I must be missing my career in coffee because I am craving a scoresheet! I spent years cupping coffee and scoring it on sweetness, acidity, flavor, and balance. Tasting coffee and scoring it revolves around teams of people who frequently taste together and become calibrated on what each score means. Once they reach that point (and are constantly maintaining it), they have a powerful say in quality control and buying decisions. It’s such a cool experience to taste something on your own, come to a conclusion about it, and then calibrate your scores with others. It’s like getting to taste something through someone else’s palate. Ultimately, that is what I would like my book rating scale to become: something with concrete measurements that can spark a discussion with fellow readers. I am very much looking forward to the start of Book Club! Will you read along with us?