So, WordPress just reminded me that I haven’t published a post for 8 days already. I know, I’m bad at this, but I’m just utterly lazy about updating my blog from time to time. There’s always a time when I post daily, and there’s time when I’m at my mini-hiatus.
Nonetheless, this post is not about that. That’s just a mere introduction to explain why I am gone for over a week. Okay. I have been having trouble reading books because I end up giving the 2 or 3 or 4 stars, and I haven’t given at least a single book with 5 stars. I’m flipping out, and this isn’t completely normal because I’ve given a lot of it last year.
I think I’m just being skeptical at the moment, that’s all. I really want to give the perfect book my very first 5-star rating, and amazingly, just yesterday, I’ve read a book that literally deserves 5 stars. I was actually still being doubtful if I’m going to give it 4 stars or 5, but soon gave it 5 stars.
After four freaking months, I have finally given a book with a 5-star rating. Hallelujah!
How many books have you already rated with 5 stars this year? Comment below and let’s talk about it.
B O O K W O R M A N I A C 
So I actually recently gave up rating books but I do so in my head. I don’t think every book is perfect and as such I don’t force that to be a 5 star. I usually give it a rating depending on how it feels and how it relates to books I’ve read. I usually go with my gut instinct and so far there’s only been two books: lady midnight and queen of shadows.
I think the rating system to too personal to people because it draws on their perspective and experiences and I don’t think it is that transferable.
So for me I’ve currently given up rating my reviews but I keep a personal log just in case I change.
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It’s an automatic for me to rate books after I finish the book, and me rating a book already starts throughout reading a book. And yeah, it’s mostly my gut instincts that tell me to rate books. Also, Queen of Shadows also got my 5 stars last year. Such a great book!
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I don’t rate my books but I grade them instead, but there’s not much difference right? It just makes rating books more simpler for me. I’ve read only one 5 star, well, it’s not even a book but manga named Pandora Hearts 😅
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That’s totally understandable, but I like to rate books. Haha. Never heard of that manga, kind-of rings a bell. I seldom read manga.
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So far, I have seven 5 star reads – which is really generous of me since I really don’t give out that much 5 stars.
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I hope I can be that generous. On a side note, I bought The Great American Whatever. Woo! 🙂
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I feel this post so much. I went through a phase like this from January to the start of March. It’s like that 5 star book is still lurking around the corner and it can’t come soon enough. It’s fun when it does.
But good to hear that you finally dropped that bomb 🙂
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The bomb was totally worth it. I’m glad we share the same phase. It was really hard, but then, it was all worth it.
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It is so hard sometimes to decide on a rating, but when it is a 5 star book to me, it just screams it if that makes any sense haha. I rated maybe 3 or 4 books 5stars so far, and that’s not much because before blogging I used to be a lot more lax with my ratings.
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True, I’m like that before, but as time goes by, my viewpoint changes and I become more critical on what I give on every book.
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The city of heavenly fire, for sure deserves 5 stars!! I loved it!!
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THE FEELS. 😦
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I read City of Bones and was really disappointed. 😦
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What?! Seriously? Can’t believe it! But don’t get disheartened continue the series I am sure later you’ll love it!!
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That’s what everybody says, I’ll try to continue reading soon. 🙂
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I don’t really care for the star system, so usually I just ignore it. My 5 star read may be your 1 star read. I know reviewers who give every book they read 5 stars. The review system is seriously messed up! Good for you for taking a break and and thinking about this!
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It’s hard to believe reviewers who always give every book 5 stars. There may be a bias going on, but you can’t be completely sure that they are bias. Obviously, there’s a hint of it especially when the person is close to the author or something. But as a good and ethical reviewer (lol that’s a lie), I’m trying to keep my opinion honest.
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lol!!! Seriously, this person gives every thing she reads 5 stars! One book had no punctuation and no spacing between words! lol
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I’m in the opposite state lately. I always want to give a book all the stars these days!
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Ahh! I wish I read a lot of 5-star books.
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I tend to give quite a few books higher ratings but that’s because I tend to rate more based on enjoyment rather than actual literary criticism, haha. That’s why I gave the Vampire Academy series 5 stars. I’m getting better about letting my enjoyment affect the actual literary aspects though lol!
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Ah, actually being a reviewer made me inspect all the aspects of the book and critique everything. I might look upon enjoyment, but I need to see some good characters, plot, dialogue and the like. 🙂
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Yeah, I’m doing that more as a blogger but entertainment value tends to weigh a bit heavier in overall rating value, but I’ll definitely point out the weaker points of the story in the review.
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Rating a book is always the hardest part for me but at the end I tend to give 5 stars to books that have really provoked an emotional reaction from me. A Gathering of Shadows is the only book I’ve rated 5 stars this year because the character insight was just so beautifully explored. I always feel like I am being generous with my rating cause I rarely give less that 3 stars to a book but at the end of the day I only read about 40 books and they tend to be ones I know I’m going to enjoy. 😀
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Ha! I wish I could read books that I know I’m going to truly enjoy, but I have a lot of review copies to read and rate, and most of them aren’t really that good. I have yet to read A Darker Shade of Magic and other Victoria Schwab’s books. I need to get on with those. 🙂
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Not many 5 stars from me. A book really has to do something novel with its characters or give me a completely new plot for me to want to max the stars out. But, then again, my wife says I’m pretty stingy in real life, so maybe I’m stingy with stars too. 🙂
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I’m really looking for a book that is a total package of an intriguing plot in a well-executed book with great characters. And a good, detailed world-building for fantasy novels, of course. Hmm, maybe I’m pretty stingy in real life too. Haha!
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I’ve given out one five-star rating this year, and that was to Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. Everything else has fallen into the 3-4 star range, since that’s the most popular for me. I’m very stingy with my 5 stars.
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Simon vs. is amazing, and I gave it 5 stars too if I’m correct. It’s such a cute book. True, I’m being stingy too, it’s really hard for me to give out 5 stars anymore.
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Agreed! It is an incredibly cute book and well worth the 5-stars. I’ve been noticing that a lot of people have been/are stingy with their 5-star ratings. It’s definitely difficult for me as well. I don’t know if it’s me, or hype, or what.
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Just rate what you think is best for you. Don’t let other raters affect you. I just wanted more from Simon vs.’ ending. They’re just too cute.
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I know, right? I needed more goofy-grin-inducing cuteness as well. It was too brief. An epilogue would’ve made me happy, haha.
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So far I’ve rated two books a five star and one book a one star. I never really thought as the year goes by that I haven’t rated that many books 5 stars. I just go with the flow and be thankful if the book I turned out to read is really good 😅
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Ooh! I haven’t rated a book 1 star yet this year, but really not looking forward to do so because I want to read amazing books. A 1-star book will definitely put me in a reading slump.
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So far, all the books I’ve read are worth 5 stars but I just don’t give them it. I don’t know, I’m being skeptical as well, I guess.
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Maybe you just read a lot of great and commendable books. That doesn’t mean you’re not skeptical. You’ll find a bad book eventually. I hope not. Haha!
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Yeah, you’re kinda right. Because I don’t just read random books, I check them first if they have high ratings and if it has a good plot AND a nice cover. 🙂
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I never get scared about not having five-stars for a while, but I do get disappointed. I think I gave out 3 five-stars so far (A Study in Charlotte, The Way I Used to Be, and Thanks for the Trouble). However, on Goodreads, I might’ve given out 5-7, since I tend to round-up on half-stars. There are some people who always have five-stars, and I am definitely not one of those people. I like to have a range of books; even if the book is bad, it shows me what I like or don’t like.
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I’m those people you’re talking about last year. Gladly, my perspective wholly changed. I finally found the critic in me. Haha! I’m still yet to find my second 5-star book!
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I feel u Justine! I haven’t given out a 5star rating in a while (mind you I’m suffering from a bit of a reading slump) but it still sucks. It’s like where are all the 5star books at?!
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Oh! I hope you get out of that reading slump soon. Finding the perfect book is a tough one. I hope it finds you soon. 🙂
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Thank you Justine! ❤
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5 star rating is pretty common with me – that and 4.5\5 (is that an actual rating? I was never sure on that)
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I try to avoid the decimals on my rating, and always estimate mine. I don’t know why, but sometimes, I do want some decimals. Though I’m trying to keep it a whole number as it is.
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Very rarely do I give 5 stars, but the ones I do give it to have a special quality about them for me. It’s usually because the character or something about it touched me in a very unique way.
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True! It has to be a total package! 🙂
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