Classics: More people inclined to read it but don't like it because it doesn't fit their contemporary taste.
YA/Romance slop: Picked up by people who already read just that stuff and who love it.
The rating is skewed by people who were forced to read classics in school and like most people absolutely fricking hated it and then they rate it 1 star. Meanwhile the average YA slop is read by people for having fun and anything that tickles their fancy is given a high score.
The rating is skewed by people who were forced to read classics in school and like most people absolutely fricking hated it and then they rate it 1 star. Meanwhile the average YA slop is read by people for having fun and anything that tickles their fancy is given a high score.
I love ya and romance and this is my rating system. I can finally get a little revenge on all the terrible garbage I was forced to read in school. There was a time I thought I hated reading because I was forced to read so much garbage. Now that I can read whatever I want (sci-fi, fantasy, romance, ya), I'm having a much better time. I read almost every day and have done so for years.
My conjecture is that it's because of women, who generally don't have good taste or very particular tastes. It's also because of pretensious bibliophiles. They review and rate books frequently, applying their bland tastes--that have probably been developed by the zeitgeist/meta of modern writing--vaguely to books that are interesting, causing the interesting books to appear as if they are low-quality in writing.
So, you have a bizarre climate where very highly rated books (~4.30-5.00) are actually trash, and the better, more interesting books are rated lower (~3.50-4.30). Of course, there will probably still be some trash in the 'interesting' range, but definitely more engaging reads than at the very top and very bottom (<3.50).
I've observed the same thing, and it's been very odd. Because now how books are rated seem completely different to how series shows and movies are rated, where you have a broader quality range in series (IMDB 7.5-10) than you do in movies (IMDB 8-10), with there also being much more density in worthwhile shows in series than there is in movies. Even in anime you can at least vaguely trust the ratings of the top rated anime, and the broader range (MAL 7-10).
Ratings are arbitrary to begin with. Most people cannot define what a 5/5 is. Ask one of these "critics" what they define as their favorite book is and how they'd rate it and they'd shrink at giving an honest 5/5 because it would reflect on their taste.
if you cannot define what your 5/5 is, then you shouldn't be writing a review. It's as simple as that. if you engage with a genre and you rate the highest quality works within that genre a 4.6 then you're a philistine posing as an auteur
It ought to be, but it isn't for the average Goodreads user, or reader in general. Take a look at reviews of YA books, it's all women aged 30+ who start reviews Ala "OMG MY HEART CANT TAKE THIS ANYMOREEEEEE!!!" and proceed with enthusiasm to tell about how life-changing the book about a teenage werewolf falling in love with a recluse girl who discovers she's the Chosen One is. It's the 15th book in a row they read with the same theme.
Nietszche was right, general education was a mistake
Yes. Since everyone can read today and literacy isn't a sign of intellect anymore, the average reader is satisfied with simpler books. The star rating speaks of nothing else than what works for most people, not the quality of the piece.
Current rating scales for books are moronic. Nobody can agree on the parameters that make up the scale and nobody uses a 5/10 correctly so why bother. A simple hand emoji system would be much better as a rating scale. Thumbs up, thumbs down, middle finger, flat palm to indicate that you shouldn't read it. I vote for the introduction of the hand system and the disbanding of number or star based systems.
Not a bad idea but what’s the difference between the palm and middle finger? I also think an issue is that it’s hard to give books a fair rating as soon as you’re done with them. Most book I really like (I know what I look for in a book) but it will always be time that separates the wheat from the chaff. How you feel about a book months after you finish it is a more accurate indicator than when you just finished. However it won’t be fresh in your memory for a review..
That is a good point about allowing it to settle in. It is impossible to filter out people on the internet on an open forum in terms of who has sat with the book and who is reviewing just to shit on the book or bandwagon it with no actual interest in leaving a good faith review.
Middle finger means that the book has angered you in some way, palm means you aren't angry but it is not worth going ahead and checking it out.
YA's intentions is to make as much money as possible. They design them to be as generic as possible so generic people will buy and like them. Thus, why the majority of people, the general consumer, gives them 5 stars. Classics intentions on the other hand usually involves giving a message or making the reader think about his life. This doesn't connects with the general comfortist consumer of today, so they under rate them.
Different intelligence brackets prefer different things. Many normal people who were forced to read the classics in school enact their revenge by review bombing them. The same thing would happen in reverse if the more intelligent students were forced to read contemporary junk food genre fiction in order to graduate. This same thing happens with fiction and non-fiction. People, and men especially, oftentimes abandon reading fiction altogether because of how much they hated what they were forced to read in school. Meanwhile these same people will have two or three shelves dedicated to history, politics, religion, science, and technology.
ratings aren't derived from quality, and never will they be.
what determines a rating is branding, and how well the book adheres to its cover. if you pick up a book titled "the word frick once" and in the pages of that most obscure tome you find the word frick, in a desolate empty, it would be a true fulfillment of your every fantasy and prediction of that book, and theyby, a five star rating.
the distinction then clearly becomes one of how old versus new books are marketed, being that newer books are fully intended for the audience they find, and follow their desires with rigor, whereas old, more intellectual book are marketed as cure-alls to psueds who more want to be the type of person who reads such books then to actually read them
tldr: ya is what people expect, classics are different & mislabeled
This is only an issue on popular books or books you are forced to read in school. If someone is reviewing The Recognitions, or So the Wind Won’t Blow it All Away the reader searched those books out, probably know what they like, and you can trust their review more
Classics: More people inclined to read it but don't like it because it doesn't fit their contemporary taste.
YA/Romance slop: Picked up by people who already read just that stuff and who love it.
classics readers are more discerning
Ding ding!
The rating is skewed by people who were forced to read classics in school and like most people absolutely fricking hated it and then they rate it 1 star. Meanwhile the average YA slop is read by people for having fun and anything that tickles their fancy is given a high score.
I love ya and romance and this is my rating system. I can finally get a little revenge on all the terrible garbage I was forced to read in school. There was a time I thought I hated reading because I was forced to read so much garbage. Now that I can read whatever I want (sci-fi, fantasy, romance, ya), I'm having a much better time. I read almost every day and have done so for years.
you triggered me/10
you have an inferiority complex and take it out on books that are above you
True but I can admit I'm a midwit
Based
Vengeance is mine
unironically based.
What a dumb thread.
My conjecture is that it's because of women, who generally don't have good taste or very particular tastes. It's also because of pretensious bibliophiles. They review and rate books frequently, applying their bland tastes--that have probably been developed by the zeitgeist/meta of modern writing--vaguely to books that are interesting, causing the interesting books to appear as if they are low-quality in writing.
So, you have a bizarre climate where very highly rated books (~4.30-5.00) are actually trash, and the better, more interesting books are rated lower (~3.50-4.30). Of course, there will probably still be some trash in the 'interesting' range, but definitely more engaging reads than at the very top and very bottom (<3.50).
I've observed the same thing, and it's been very odd. Because now how books are rated seem completely different to how series shows and movies are rated, where you have a broader quality range in series (IMDB 7.5-10) than you do in movies (IMDB 8-10), with there also being much more density in worthwhile shows in series than there is in movies. Even in anime you can at least vaguely trust the ratings of the top rated anime, and the broader range (MAL 7-10).
Idk why is nothing top rated ever feature length on pornhub?
people who read romance slop already have very low standards
Ratings are arbitrary to begin with. Most people cannot define what a 5/5 is. Ask one of these "critics" what they define as their favorite book is and how they'd rate it and they'd shrink at giving an honest 5/5 because it would reflect on their taste.
if you cannot define what your 5/5 is, then you shouldn't be writing a review. It's as simple as that. if you engage with a genre and you rate the highest quality works within that genre a 4.6 then you're a philistine posing as an auteur
5/5 book is one that changes lives
Example
Jane Eyre
Screwtape Letters.
The Quran.
It ought to be, but it isn't for the average Goodreads user, or reader in general. Take a look at reviews of YA books, it's all women aged 30+ who start reviews Ala "OMG MY HEART CANT TAKE THIS ANYMOREEEEEE!!!" and proceed with enthusiasm to tell about how life-changing the book about a teenage werewolf falling in love with a recluse girl who discovers she's the Chosen One is. It's the 15th book in a row they read with the same theme.
Nietszche was right, general education was a mistake
Yes. Since everyone can read today and literacy isn't a sign of intellect anymore, the average reader is satisfied with simpler books. The star rating speaks of nothing else than what works for most people, not the quality of the piece.
Current rating scales for books are moronic. Nobody can agree on the parameters that make up the scale and nobody uses a 5/10 correctly so why bother. A simple hand emoji system would be much better as a rating scale. Thumbs up, thumbs down, middle finger, flat palm to indicate that you shouldn't read it. I vote for the introduction of the hand system and the disbanding of number or star based systems.
Not a bad idea but what’s the difference between the palm and middle finger? I also think an issue is that it’s hard to give books a fair rating as soon as you’re done with them. Most book I really like (I know what I look for in a book) but it will always be time that separates the wheat from the chaff. How you feel about a book months after you finish it is a more accurate indicator than when you just finished. However it won’t be fresh in your memory for a review..
That is a good point about allowing it to settle in. It is impossible to filter out people on the internet on an open forum in terms of who has sat with the book and who is reviewing just to shit on the book or bandwagon it with no actual interest in leaving a good faith review.
Middle finger means that the book has angered you in some way, palm means you aren't angry but it is not worth going ahead and checking it out.
Read José Ortega y Gasset.
Hes my favorite philosopher
They like them more.
It is what it is.
Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa is highly rated and it's a classic. Though it only has 20k ratings because it hasn't been largely discovered in the west.
GR desperately needs a DNF rating. I just don't rate any books unless I finish them.
YA's intentions is to make as much money as possible. They design them to be as generic as possible so generic people will buy and like them. Thus, why the majority of people, the general consumer, gives them 5 stars. Classics intentions on the other hand usually involves giving a message or making the reader think about his life. This doesn't connects with the general comfortist consumer of today, so they under rate them.
why is mcdonalds a billion dollar business
because most "readers" are university educated liberal white women pretending to be intellectuals.
Different intelligence brackets prefer different things. Many normal people who were forced to read the classics in school enact their revenge by review bombing them. The same thing would happen in reverse if the more intelligent students were forced to read contemporary junk food genre fiction in order to graduate. This same thing happens with fiction and non-fiction. People, and men especially, oftentimes abandon reading fiction altogether because of how much they hated what they were forced to read in school. Meanwhile these same people will have two or three shelves dedicated to history, politics, religion, science, and technology.
Because the scores are accurate. Think you know better? Suck it up.
ratings aren't derived from quality, and never will they be.
what determines a rating is branding, and how well the book adheres to its cover. if you pick up a book titled "the word frick once" and in the pages of that most obscure tome you find the word frick, in a desolate empty, it would be a true fulfillment of your every fantasy and prediction of that book, and theyby, a five star rating.
the distinction then clearly becomes one of how old versus new books are marketed, being that newer books are fully intended for the audience they find, and follow their desires with rigor, whereas old, more intellectual book are marketed as cure-alls to psueds who more want to be the type of person who reads such books then to actually read them
tldr: ya is what people expect, classics are different & mislabeled
This is only an issue on popular books or books you are forced to read in school. If someone is reviewing The Recognitions, or So the Wind Won’t Blow it All Away the reader searched those books out, probably know what they like, and you can trust their review more