Do Other People’s Rating and Reviews Affect Our Own? // Discussion

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about ratings, and what constitutes a 4 or 3 star rating. It was especially apparent after I finished the Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider.

I liked the book, it was pretty good, I was going to give it a 4 star rating. Then I looked at what other people had to say on Goodreads, and there were a lot of low star ratings. After reading why those people rated the book low, I began to agree with them. And that’s when I stopped to actually think.

If I never read the Goodreads reviews, this book would have been given a 4 stars by me, but after reading those reviews, I gave it a 3.5. Is that fair?

I think that it might be.

Let me explain. A lot of the Outlander books by Diana Gaboldon have low ratings too, but after giving Outlander a 5 stars and going to check the low ratings and reviews, nothing that the reviews said would make me change my mind about my 5 star rating.

People ranted at how much they disliked the book and I ignored them and still went with a 5 star rating.

With the Beginning of Everything however, the bad reviews made me wonder if maybe I should lower my rating…

I guess it depends on how strongly the book made you feel.

With the Beginning of Everything I was struggling between 3 and 4 stars, so the other reviews made up my mind because they pointed out the flaws in the books that I remember thinking while reading, but forgot after finishing.

Outlander on the other hand was an absolute 5 stars in my head, and nothing anyone said could change my mind.

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What about you? Do other people’s reviews or ratings ever change your mind about how you rate a book? Though I’m not exactly proud about this, I think it’s very much true in the book reviewing world at times.

Let’s discuss it!

P.S. I proofread this post! -from Calliope’s annoying friend Jem

P.P.S. Haha, my friend’s initials are J.E.M, like Jem Carstairs, I always find that funny

January 2016 Wrap Up

Welcome to my first 2016 wrap up! For me, I would say that it was a successful reading month of 9 books, though according to goodreads, I am one book behind my scheduled goal of 135 for the year…so we’ll see goodreads, we’ll see.

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The first book I read was Even Angels Fall by F.L. Darbyshire

This book is a heart breaker let me tell you, I gave it a 3.7 out of 5 stars and enjoyed myself more than I thought I would. I do in fact have a review of this one despite my horrible lack of reviews of books I actually did read this month, and you can click here to read that.

Hmm, I think I basically spent this month playing catch up on reviewing books I read in December, but anyways, let’s keep going with this wrap up. (I’m a rambler, what can I say)

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I also read The Unidentified Redhead

This is an adult romance as I usually do read at least one per month (Outlander doesn’t count as a guilty pleasure). I was very disappointed with this one and I would say 2.5 stars because some of the words made me uncomfortable and I thought that the main character was very immature.

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I finally read the Unbound!

I’m excited for the third book to be finally released! But anyway, this one was so full of intense plot and characters and I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars. I also have a review up which you can click here to see

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I also read Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour and the Last Dragonslayer

 

These two books are the books for Battle of the Books this year, the other one being Legend by Marie Lu, but I’m not in that round.

Battle of the Books is this cool library competition and every year I predict that I have already read two of the three books chosen, and I’m always right. I already read Legend and Amy and Roger, but I re-read Amy and Roger because it’s been so long.

Amy and Roger is this epic road trip love story and I gave it a 5 out of 5 on goodreads, and the Last Dragonslayer got a 4 out of 5.

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I finally read another Robyn Schneider book: The Beginning of Everything

I thought this book was a little slow at times and dragged behind on pacing. Also the end was not satisfying AT ALL. So I’m giving this a 3.5 out of stars.

Same thing with this book. It had a great plot but was slightly boring at times, so 3.5 stars.

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So I finally got through this ginormous thing this month! And Drums of Autumn, the next book, just got checked out to me and is even longer! How does Diana come up with enough plot for 9 of these!!?? I’m honestly scared. I’m also seeing a trend. I’ve been reading an outlander book a month. I think this one gets a 4.5 out of stars.

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I received an ARC through a Twitter giveaway! Under the Dusty Moon

This book is out now, and was simply lovely. I did have quite a few things to discuss so you can click here to read my thoughts, but I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars overall.

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And those are the books I’ve read this month! What did you read?

P.S. Grease live is in half an hour, and I wasn’t going to watch it because it’s like 3 hours of my time that I could be doing something else, but twitter had made me give in.

I also just realized that the guy who plays Danny was that guy from Les Miserables who I thought was hot, so bonus right there

3 Days 3 Quotes Challenge (2) Day 2

Once again, I was tagged by Erin @ Breathing in the Pages to do the 3 Days 3 Quotes Tag/Challenge

THE RULES:

1. Thank the person that nominated you

2. Post a quote 3 consecutive days

3. Nominate 3 new bloggers every day

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So today’s quote has to be coming from Outlander. I am absolutely obsessed with it, though I have yet to actually watch the show, (it’s on my February break to do list) I’ve watched so many YouTube clips, think that Sam and Catriona are OTP much like Jamie and Claire, and I am just in love with all things Outlander.

So here it is:

     “Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ!” -Claire  

-Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

 

I just love how headstrong Claire is and how she’s not afraid to say what she wants to say.

Another quote I love is:

“Where did you learn to kiss like that?” I [Claire] said, a little breathless. He grinned and pulled me close again.

“I said I was a virgin, not a monk,” he said, kissing me again. “If I find I need guidance, I’ll ask.”

It was just so adorable how Claire was older than him by like 5 years and more “experienced”. That part of the story line made Jamie more realistic, like yes he’s this king of men but he also has his adorable Jamie quirks.

Can you tell I’m a bit over the moon when it comes to Jamie Frser?

Anyways, I tag:

Sam @ River Moose Reads

Cassidy @ The Little Book Cottage

Bree @ The Literary Hellion

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See ya tomorrow with Day 3!

 

 

The Celebrity Book Tag!

Thank you Ari @ The Daydreaming Bookworm for tagging me to do the Celebrity Book Tag!

1. Emma Watson ~ A book with a hot, kick-butt female character

Is there really any other than Celaena Sardothien? This question was made for her really. Throne of Glass is just such an amazing series. I could also say Hermione Granger, you know, cause she’s awesome AND Emma Watson plays her.

 

2. Ryan Gosling ~ A book with the hottest male character

Um, Ryan Gosling is NOT that hot. Can I say Rowan from Heir of Fire? No, I must choose a different book. Oh duh, Jamie Fraser from Outlander! That smile! Seriously Sam Heughan’s smile is melting and I haven’t even watched the show yet, but I will be in a few weeks!

 

3. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt ~ A book with your favorite fictional book couple

 

Are you kidding!? Claire and Jamie! Rowan and Aelin! America and Maxon are pretty nice as a couple too. Ooh, and Will and Nico! Solangelo are the best!

4. Shailene Woodley ~ Author you’ve recently discovered and loved

 

Ok, I’m done, every question has the answer Outlander and Diana Gabaldon. Let’s go with Becky Albertalli! She wrote Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda.

 

5. Josh Hutcherson ~ Favorite short story or novella

 

Aw, poor Josh Hutcherson getting the height question. But I do have to say that there is a tie between Fairest by Marissa Meyer and Maybe Not by Colleen Hoover.

 

6. Dwayne Johnson AKA The Rock ~ Favorite Big Book (over 500 pages)

Well I would have said Queen of Shadows but I already did Throne of Glass, and I also already did Outlander, so Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix it is.

 

 

7. Leonardio DiCaprio ~ A series with the most upsetting death (NO SPOILERS)

 

Hmph, I said Harry Potter, Throne of Glass, and Outlander already, so I suppose it’s time for The Fault in Our Stars and All The Bright Places.

 

 

8. Kristen Stewart ~ A book you found boring

 

Kristen Stewart is NOT boring. Egg and Spoon is honestly the worst and most boring book I’ve ever read. I thought I would like it since it had Russian fairy tales but it was so bad I nearly didn’t make it to the end, I do not recommend this to anyone.

 

 

9. Ian Somerhalder and his cat ~ Cutest book on your shelf

 

Him and his cat are not that cute…but you know what is!? To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. The cover is cute, the story is cute, the boys are cute, everything is cute! …oh wait I googled Ian and his cat and I have to admit that they’re pretty cute together…

10. Jennifer Lawrence ~ Perfect book or series

Perfect eh? That’s very rare to come by, but I will say that Harry Potter was very near to perfection, and so was Percy Jackson and the Olympians, not the Heroes of Olympus though. Mysterious Benedict Society was great too. Outlander as well as the Winner’s Trilogy. And of course so were most of CoHo’s books. So yes, that is my answer, all of the above!

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Ew Midterms next week with a capital M. I’m praying for a snowstorm like last year to cancel them. 😦