Letās talk about reviews.
Specifically, those little stars we hand out like candyāor like darts, depending on our mood. Iāve been meaning to write this for a while, because I think the 5-star system is due for a gentle, loving takedown renovation. Or at least, a retake.
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First things first: I do not leave 1 or 2 star reviews. Ever.
(Well maybe if the dog dies.)
Why? Because I know how much work goes into writing a book. Even the ones I donāt connect with. Even the ones I donāt finish. Someone stayed up late for that book. They sacrificed time, sanity, and probably some friendships. So unless a book is actively harmful, or damagingly offensive, Iām not rating it below 3. Thatās my personal ethic as both a reader and a writer.
Hereās how my system works, letās call it, the Simat-Star-Spangle:
āļøāļøāļø (3 stars)
A neutral rating. I didnāt love it, didnāt hate it. Iām heavily considering that it might not be for meāand hey, maybe I wasnāt the target audience. Maybe, not everything is written for meā¦shocking. Maybe something went over my head, probably something went over my head. Maybe Iām just not that cool or that smart.
Thatās not your problem. So what you will get from me is constructive feedback, written in love, and not a feral rant because the book didnāt satisfy me. I mean it didnāt, but Iām not here to whine about it. I want to be a good literary citizen.
āļøāļøāļøāļø (4 stars)
I recommend the book. I enjoyed it. It gave me something. However, there are one (or two) areas that, in my humble reader-writer eyes, could be strengthened. I say this with respect and encouragement, not superiority. I say this in solidarity, that it is very hard to get it purfict.
āļøāļøāļøāļøāļø (5 stars)
YAYAY! I recommend it wholeheartedly! I want others to read it!
But letās be clear: 5 stars does not mean itās perfect. It just means itās something special, and I endorse it. Because frankly, this whole 5-star metric is too crude to reflect perfection. But 5-stars can mean that Iām still thinking about your story three weeks later, and I absolutely am subscribing to your substack, and I am buying whatever you are selling. High-FIVE!
Maybe one day weāll get a 10-star system, and there will be room for a little nuance. Regardless of star count, when I leave a review, itās not an outlet to punish (unless Fido was murdered), or warning others of the peril of the bad book, or a stage to show how smart I am based off my critique, but rather, itās about engaging, being a part of a community, and honoring the craft.
āāāāš
I thought I'd share my 1-ā coffee maker review from this morning.
"This is the worst coffee maker you could imagine. I just threw mine in the yard. Save yourself a headache and spend five more dollars on one that will make coffee."
For the record, I did buy the cheapest one...ššš¤·āāļø