I also set up a challenge. It’s a bit of a large challenge … but I’m allowed to count manga. Maybe Goodreads will hold me accountable to my reading goals. And once I get my reading nook … ahhh, to be a comfortable reader again.

I rate pretty generously, because I rate primarily on how I’ve felt about the read and then secondarily about whether I think other people should read. There are definitely books that I loved at the time of reading, and now I see as problematic, so I’m trying to balance the honesty of “well, I liked reading it then but I hate it now, both the writing and what it stands for”.

I’m a lot more critical when I do extended reviews, because I can outline the “pros and cons” and discuss why I don’t like certain things anymore (if it’s an old read). When I’m just straight rating with stars, I don’t want to tank the rating of something just because I don’t like it anymore … or maybe that’s what I’m meant to do? I might have to refine my rating system over time. Maybe I should use specific books as a gauge.

I think I’ll start working on short reviews for books I particularly like as well.

My Goodreads Rating Translator

5 stars – it was amazing (I probably own it and I would happily re-read it)

4 stars – really liked it (would re-read it but there was something specific I couldn’t compromise with)

3 stars – liked it (enjoyed it when I read it but I have a variety of issues with it)

2 stars – it was ok (found some enjoyment but wouldn’t read it again)

1 stars – did not like it (did not like it)