Book Rating Scale

The book reviews on this blog will follow the guidelines listed below:

VARIABLES:

• Realism: Can I relate to characters or situations in the book? Not relate personally, as if the exact same events happened to me, but can I relate thoughts, feelings, experiences, and events to my own life, the lives of others, or to what I believe is plausible given the circumstances presented in the text? Does the book have universal appeal?

• Enjoyment: Not to be confused with entertainment. This variable deals with the author’s individual writing style. Did I find pleasure in reading the text? Are there any stylistic features that are intriguing or done very well?

• Entertainment: Not to be confused with enjoyment. Did the book hold my interest? Did I actually care about the characters in the book? (This is a separate idea from realism.) In reading, was I eager to read more until the book’s conclusion? Do I crave more? Am I curious about what happens with the character(s) after the conclusion? For books required as reading either in work or in class: Would I read this book on my own if it was not required reading?

• Impact: Do I feel different after reading this book? Does this book have layers to discuss with other readers? What are the symbols, themes, motifs, and ideas presented in this book? How does this book influence my writing and views?

POINT SCALE:

All variables are on an equal point scale. No variable is judged more important than the others. The point scale is based on a 1 – 10 scale, with 1 the lowest grade and 10 the highest. The sum of the 4 variables is then listed as out of 40; example: 23/40.