Rating Standards for Book Reviews

             In case you are wondering how I rate the book reviews posted in this blog, here is where I base my unbiased yet sometimes subjective judgement. Take note that number one serve as the lowest rating while ten is the highest. 

1. Execrable. Possibly fit for lining cages. Only a truly bad book should ever get a 1, and the review should justify this well.
2. A thoroughly bad book, but not perhaps quite so bad as to deserve a 1.
3. A "3" book might have flashes of good, but is one you're disappointed with in most respects
4. Mediocre; it may have some redeeming qualities, but they're overshadowed by the flaws, or is simply mis-aimed. A book might rank a "4" but still be worthwhile for particular readers.
5. Neither terrible nor terribly good, but with enough good points to make it useful for a fair number of readers.
6. Decent and useful (or enjoyable), but difficult to strongly recommend for reasons outlined in the review; run of the mill.
7. A good book; better than merely adequate, though not outstanding.
8. Very good.
9. Outstanding, but with enough shortcomings that a perfect score would be stretching things.
10. Excellent; unsurpassed in its niche, a classic work. A review which makes a book sound merely Good should not be paired with a "10" rating.

* This rating standard is based on the standards written by Slashdot. 

Maybe you noticed that part of the reviews, I also included the ratings of the story, plot, feels, entertainment, and characters.

For the story,I rate them on the substance the novel delivered all through out. If moral lessons are taught to the readers it is a plus. If the story is unique and rare, it is another plus. 

For the plot, well it is more on how the author moved the readers. How he/she transported readers into other dimensions or other perspective. The better and the more effective, the higher the rating.

For the feels, I rate the book on how it touches the readers feeling. Does it make us smile? Cry? Or does it irritates us?  A higher rating in the feels does not automatically mean the book is good. Sometimes I rate them high because I felt very angry after reading it. If you know what I mean.

For the entertainment, I rate the books action, thrill, drama and the overall entertainment. Of course it already includes the plot, the story and the feels. This is more general than the last three but this one also considers the authors ability to deliver a cinematic appeal in his/her novel.

And lastly, for the characters. This rating focuses on how outstanding the characters are mentioned in the novel. If it was portrayed with excellence and if it was defined thoroughly. I always rate the characters rating section very high to  books with characters that are unforgettable, or shall we say, characters that will stick in the readers mind even weeks after reading  the novel. 

The Order

Each book review will start with a synopsis, which will be in an italic form, and the front cover of the book at the right side. Previous versions of my books reviews started with the ratings but I decided a while ago that I will place the ratings after the review itself. Some reviews had videos at the bottom and even pictures to add some atmosphere to the post.