pip wrote:Always interested to hear what others get from each book to be honest Q.
Theres a few bits i hadn't thought of so always worth a read.
While the guys point about biased marking is slightly true this blog is one persons marks so they are consistent so even if only half the scale is used its clear which he thinks are the stronger and weaker books for him.
I'd say keep going. Tony, maibe and a few others seem to have enjoyed reading them anyway.
Okay, okay. Sorry, I lost my temper. I don't take criticism very well, especially if it's on a system that works for me. I've been refining my ratings system over the past two years, I know how to rate books.
Tonyblack wrote:Q, I can see what people are saying about your rating system. It seems to me that you are rating the books using a system based of the best ever book you've read compared to the worst - and that's based on all books, not Pratchett ones.
If you based them purely on DW books with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best, it would make for a clearer indication of your feelings about the books. And it would give you more numbers to score with.
If I use the scoring system that I have worked with over the past couple of years, it means less trying to reshape my own instinctive way of assigning the scores. The major problem with the score is bias, I admit, but I generally don't attempt to read books that I'm not going to like anyway. It takes time for me to branch out into new things. For every Vorkosigan Saga, there is a
Twilight or an
Atlas Shrugged.
Tonyblack wrote:I'd like to see you continue with this. It can be a rewarding experience to read a series in this way. I found this was the case with the Sharpe books. The chances are that some of us won't agree with everything you say, but that's only to be expected. We are all individuals ("YES! WE ARE ALL INDIVIDUALS!!") and we will all have our own take on the books.
I would suggest that you post your assessments, allow people to respond but avoid getting into a discussion about the responses. Maybe add a disclaimer at the start: "These are my views of this book. You may disagree with me, but this is how I see the."
I don't disagree with people discussing what I actually said in the review itself. Your assessment of my linking TCOM and G!G! was very welcome, Tony. I was pissed about the scale being criticised.
Tonyblack wrote:And you might also consider changing the rating system or dropping it. But please do consider continuing. I for one will enjoy reading your comments, even if I don't agree with them.
I will seriously consider dropping the ratings system. No way in hell I can change it.
Willem wrote:Hold on: if you decide to not post any reviews, it's
your decision, don't blame us for stopping you. You should know by now that people here go off on tangents everywhere. It just so happened that I found your rating system a more interesting topic than your reviews (again, because I don't care much about fan reviews).
Don't ask me if you should continue or not. Ask yourself. However, be warned that there will be comments on any reviews and not always one that you find useful. Often you will find them pointless. Often, you'll be right
My advice for what it's worth: don't take things too personally, especially things posted by random strangers on the internet. Us random strangers be pretty crazy! However, when reacting to posts you think are pointless, try and use a bit more tact. For example, you replying with 'Your point?' works as a red rag on a bull for some. If you'd said something like 'Thanks for your comments but I'll stick with my original plan' you'd avoid that, especially if you stick on a colourful smiley
Putting 'Your point?' is really begging me to reply.
Yeah, well, I lose my temper fairly easily when I am being criticised without (to me, anyway) due cause. I get touchy when people criticise my work, as I am my own worst critic (which was why I had to drop out of the Terry Pratchett Prize competition, but that's another story), and I don't need anyone else's criticism in a place where it isn't wanted. I take it personally because it feels like my character and integrity is being criticised for having a biased scale. Having it criticised by random strangers worsens it more than if it was done by friends or family, because at least friends or family would understand my reaction, and I would be able to take it from them.
If you wished to actually comment on some of my reasoning in the review itself, or pick up on something that I missed, fine, I will accept that happily. That sort of criticism I will take on board and discuss, as it will be the first time that I will be reviewing the Discworld series fully.
By the way, isn't a tact something you use to pin stuff to the wall with? You must have some strange proclivities if you want me to use more spiky things in my posts...
