***Please take (most of) this post in good humour***

I was reading a blog post the other day that said that 3 stars out of 5 was a bad review because it is middle of the road. Here’s what I think of the 5 star review system:

(I’m focussing on books here)

1 Star – That was the worst thing that I have ever read! I am now going to gouge my eyes out!

2 Star – I don’t want to gouge my eyes out but I will never get that time back.

3 Star – Meah

4 Star – Wow what a book!

5 Star – OH MY GOD this book has changed my life, it is the best book I’ve ever read!!!!!

Okay so those are the extremes but I do believe that a 3 Star review can be thought of as a bad review because it does not provoke an extreme reaction. As writers we want to stir up the readers emotion and make them get involved in the story and care about the outcome.

I thought I was sold on the idea that a 3 Star story was not good but I’m not so sure. From the writers point of view it says that the reader liked the story but it was forgettable. So it is something to think about for future works.

At the end of the day though its not A 1 Star or a 3 Star or even a 5 Star review that matters. It’s what all of the ratings added together that matters, if ratings matter that is.