Our group's vibe changed completely after we dropped the star rating system.

For about two years, we ended every meeting by giving the book a number from one to five. It was quick, but it made people shut down if they gave a three and someone else gave a five. Last month, our leader, Sarah, said we should stop. Now we just talk about what worked or didn't for us, without a grade. The difference is huge. People are way more open about why a character annoyed them or a plot twist felt cheap, because they aren't defending a score. Last week, discussing 'Piranesi', we had a real talk about loneliness that would have been impossible before. Has your club ever tried ditching ratings to get better talks?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_sarah1mo ago

So what do you do when someone still really hated the book?

anthony451mo ago

Honestly, I just let it go. My cousin still brings up how much he hated that one famous book about the whale every Thanksgiving, and we've all just accepted it's part of his personality now. Some opinions are set in stone, and arguing about it is like trying to teach a cat to fetch. You end up tired and the cat just looks at you.

gracem3229d ago

Oh man, my uncle does that with the movie Titanic! He says the door was big enough, and now we just let him have it.