I use a modified CAWPILE system for rating my books. If you want to learn more about why I use the system and how I modified it, check this post.
Fiction system
Fiction books are rated using a 5 star rating system. DNF (Did Not Finish) titles, are given an automatic 1 star so they can be rated on sites such as Goodreads or Amazon, as they don’t allow for a zero star rating.
Books are rated using the following formula:
=SUM(Character*2,Atmostphere,Writing*2,Plot*3,Intrigue,Logic*2,Entertainment*3,Dialogue)/15Each category is rated using a 1-10 scale and then added into the formula.
- Characters: x2 – This is how constant and well rounded the characters are. The only exception to this rule, is with variations. I read a lot of Pride and Prejudice variations. With these, I rate how close the characters are to canon on a 1-5 scale and then how constant and well represented on another 1-5 scale. This is then added together to form the 1-10 scale for the formula.
- Atmosphere – Atmosphere covers world building and how the background of the story feels.
- Writing: x2 – Writing covers the general flow and build up of the story, as well as how lost into the story’s world I am able to stay.
- Plot: x3 – Plot covers the story idea and it’s construction
- Intrigue – Intrigue is mostly used with thrillers/mysteries, but I also treat it to rate the drama/angst levels.
- Logic: x2 – Logic is how much sense things make. Even when it’s a fantasy concept, I think about how much the magic system makes sense or how much the mythological creatures are represented. How well can I suspend reality.
- Entertainment: x3 – Obviously how much I enjoyed the story. This is my gut impulse rating.
- Dialogue – I like the dialogue to be natural sounding and in character. Monologues just don’t do it for me, so that can knock off points. This also covers any thoughts the characters might have.
The CAWPILED ratings are shown at the bottom of all review posts, and include the category numbers from the formula.
CAWPILED
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8.33 |
| C | A | W | P | I | L | E | D | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||||||
Star ratings are calculated based on the following scale:
| Stars | Point Rating |
| ☆ | 0.1 – 2.2 |
| ☆☆ | 2.3 – 4.3 |
| ☆☆☆ | 4.4 – 6.7 |
| ☆☆☆☆ | 6.8 – 8.7 |
| ☆☆☆☆☆ | 8.8 – 10 |
Nonfiction
rating system incoming.