“How I Rate My Books Using Candy Bars” by Celia Yeary – Fifth Stop on the 2011 Summer Blog-String Fest

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“How I Rate My Books Using Candy Bars” by Celia Yeary – Fifth Stop on the 2011 Summer Blog-String Fest

July 21, 2011 by reginaandrews

Today I am thrilled to host author Celia Yeary to the 2011 Summer Blog-String Fest! Celia is a multi-published author, candy lover and overall delightfully funny, talented friend. Welcome, Celia!

How I Rate Books Using Candy Bars

Celia Yeary

Sometimes I review a book written by a friend, acquaintance, or fellow author on my blog, but I never feel comfortable assigning numbers, stars, or whatever. Although anyone can review books, I’ll leave the rating system to the professionals, and possibly to those who review books independently on a regular basis. I have no quarrel with that.

I do have a system or two, though, but I only voice the ratings to myself. One system is by descriptive words, and since they may be a little over-the-top for this lovely blog, I’ll describe my Candy Bar System instead.

Before I offend anyone by using her favorite candy bar as a One, just let me remind you that we don’t all like the same books. Remember—one man’s trash is another man’s treasure; or one reader’s two-thumbs down is another reader’s two thumbs up. Okay?

Celia’s Book Rating System: (the number denotes the review if one were using numbers, a 5 being the top rating)

(5) ALMOND JOY—My favorite! Deep, dark, rich, a sweet intriguing middle, and two nuts to anticipate. You don’t get the same thing in every bite. Perfect, one to return to again and again.

(4) PAYDAY—Perfect blend of sweet and salty, a chewy center that lasts, and crunchy peanuts. Something to sink your teeth into and savor.

(3) HERSHEY’S ALMOND JOY—A little too much of a good thing, lacks imagination, but still yummy.

(2) KRACKLE—Pale, filled with air, unsatisfying, finish as fast as you can—or give away.

(1) MILKY WAY—too sweet, same throughout, lacks surprises, a little too boring.
~*~*~*~
Some very good ratings I’ve received recently:
The Stars at Night (Desert Breeze)-an ALMOND JOY!
Crystal Lake Reunion (Whiskey Creek Press)-an ALMOND JOY!
Texas True (Desert Breeze)-an ALMOND JOY!

See how much more fun this is?
How would you rate books other than stars?
Thank you for reading–
Celia Yeary-Romance…and a little bit ‘o Texas

http://www.celiayeary.blogspot.com

http://www.celiayeary.com

http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.com

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Posted in Celia Yeary, Desert Breeze, faith, faith, inspirational romance, love, Regina Andrews, romance, sweet, Texas; candy bars; chocolate; ratings; humor;essay; perspective;, Westerns | Tagged candy bars, Celia Yeary, chocolate, essay, humor, inspirational romance, perspective, ratings, suspense, sweet, Texas, Westerns | 40 Comments

40 Responses

on July 22, 2011 at 12:18 pm | Reply Miss Mae

Well, Celia, I hadn’t thought about it before, but you know, that is an excellent way to rate! By cracky, I think you have a hit!

Hmm, I love Reese’s peanut butter cups…what could I say about that? “Combines the smoothness of chocolate with the correct peanutty blend of melt-in-your-mouth substance” ? LOL
- on July 22, 2011 at 2:30 pm | Reply Celia Yeary
  
  MISS MAE-By Cracky? You must have been born where I was! Or a similar place. How could I forget Reese’s Peanut Butter cups? That could be your top rating! It’s one of my favorites and I completely forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder…gotta find my grocery list….Celia
on July 22, 2011 at 1:08 pm | Reply reginaandrews

Miss Mae, I’m with you – the allure of RPBCs is nearly irresistible! I just thought this was the coolest idea that Celia had, too. Thanks so much for stopping in.
on July 22, 2011 at 1:11 pm | Reply reginaandrews

Welcome, Celia, and thank you for hopping on the 2011 Blog-String fest bandwagon with this fantastic post Dare I say yummy? My next ms is due 9/1 and I will keep ‘Almond Joy’ as my objective, and try to avoid a Milky Way at all costs. Thanks for visiting!
- on July 22, 2011 at 2:32 pm | Reply Celia Yeary
  
  Regina–I have no doubt you’ll rate an Almond Joy! I hope I haven’t offended anyone with the Milky Way rating–I’ve just liked them-see? It’s like books–I like and enjoy certain genres, and other genres I just ignore. We all have different tastes. Celia
on July 22, 2011 at 1:32 pm | Reply Stephanie Burkhart

Celia, what a yummy rating system. Can I rate using penatly kicks *grin* ?

Seriously, I’d probably rate according to moons.

Full Moon – (5) Totally awesome book.
Gibbous Moon (4) Very solid book, worth putting on your bookshelf, but it had that missing quality (for me) which makes it totally awesome.
Half Moon (3) worth putting on your bookshelf. The writing is technically solid but the story didn’t sell me.
Cresent Moon (2) All right. Story didn’t sell me. Some grammar mistakes.
New Moon (1) Not so good book. Loads of mechanical errors, creativity isn’t there, no solid plot, characters are yawn worthy.

Smiles
Steph
- on July 22, 2011 at 2:34 pm | Reply Celia Yeary
  
  Steph–you know–you have an excellent idea! The moon things could go with the genres you write and like–Remember that–maybe one day you’ll have your own reviewing website. Celia
- on July 24, 2011 at 4:54 pm | Reply reginaandrews
  
  Steph, I love your system! Thanks for popping in
on July 22, 2011 at 1:48 pm | Reply LK Hunsaker

Love this! Of course, I’m a confirmed chocoholic and I also don’t like to give stars, or I’d at least prefer a 10 star system to 5 so it gives me more play.

Congrats on your Almond Joys!
- on July 24, 2011 at 4:55 pm | Reply reginaandrews
  
  Hi Loraine, so nice to hear from a fellow chocoholic Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting
on July 22, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Reply Nancy Naigle

I love this rating system!! Fun and yummy — like all my favorite books.
Hugs and happy reading,
Nancy
- on July 22, 2011 at 6:40 pm | Reply Celia Yeary
  
  NANCY–thanks for coming by. A book is like a box of chocolates, isn’t it? Celia
- on July 24, 2011 at 5:15 pm | Reply reginaandrews
  
  Hi Nancy, we SO totally agree – not much is better in life than books and candy! Hugs
on July 22, 2011 at 2:37 pm | Reply Celia Yeary

Loraine–I also adore chocolate, but notice the PayDay–I’d eat my weight in those if I could. But they’re not the top of my list-just really satisfying.
There’s an idea–a ten star rating. I think that’s an excellent idea. I believe some of the ratings on movie sites–old or new–use ten stars. Celia
on July 22, 2011 at 3:35 pm | Reply Danielle Thorne

Great rating system. Would you review my books? LoL But I want the candy bars after!!!
- on July 22, 2011 at 3:45 pm | Reply Celia Yeary
  
  Danielle–oh, you just want the candy! I know a sweet tooth girl when I see one. Celia
- on July 24, 2011 at 4:57 pm | Reply reginaandrews
  
  Oh Danielle, I’m with you…chocolate – any time, any place any reason! Ratings make the chocolate SO legit
on July 22, 2011 at 4:50 pm | Reply Joyce Henderson

Clever thou art, Celia When I write a review, very seldom I might add, I don’t “rate” as is standard procedure. What I “say,” hgh praise or take it or leave it, says it all.
- on July 22, 2011 at 6:42 pm | Reply Celia Yeary
  
  JOYCE–oh, how I wish we had this system. These stars bother me sometime, wondering if it’s a true system. Like anything else, though, it’s the best we have. I don’t intend to write reviews, but I seem to be doing it anyway! Thanks for your comment, Celia
- on July 24, 2011 at 4:58 pm | Reply reginaandrews
  
  Hi JOyce, nice to hear from you and thanks for stopping in today Love your rating approach, too.
on July 22, 2011 at 6:53 pm | Reply Laurean Brooks

CELIA, I’m on day 32 of a no-carb-no-fat diet and this post may be my downfall. I’m drooling as I type, chocoholic that I am.

I’ll take all 5 candy bars….ple-e-as-se! LOL,

Great idea for review symbols…if I weren’t sugar-free at the moment.

BTW I’ve lost 14 lbs in 32 days, so I guess it’s worth the sacrifice. Did I just say that? LOL.
- on July 22, 2011 at 8:03 pm | Reply Celia Yeary
  
  Laurean–I did not mean to tempt you. But you’re doing the right thing–it’s mostly carbohydrates in the form of sugar, sugar, sugar..or foods that instantly turn to sugar. Keep it up–I’m proud of you! Celie
- on July 24, 2011 at 4:59 pm | Reply reginaandrews
  
  Laurie, my friend, you always make me smile – and wow! You go girl, congas on your accomplishment. The chocolate isn’t really that good, you’re not missing a thing! xoxox
on July 22, 2011 at 7:44 pm | Reply Barbara Robinson

I like your candy bar system, but when I post reviews to Amazon and B&N, I have to give them a number Love your descriptions. And one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, that’s for sure! Blessings, BJ
- on July 22, 2011 at 8:06 pm | Reply Celia Yeary
  
  Barbara–I know–that’s what I hate about posting reviews on Amazon or Goodreads. I just don’t like to deal with those stars and number. But our lives sort of revolve around those, don’t they?
  Yes, I do wish a reviewer had some way to say–this wasn’t the kind of book I like, and I found a few errors, but this may just be the perfect book for you! But no one says that.
  Say I read a book, and say Wow! I loved that book! And I tell my friend. She reads it and says…I don’t know what you saw in that book….etc. We all have different tastes. Celia
- on July 24, 2011 at 5:02 pm | Reply reginaandrews
  
  Hi Barb, so good to hear from you and thank you for stopping in and commenting. I think A and B&N could use a bit of ‘refined’ sweetening in their ratings system lol Celia’s definitely on to something! Blessings
on July 23, 2011 at 1:58 am | Reply Naomi Musch

That is seriously the most creative, and likely least offensive, rating system I’ve ever heard of. I love it!
Blessings~
Naomi
- on July 23, 2011 at 3:01 pm | Reply Celia Yeary
  
  Glad you liked it, Naomi. Thanks! Celia
- on July 24, 2011 at 5:10 pm | Reply reginaandrews
  
  Hi Naomi, I’m with you totally, Celia has created the world’s most diplomatic system ever! Thanks for stopping in and commenting!
on July 23, 2011 at 3:15 pm | Reply Anne Patrick

Awesome rating system, Celia! And congrats on your Almond Joy reviews!
- on July 23, 2011 at 9:47 pm | Reply Celia Yeary
  
  Thanks, Anne–yeah, those Almond Joy reviews are Sweeet! Celia
- on July 24, 2011 at 5:04 pm | Reply reginaandrews
  
  Hi Anne, thanks for popping in, my friend, and ‘sweetening’ the comment pot (sorry)! Hugs
on July 23, 2011 at 9:14 pm | Reply Maggie Toussaint

Sounds like a sweet deal to me. Even if a book wasn’t your fave it would still be full of chocolately gooodness. Yum. Now I’m craving chocolate and Pay Days.
- on July 23, 2011 at 9:48 pm | Reply Celia Yeary
  
  Maggie–the good thing about rating with candy bars is that there’s no such thing as a bad one–same for books? Celia
- on July 24, 2011 at 5:05 pm | Reply reginaandrews
  
  Oh Maggie, Pay Days!! Ultimate! Thanks for stopping by and commenting
on July 23, 2011 at 11:33 pm | Reply Author Linda Weaver Clarke

This was great. I laughed and laughed. You have a great system, Celia.
- on July 24, 2011 at 5:19 pm | Reply reginaandrews
  
  Hi Linda – so great to hear from you, thanks for stopping in! I laughed, too. Then I got up and had a KitKat! lol
- on July 25, 2011 at 12:32 am | Reply Celia Yeary
  
  Linda!! I’m so glad you found me here on Regina’s blog. Oh, yeah, anything to do with chocolate has to be good. Thanks so much for dropping by. Celia
on July 24, 2011 at 5:23 pm | Reply reginaandrews

Hi Celia, thanks so much for your innovative and oh-so-mouth-watering post! It was so nice of you to stop in and join the 2011 Blog-String Fest! Good luck with your books and thanks again for your delicious idea!
Hugs,
Regina
- on July 25, 2011 at 12:33 am | Reply Celia Yeary
  
  REGINA– I can’t thank you enough. This was fun–I’m so glad I signed on to do your blog fest. Good luck, God bless, and keep on smiling! Celia