MembreWilloyd

About My Library

Books include those in my library, those I've read since 2003, and some of those from before then.

I personally use a 7-star rating system, with the top level reserved for books that particularly resonate for me for one reason or another (and need not necessarily be 'great' books); I've fitted this in to try and fit the more conventional 5-star system used by LT, and taken advantage of half grades to differentiate within my personal ratings. This is very much my reaction to a book, not necessarily how 'good' a book is (some highly regarded books in the lower categories!). In terms of fiction I generally prefer books that are strong on character and/or place, and am not a fan of plot driven fiction (thrillers etc!).

5 stars: a favourite (6+ star in my ratings)
4.5 excellent, but doesn't quite make a favourite, even if sometimes can't really tell why! (6 star)
4 stars: very good, pretty much unputdownable or provides real insight (5 star)
3.5 stars: good - the first tier which is 'compulsive' (even if perhaps not quite unputdownable) (4-star)
3 stars: OK, but doesn't demand to be picked up once put down. See note below about non-fiction books (3-star)
2 stars: disappointing, or not particularly liked even if can recognise their merits. Often not finished. (2-star)
1 star: positively dislike, sometimes even wondering why anybody would want to read them! Rarely finished, and rarely a book I've chosen to read - most of the books in this category are book group choices! (1-star)

I don't usually rate reference/text books used as such, but 3* has come to include non-fiction books, read as continuous books, which have been perfectly functional, decently written, and have provided the information/knowledge wanted, but where this has perhaps prioritised function over literary engagement!

Notes on history/biography time spans. Inevitably these are British history related:
Ancient: anything prior to the retreat of Rome from Britain (c.450AD)
Medieval: from then until the end of the Wars of the Roses (1485)
16C-17C: 1485-1714, i.e. Tudors and Stuarts (or until United Kingdom created, first half of Early Modern)
18C: 1714-1837, i.e. male Hanoverians, second half of Early Modern
19C: 1837-1914, i.e. Victorian-Edwardian, Imperial age
20C: 1914 onwards, with 2 subsets: World Wars and Postwar.

About Me

Life-time bookworm, reading about 60% fiction, 40% non-fiction. Currently enjoying two long-term reading projects: a 'Tour of the USA' and 'Reading Around The World' (see the respective LT groups) which I intersperse with, by preference, classic fiction, natural history (esp. birds), history, historical biography and travel, although I don't read enough of any, having a ludicrously large to-read collection.

Ubicació

West Yorkshire

Memberships

TinyCat

Autors preferits

Jane Austen, J. L. Carr, Charles Dickens, Sarah Dunant, Margaret Elphinstone, Melissa Harrison, Lisa Jardine, Donna Leon, Jan Morris, Patrick O'Brian, Claire Tomalin, Jenny Uglow, Virginia Woolf

Member Connections

Amics

andrea_bcf, arkgirl1, Becky1234, BethanyG, Blue_Elly, Brian., BusyLizzy, crispychez, DubaiReader, Fluffyblue, hashford, HayleyF, kehs, labfs39, louiseog, madeleinescott, madmh, michelle_bcf, nicx27, nixy1, rosie_m, Ruth72, Saluk, seanat, SmithSJ01, sunny_dave, Teresa40, valeriejt, VanessaCW, welshy72

Biblioteca interessant

arkgirl1, Becky1234, BethanyG, Fluffyblue, hashford, louiseog, nicx27, rosie_m, Ruth72, Saluk, seanat, SmithSJ01, Teresa40, valeriejt, VanessaCW