Let’s get objective about this!

After reading Evie Wood’s The Lost Bookshop, I thought my Voidy judgments needed better rules on what gets saved and what doesn’t. That book went into Voidy because it wasn’t my preferred style. However, the craft of the novel was sufficient to be saved by a less stylistic perspective. Saying that Voidy was my personalized literary void–though true–feels like a cop-out. So I have introduced a scoring system to try and be more objective about the books that Voidy does and doesn’t eat. It allows me the illusion of objectivity regardless.

Character – 5 points

The character score relates to the motivations and understanding of each character. It also relates to the characters’ depictions as agents of action within the plot. If I can understand why a character is doing something and how other characters will react, five stars are coming your way. If I see trouble in character development or feel that all the characters are the same person, deductions will be made.

Setting – 5 points

This is all about world-building. Do I feel like I am in the setting with the characters? Is the world clearly defined? Can I smell, feel, taste, hear, and see the world? If parts of the world are confusing or don’t function beyond one of the senses, deductions will be made.

Plot – 5 points

Is the plot engaging? Do I want to keep reading to see what comes next? Do the actions within the causal chain make sense given the characters and setting? Or are we lost in a sea of randomness that leaves me grasping for flotsam? If I can’t understand the plot, deductions will be made.

Form – 3 points or 5 points

Let me explain the two different point allotments. Typically, most novels don’t deviate from some standard form. If I think the form of the novel follows conventional form, the maximum that can be earned is 3 points. However, if the novel is trying something unconventional like True Biz by Sara Novic, I will allow for 2 additional points. The form has to work. If the novel gets too experimental and seems to lose its identity, the score can still receive deductions.

Quality – 5 points

I want the author to have a well-written novel. If I notice grammar and other convention errors, I will deduct them from the score. The lightly revised writing I have shared should make it clear I am not a grammar and usage hawk, so any errors I notice likely indicate other errors I don’t see. The novel’s writing should feel polished and revised.

Enjoyment – 5×2 points

Let’s be honest, Voidy is still my personal literary void. I have to like the books if I choose to save them from Voidy. Yes, mathematically a book can get a 1 in enjoyment and still be safe, but it will need to execute almost flawlessly elsewhere. And because enjoyment is so important to what should and shouldn’t go in the void, the points are doubled. If I don’t enjoy the novel for some reason, I will deduct points.

What is a safe score?

If a novel scored slightly above average in every category, I think it should be saved from Voidy. That puts the safe composite score at 24. But I want to go further. What score would good and great books receive? Let’s look at this table.

I may adjust this in the future. For now, this is the scheme I am choosing to use. Let’s get to the next book critique!