1. I am going back to using my rating system. I miss it. I find it helpful for personal reasons. And frankly, I don't care who thinks a three is a bad rating. I purposefully built my bias into my rating system. It isn't all that different from Bookmarks Magazine's rating system. I tend to skew high—I pick books I will likely enjoy—and so a three is “good”. That means I liked it. Maybe I didn't love it, but that's okay. I liked it.
2. My take on the controversy – Which one you ask? Not the one about paid for positive reviews, not the blogger vs. librarian mess, and certainly not ones involving negative reviews. No, I'm talking about a more pressing and important issue. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Peanut butter should be spread on each slice of bread before the jelly is added. The jam or jelly should be added lightly to just one slice of bread. No pickles or avocados. Whoever it was who suggested honey be added too—thank you! Of course, honey and peanut butter sandwiches by themselves are the best. Just remember to go heavy on the peanut butter and honey.
2. My take on the controversy – Which one you ask? Not the one about paid for positive reviews, not the blogger vs. librarian mess, and certainly not ones involving negative reviews. No, I'm talking about a more pressing and important issue. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Peanut butter should be spread on each slice of bread before the jelly is added. The jam or jelly should be added lightly to just one slice of bread. No pickles or avocados. Whoever it was who suggested honey be added too—thank you! Of course, honey and peanut butter sandwiches by themselves are the best. Just remember to go heavy on the peanut butter and honey.
3. Mouse can count to six. She can count to ten if you overlook the fact that she skips seven and eight.
5. My husband let Mouse watch an episode of Dora and now my daughter craves Dora. It's Dora and Boots this. Dora and Boots that. She gets mad when we won't let her watch Dora whenever she wants. I've become one of those parents who tells my daughter, "Dora is going to bed too . . . Dora is at school . . . Dora is spending time with her family . . ." All in an effort to explain why she can't watch Dora right now. At least she hasn't asked us for a pet monkey. Yet.
5. My husband let Mouse watch an episode of Dora and now my daughter craves Dora. It's Dora and Boots this. Dora and Boots that. She gets mad when we won't let her watch Dora whenever she wants. I've become one of those parents who tells my daughter, "Dora is going to bed too . . . Dora is at school . . . Dora is spending time with her family . . ." All in an effort to explain why she can't watch Dora right now. At least she hasn't asked us for a pet monkey. Yet.
4. Oh, and one other item. I am looking for readers interested in writing a guest post. I have a project in mind, but am gauging for interest before deciding whether to go forward with it. I am also interested in including authors in this. Something related to reading and childhood—either your own or in relation to your children/a child in your life. Please let me know if you’d be interested in taking part and I’ll e-mail you with the details once I iron them out.
That’s all.
© 2012, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
My daughter and I were arguing about PB&J the other day. Like you, I firmly believe the peanut butter needs to be on both pieces of bread, but she disagrees. Ah well.
ReplyDeleteAnna - It really does! The more peanut butter, the better!
DeleteTotal disagree on the PBJ. Jelly gets spread (thick) on one slice, then PB gets spread (thicker) on other slice. No honey.
ReplyDeleteDespite our clashing sandwich constructions, I'd be interested in helping with a guest post about reading and childhood. I've got a lot of different directions I could go in with that topic! If you'd like me to sign on, feel free to send me the details: thewellreadredhead at gmail dot com.
Kelly - Thank you so much! I will e-mail you with the details if I ever can pull it together. I'm just trying to stay above water right now, but when things calm down, hopefully I can focus more on the project.
DeleteAs for the sandwich, my husband tends to agree with you. :-)
Disagree on the PB&J. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteI'd blog for you, if you give me a topic AND deadline. Without both, I'll vaguely consider maybe writing something one day when a clear thought passes by all on it's on.
My rating system is as yours 3 is good. 4 is great. 5 is a books I absolutely ADORE.
Lisa (Books, Lists, Life) - How would you make a PB&J sandwich? Maybe I'd like yours better than mine. :-)
DeleteHaha! I'm the same as you--I like having deadlines when it comes to stuff like that. I'll send you an e-mail with details when I can get my act together. Thanks for volunteering!
I don't rate books on my blog, but I do on GoodReads and I consider a 3 average, which means I liked the book but didn't love it, so I consider a 3 a good rating too.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard about the PB & J controversy! lol
Kathy - The PB & J controversy is HUGE! How could you not have heard about it? ;-)
DeleteSounds like several of us have similar ideas about our rating systems. That makes me feel better.
I'd consider doing a guest post depending on topic and deadlines.
ReplyDelete3 is average for me. Like Bermudaonion it means liked but not loved.
I have no side in the PB & J controversy simply because it isn't something that has translated well into Australian homes, and quite frankly I don't think I would try it even if it did!
Marg - I hadn't thought of PB & J being an American thing, but maybe it is! It really is good . . .;-)
DeleteAnd thanks for volunteering. I'll likely be flexible. I will keep you posted.
Totally agree with your rating system, as for me a 3 means I liked the book. Don't know why people seem to think a 3 rating is bad.
ReplyDeleteHave to disagree with you on the PB&J controversy. PB on one side and a thick layer of grape jelly on the other. Not strawberry or raspberry, it has to be grape. I never heard of adding pickles to a PB&J. That's just wrong. So are avocados.
Alexia - I just don't get why a three is thought of as bad. Not every book will be a five for everyone. And it's not every day I give out a five at all, really.
DeleteGrape jelly is best, by far.
Ha! I'm oblivious to all of those controversies you listed...thank goodness! Life is to be enjoyed and that means my books too! I love your rating system and please continue to use what you like!
ReplyDeleteYay for Mouse! She's so smart!! As for the PB&J that is exactly how my youngest wants his sandwiches made, PB on both sides with the jelly nice, neat, and sparingly!!
I think you should see if Beth Hoffman would like to write a guest post!! I love her and she's a lovely and gracious lady!!!
Staci - Too much drama makes blogging no fun. :-( I'm making a point of tuning out when the drama starts from now on. It just depresses me. Unless it is dealing with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, that is. Or the best ice cream flavors.
DeleteChecking with Beth Hoffman is a great idea! I will definitely do that. Thanks for the idea.
A 3-star is an average read to me; I like the book enough but don't love it.
ReplyDeleteMy youngest adores Dora! Strawberry Shortcake is her other favourite too. :-)
Melody - Like but not love seems to be the consensus.
DeleteMouse hasn't met Strawberry Shortcake yet--at least on television. She plays with my little doll now and then though. :-)
No, no, no. PB on one slice. J or honey on the other. The bread can be toasted or not, but if it's toasted you get a nice ooey, gooey sandwich.
ReplyDeleteI'd offer to contribute to your project, but my childhood memories of reading are very, very dim. It'd be the shortest post ever.
Jill - Toasted sounds good, but not if it's cold--and since my lunch sits in the fridge at work until I'm ready for lunch, I'm not sure that would go over well. I like the idea though.
DeleteHaha! I bet you could come up with something for a guest post, even if not specifically about your own childhood reading experiences. To be honest, mine are pretty limited too.
I've never done a rating system but I must admit that I always look for it on other blogs, especially if I'm trying to race through a backlog of posts and I'm skimming. It is also really helpful when you're reading reviews on blogs like your (and mine) where we tend to read books that are more likely to be books we'll like. I may be able to tell that you liked a book but how much isn't always as clear (not you, in particular, "you" in general).
ReplyDeleteLisa (Lit&Life) - I find rating systems helpful to some degree, but of course content of a review matters most. For me personally, I have a hard time sometimes explaining what didn't quite sit well with me about a book and my rating makes it easier for me to distinguish between a slightly higher rating and a lower one.
DeleteI love posts like this! And we went through a Dora phase at our house, too - when it first came out, Josiah was the target age. I remember hearing, "I'm the map, I'm the map, I'm the map...." over and over again.
ReplyDeleteI skew high on my ratings, too. 3 means I liked it. 4 - I loved it. 5 - it's one I would tell everyone they had to read!
And I would be willing to do a guest post, too, if you still need people. :)
Carrie - LOL Mouse can't quite sing the song, but she definitely knows to call out, "Map!" and "Stars!" She'll actually reach for the stars on the show.
DeleteThanks so much for the offer to do a guest post! Things have been hectic here, but I hope to work on that one day soon. Hopefully. Or maybe it will be after the holidays. Everyone will have forgotten by then, most likely. :-)
I love it that Mouse can count! She is getting so big! And telling her that Dora is asleep, or with her family is a wonderful way to get her to stop asking to watch. And I agree with your peanut butter assessment. Sometimes honey is ok, but never avocados!
ReplyDeleteHeather - Mouse amazes me with the things she's learning every day. She's singing now, which I just love.
DeleteI have never had a pb&j sandwich made in the fashion you describe. I insist on putting the jelly on one piece of bread first, then wiping the knife clean on the other piece of bread - then spreading the peanut butter on that other piece. That way you don't get peanut butter in your jelly jar, or vice versa. Of course you could just use two separate knives. The difference of opinion on how to make pb&j has actually led to my husband and I keeping separate jars of jelly - his and hers - that way I don't have to deal with massive amounts of bread crumbs and pb streaks through my raspberry jelly. :)
ReplyDeleteAs for the rating system, I have one for similar reasons. I also agree that a 3 is not bad - it's just middle of the road. I save 1's and 2's for books I don't like. Depending on what the final details are I might be interested in doing the guest post.
Alyce - I've been known to use two knives to keep the jelly clean. I generally wipe it clean though. :-) I'm not one for mixing PB or break crumbs in the jelly jar either.
DeleteI do that too. Ones and twos are generally for books I don't like.
I will add your name to my list for possibly doing a guest post. Thanks so much!
A "3" means a good book in my system too; I don't know why people keep failing to recognize that even though I've outlined what the numbers mean to me....
ReplyDeletePeanut butter goes well with both jam and honey, but not altogether! and the pickles are a joke, right? Avacado urg with anything- I can't stand the stuff.
Counting already! Wow. My little girl is just starting to make words sound like words instead of a garbled suggestion that you deduce from context, ha! Her favorite word now is "bye"- whenever she walks out of a room she waves and says "bye" to me it's so cute!
Jeane - It's a shame really. Books with a 3 rating aren't bad.
DeleteYeah, I'm not sure about honey and jam together. I am on a PB and Honey kick right now.
I think Mouse's favorite word right now is, "No!" It amazes me how many words she can say now. She's picking up words so quickly. There are times I still can't understand her, but her words are much more clear than they used to be. My husband says I understand her more than he does--so I'm not sure how much of that is just my being used to how she says things and how much she is able to say clearly. LOL
I take serious issue with your pb and j making. serious.
ReplyDeleteFirst, lightly toast the bread. Then spread chunky peanut butter on one side of the bread and jam on the other (raspberry preferably...with seeds). Lightly drizzle honey on the peanut butter bread and then smush it all together and devour. THAT'S how you make a pb and j sandwich.
I like ratings too. And I know they don't mean anything. I just like them.
Count to six! And who needs 7 or 8 anyway. ;)
Trish - You're a chunky peanut butter woman! I used to eat that when I mixed my smashed pills in sandwich (I had a serious pill swallowing problem). Now it's smooth peanut butter. I can't say I have a preference though--at least not anymore. I'm still not sure about the honey and jelly combination, but I may have to give it a try just on your say so. :-)
DeleteI'm glad to see your rating system. It's similar to mine for the same reason - I don't pick up a book unless I'm pretty sure I'll like it so it skews the same way.
ReplyDeletePeanut butter - sorry - you're doing it wrong. Lightly butter both pieces of bread first to keep it from being so stick to the roof of your mouth, then peanut butter on both slices and sprinkle cinnamon on one before you put it together. Skip the jelly altogether.
I think Mouse counts to ten just fine. Seven and Eight are highly overrated.
Dora is not Barney - be thankful.
SuziQ - Exactly. My reading time is precious and so I tend to pick books to read I'll like. Although recently I agreed to review a book I am not sure I'll like at all--and am having serious doubts about now--not sure what I was thinking . . .
DeleteMy dad was big on buttering both sides of the bread before adding anything to sandwiches. He'd have really liked your peanut butter sandwich, even the skipping the jelly part. Now, I really like the cinnamon idea . . . Will have to try it!
And yes, you are right--thanks for the perspective. Dora is not Barney and I am thankful. LOL
Gage can count to 3, but he's very partial to 2, LOL. Gage knows the alphabet, but skips j,l, and u. Cracks me up. He just goes on to the next letter like it's nothing. Aren't they fun?
ReplyDeleteStacy - Haha! Two is a very important number, especially since he just turned two. :-) That's awesome that he knows the alphabet. Mouse can only go as far as ABC and then she loses interest.
Delete