Book Scoring Elements

Posted on by Sami

These are the elements that go into figuring a book’s score. Each element is scored on a 0-1 scale, then all elements are added together to create the final score. The elements I use are:

  • Plot – Is the story engaging and well-structured? Does the plot hold my interest throughout the book?
  • Characters – Are the characters well-developed and believable? Do the characters undergo meaningful growth or change?
  • Setting – Is the setting self-described and immersive? Does the setting enhance the story?
  • Pacing – Is the pacing appropriate for the story? Does the story flow smoothly without dragging or feeling rushed?
  • Ending – Is the ending satisfying and well-executed? Does the ending provide a meaningful conclusion to the story?
  • Emotional Impact – Does the book evoke strong emotions (joy, sadness, fear, comfort,…)? Do I feel connected to the story and characters?
  • Writing Style – Is the writing style appealing and easy to follow? Does the author have a unique voice or style?
  • Themes – Are the themes effectively explored and integrated into the story? Do the themes provoke thought? Do they resonate for me?
  • Other Scales – Is the level of heat, scare, or violence appropriate to the story as presented? Does the story flow with the included elements?
  • Overall Enjoyment – Did I enjoy reading the book? Would I recommend this book to others? Will I read this book again for pleasure?

More about me

Posted on by Sami

I’m posting this so it’ll be way back in the history one day for some enterprising soul to find. I’ll bet the result will either be an “ah-ha” moment, or a “WTF”.

SEVEN Random Things About Me:
07. I have a weakness for cotton candy.
06. Maple is my favorite flavor, and vanilla is my favorite ice cream.
05. I think my next pet is going to be either a rodent or a reptile.
04. I bite. But never strangers.
03. I really am shy. No, really. (Stop laughing, you two!!)
02. My dream pet is a brindle English Mastiff.
01. I like blue. (Like ya couldn’t figure that one out…)

SIX Ways to win my heart: (the ones that worked for my Honey, anyway)
06. Know how to take care of me without taking me over
05. Be passionate about life
04. Know what to do with a body
03. Have standards and ethics similar to my own
02. Make me laugh
01. Make me think

FIVE Things I believe in:
05. “Teaspoons” matter (more about that later)
04. One person can make a world of difference
03. Life *is* magic – every bit of it
02. Kindness is important, niceness not as much
01. How you treat the people who “don’t matter” shows your true character

FOUR of my Favorite Things:
04. A couple of pictures of my Mom when she was young
03. A small keepsake pillow my Mom made
02. Our middle son visiting
01. Our handfasting cord

THREE Things I do everyday:
03. Take drugs (prescribed ones)
02. Read
01. Tell my Honey I love her

TWO Things I am trying not to do right now:
02. Make sense of the pile of notes in front of me
01. Go to bed

ONE Person I want to see right now:
01. My Honey

30 years ago, I:
1. Was a stay-at-home homeschooling mom
2. Managed several internet porn sites
3. Taught safe-sex-ed to queer young adults

20 years ago, I:
1. Was an award-winning database designer
2. Celebrated 7 years with the discussion group I co-founded
3. Was in the period that was – to date – the most prolific for me as a writer

10 years ago, I:
1. Was doing coursework for my graduate certificate
2. Was doing my BIG research project for MALA
3. Was taking a sabbatical from other writing (wonder why?)

1 year ago, I:
1. Came up with this nifty idea for a big project
2. Started therapy for extensive fibrosis and lymphedema (cancer sucks)
3. Gained a lot of weight from several interrelated gut issues

So far this year I have:
1. Recuperated from my latest surgery
2. Set up the newest computer for a nifty big project
3. Started work on a database for a nifty big project

Yesterday, I:
1. Installed several WordPress plugins
2. Picked up a number of donated books for review and for the library
3. Made breakfast for dinner with my Honey (I love cooking together)

Today, I:
1. Woke up early, but got up late
2. Fixed 2 of the plugins from yesterday
3. Played MTG on Arena

In 1 year, I will:
1. Be back to writing on close to my old schedule again
2. Not have gallstones anymore
3. Have this @&*$# site working – with comments and a forum and…

Most influential books…

Posted on by Sami

There’s a meme going around asking folks to list the 5-10 books that really influenced you. I don’t know if I can do a simple list of 5-10 books, because books have been such a major part of my life – and a major influence – since I was very young. But I can do a snapshot of influence, in no particular order…

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
The inhabitants of Tortall (Tamora Pierce) and Valdemar (Mercedes Lackey)
Stephen Covey’s books (yeah, the time management guy)
Seanan McGuire – all of her books and her as a person
Charles deLint – everything, but especially Greenmantle
Ursula LeGuin’s Earthsea books, and everything else she wrote and said
Gael Baudino – the Strands series, the Dragon series (!!), and Gossamer Axe
David Abram’s Spell of the Sensuous (oh, so much!)
Everything Carrie Fisher wrote and presented
Stewart Farrar – his solo books and his presentations
Gerald Gardner – everything he ever wrote, everywhere
Robin Wood – When, Why… If, and her as a person
Jack Kornfield’s After the Ecstasy, the Laundry
Rachel Pollack’s Forest of Souls
Jane Yolen’s Sister Light, Sister Dark, and all the books that followed
Patricia Crowther’s Lid Off the Cauldron
Robert Heinlein’s The Cat Who Walks Through Walls, and several others
Several of the smaller series by Anne McCaffery
And, loath as I am to admit it, Thendara House and the Free Amazons of Darkover by Marion Zimmer Bradly (phooey).

Medical Examiner Challenge 2025

Posted on by Sami

The Medical Examiner Challenge is hosted by Rick Mills at the Mystillery. This is a friendly competition that involves reading mysteries/thrillers and counting the named characters who die. Each named death equals a toe tag. The reader with the most toe tags at the end of the year wins. There are also badges for the reader who has read the most authors and who has read the most titles. This is my personal tracking page.

5
Authors		5
Titles
Series		107
Toe Tags
Alex MichaelidesThe Silent Patient8
Liane MoriartyHere One Moment23
Martha WellsArtificial ConditionMurderbot 25
Mercedes LackeyBurning WaterDiana Tregarde 267
Shelby Van PeltRemarkably Bright Creatures4

Reading Challenges | Top of Page

2025 By the Numbers

Posted on by Sami

A month-by-month tracking page (with complete book list) for my 2025 reading year.

MonthBook CountRunning TotalPage CountRunning Total
January0000
February0000
March0000
April0000
May0000
June0000
July0000
August0000
September0000
October0000
November0000
December0000

Top of Page

#Book / Author / SeriesPagesPub Year
1Here One Minute – Liane Moriarty4802024
2The Silent Patient – Alex Michaelides3232019
3Remarkably Bright Creatures – Shelby Van Pelt3682022
4Compulsory – Murderbot 0.5 – Martha Wells92018
5Artificial Condition – Murderbot 2 – Martha Wells1492018
6Burning Water – Diana Tregarde 1 – Mercedes Lackey2681989
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100

Reading Challenges | Top of Page

Six Shooter Challenge 2025

Posted on by Sami

The Six Shooter Challenge is hosted by Rick Mills at the Mystillery. The goal is to read 6 books by a single author to earn a notch, but it’s a little more complicated… Notches count for points, and a formula that calculates the books to notches ratio gives bonus points, and it’s the reader with the most points (not the most notches) who wins each year. Also, incomplete notches from the previous year roll over, so it’s possible to complete more notches in a year than the number of qualifying books read divided by 6! (If you have read exactly 6 books per author attempted without any rollovers, you would have a perfect 1 score, plus your bonus points.) This is my personal tracking page. (Entries in blue are carried over from last year.)

NotchesBooksratio+bonus=Score
0500.0000
  • Allison Brennan
  • Stalked
  • .
  • .
  • .
  • .
  • .

.

  • Mercedes Lackey
  • By the Sword
  • Winds of Fate
  • Winds of Change
  • Winds of Fury
  • Burning Water
  • .
  • Seanan McGuire
  • Lost in the Moment and Found
  • .
  • .
  • .
  • .
  • .

.

  • Tamora Pierce
  • Terrier
  • Bloodhound
  • Mastiff
  • Wild Magic
  • .
  • .

Top of Page

  • Martha Wells
  • Compulsory
  • All Systems Red
  • Artificial Condition
  • .
  • .
  • .

.

  • Liane Moriarty
  • Here One Moment
  • .
  • .
  • .
  • .
  • .
  • Lisa Jackson
  • The Girl Who Survived
  • Liar, Liar
  • See How She Dies
  • .
  • .
  • .

.

  • Kim Harrison
  • .
  • .
  • .
  • .
  • .
  • .

Reading Challenges | Top of Page

Series Catch-up 2025

Posted on by Sami

Found on Instagram, by flickeringfandom. This is a game more than a challenge, and any book that is part of a series counts. Points are calculated as: +1 for a book that is a continuation of a series; +3 for a book that is the latest volume of an incomplete series; +5 for the final book of a complete series; +1 for a book you re-read in order to continue a series; and -1 for the first book of a series started in 2025.

#BookTotal Points
1.Compulsory – Murderbot 0.5 – Martha Wells+1= 1
2.Artificial Condition – Murderbot 2 – Martha Wells+1= 2
3.Burning Water – Diana Tregarde 1 – Mercedes Lackey-1= 1
4.Children of the Night – Diana Tregarde 2 – Mercedes Lackey+1= 2
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.