# Understanding the Scylighter Schema and My Book Rating System
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Chapter 1: The Essence of Book Evaluation
When it comes to reading, we all make judgments about the books we choose. Whether we consciously recognize it or not, our preferences shape our reading habits—what we continue with, what we abandon, and what we choose to revisit. Often, these evaluations happen on a semi-conscious level; a book resonates with us, we deem it exceptional, and we move on without fully understanding why.
To elevate your writing skills, it's beneficial to adopt a more deliberate approach in evaluating what you appreciate or dislike in literature. This is the motivation behind my own framework for book assessment, which I refer to as the Scylighter Schema. I hope it assists you in developing your own system, or if you already possess one, feel free to share it with me!
Section 1.1: The Fundamental Purpose of Books
Both fiction and nonfiction can be simplified into two categories represented by three-letter codes:
Fiction: LMA - Love: Enhances our understanding of human connections (note that love isn't limited to romance). - Mystery: Stimulates intellectual engagement. - Adventure: Inspires awe and encourages personal exploration.
Nonfiction: LDB - Learning: Provides interesting or useful information. - Doing: Offers guidance on accomplishing tasks previously unknown. - Being: Alters one’s perception of self and the world.
Section 1.2: Analyzing a Book: The 3C's
Books can be seen as having three integral components, similar to the human experience (body, soul, spirit):
Craft (Body): This encompasses the more apparent elements such as prose, grammar, and characterization. The key question here is:
"Is the book enjoyable or easy to read, or does it suffer from poor writing quality?"
Concept (Soul): If "Craft" represents the external packaging, "Concept" embodies the essence of the book. Here, we should consider:
"Are the promises made by the author fulfilled in a satisfying manner?"
Core (Spirit): This refers to the underlying themes and messages of the work. The crucial question is:
"Are the ideas presented in the book truthful, constructive, and worth exploring?"
Chapter 2: My Rating System Explained
Star Ratings Overview - 1 Star: Essentially worthless; the writing is deficient and harmful. - 2 Stars: Barely worth reading; simplistic concepts and distracting writing. - 3 Stars: Average; nothing particularly remarkable, but not offensive. - 4 Stars: Quite good; clear and engaging writing with some strong ideas. - 5 Stars: Worth re-reading; exceptionally written and insightful. - 6 Stars: Life-changing; profound writing that could alter your perspective.
For a more comprehensive understanding of my evaluation and rating process for both fiction and nonfiction, delve into my detailed articles.
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