To generate the “fun scores” on this site, I put together a quick questionnaire. Two questions that have a prompt, and then a general vibe for the book. These three are averaged into a funScore, and that’s what I use. Not everything in Books.csv has a funScore, so these are incomplete, but I’m working on them.

funReadingGrip

To what extent did I WANT to read the book? Did I keep picking it up?

Scoring Guide (–5 to +5):

  • +5 — Compulsive
    I had to stop myself from reading ahead; felt pulled back constantly.

  • +3 — Strong pull
    I frequently reached for it without effort; wanted to keep going.

  • +1 — Mild pull
    I generally wanted to read; some drift but mostly positive.

  • 0 — Neutral
    Neither a push nor a pull.

  • –1 — Mild chore
    I sometimes had to make myself pick it up.

  • –3 — Significant chore
    I avoided picking it up; progress felt effortful.

  • –5 — Actively resisted
    Pissy to be reading it.

funImmersion

To what extent did I lose myself in the book? Was it a chore or did it feel like another world?

Scoring Guide (–5 to +5):

  • +5 — Fully transported
    If you tried talking to me while I was reading it, I wouldn’t hear you.

  • +3 — Often immersive
    I might keep reading it while walking, once I’m off the escalator.

  • +1 — Some immersion
    Easy enough to read, but easy to look up from.

  • 0 — Neutral
    Neither immersive nor alienating.

  • –1 — Detached
    The story is okay, and the writing is okay, but there are things missing.

  • –3 — Mechanical reading
    Annoyed to be reading it, but not horribly insulted.

  • –5 — Totally alienated
    I found the writing annoying, a slog.

funVibes

Is the book happy, or joyful, or in some way make me feel happy or good while reading? The goal isn’t to punish challenging books, but to bump “fun” books.

Scoring Guide (–5 to +5):

  • +5 — Radiantly enjoyable
    Emotionally exhilarating, delightful, joyful, or deeply rewarding.

  • +3 — Consistently positive
    Frequently enjoyable or emotionally good to read.

  • +1 — Mildly positive
    Occasional delight or lightness; some good emotional energy.

  • 0 — Neutral
    No particular emotional lift or drain.

  • –1 — Slight drain
    Mild heaviness, tension, or negative emotional tone.

  • –3 — Emotionally heavy Draining, bleak, or taxing to read.

  • –5 — Very sad or depressing
    Negative emotional experience; one feels sad or angry after the book’s close.

Overall funScore

(Calculated separately as the average of the three values.)

funScore = (funReadingGrip + funImmersion + funVibes) / 3