I am obsessed with the meme/concept "Was it 5 stars or were you bewitched by the grandeur of the theatrical experience?"

For example! (Slide 3)

I'm not sure where it originated, maybe Letterboxd, but it's essentially asking if a film was genuinely worth five stars or if we were perhaps overcome by the experience of seeing it in a theatre, and the surrounding fanfare of the film. Like, is The Odyssey that good or is it the whole IMAX 70mm three hours of it all doing most of the work? (Rhetorical question, I haven't actually seen it yet hehe). Or does it even matter - is the theatrical experience a significant part of how we rate it?

Has this ever happened to you with a book? Have you rated something five stars and some of that decision was not necessarily just the content of the book? Something else? Maybe you interpret this meme differently to me!

Here are some of my own examples:

Heated Rivalry by Rachael Reid - it's very ok on its own but I personally enjoying being unhinged about something, being part of a fanbase, the thrill of a well-done adaptation, the cultural shifts and conversations that ensue. This makes it an 💫 experience 💫 to me.

God of Fury by Rina Kent - I actually don't know what came over me when I first read this. All her other books annoyed me so much so I can't even bring myself to re-read and figure out what kind of bewitchment I was under but I'm pretty sure it's because nothing gets me going like sprayed edges!

Hazelthorn by CG Drews - this one I do actually think is 5 stars on its own but the experience was made even better by Pagebound. It was one of the first books I read since joining the app and I was like "wow! I love seeing how other people interpret and analyse the metaphors and allegories here!"

Behind them, the servants took this opportunity to lay down their burdens (literal: tool bags, birdcage, heavy boxes, picnic hamper, picnic table and chairs; and metaphorical: weariness for the drudgery of their job).

Sometimes this type of witty, jokey writing is too much for me. This is not (yet) one of those times. (I honestly do love it, I'm worried I might get tired of it quite quickly if these little quips stack up, but I do support this unseriousness in general!)