How to Write a Book Review
A book review allows students to illustrate the author's intentions of writing the piece, as well as create a criticism of the book — as a whole. In other words, form an opinion of the author's presented ideas. Check out this guide from EssayPro — dissertation writing service to learn how to write a book review successfully.
What Is a Book Review?
You may prosper, “what is a book review?”. Book reviews are commonly assigned students to allow them to show a clear understanding of the novel. And to check if the students have actually read the book. The essay format is highly important for your consideration, take a look at the book review format below.
Book reviews are assigned to allow students to present their own opinion regarding the author’s ideas included in the book or passage. They are a form of literary criticism that analyzes the author’s ideas, writing techniques, and quality. A book analysis is entirely opinion-based, in relevance to the book. They are good practice for those who wish to become editors, due to the fact, editing requires a lot of criticism.
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Book Review Template
The book review format includes an introduction, body, and conclusion.
- Introduction
- Describe the book cover and title.
- Include any subtitles at this stage.
- Include the Author’s Name.
- Write a brief description of the novel.
- Briefly introduce the main points of the body in your book review.
- Avoid mentioning any opinions at this time.
- Use about 3 quotations from the author’s novel.
- Summarise the quotations in your own words.
- Mention your own point-of-view of the quotation.
- Remember to keep every point included in its own paragraph.
- In brief, summarize the quotations.
- In brief, summarize the explanations.
- Finish with a concluding sentence.
- This can include your final opinion of the book.
- Star-Rating (Optional).
How to Write a Book Review: Step-By-Step
Writing a book review is something that can be done with every novel. Book reviews can apply to all novels, no matter the genre. Some genres may be harder than others. On the other hand, the book review format remains the same. Take a look at these step-by-step instructions from our professional writers to learn how to write a book review in-depth.
Step 1: Planning
Create an essay outline which includes all of the main points you wish to summarise in your book analysis. Include information about the characters, details of the plot, and some other important parts of your chosen novel. Reserve a body paragraph for each point you wish to talk about.
Consider these points before writing:
- What is the plot of the book? Understanding the plot enables you to write an effective review.
- Is the plot gripping? Does the plot make you want to continue reading the novel? Did you enjoy the plot? Does it manage to grab a reader’s attention?
- Are the writing techniques used by the author effective? Does the writer imply factors in-between the lines? What are they?
- Are the characters believable? Are the characters logical? Does the book make the characters are real while reading?
- Would you recommend the book to anyone? The most important thing: would you tell others to read this book? Is it good enough? Is it bad?
- What could be better? Keep in mind the quotes that could have been presented better. Criticize the writer.
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Step 2: Introduction
Presumably, you have chosen your book. To begin, mention the book title and author’s name. Talk about the cover of the book. Write a thesis statement regarding the fictitious story or non-fictional novel. Which briefly describes the quoted material in the book review.
Step 3: Body
Choose a specific chapter or scenario to summarise. Include about 3 quotes in the body. Create summaries of each quote in your own words. It is also encouraged to include your own point-of-view and the way you interpret the quote. It is highly important to have one quote per paragraph.
Step 4: Conclusion
Write a summary of the summarised quotations and explanations, included in the body paragraphs. After doing so, finish book analysis with a concluding sentence to show the bigger picture of the book. Think to yourself, “Is it worth reading?”, and answer the question in black and white. However, write in-between the lines. Avoid stating “I like/dislike this book.”
Step 5: Rate the Book (Optional)
After writing a book review, you may want to include a rating. Including a star-rating provides further insight into the quality of the book, to your readers. Book reviews with star-ratings can be more effective, compared to those which don’t. Though, this is entirely optional.
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Writing a Book Review: Video Guide
Writing tips.
Here is the list of tips for the book review:
- A long introduction can certainly lower one’s grade: keep the beginning short. Readers don’t like to read the long introduction for any essay style.
- It is advisable to write book reviews about fiction: it is not a must. Though, reviewing fiction can be far more effective than writing about a piece of nonfiction
- Avoid Comparing: avoid comparing your chosen novel with other books you have previously read. Doing so can be confusing for the reader.
- Opinion Matters: including your own point-of-view is something that is often encouraged when writing book reviews.
- Refer to Templates: a book review template can help a student get a clearer understanding of the required writing style.
- Don’t be Afraid to Criticize: usually, your own opinion isn’t required for academic papers below Ph.D. level. On the other hand, for book reviews, there’s an exception.
- Use Positivity: include a fair amount of positive comments and criticism.
- Review The Chosen Novel: avoid making things up. Review only what is presented in the chosen book.
- Enjoyed the book? If you loved reading the book, state it. Doing so makes your book analysis more personalized.
Writing a book review is something worth thinking about. Professors commonly assign this form of an assignment to students to enable them to express a grasp of a novel. Following the book review format is highly useful for beginners, as well as reading step-by-step instructions. Writing tips is also useful for people who are new to this essay type. If you need a custom writing , ask Essaypro 'write paper for me' and we'll give you a hand asap!
We also recommend that everyone read the article about essay topics . It will help broaden your horizons in writing a book review as well as other papers.
Book Review Examples
Referring to a book review example is highly useful to those who wish to get a clearer understanding of how to review a book. Take a look at our examples written by our professional writers. Click on the button to open the book review examples and feel free to use them as a reference.
Book review
Kenneth Grahame’s ‘The Wind in the Willows’
Kenneth Grahame’s ‘The Wind in the Willows’ is a novel aimed at youngsters. The plot, itself, is not American humor, but that of Great Britain. In terms of sarcasm, and British-related jokes. The novel illustrates a fair mix of the relationships between the human-like animals, and wildlife. The narrative acts as an important milestone in post-Victorian children’s literature.
Book Review
Dr. John’s ‘Pollution’
Dr. John’s ‘Pollution’ consists of 3 major parts. The first part is all about the polluted ocean. The second being about the pollution of the sky. The third part is an in-depth study of how humans can resolve these issues. The book is a piece of non-fiction that focuses on modern-day pollution ordeals faced by both animals and humans on Planet Earth. It also focuses on climate change, being the result of the global pollution ordeal.
We can do your coursework writing for you if you still find it difficult to write it yourself.
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A book review is a thorough description, critical analysis, and/or evaluation of the quality, meaning, and significance of a book, often written in relation to prior research on the topic. Reviews generally range from 500-2000 words, but may be longer or shorter depends on several factors: the length and complexity of the book being reviewed, the overall purpose of the review, and whether the review examines two or more books that focus on the same topic. Professors assign book reviews as practice in carefully analyzing complex scholarly texts and to assess your ability to effectively synthesize research so that you reach an informed perspective about the topic being covered.
There are two general approaches to reviewing a book:
- Descriptive review: Presents the content and structure of a book as objectively as possible, describing essential information about a book's purpose and authority. This is done by stating the perceived aims and purposes of the study, often incorporating passages quoted from the text that highlight key elements of the work. Additionally, there may be some indication of the reading level and anticipated audience.
- Critical review: Describes and evaluates the book in relation to accepted literary and historical standards and supports this evaluation with evidence from the text and, in most cases, in contrast to and in comparison with the research of others. It should include a statement about what the author has tried to do, evaluates how well you believe the author has succeeded in meeting the objectives of the study, and presents evidence to support this assessment. For most course assignments, your professor will want you to write this type of review.
Book Reviews. Writing Center. University of New Hampshire; Book Reviews: How to Write a Book Review. Writing and Style Guides. Libraries. Dalhousie University; Kindle, Peter A. "Teaching Students to Write Book Reviews." Contemporary Rural Social Work 7 (2015): 135-141; Erwin, R. W. “Reviewing Books for Scholarly Journals.” In Writing and Publishing for Academic Authors . Joseph M. Moxley and Todd Taylor. 2 nd edition. (Lanham, MD: Rowan and Littlefield, 1997), pp. 83-90.
How to Approach Writing Your Review
NOTE: Since most course assignments require that you write a critical rather than descriptive book review, the following information about preparing to write and developing the structure and style of reviews focuses on this approach.
I. Common Features
While book reviews vary in tone, subject, and style, they share some common features. These include:
- A review gives the reader a concise summary of the content . This includes a description of the research topic and scope of analysis as well as an overview of the book's overall perspective, argument, and purpose.
- A review offers a critical assessment of the content in relation to other studies on the same topic . This involves documenting your reactions to the work under review--what strikes you as noteworthy or important, whether or not the arguments made by the author(s) were effective or persuasive, and how the work enhanced your understanding of the research problem under investigation.
- In addition to analyzing a book's strengths and weaknesses, a scholarly review often recommends whether or not readers would value the work for its authenticity and overall quality . This measure of quality includes both the author's ideas and arguments and covers practical issues, such as, readability and language, organization and layout, indexing, and, if needed, the use of non-textual elements .
To maintain your focus, always keep in mind that most assignments ask you to discuss a book's treatment of its topic, not the topic itself . Your key sentences should say, "This book shows...,” "The study demonstrates...," or “The author argues...," rather than "This happened...” or “This is the case....”
II. Developing a Critical Assessment Strategy
There is no definitive methodological approach to writing a book review in the social sciences, although it is necessary that you think critically about the research problem under investigation before you begin to write. Therefore, writing a book review is a three-step process: 1) carefully taking notes as you read the text; 2) developing an argument about the value of the work under consideration; and, 3) clearly articulating that argument as you write an organized and well-supported assessment of the work.
A useful strategy in preparing to write a review is to list a set of questions that should be answered as you read the book [remember to note the page numbers so you can refer back to the text!]. The specific questions to ask yourself will depend upon the type of book you are reviewing. For example, a book that is presenting original research about a topic may require a different set of questions to ask yourself than a work where the author is offering a personal critique of an existing policy or issue.
Here are some sample questions that can help you think critically about the book:
- Thesis or Argument . What is the central thesis—or main argument—of the book? If the author wanted you to get one main idea from the book, what would it be? How does it compare or contrast to the world that you know or have experienced? What has the book accomplished? Is the argument clearly stated and does the research support this?
- Topic . What exactly is the subject or topic of the book? Is it clearly articulated? Does the author cover the subject adequately? Does the author cover all aspects of the subject in a balanced fashion? Can you detect any biases? What type of approach has the author adopted to explore the research problem [e.g., topical, analytical, chronological, descriptive]?
- Evidence . How does the author support their argument? What evidence does the author use to prove their point? Is the evidence based on an appropriate application of the method chosen to gather information? Do you find that evidence convincing? Why or why not? Does any of the author's information [or conclusions] conflict with other books you've read, courses you've taken, or just previous assumptions you had about the research problem?
- Structure . How does the author structure their argument? Does it follow a logical order of analysis? What are the parts that make up the whole? Does the argument make sense to you? Does it persuade you? Why or why not?
- Take-aways . How has this book helped you understand the research problem? Would you recommend the book to others? Why or why not?
Beyond the content of the book, you may also consider some information about the author and the general presentation of information. Question to ask may include:
- The Author: Who is the author? The nationality, political persuasion, education, intellectual interests, personal history, and historical context may provide crucial details about how a work takes shape. Does it matter, for example, that the author is affiliated with a particular organization? What difference would it make if the author participated in the events they wrote about? What other topics has the author written about? Does this work build on prior research or does it represent a new or unique area of research?
- The Presentation: What is the book's genre? Out of what discipline does it emerge? Does it conform to or depart from the conventions of its genre? These questions can provide a historical or other contextual standard upon which to base your evaluations. If you are reviewing the first book ever written on the subject, it will be important for your readers to know this. Keep in mind, though, that declarative statements about being the “first,” the "best," or the "only" book of its kind can be a risky unless you're absolutely certain because your professor [presumably] has a much better understanding of the overall research literature.
NOTE: Most critical book reviews examine a topic in relation to prior research. A good strategy for identifying this prior research is to examine sources the author(s) cited in the chapters introducing the research problem and, of course, any review of the literature. However, you should not assume that the author's references to prior research is authoritative or complete. If any works related to the topic have been excluded, your assessment of the book should note this . Be sure to consult with a librarian to ensure that any additional studies are located beyond what has been cited by the author(s).
Book Reviews. [email protected] Colorado State University; Book Reviews. The Writing Center. University of North Carolina; Hartley, James. "Reading and Writing Book Reviews Across the Disciplines." Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology 57 (July 2006): 1194–1207; Motta-Roth, D. “Discourse Analysis and Academic Book Reviews: A Study of Text and Disciplinary Cultures.” In Genre Studies in English for Academic Purposes . Fortanet Gómez, Inmaculada et al., editors. (Castellò de la Plana: Publicacions de la Universitat Jaume I, 1998), pp. 29-45. Writing a Book Review. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Writing Book Reviews. Writing Tutorial Services, Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning. Indiana University; Suárez, Lorena and Ana I. Moreno. “The Rhetorical Structure of Academic Journal Book Reviews: A Cross-linguistic and Cross-disciplinary Approach .” In Asociación Europea de Lenguas para Fines Específicos, María del Carmen Pérez Llantada Auría, Ramón Plo Alastrué, and Claus Peter Neumann. Actas del V Congreso Internacional AELFE/Proceedings of the 5th International AELFE Conference . Zaragoza: Universidad de Zaragoza, 2006.
Structure and Writing Style
I. Bibliographic Information
Provide the essential information about the book using the writing style [e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.] preferred by your professor or used by the discipline of your major . Depending on how your professor wants you to organize your review, the bibliographic information represents the heading of your review. In general, it would look like this:
[Complete title of book. Author or authors. Place of publication. Publisher. Date of publication. Number of pages before first chapter, often in Roman numerals. Total number of pages]. The Whites of Their Eyes: The Tea Party's Revolution and the Battle over American History . By Jill Lepore. (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2010. xii, 207 pp.)
Reviewed by [your full name].
II. Scope/Purpose/Content
Begin your review by telling the reader not only the overarching concern of the book in its entirety [the subject area] but also what the author's particular point of view is on that subject [the thesis statement]. If you cannot find an adequate statement in the author's own words or if you find that the thesis statement is not well-developed, then you will have to compose your own introductory thesis statement that does cover all the material. This statement should be no more than one paragraph and must be succinctly stated, accurate, and unbiased.
If you find it difficult to discern the overall aims and objectives of the book [and, be sure to point this out in your review if you determine that this is a deficiency], you may arrive at an understanding of the book's overall purpose by assessing the following:
- Scan the table of contents because it can help you understand how the book was organized and will aid in determining the author's main ideas and how they were developed [e.g., chronologically, topically, historically, etc.].
- Why did the author write on this subject rather than on some other subject?
- From what point of view is the work written?
- Was the author trying to give information, to explain something technical, or to convince the reader of a belief’s validity by dramatizing it in action?
- What is the general field or genre, and how does the book fit into it? If necessary, review related literature from other books and journal articles to familiarize yourself with the field.
- Who is the intended audience?
- What is the author's style? Is it formal or informal? You can evaluate the quality of the writing style by noting some of the following standards: coherence, clarity, originality, forcefulness, accurate use of technical words, conciseness, fullness of development, and fluidity [i.e., quality of the narrative flow].
- How did the book affect you? Were there any prior assumptions you had about the subject that were changed, abandoned, or reinforced after reading the book? How is the book related to your own personal beliefs or assumptions? What personal experiences have you had related to the subject that affirm or challenge underlying assumptions?
- How well has the book achieved the goal(s) set forth in the preface, introduction, and/or foreword?
- Would you recommend this book to others? Why or why not?
III. Note the Method
Support your remarks with specific references to text and quotations that help to illustrate the literary method used to state the research problem, describe the research design, and analyze the findings. In general, authors tend to use the following literary methods, exclusively or in combination.
- Description : The author depicts scenes and events by giving specific details that appeal to the five senses, or to the reader’s imagination. The description presents background and setting. Its primary purpose is to help the reader realize, through as many details as possible, the way persons, places, and things are situated within the phenomenon being described.
- Narration : The author tells the story of a series of events, usually thematically or in chronological order. In general, the emphasis in scholarly books is on narration of the events. Narration tells what has happened and, in some cases, using this method to forecast what could happen in the future. Its primary purpose is to draw the reader into a story and create a contextual framework for understanding the research problem.
- Exposition : The author uses explanation and analysis to present a subject or to clarify an idea. Exposition presents the facts about a subject or an issue clearly and as impartially as possible. Its primary purpose is to describe and explain, to document for the historical record an event or phenomenon.
- Argument : The author uses techniques of persuasion to establish understanding of a particular truth, often in the form of addressing a research question, or to convince the reader of its falsity. The overall aim is to persuade the reader to believe something and perhaps to act on that belief. Argument takes sides on an issue and aims to convince the reader that the author's position is valid, logical, and/or reasonable.
IV. Critically Evaluate the Contents
Critical comments should form the bulk of your book review . State whether or not you feel the author's treatment of the subject matter is appropriate for the intended audience. Ask yourself:
- Has the purpose of the book been achieved?
- What contributions does the book make to the field?
- Is the treatment of the subject matter objective or at least balanced in describing all sides of a debate?
- Are there facts and evidence that have been omitted?
- What kinds of data, if any, are used to support the author's thesis statement?
- Can the same data be interpreted to explain alternate outcomes?
- Is the writing style clear and effective?
- Does the book raise important or provocative issues or topics for discussion?
- Does the book bring attention to the need for further research?
- What has been left out?
Support your evaluation with evidence from the text and, when possible, state the book's quality in relation to other scholarly sources. If relevant, note of the book's format, such as, layout, binding, typography, etc. Are there tables, charts, maps, illustrations, text boxes, photographs, or other non-textual elements? Do they aid in understanding the text? Describing this is particularly important in books that contain a lot of non-textual elements.
NOTE: It is important to carefully distinguish your views from those of the author so as not to confuse your reader. Be clear when you are describing an author's point of view versus expressing your own.
V. Examine the Front Matter and Back Matter
Front matter refers to any content before the first chapter of the book. Back matter refers to any information included after the final chapter of the book . Front matter is most often numbered separately from the rest of the text in lower case Roman numerals [i.e. i - xi ]. Critical commentary about front or back matter is generally only necessary if you believe there is something that diminishes the overall quality of the work [e.g., the indexing is poor] or there is something that is particularly helpful in understanding the book's contents [e.g., foreword places the book in an important context].
Front matter that may be considered for evaluation when reviewing its overall quality:
- Table of contents -- is it clear? Is it detailed or general? Does it reflect the true contents of the book? Does it help in understanding a logical sequence of content?
- Author biography -- also found as back matter, the biography of author(s) can be useful in determining the authority of the writer and whether the book builds on prior research or represents new research. In scholarly reviews, noting the author's affiliation and prior publications can be a factor in helping the reader determine the overall validity of the work [i.e., are they associated with a research center devoted to studying the problem under investigation].
- Foreword -- the purpose of a foreword is to introduce the reader to the author and the content of the book, and to help establish credibility for both. A foreword may not contribute any additional information about the book's subject matter, but rather, serves as a means of validating the book's existence. In these cases, the foreword is often written by a leading scholar or expert who endorses the book's contributions to advancing research about the topic. Later editions of a book sometimes have a new foreword prepended [appearing before an older foreword, if there was one], which may be included to explain how the latest edition differs from previous editions. These are most often written by the author.
- Acknowledgements -- scholarly studies in the social sciences often take many years to write, so authors frequently acknowledge the help and support of others in getting their research published. This can be as innocuous as acknowledging the author's family or the publisher. However, an author may acknowledge prominent scholars or subject experts, staff at key research centers, people who curate important archival collections, or organizations that funded the research. In these particular cases, it may be worth noting these sources of support in your review, particularly if the funding organization is biased or its mission is to promote a particular agenda.
- Preface -- generally describes the genesis, purpose, limitations, and scope of the book and may include acknowledgments of indebtedness to people who have helped the author complete the study. Is the preface helpful in understanding the study? Does it provide an effective framework for understanding what's to follow?
- Chronology -- also may be found as back matter, a chronology is generally included to highlight key events related to the subject of the book. Do the entries contribute to the overall work? Is it detailed or very general?
- List of non-textual elements -- a book that contains numerous charts, photographs, maps, tables, etc. will often list these items after the table of contents in the order that they appear in the text. Is this useful?
Back matter that may be considered for evaluation when reviewing its overall quality:
- Afterword -- this is a short, reflective piece written by the author that takes the form of a concluding section, final commentary, or closing statement. It is worth mentioning in a review if it contributes information about the purpose of the book, gives a call to action, summarizes key recommendations or next steps, or asks the reader to consider key points made in the book.
- Appendix -- is the supplementary material in the appendix or appendices well organized? Do they relate to the contents or appear superfluous? Does it contain any essential information that would have been more appropriately integrated into the text?
- Index -- are there separate indexes for names and subjects or one integrated index. Is the indexing thorough and accurate? Are elements used, such as, bold or italic fonts to help identify specific places in the book? Does the index include "see also" references to direct you to related topics?
- Glossary of Terms -- are the definitions clearly written? Is the glossary comprehensive or are there key terms missing? Are any terms or concepts mentioned in the text not included that should have been?
- Endnotes -- examine any endnotes as you read from chapter to chapter. Do they provide important additional information? Do they clarify or extend points made in the body of the text? Should any notes have been better integrated into the text rather than separated? Do the same if the author uses footnotes.
- Bibliography/References/Further Readings -- review any bibliography, list of references to sources, and/or further readings the author may have included. What kinds of sources appear [e.g., primary or secondary, recent or old, scholarly or popular, etc.]? How does the author make use of them? Be sure to note important omissions of sources that you believe should have been utilized, including important digital resources or archival collections.
VI. Summarize and Comment
State your general conclusions briefly and succinctly. Pay particular attention to the author's concluding chapter and/or afterword. Is the summary convincing? List the principal topics, and briefly summarize the author’s ideas about these topics, main points, and conclusions. If appropriate and to help clarify your overall evaluation, use specific references to text and quotations to support your statements. If your thesis has been well argued, the conclusion should follow naturally. It can include a final assessment or simply restate your thesis. Do not introduce new information in the conclusion. If you've compared the book to any other works or used other sources in writing the review, be sure to cite them at the end of your book review in the same writing style as your bibliographic heading of the book.
Book Reviews. [email protected] Colorado State University; Book Reviews. The Writing Center. University of North Carolina; Gastel, Barbara. "Special Books Section: A Strategy for Reviewing Books for Journals." BioScience 41 (October 1991): 635-637; Hartley, James. "Reading and Writing Book Reviews Across the Disciplines." Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology 57 (July 2006): 1194–1207; Lee, Alexander D., Bart N. Green, Claire D. Johnson, and Julie Nyquist. "How to Write a Scholarly Book Review for Publication in a Peer-reviewed Journal: A Review of the Literature." Journal of Chiropractic Education 24 (2010): 57-69; Nicolaisen, Jeppe. "The Scholarliness of Published Peer Reviews: A Bibliometric Study of Book Reviews in Selected Social Science Fields." Research Evaluation 11 (2002): 129-140;.Procter, Margaret. The Book Review or Article Critique. The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Reading a Book to Review It. The Writer’s Handbook. Writing Center. University of Wisconsin, Madison; Scarnecchia, David L. "Writing Book Reviews for the Journal Of Range Management and Rangelands." Rangeland Ecology and Management 57 (2004): 418-421; Simon, Linda. "The Pleasures of Book Reviewing." Journal of Scholarly Publishing 27 (1996): 240-241; Writing a Book Review. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Writing Book Reviews. Writing Tutorial Services, Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning. Indiana University.
Writing Tip
Always Read the Foreword and/or the Preface
If they are included in the front matter, a good place for understanding a book's overall purpose, organization, contributions to further understanding of the research problem, and relationship to other studies is to read the preface and the foreword. The foreword may be written by someone other than the author or editor and can be a person who is famous or who has name recognition within the discipline. A foreword is often included to add credibility to the work.
The preface is usually an introductory essay written by the author or editor. It is intended to describe the book's overall purpose, arrangement, scope, and overall contributions to the literature. When reviewing the book, it can be useful to critically evaluate whether the goals set forth in the foreword and/or preface were actually achieved. At the very least, they can establish a foundation for understanding a study's scope and purpose as well as its significance in contributing new knowledge.
Distinguishing between a Foreword, a Preface, and an Introduction . Book Creation Learning Center. Greenleaf Book Group, 2019.
Locating Book Reviews
There are several databases the USC Libraries subscribes to that include the full-text or citations to book reviews. Short, descriptive reviews can also be found at book-related online sites such as Amazon , although it's not always obvious who has written them and may actually be created by the publisher. The following databases provide comprehensive access to scholarly, full-text book reviews:
- ProQuest [1983-present]
- Book Review Digest Retrospective [1905-1982]
Some Language for Evaluating Texts
It can be challenging to find the proper vocabulary from which to discuss and evaluate a book. Here is a list of some active verbs for referring to texts and ideas that you might find useful:
- account for
- demonstrate
- distinguish
- investigate
Examples of usage
- "The evidence indicates that..."
- "This work assesses the effect of..."
- "The author identifies three key reasons for..."
- "This book questions the view that..."
- "This work challenges assumptions about...."
Paquot, Magali. Academic Keyword List. Centre for English Corpus Linguistics. Université Catholique de Louvain.
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How To Write a Book Review
Are you an avid bookworm who loves to share what you thought of your latest read? Writing a book review is a great way to let fellow readers know about an exciting new page-turner—or give a heads up that a book might not meet expectations.
Whether you’re reviewing a book on a site like Goodreads or on your personal blog, you’ll want your review to be informative and helpful for your audience. Read on for our essential tips on how to write an engaging book review.
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What to Include in Your Book Review
Love templates? Here’s what to include in your book review:
Essential Book Information
Basic plot summary, your praise and critique, your recommendation, your rating.
A “hook” is a line that catches your audience’s attention and piques their interest so they’ll continue reading your review instead of scrolling past it.
Your hook could be a compelling or provocative statement:
Margaret Atwood’s subversive brilliance shines in new and unexpected ways with this masterpiece.
Or even a question:
Ever wondered what the lovechild of Twilight and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy would look like?
Share any general information about the book that is important for readers to know. The title and author are an obvious choice. The year the book was published may be relevant if it came out 10+ years ago. Be sure to mention if the book is part of a series and whether it’s necessary to have read other books in the series before this book.
Share a high-level synopsis of the plot so your audience gets the gist of what the story is about. Best practice is to leave out the climax or ending of the book and avoid giving away spoilers so you don’t ruin the story for your audience.
It’s always better to err on the side of caution and say a plot has an “unexpected twist” rather than revealing “the villain is the protagonist’s father!” If you must include a spoiler, some review sites will let you hide spoiler sentences, so your audience can choose whether they want to read it or not.
Sites like Goodreads also include a short synopsis or teaser on the book’s web page, so providing an outline may sometimes be unnecessary. Use your best judgment on whether sharing a synopsis will benefit your review.
This section is the most important part of your review and should be the longest. Anyone can summarize a plot, but what is your unique take on this book?
Simply saying a book was “good” or “bad”, or that you liked it or didn’t, isn’t helpful. Let your audience know why you think it’s a great read, or why you found it disappointing. Sharing these details will help your audience form their own opinion of whether they would enjoy reading the book. For example:
The vivid language instantly transported me into the world, but there were several huge plot holes that didn’t make sense.
I personally didn’t care for the protagonist; the snarky anti-hero schtick got old after a while.
The writing was rough, with especially awkward dialogue, but I thought the premise of the story was brilliant.
After sharing your praise and critique, let your audience know your conclusions. Who do you think would enjoy this book?
Did you personally dislike it because of the time travel paradoxes, but think that folks who like a good space opera would have fun with it?
Is this the 16th book in a series that was starting to grow stale, and you were pleasantly surprised by some new characters?
Most review sites provide a star rating system. Let your audience know your rationale for choosing a particular rating.
If you’re reviewing a book on your personal blog and using your own rating system, be sure to explain this as well.
General Tips for Writing a Book Review
- Keep it Streamlined: Pay attention to length and make every word count. Lengthy, rambling reviews are confusing and time-consuming to read. Keep your readers with you by getting to the point.
- Remember to Proofread: Make sure your spelling and grammar are on point. A review riddled with errors is confusing to read and may not be taken seriously.
- Don’t Be Mean: Remember that you’re reviewing a book that another human poured their heart and soul into to write. Express your honest opinion, but don’t be nasty about it. Imagine if it were your book being reviewed, how would you want a reader to express their critique?
What are your favorite tips for writing a great book review?
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Vocabulary
What does book review mean?
Definitions for book review book re·view, here are all the possible meanings and translations of the word book review ., princeton's wordnet 4.5 / 2 votes rate this definition:.
book review noun
a critical review of a book (usually a recently published book)
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Book review
A book review is a form of literary criticism in which a book is merely described (summary review) or analyzed based on content, style, and merit. A book review may be a primary source, opinion piece, summary review or scholarly review. Books can be reviewed for printed periodicals, magazines and newspapers, as school work, or for book websites on the Internet. A book review's length may vary from a single paragraph to a substantial essay. Such a review may evaluate the book on the basis of personal taste. Reviewers may use the occasion of a book review for an extended essay that can be closely or loosely related to the subject of the book, or to promulgate their own ideas on the topic of a fiction or non-fiction work. Some journals are devoted to book reviews, and reviews are indexed in databases such as Book Review Index and Kirkus Reviews; but many more book reviews can be found in newspaper and scholarly databases such as Arts and Humanities Citation Index, Social Sciences Citation Index and discipline-specific databases. Photios I of Constantinople has been called "the inventor of the book-review" for his work, Bibliotheca.
Freebase 4.5 / 6 votes Rate this definition:
A book review is a form of literary criticism in which a book is analyzed based on content, style, and merit. A book review can be a primary source opinion piece, summary review or scholarly review. Books can be reviewed for printed periodicals, magazines and newspapers, as school work, or for book web sites on the internet. A book review's length may vary from a single paragraph to a substantial essay. Such a review may evaluate the book on the basis of personal taste. Reviewers may use the occasion of a book review for a display of learning or to promulgate their own ideas on the topic of a fiction or non-fiction work. There are many special journals devoted to book reviews and they are indexed in special databases such as Book Review Index, and Kirkus Reviews but many more book reviews can be found in newspaper databases and in scholarly databases such as Arts and Humanities Citation Index, Social Sciences Citation Index and discipline-specific databases.
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The numerical value of book review in Chaldean Numerology is: 7
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Examples of book review in a Sentence
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Perhaps in a book review it is not out of place to note that the safety of the state depends on cultivating the imagination.
Translations for book review
From our multilingual translation dictionary.
- مراجعة الكتاب Arabic
- reseña del libro Spanish
- critique de livre French
- पुस्तक समीक्षा Hindi
- Konyvajánló Hungarian
- resenha do livro Portuguese
- புத்தக விமர்சனம் Tamil
- పుస్తకం సమీక్ష Telugu
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'Homestead' is a story about starting fresh, and the joys and trials of melding lives
Michael Schaub
When Lawrence Beringer walks into a Bureau of Land Management office in Alaska in 1956, he's determined to leave his old life behind.
A 27-year-old Minnesota native and Korean War veteran, Lawrence has moved to the territory and decided to claim 150 acres of land as a homestead, "where his children will call the years. Where he will cut the timber and till the ground and build a cabin of his own measure. He will claim what he is owed. And by the work of his hands this will all be his."
Lawrence's efforts to develop his homestead — and forget his troubled past — partially form the basis for Homestead , the debut novel from Alaska-born author Melinda Moustakis. It's a book that's as stark and beautiful as its icy setting.
Lawrence isn't the only person seeking a life change in Alaska. Marie Kubala, an 18-year-old woman from Conroe, Texas, has come north to visit her sister, Sheila, and brother-in-law, Sly, in Anchorage. It's there, at the Moose Lodge, where she notices Lawrence; before he leaves, he hands her a note that says, simply, "150 ACRES." The two agree to meet the following evening, and Lawrence proposes to her, saying, "You know what I have and what I got to offer."
Marie accepts, although she's perhaps unaware of the size of the family Lawrence wants: "Twelve of his own ... a good round number of mouths to feed who will learn to feed themselves, work the land, and one day carry him to his grave." It doesn't take long for Marie to become pregnant, and for her to realize that Lawrence is even more laconic and distant than she had realized. "What does he need her for?" she thinks. "Washing and cooking and carrying this child? Just so he's not alone? He'd be well as can be if he was."
When their son is stillborn, Marie breaks down, blaming Lawrence, who insisted on a home birth rather than one in an Anchorage hospital. The couple have been living in an old school bus on the homestead; Marie moves in with Sheila and Sly in their trailer, while Lawrence busies himself on the homestead, cutting trees for a cabin and preparing to plant a large alfalfa crop.
The two reconcile, but their relationship remains an uneasy one. Lawrence is wracked with trauma from his days in the war, at one point experiencing a horrific nightmare of "a field of paratroopers, guns at the ready, and he tripped and fell, and there was a small body, covered in blood and blackflies, so many he could not see the face, but he knew that this was his dead son." Marie, meanwhile, is dealing with her own bad memories of her childhood in Texas, and can't understand why Lawrence is unable, or unwilling, to console her following the loss of their child.
Things get better, then worse, then much worse, with a shocking climax toward the end of the novel. It's a chaotic moment that Moustakis portrays with a steady hand; throughout the book, she remains committed to a calm, clear-eyed realism that never falters, even as Lawrence and Marie are faced with challenges tied to the dramatic Alaskan landscape.
Homestead is a deeply interior novel by necessity: Lawrence is reticent by nature, and the characters frequently find themselves alone with their thoughts. There is dialogue in the novel, and it's unfailingly true to life; Moustakis particularly does a wonderful, understated job with Marie and Sheila's east Texas vocabulary and cadences. But she's equally adept at the silences that mark the characters' seemingly small moments, able to imbue the simplest of these — a character sitting on a tree stump with a cup of coffee, another swimming in a lake — with a quiet resonance. It's a technique that admirers of Marilynne Robinson and Alice Munro are bound to appreciate.
Moustakis clearly cares about Alaska — her previous book, the short story collection Bear Down, Bear North is also set there — and she evokes the late 1950s, when the territory was on the verge of becoming a state, with care and precision. Shem Pete, the real-life Denaʼina storyteller, is briefly a character in the book, and his appearance is a delight, grounding the novel in history and paying tribute to the Alaska Natives who lived there thousands of years before European and American colonialism.
Homestead is a beautiful novel, quiet as a snowfall, warm as a glowing wood stove. It's also a profound look at how we navigate one another, and what it means to reveal ourselves to the ones we care about — or as Marie thinks, "How much to be taken, and given, how much to be known, before calling this love, and will it be as sudden as a quiet hour?"
Organizing Academic Research Papers: Writing a Book Review
- Purpose of Guide
- Design Flaws to Avoid
- Glossary of Research Terms
- Narrowing a Topic Idea
- Broadening a Topic Idea
- Extending the Timeliness of a Topic Idea
- Academic Writing Style
- Choosing a Title
- Making an Outline
- Paragraph Development
- Executive Summary
- Background Information
- The Research Problem/Question
- Theoretical Framework
- Citation Tracking
- Content Alert Services
- Evaluating Sources
- Primary Sources
- Secondary Sources
- Tertiary Sources
- What Is Scholarly vs. Popular?
- Qualitative Methods
- Quantitative Methods
- Using Non-Textual Elements
- Limitations of the Study
- Common Grammar Mistakes
- Avoiding Plagiarism
- Footnotes or Endnotes?
- Further Readings
- Annotated Bibliography
- Dealing with Nervousness
- Using Visual Aids
- Grading Someone Else's Paper
- How to Manage Group Projects
- Multiple Book Review Essay
- Reviewing Collected Essays
- About Informed Consent
- Writing Field Notes
- Writing a Policy Memo
- Writing a Research Proposal
- Acknowledgements
A book review is a decription, critical analysis, and/or evaluation of the quality, meaning, and significance of a book. Reviews generally range between 500-1000 words, but may be longer or shorter depending on the length and complexity of the book being reviewed, the overall purpose of the review, and whether the review is a comparative analysis examining two or more books that focus on the same topic. Professors assign book reviews as practice in carefully analyzing complex scholarly texts and to assess your ability in effectively synthesizing research to reach an informed perspective on an issue.
There are two general approaches to reviewing a book:
- D escriptive review: presents the content and structure of a book as objectively as possible, giving essential information about a book's purpose and authority. This is done with description and exposition by stating the perceived aims and purposes of the author, often incorporating passages quoted from the text that highlight key elements of the work. Additionally, there may be some indication of the reading level and anticipated audience.
- C ritical review: describes and evaluates the book in relation to accepted literary and historical standards and supports this evaluation with evidence from the text and, in most cases, in comparison to the research of others. It should include a statement about what the author has tried to do, evaluates how well [in the opinion of the reviewer] the author has succeeded, and presents evidence to support this evaluation. For course assignments, most professors want you to write a critical review.
Book Reviews. Writing Center. University of New Hampshire; Book Reviews: How to Write a Book Review. Writing and Style Guides. Libraries. Dalhousie University.
How to Approach Writing Your Review
I. Common Features
While book reviews vary in tone, subject, and style, they share some common features. These include:
- A review gives the reader a concise summary of the content . This includes a relevant description of the research topic as well as an overview of its overall perspective, argument, or purpose.
- A review offers a critical assessment of the content , often in relation to related studies on the same topic. This involves your reactions to the work under review: what strikes you as noteworthy, whether or not the arguments made by the author(s) were effective or persuasive, and how the work enhanced your understanding of the research problem under investigation.
- In addition to analyzing a book's strengths and weaknesses, a scholarly review often suggests whether or not the reader would appreciate it for its authenticity and overall quality.
To maintain your focus, always keep in mind that most assignments ask you to discuss a book's treatment of its topic, not the topic itself . Your key sentences should, therefore, say "This book shows...,” "The study demonstrates...," or “The author argues..." rather than "This happened...” or “This is the case....”
II. Developing an Assessment Strategy
There is no definitive method to writing a book review in the social sciences, although it is necessary that you think critically about the research problem under study before you begin writing. Thus, writing a book review is a two-step process: 1) developing an argument about the work under consideration, and, 2) clearly articulating that argument as you write an organized and well-supported draft.
A useful strategy is to write the questions down and answer them as you read [remember to note the page numbers so you can refer back to the text!]. Which questions are most useful while evaluating what you read will depend upon the type of book are reading. Here are a series of questions to focus your thinking as you read a book.
- What is the thesis—or main argument—of the book? If the author wanted you to get one idea from the book, what would it be? How does it compare or contrast to the world you know? What has the book accomplished?
- What exactly is the subject or topic of the book? Does the author cover the subject adequately? Does the author cover all aspects of the subject in a balanced fashion? Can you detect any biases? What is the approach to the subject [e.g., topical, analytical, chronological, descriptive]?
- How does the author support his or her argument? What evidence does the author use to prove his or her point? Do you find that evidence convincing? Why or why not? Does any of the author's information [or conclusions] conflict with other books you've read, courses you've taken, or just previous assumptions you had about the research problem under study?
- How does the author structure his or her argument? What are the parts that make up the whole? Does the argument make sense to you? Does it persuade you? Why or why not?
- How has this book helped you understand the subject? Would you recommend the book to others? Why or why not?
Beyond the content of the book, you may also consider some information about the author and the circumstances of the text's production. Question to ask may include:
- Who is the author? The nationality, political persuasion, training, intellectual interests, personal history, and historical context may provide crucial details about how a work takes shape. Does it matter, for example, that the author is affiliated with a particular organization? What difference would it make if the author participated in the events he or she writes about? What other topics has the author written about? Does this work build on prior research or does it seem to represent a new area of research?
- What is the book's genre? Out of what discipline does it emerge? Does it conform to or depart from the conventions of its genre? These questions can provide a historical or other contextual standard upon which to base your evaluations. If you are reviewing the first book ever written on the subject, it will be important for your readers to know this. Keep in mind, though, that declarative statements about being the “first,” the "best," or the "only" book of its kind can be a risky unless you're absolutely certain because your professor [presumably] has a much better understanding of the overall research literature.
Book Reviews . [email protected] Colorado State University; Book Reviews . The Writing Center. University of North Carolina; Hartley, James. Reading and Writing Book Reviews Across the Disciplines. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology 57 (July 2006): 1194–1207; Writing a Book Review . The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Writing Book Reviews . Writing Tutorial Services, Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning. Indiana University.
Structure and Writing Style
I. Bibliographic Information
Provide the essential information about the book using the writing style asked for by your professor [e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.]. Depending on how your professor wants you to organize your review, the bibliographic information represents the heading of your review. In general, it would look like this: The Whites of Their Eyes: The Tea Party's Revolution and the Battle over American History . By Jill Lepore. (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2010. xii, 207pp.).
Reviewed by [your name].
II. Scope/Purpose/Content
In most scholarly works, the author(s) will state the purpose of their book in the preface or in an introductory chapter. Begin your review by telling the reader not only the overarching concern of the book in its entirety [the subject area] but also what the author's particular point of view is on that subject [the thesis statement]. If you cannot find an adequate statement in the author's own words or if you find that the thesis statement is not well-developed, then you will have to compose your own introductory thesis statement that does cover all the material. This statement should be no more than one paragraph and must be succinct, accurate, unbiased, and clear.
If you find it difficult to discern the overall aims and objectives of the book [and, be sure to point this out in your review if you believe it to be a deficiency], you may arrive at an understanding of the purpose by asking yourself the following questions:
- Scan the Table of Contents because it can help you understand how the book is organized and will aid in determining the author's main ideas and how they are developed [e.g., chronologically, topically, etc.].
- Why did the author write on this subject rather than on some other subject?
- From what point of view is the work written?
- Was the author trying to give information, to explain something technical, or to convince the reader of a belief’s validity by dramatizing it in action?
- What is the general field or genre, and how does the book fit into it? Review related literature from other books and journal articles to familiarize yourself with the field, if necessary.
- Who is the intended audience?
- What is the author's style? Is it formal or informal? You can evaluate the quality of the writing style by noting some of the following standards: coherence, clarity, originality, forcefulness, correct use of technical words, conciseness, fullness of development, and fluidity.
- How did the book affect you? Were any prior assumptions you had on the subject changed, abandoned, or reinforced due to this book? How is the book related to your own course or personal agenda? What personal experiences have you had that relate to the subject?
- How well has the book achieved its goal(s)?
- Would you recommend this book to others? Why or why not?
III. Note the Method
Illustrate your remarks with specific references and quotations that help to illustrate the literary method used to state the research problem, describe the research design, and analyze the findings. In general, authors tend to use the following methods, exclusively or in combination.
- Description : The author depicts scenes and events by giving specific details that appeal to the five senses, or to the reader’s imagination. Description presents background and setting. Its primary purpose is to help the reader realize, through as many sensuous details as possible, the way persons, places, and things are within the phenomenon being described.
- Narration : The author tells the story of a series of events, usually thematically or in chronological order. In general, the emphasis in non-fiction books is on narration of the events. Narration tells what has happened and, in some cases, using this method to project what will happen. Its primary purpose is to draw the reader into a story and create a contextual framework for understanding the research problem.
- Exposition : The author uses explanation and analysis to present a subject or to clarify an idea. Exposition presents the facts about a subject or an issue clearly and as impartially as possible. Its primary purpose is to describe and explain, to document for the historical record an event or phenomenon.
- Argument : The author uses techniques of persuasion to establish the truth of a statement, often in the form of a research question, or to convince the reader of its falsity. The overall aim is to persuade the reader to believe something and perhaps to act on that belief. Argument takes sides on an issue and aims to convince the reader that the author's position is valid, logical, and/or reasonable.
IV. Critically Evaluate the Contents
Critical comments should form the bulk of your book review . State whether or not you feel the author's treatment of the subject matter is appropriate for the intended audience. Ask yourself:
- Has the purpose of the book been achieved?
- What contribution does the book make to the field?
- Is the treatment of the subject matter objective?
- Are there facts and evidence that have been omitted?
- What kinds of data, if any, are used to support the author's thesis statement?
- Can the same data be interpreted to alternate ends?
- Is the writing style clear and effective?
- Does the book raise important or provocative issues or topics for discussion and further research?
- What has been left out?
Support your evaluation with evidence from the text and, when possible, state it in relation to other sources. If relevant, note of the book's format, such as, layout, binding, typography, etc. Are there tables, charts, maps, illustrations, text boxes, photographs, or other non-textual elements? Do they aid in understanding the research problem? Describing this is particularly important in books that contain a lot of non-textual elements.
NOTE: It is important to carefully distinguish your views from those of the author to ensure that you do not confuse your reader.
V. Examine the Front Matter and Back Matter
Back matter refers to any information included after the final chapter of the book. Front matter refers to anything before the first chapter. Front matter is most often numbered separately from the rest of the text in lower case Roman numerals [i.e. i-xi ]. Critical commentary about front or back matter is generally only necessary if you believe there is something that diminishes the overall quality of the work or there is something that is particularly helpful in understanding the book's contents.
The following front matter may be included in a book and should be considered for evaluation when reviewing the overall quality of the book:
- Table of contents --is it clear? Is it detailed or general? Does it reflect the true contents of the book?
- Author biography --also found as back matter, the biography of author(s) can be useful in determining the authority of the writer and whether the book builds on prior research or represents new research. In scholarly reviews, noting the author's affiliation can be a factor in helping the reader determine the overall validity of work [i.e., are they associated with a research center devoted to studying the research problem under investigation].
- Foreword --in scholarly books, a foreword may be written by the author or an expert on the subject of the book. The purpose of a foreword is to introduce the reader to the author as well as the book itself, and to help establish credibility for both. A foreword does not contribute any additional information about the book's subject matter, but it serves as a means of validating the book's existence. Later editions of a book sometimes have a new foreword apended [appearing before an older foreword if there was one], which may be included to explain in what respects that edition differs from previous ones.
- Preface --generally describes the genesis, purpose, limitations, and scope of the book and may include acknowledgments of indebtedness to people who have helped the author complete the study. Is the preface helpful in understanding the study? Does it effectively provide a framework for what's to follow?
- Chronology --also may be found as back matter, a chronology is generally included to highlight key events related to the subject of the book. Does it contribute to the overall work? Is it detailed or very general?
- List of non-textual elements --if a book contains a lot of charts, photographs, maps, etc., they will often be listed in the front after the table of contents.
The following back matter may be included in a book and should be considered for evaluation when reviewing the overall quality of the book:
- Afterword --this is a short, reflective piece written by the author that takes the form of a concluding section, final commentary, or closing statement. It is worth mentioning in a review if it contributes information about the purpose of the book, gives a call to action, or asks the reader to consider key points made in the book.
- Appendix --is the supplementary material in the appendix or appendices well organized? Do they relate to the contents or appear superfluous? Does it contain any essential information that would have been more appropriately integrated into the text?
- Index --is the index thorough and accurate? Are elements used, such as, bold text to help identify specific parts of the book?
- Glossary of Terms --are the definitions clearly written? Is the glossary comprehensive or are key terms missing?
- Endotes/Footnotes --check any end notes or footnotes as you read from chapter to chapter. Do they provide important additional information? Do they clarify or extend points made in the body of the text?
- Bibliography/Further Readings --review any bibliography or further readings the author(s) may have included. What kinds of sources appear [e.g., primary or secondary, recent or old, scholarly or popular, etc.]? How does the author make use of them? Be sure to note important omissions.
VI. Summarize and Comment
State your general conclusions succinctly. Pay particular attention to the author's concluding chapter. Is the summary convincing? List the principal topics, and briefly summarize the author’s ideas about these topics, main points, and conclusions. If appropriate and to help clarify your overall evaluation, use specific references and quotations to support your statements. If your thesis has been well argued, the conclusion should follow naturally. It can include a final assessment or simply restate your thesis. Do not introduce new information or ideas in the conclusion. If you've compared the book to any other works or used other sources in writing the review, be sure to cite at the end of your book review.
Book Reviews . [email protected] Colorado State University; Book Reviews . The Writing Center. University of North Carolina; Gastel, Barbara. Special Books Section: A Strategy for Reviewing Books for Journals. BioScience 41 (October 1991): 635-637; Hartley, James. Reading and Writing Book Reviews Across the Disciplines. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology 57 (July 2006): 1194–1207; Procter, Margaret. The Book Review or Article Critique . The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Reading a Book to Review It . The Writer’s Handbook. Writing Center. University of Wisconsin, Madison; Scarnecchia, David L. Writing Book Reviews for the Journal Of Range Management and Rangelands. Rangeland Ecology and Management 57 (2004): 418-421; Writing a Book Review . The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Writing Book Reviews. Writing Tutorial Services, Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning. Indiana University.
Some Language for Evaluating Texts
It can be challenging to find the proper vocabulary in which to discuss and evaluate a book. Here is a list of some active verbs for referring to texts and ideas that you might find useful:
- account for
- demonstrate
- distinguish
- investigate
Examples of usage
- "The evidence indicates that..."
- "This work assesses the effect of..."
- "The author identifies three key reasons for..."
- "This book questions the view that..."
Paquot, Magali. Academic Keyword List . Centre for English Corpus Linguistics. Université Catholique de Louvain.
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Top 5 Book Review Examples
A book review is a description and a critical evaluation of a book. It aims at informing the reader about the content or message of a book. The review also provides an assessment and the reviewer’s opinion about the book’s strengths and weaknesses.
A good book review is written after having read and understood the book. It should be a balanced and objective critique of the text and accurately describe its content. Below are the top five examples of book reviews that you can consider:
“The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins
The author creates a world of darkness where children are forced to kill each other to entertain the rich. The skills used in The Hunger Games are similar to those that Katniss uses in survival adventures in the wild.
Generally, the storyline is intriguing, and the characters are perfect. The author controlled the pace of the action so well that it enables readers to have a great read.
The Hunger Games is an exciting book that fans of post-apocalyptic fiction would undoubtedly enjoy. It is a gripping adventure with great characters and an exciting plot. This book will surely be able to engage readers from all age groups.
However, there are some problems with the book. One of them is that characters appear too serious, and they sometimes seem flat. There exist no conversational parts among two or more characters, leaving readers feeling like they were told a story instead of experiencing it.
Also, the cruelty involved in the selection process of the contestants is hard to swallow. Instead of being afraid, children are eager to volunteer for their district’s representative to have a chance to win the prize.
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a young adult novel, which is different from other books. It is written as a series of letters to an unknown person.
This piece of literature has won several awards and is praised for portraying teen life in modern society.
In the book, Charlie is a freshman who has just entered high school. He is shy, introverted, and intelligent in his way.
He finds himself befriending two seniors, Sam and Patrick. The three of them have a unique circle of friends that help each other grow as they experience first love, heartbreak, and a lot more.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming-of-age story about Charlie’s journey from being an introverted, lonely freshman to a free-spirited young man.
During his transition, Charlie finds himself and gains essential life lessons along the way. He matures, learns to stand up for himself, and lives life on his terms.
This book tackles the problems of teenage life and how they deal with them. It also deals with mental health issues such as depression, suicide, and drug abuse. Another issue tackled is sexual abuse.
The book’s popularity is attributed to the fact that it has a “novelty factor.” It is written as a series of letters and not as an ordinary narration. It is said that the book is very relatable to young adults, especially those who suffer from teenage angst and first love.
The characters are colorful and interesting. The plot has excellent pacing that enables people to get into the story easily. The message of this book is also very inspiring.
However, it leaves a few gaps and unanswered questions. For example, the letters don’t say what Charlie’s parents do. They also don’t explain where the characters go to college and how they eventually turn out.
Also, the book lacks depth in that it does not discuss higher concepts or more profound meanings. The reader only gets a glimpse into Charlie’s world, an ordinary life worth exploring.
“The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green
The Fault in Our Stars is about sixteen-year-old Hazel Grace Lancaster, who has cancer. Not only is she trying to live with cancer, but she has also survived a severe illness that took her lung. She has to carry an oxygen tank with her, where ever she goes.
She meets 17-year-old Augustus Waters at a cancer support group. They are both looking for a reason to live. Augustus was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, but he had his leg amputated and is now in remission.
During Augustus’s time in the hospital, he met Isaac, who has eye cancer. All of them are trying to live life as normally as they can be.
Green’s writing style is very effective. His words flow smoothly, and there is excellent pacing with vivid imagery. This flow enables readers to feel like they are in the same room throughout the book.
It was also clever how Green wrote Hazel Grace with a snarky voice and very intelligent. She acts mature for her age because of the hardships she’s faced throughout her life.
Hazel’s depression was the most interesting thing about her and how she was open to life even though she lived with cancer. Also, Augustus had a certain charm that made the story more interesting because he knows how to have fun and isn’t afraid of living life.
The best part about the book is that it teaches readers that they have to seize the moment because you never know when life will end. It also shows them that they have to embrace the pain that comes with being alive.
In addition, it shows them that death is not a bad thing as long as you had a good life and did the things that made you happy before you died.
The author’s writing is humorous and clever. However, there are other parts of the book that may appear weak to any informed reader. For example, the first few chapters are boring, and it takes time for this story to pick up speed.
Apart from those weaknesses, this book is considered a great read. However, not all readers can appreciate it due to its rich content.
“ The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini
This novel has won several awards, and readers describe it as heart-wrenching and suspenseful. It is for those who can stand sad and tragic stories. The book tells the story of Amir, a young boy growing up in Afghanistan. He lives a privileged life and has a close relationship with his father.
When he was twelve years old, Amir betrayed his friend, Hassan. He feels guilty for what he had done to Hassan and tries to redeem himself later in life. Amir later leaves Afghanistan for America, where he starts a new life.
The young boy’s life in America is a mix of feelings. He has abandoned his home, his father, and all that he had once loved. The life he chose wasn’t as great as he expected.
He struggles to fit in and finds it hard to accept that his father can no longer protect him. Upon reaching adulthood, Amir returns to Afghanistan to undo his mistake and redeem himself. His life changes when he meets his long-lost son.
The central theme of this book is redemption through facing your mistakes and making up for them. It shows that no matter what you do, there are always consequences for your actions.
It also shows people the fragility of life. Even though the characters are flawed, the story is well written and has an interesting plot worth reading.
This book is an example of the best kind of storytelling. It provides readers with an insight into Afghanistan. It also covers the problems that Afghans go through, including the Taliban and wars.
One major weakness in this story is that the narrator never actually says what happened to Hassan. He assumes that something terrible has happened, but it doesn’t give the reader a clear answer.
“The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak
This novel takes the reader to a different time and place. Here, we’ll talk about the main character, Liesel Meminger. During World War II, she is sent to live with foster parents in Himmel Street in Molching, Germany.
Liesel does not know how or why she got there, but her new parents take care of her and treat her kindly. She gets in trouble at school for reading during class, but she is very clever and begins to steal books from the mayor’s wife.
Liesel’s life quickly changes when she discovers the power of words. She learns to read and begins stealing books for her foster father, who is obsessed with them.
At the age of nine, Liesel experiences something that changes her. Her brother dies, and it leaves a huge impact on her. The story goes into detail, describing how her brother dies.
The author’s writing style is very effective. The story is written from death’s perspective, and it is clever how he narrates. He uses words to describe emotions in any situation.
This story is a tale of love, family, and friendship. It is pretty different from other books about the war because it takes a child’s perspective of life. The author’s strength is in character development and book descriptions.
The main weakness is that the storyline may not be easy for some readers to follow. Also, some readers may find the book relatively slow-paced because it covers the main character growing up.
Tips on How To Write A Book Review
- The tone in a book review is reflective and analytic, not argumentative. Some reviews argue for or against a particular idea or statement in the book. However, such reviews do not add significant information to the main point of the book.
- The review should provide the reader with an idea of whether they will enjoy reading a certain story. However, it should not be a complete summary of the entire book, just snippets of the juice.
- If readers are interested in the romance part of a book, kindly give them that. Long paragraphs about the main character’s childhood will put the readers off.
- Book reviews give honest feedback and do not contain any major spoilers in terms of content. It is safe to say that if this is not the case, readers should avoid reading the review until they have read the book.
- It is always best to read the book before reading its review, as it may contain some mild spoilers. The review must not reveal the ending or any major plot points.
- Book reviews are meant to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of a particular story. They are not meant for people to copy word-for-word, so this should be kept in mind!
- Reviews tend to be short and sweet. They are not meant for writers to express their personal feelings about a book and should NOT contain any persuasive essay characteristics.
- A book review is meant to be an opinion of the writer. It should not delve into personal matters. This doesn’t mean that it should include a lack of emotion, but it should be free of personal attacks on the author.
- Also, book reviews are meant to focus entirely on the story itself and give an overall impression to the reader. They should not include comparisons, as it may influence whether or not a certain book is bought.
- Do not leave out any critical information about the book. If it is a certain strength, highlight it. If there is an important aspect you feel should not be missed, mention it.
- A book review should mention the title and author, and the main idea of the story. It should also provide some background information on where or when it is set.
- The rest of the review is entirely up to the writer’s discretion. If there are a lot of interesting points, feel free to discuss them all. If the book is very well written, it’s worth mentioning.
- It all depends on what you are reviewing! Is it a book or a short story? If it is an autobiography, focus on the writing style and how well the author conveyed their experiences.
- When writing a book review on fiction, explain how well you think the author used description, dialogue, and character development to tell their story.
- If you don’t like it, very simply say so! You may want to mention the weak points of the book, but do not use personal attacks.
- Just be sure to provide a valid reason for your opinion, and the reader will highly regard it!
What are The Steps of Crafting a Good Book Review?
- The first step for writing a book review is to pick up the assigned book. After reading the book, schedule a time to think about it and develop ideas for your review. Take notes on what you want to say in your review and what you liked and didn’t like about the book.
It’s best to focus on the general idea of the book rather than individual details. Do not try to recreate your notes, but keep them to help you with your review.
- It’s time to start writing the actual review! Make sure you make the review personal but do not use any inappropriate language (be professional). Start by writing a short introduction about the book. Remember to include the title, author, and a general idea of what it is in the book. This will help you organize your review in a way that is easy to read for the reader.
Doing this makes it easier to discuss certain aspects of the book without jumping around. For example, if the book is about a dog and its owner, it would make sense to talk about the relationship between the two. This detail makes it easier to follow along with what you are trying to say about the book, which will make your review much better.
- After the introduction, you can move on to talking about the actual story. Discuss things like what was going on and any significant events that took place. This way, you’ll focus on important things that can help the reader find out more about what makes this book special. Don’t forget to include quotes from the book as well!
- Next, talk about what you thought of the book. Include any personal opinions and feelings you had while reading the book. These details are important because they give your review a more personal touch and make it relatable for the reader.
For example, if you felt angry with a character in the book or didn’t like how things turned out, mention it! It will help the reader understand that this book might not be for them.
- Conclude your review by summarizing what you liked and didn’t like about the book. Write a summary that can help look back on your review if needed, and then end with what you would rate the book. Be sure also to include your name and mention if you are a student or an author.
Bottom Line
Book reviews are an essential part of the literary world and help readers decide if they want to read a specific book or not. The five examples given here will help you craft a winning book review for your readers.
I ‘m a freelance content and SEO writer with a passion for finding the perfect combination of words to capture attention and express a message . I create catchy, SEO-friendly content for websites, blogs, articles, and social media. My experience spans many industries, including health and wellness, technology, education, business, and lifestyle. My clients appreciate my ability to craft compelling stories that engage their target audience, but also help to improve their website’s search engine rankings. I’m also an avid learner and stay up to date on the latest SEO trends. I enjoy exploring new places and reading up on the latest marketing and SEO strategies in my free time.
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Literature Review
- What is a literature review?
- What is its purpose?
- 1. Selecting your topic
- 2. Setting the topic in context
- 3. Looking at information sources
- 4. Using information sources
- 5. Getting the information
- 6. Organizing information (information management)
- 7. Positioning the literature review
- 8. Writing the literature review
About this guide
This research guide was developed for students at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.
If you are a student from another school, you are welcome to peruse the guide, using the links above, but please know that our librarians can only provide general help to non-BU students. Contact the librarians at your own institution for help in using the resources available to you.
-Andruss Library
A literature review is a comprehensive summary of previous research on a topic. The literature review surveys scholarly articles, books, and other sources relevant to a particular area of research. The review should enumerate, describe, summarize, objectively evaluate and clarify this previous research. It should give a theoretical base for the research and help you (the author) determine the nature of your research. The literature review acknowledges the work of previous researchers, and in so doing, assures the reader that your work has been well conceived. It is assumed that by mentioning a previous work in the field of study, that the author has read, evaluated, and assimiliated that work into the work at hand.
A literature review creates a "landscape" for the reader, giving her or him a full understanding of the developments in the field. This landscape informs the reader that the author has indeed assimilated all (or the vast majority of) previous, significant works in the field into her or his research.
"In writing the literature review, the purpose is to convey to the reader what knowledge and ideas have been established on a topic, and what their strengths and weaknesses are. The literature review must be defined by a guiding concept (eg. your research objective, the problem or issue you are discussing, or your argumentative thesis). It is not just a descriptive list of the material available, or a set of summaries.( http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/specific-types-of-writing/literature-review )
Recommended Reading
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Kate Houston and Libbie Blanchard of CQ University Libraries, (Queensland, Australia) whose LibGuide on the Literature Review served as a framework for this guide.
Designed and updated by Michael Coffta
- Next: What is its purpose? >>
- Last Updated: Feb 24, 2023 1:50 PM
- URL: https://guides.library.bloomu.edu/litreview
Andruss Library | 570-389-4205 | [email protected] ©Copyright Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania • 400 East Second Street, Bloomsburg PA 17815-1301 • 570.389.4000
Book Review Writing
Writing a Book Review - A Step By Step Guide
Published on: May 21, 2019
Last updated on: Jan 23, 2023
On This Page On This Page
If your teacher has asked you to write a book review, you need to analyze a book and provide your opinion on it. However, this is not the only information you need for a good book review. You will also have to include a brief summary of the book and address the book’s main points and explain why they matter.
You might also be asked to cover the information about the author to help the reader understand the text, especially if it is a non-fiction book.
If you are searching for how to write a book review, here is a step-by-step guide to help you write an impressive book review in no time.
What is a Book Review?
A review of a book is literary criticism, and it mainly consists of three things; a summary, analysis, and evaluation of the book.
These are the keys to constructing a perfect book evaluation and review.
A book review can vary from person to person, as everyone has a different take on what they read. You might have a positive opinion of a book but your friend can have a negative take on it.
However, both of you can be right in your own way, depending on how you criticize and draw an opinion of the book and defend them.
Keep on reading and learn how to write a book review for school and beyond.
Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job
How to Write a Book Review?
Regardless of liking or disliking a book, a detailed and honest review will help people know about different kinds of books and find those that interest them.
For some, book reviews and book reports are the same. However, writing a book report is different from writing a book review. A book review is simpler in structure and does not require in-depth analysis as compared to a book report.
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to write a book review.
Write a few lines to describe the book. However, be careful when you are giving the description of the book, do not give away any plot twists and spoil the book for the readers. A better way is to refer to similar books. Mention them so the reader can get an idea of what the book is all about.
It is essential that you talk about what you liked in the book. You can talk about a certain chapter or quote. Some other things include; your favorite character, event, quote, and scene.
Mention how the book made you feel and if it kept you engaged and curious till the end.
In the case of non-fiction works, explain if it was informative or if the theories and concepts were explained perfectly and if it helped your work.
All these questions will help you write a book review that will impress your teachers, boss, or peers.
After talking about all the things that you like in the book, it is time you talk about the parts of the book that you disliked. However, make sure that you explain everything and the reasons behind your dislike.
Conclude the review by summarizing some of your thoughts on the book and suggestions about what kind of readers will like the book the most.
For instance: older or younger readers or people who are fans of drama, mystery, or comedy.
When it comes to more facts and science-related books, you can talk about how the book is more suitable for readers who are doing or have done an M.Phil. in any science-related subject.
This is an optional part. You can give the book a rating out of 10. At times there is an audience who are in a rush, and all they want is to know the ratings. So, this is perfect for your peers or the layman who just want to know if the book is worth it or not.
Once you are done with writing, proofread it and make sure your grammar and spellings are on point. Keep in mind that a review with language mistakes may not be taken seriously.
Book Review Format
There are certain formatting guidelines that you need to follow for a perfect book review. Keep in mind that following the correct format is as important as writing about the main theme and idea of the book.
Here are the basic book review formatting guidelines that you can follow for your ease.
- Start with the main characteristics of the book, such as the name of the book, the author’s name, etc.
- Definition of the book and bibliographical information
- Discuss the main theme of the book
- Introduce the main characters
- Discuss the plot of the story
- The message, the author tried to convey
- Your point of view on the text
These are the basic book review format guidelines that you need to follow for an impressive review.
Book Review Template
Here is a free book review template that you can use to come up with the best format for your book review.
Book Review Examples
Examples are a great source to learn something new. That’s why below we have provided some book review examples that you can read to understand what it takes to write a great book review.
Fictional Book Review
The Invisible Man Book Review:
“An extremely powerful story of a young Southern Negro, from his late high school days through three years of college to his life in Harlem.
His early training prepared him for a life of humility before white men, but through injustices- large and small, he came to realize that he was an "invisible man." People saw in him only a reflection of their preconceived ideas of what he was, denied his individuality, and ultimately did not see him at all. This theme, which has implications far beyond the obvious racial parallel, is skillfully handled.
The incidents of the story are wholly absorbing. The boy's dismissal from college because of an innocent mistake, his shocked reaction to the anonymity of the North and to Harlem, his nightmare experiences on a one-day job in a paint factory and in the hospital, his lightning success as the Harlem leader of a communistic organization known as the Brotherhood, his involvement in black versus white and black versus black clashes and his disillusion and understanding of his invisibility- all climax naturally in scenes of violence and riot, followed by a retreat which is both literal and figurative.
Parts of this experience may have been told before, but never with such freshness, intensity, and power.
This is Ellison's first novel, but he has complete control of his story and his style. Read it.”
Non-Fiction Book Review
Becoming Book Review:
“Look, I'm not a happy crier. I might cry at songs about leaving and missing someone; I might cry at books where things don't work out; I might cry at movies where someone dies.
I've just never really understood why people get all choked up over happy, inspirational things. But Michelle Obama's kindness and empathy changed that. This book had me in tears for all the right reasons.
This is not really a book about politics, though political experiences obviously do come into it. It's a shame that some will dismiss this book because of a difference in political opinion when it is really about a woman's life. About growing up poor and black on the South Side of Chicago, about getting married and struggling to maintain that marriage, about motherhood, about being thrown into an amazing and terrifying position.
I hate words like "inspirational" because they've become so overdone and cheesy, but I just have to say it-- Michelle Obama is an inspiration. I had the privilege of seeing her speak at The Forum in Inglewood, and she is one of the warmest, funniest, smartest, down-to-earth people I have ever seen in this world.
She's obviously intelligent, but she also doesn't gussy up her words. She talks straight, with an openness and honesty rarely seen. She's been one of the most powerful women in the world. She's been a graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School, She's had her own successful career, and yet she has remained throughout that same girl - Michelle Robinson - from a working-class family in Chicago.
I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't benefit from reading this book.
Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Writers!
Book Review Sample
If you are looking for more book reviews, we have compiled an interesting book review sample for you to read the following reviews.
- The alchemist book review
- Sapiens book review
- The secret book review
- Book review of forty rules of love
- Book review of matilda
- Book review treasure island
- Educated book review
If you want to read a book review of any book mentioned above, refer to this sample and see what a professional book review looks like.
New York Times Book Review
The NY times book reviews are a great resource to help you understand how to write a book review that is impressive and moving.
They will help you get a clear idea of how to write a book review. If you have not read one, now is the time to do so. Reading book reviews of authors like Margaret Atwood and Jacqueline Woodson is a good way to get started with your own assignment.
The NYT book reviews have pretty much an overview of every other book out there. Go through some of them for better clarity.
Hopefully, now you know what it takes to write a good book review. Refer to the above guide and learn how to write a great book review every time.
Lastly, never write a review of a book based on what you wanted it to be. Present facts and your opinion based on them.
Further, there are going to be times when you will be given the task of reviewing a book from a genre that you do not like. This will be your test, as the book review will help you learn to appreciate readings from all genres.
Get Professional Help for Writing a Book Review
Book review writing is surely not an easy task. And if you have no sufficient time to write a book review or even read a book in the first place, you might be wondering how to write a book review without reading the book.
There is a one-time solution that you can consider if you have no time to produce a high-quality book review or any kind of other writing assignments.
MyPerfectWords.com provides professional essay writing help that has qualified essay experts to help you with your various academic writing needs.
Be it a type of essay, book report, or book review. Our essay writer online is the best solution for all your academic problems.
Place your order now and get your book review done within a short deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 4 stages of a book review.
The 4 stages of reviewing a book are:
- Introduction the book
- Drafting an outline of its major chapters
- Highlighting the significant details of the book
- Writing a detailed evaluation
What are the parts of a book review?
The main parts of a book review are as following:
- Summary of the book
- Background details of the book
- Credits: author, publisher, etc.
- Plot and setting
What is the goal of a book review?
The purpose of the book review is to convey information about a particular book in an understandable way. It can be used as a tool by other people who want to know what your review about the book is or how it compares to their own expectations.
Cathy A. (Literature, Marketing)
Cathy has been been working as an author on our platform for over five years now. She has a Masters degree in mass communication and is well-versed in the art of writing. Cathy is a professional who takes her work seriously and is widely appreciated by clients for her excellent writing skills.
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Book Review Examples To Help You Get Started
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Reading The Alice Project by Satwik Gade
A novel that examines its eponymous protagonist’s quest for meaning and his attempts to create a solid foundation for himself even as he battles a perpetual sense of emptiness.
The eponymous protagonist of Satwik Gade’s book is a “Single guy in the city grappling with adulthood alongside friends who foster him and work as support mechanisms.” A 22-year-old design graduate, Alice works half-heartedly for a start-up and occasionally freelances for his rich acquaintance, Javed, with whom he shares never-ending philosophical and religious ramblings.
Seven years later, Alice seems the same. The reader does not see an “Alice 2.0”, who is married like his friend Bakchod, or is responsibly “adulting” like Nitin, or completing a PhD in the US like Snigdha. Still a self-employed freelancer, he now also writes book reviews. As before, his desire to write a book with Javed on the Ajivika religion seems like a pipe-dream. He attempts to follow Nietzsche’s aphorisms and create a religious and philosophical book from Javed’s research. Caught between deadlines, he dreams of starting a cult.
Satwik Gade takes the reader through the crises of early adulthood, many of which are self inflicted but no less disturbing for that. As is the case with Alice, most have to learn to swim through their insecurities and attempt to emerge unscathed. The Alice Project , leavened by occasional bursts of humour and an understanding of the nature of friendships, takes this universal experience as its subject. Set in the era of Orkut and of mobile phones with no front cameras for selfies, this book will make Millennial readers, especially, nostalgic for their college days with its easy friendships nurtured at designated sutta points and over winter bonfires. It perfectly presents the humour, guilt, confidence, embarrassment, innocence and foolishness that are so much a part of nascent adulthood.
Saleem Rashid Shah is an independent book critic. He lives in New Delhi
The views expressed are personal
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Meaning of review in English
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review verb ( THINK AGAIN )
- With exams approaching , it's a good idea to review your class notes .
- He reviews films for the local newspaper .
- Your starting salary is £13 000 per annum and will be reviewed annually .
- The laws governing the possession of firearms are being reviewed.
- The company is reviewing its security after the robbery .
- adjudication
- have the measure of someone/something idiom
- interpretable
- reinterpret
- reinterpretation
- reinvestigate
- reinvestigation
- the acid test
Want to learn more?
Improve your vocabulary with English Vocabulary in Use from Cambridge. Learn the words you need to communicate with confidence.
review verb ( WRITE/TALK ABOUT )
Review verb ( military ).
- assault course
- civil defence
- national service
- obstacle course
- passing-out
- reconnaissance
- route march
review verb ( STUDY )
- study What do you plan on studying at university?
- major US She majored in philosophy at Harvard.
- cram She's cramming for her history exam.
- revise UK I'm revising for tomorrow's test.
- review US We're going to review for the test tomorrow night.
- research Scientists are researching possible new treatments for cancer.
- absorptive capacity
- acquisition
- hit the books idiom
- mug (something) up
- non-academic
- non-library
- uncultivated
- unlearnable
review noun ( THINK AGAIN )
- There's a generous review of the book in today's newspaper .
- The review exposed widespread corruption in the police force .
- The government has ordered a judicial review.
- The reviews of his latest movies have been highly complimentary .
- A review of the firm's safety procedures revealed serious problems .
- construction
- impact assessment
- impact statement
- interpretation
- job evaluation
- prognostication
- re-evaluation
review noun ( BOOK/FILM )
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
review noun ( MILITARY )
Review noun ( theatre ).
- amateur theater
- balancing act
- bullfighting
- double-header
- minstrel show
- non-musical
- one-night stand
- spectacular
- street theatre
- super-spectacle
review noun ( STUDY )
- build (someone/something) up
- curtain-raiser
- introduction
- introductory
- lead up to something
- predecessor
- preliminarily
- preliminary
review | American Dictionary
Review | business english, examples of review, collocations with review.
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Blog – Posted on Wednesday, Mar 27
How to become a book reviewer in 12 steps.
Most book critics have a pretty thankless job. If they give a bad review, they’re often accused of sour grapes (“If they could write, then they wouldn’t be reviewers”) and when their write-ups help a book to take off, they almost never get the credit (“the author’s talent sold the book, not the review”). Yet literary criticism is an essential driver in the book-world — now more than ever in our age of online purchases and algorithmic curation. Which means there’s no time like the present to learn how to become a book reviewer .
In this post, we’ll look at the value of book criticism and show you how to become a book reviewer with our 12-step plan.
Why is book criticism important?
By conservative estimates, over 600,000 books are published each year in the US alone. Even the most voracious reader could only read a tiny fraction of those titles. Without literary criticism, the only thing to determine which books receive exposure would be the marketing teams of Big 5 publishers who would — dollars to donuts — always choose the titles they think will sell the most copies.
In the film Ratatouille , the fearsome food critic Anton Ego has something of an epiphany in the final reel: “There are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new.” In many ways, that is the reason why literary journals, newspaper book reviews, online review blogs, and Amazon user reviews exist: all of these play an important role in championing new authors and new ideas.
As we’ll discover in the next section, the book critic’s job is not just to serve as an arbiter of taste, lording their influence over authors. When they’re doing their job right, they’re serving as a shepherd, not just for readers but for writers as well.
Why would you want to become a book reviewer?
Before we get into the topic of what a critic personally gets out of reviewing books, let’s expand a bit on the role they play.
First (and arguably foremost), a critic’s job is to guide readers . They need to present a book to the reader in a way that gives a flavor of what it’s like: they might choose direct quotes, isolate individual sections — whatever it takes to help the reader to form their own impression of the title.
The reviewer should also be well-read, so they can not only provide a personal reaction to the book, but justify that opinion as well. In an age of online ‘reaction videos’ where novices offer their knee-jerk opinions of music, films, and books they’re not familiar with, the critic should ideally provide a more rounded, informed account. They should be able to put a book into context, comparing and contrasting the author’s approach based on what works have come before it.
Some may see this as an elitist approach, but surely we read reviews because we’re interested in what the critic knows — not what they don’t know. Not to mention that authors hoping for reviews will appreciate a well-informed reviewer!
Book reviewers also have an influential platform . Whether they’re writing product reviews for an online retailer or penning 1,200 words for The New York Times , they can use their soapbox to shine a light on new authors. If we want to get lofty about it, you could say that it’s a critic’s responsibility to seek out and champion new talent: give them exposure that they wouldn’t get if we were to leave it to the marketing team at HarperCollins, for example.
In this next section, we’ll show you how you can get involved in the world of literary criticism and become a book reviewer.
How to become a book reviewer in 12 steps
If you're looking to become a professional book reviewer and reach a growing audience, you could do a lot worse than to follow these twelve steps.
Step 1. Read abundantly
If you don’t already read like a maniac , then one might wonder why you’d want to become a book reviewer in the first place. Reading certainly won’t get any more enjoyable when you’re faced with a deadline. Plus, as we mentioned before, one of the best things you can bring to the table as a reviewer is your understanding of the history and landscape of the genre. When you’re reviewing a new horror book set in small-town New England, you should be, at the very least, well-versed in Stephen King books.
While you're at it, read other book reviews as well. You might as well learn from the best!
Step 2. Start reviewing books for free (or for money!)
Guess what? You can become a book reviewer today! You just need to log into your account at an online book retailer and drop a review of a book you’ve enjoyed. You can even write quality commentary with the help of our book review templates .
Okay, this article’s done now. Turns out, we only needed two steps. Roll credits.
All joking aside, reviewing books on retail sites is not a bad place to start. It gives you an opportunity to exercise your reviewing muscles and have your write-ups seen and enjoyed by folks browsing for their next big read. You can get feedback on your review (“20 people found this helpful”) and even contribute to the success of a book you like.
Once you feel confident in your skills (and are ready to take the next step), you can look at some of the online platforms which are always on the lookout for reviewers.
One of the most difficult parts of being a first-time author (especially a self-publishing one) is getting editorial reviews in time for the release of their book. If you look at the product description of a book’s Amazon page, you’ll often see that they include an extract from a review. If it’s a prominent release, the review may be from a national broadsheet; if it’s a smaller release, it may be from a smaller online reviewer. A few services specialize in providing authors with paid editorial reviews, which naturally requires reviewers. Some of the services will even pay them for their reviews (with some significant strings attached).
So which review platforms should you consider?
Some of the best-known review services include Kirkus, The U.S. Review of Books, Online Book Club, and Publisher’s Weekly — all of which offer a small honorarium in exchange for reviews. The review copies of the book are free (ideal!) but almost all of these services will give the reviewer no exposure (not ideal — especially if you’re looking to build your own profile as a reviewer).
The team here at Reedsy recently launched Reedsy Discovery as an alternative to these services. The reviewers on the platform have to submit examples of their writing for quality control, but once accepted, they can access and review a massive pool of upcoming indie books from their chosen genre.
The edge that Discovery offers reviewers is visibility . Each reviewer has a bespoke landing page where all their reviews can be found, along with a bio, headshot, and newsfeed. Readers who like what any given reviewer has written can choose to “follow” them and receive alerts about new reviews. Overall, Reedsy Discovery aims to give critics a platform (and the social networking tools) to build their personal profile and readership, two things that will come in handy as your reviewing career progresses.
To register as a reviewer on Reedsy Discovery, click here .
Between these options, you should have a few places where you can start writing reviews almost immediately! If you'd like to double-check, we recommend taking this quick quiz to find out which review community is the right fit for you:
Which review community should you join?
Find out which review community is best for your style. Takes 30 seconds!
And then, before you take a step into the big leagues, let’s cover some best practices.
Step 3. Always follow guidelines
Following guidelines is a good reviewing habit to develop early on — it will save you from a lot of rejection and rewrites. Sites like Kirkus are notorious for requiring an exact format for each review, while Reedsy Discovery and a few of the other sites allow a bit more freedom.
As you start to work with editorial staff, this ability to stick to guidelines will help you with your reputation as someone whose reviews don’t require an immense amount of feedback and editing — something that time-strapped editors appreciate.
Step 4. Always think of the reader first
In your life as a reviewer, you will almost always have a choice of which books to write about. So if a book has been utterly terrible, you can always choose not to write about it at all. Instead, find another title that might actually deserve getting the push that your review can provide. Look for books that sound intriguing; then if you love it, find a way to convince your readers that they might love it too.
Step 5. Host all your reviews in one place
Any freelance writer (such as a reviewer) these days needs to have a strong online presence. If you’re looking to build your portfolio and profile, you need to keep most of your work in one location .
This might mean starting your own website or maybe a Tumblr page ( maybe ) as an easy, low-cost alternative. Reedsy Discovery effectively gives reviewers a homepage where all their reviews can be found (okay, the last mention of Reedsy Discovery for a while, we promise!).
Essentially, you just want to be able to send anyone a single URL where they can browse through your back-catalog of work. This will come in extra handy if you’re ever applying to a high-profile reviewing (or any other type of writing) job: your whole portfolio will be in one convenient place to impress employers.
Step 6. Become a specialist
It can be hard to sell yourself as a jack of all trades. If you tell an editor that you are the right person to review ‘anything’, chances are they’ll think you’re deluded.
Instead, focus on a few genres that you know intimately. Through your work, you want editors to know you as the go-to person for certain genres — so when a conspiracy thriller or what have you crosses their desk, they’ll know exactly who to assign it to (you).
Once you know your specialty, make sure you’re familiar with trends in that category, and review a lot of titles in those genres. When it comes to pitching to review the next big book in that niche, you’ll be able to point to your past work as why you’re uniquely qualified to take that job.
So now that we’ve built you a reputation, a small following, and a massive body of work, you may want to take the next logical step: writing a review for a paper or a big online outlet. To do this, you’ll need to get yourself on the radar of some editors.
Step 7. Put together a packet of your best reviews
If the editors of a magazine or paper have never heard of you, then your work is going to have to knock their socks off. The prime way to do this is to assemble a packet of your best work . Yes, you should already have your full portfolio in one place — but this will be a “greatest hits” compilation of sorts, so editors can see your maximum potential.
Perhaps choose a mix of recognizable, traditionally published titles and indie books, so they know you have a wide range. Then, as you start getting published in more prestigious publications, begin working those reviews into your pack, and continue the cycle as you write more and more. After all, it’s much easier to get published if you can show that you’ve already been published.
Step 8. Join an association
Being part of a community is an important element of entering any profession. And book reviewing is no different! If you’re based in the US, check out the National Book Critic’s Circle : membership currently costs $50 a year for freelancers and it gives you access to a bunch of great resources and access to its Emerging Critics Fellowship.
Step 9. Find out upcoming releases
Once you know what books are coming up, you can start creating a shortlist of books you want (and are suited) to review.
Step 10. Start small-ish
Even if you’re a freakishly prodigious writer, chances are you won’t be able to make the jump straight to The New York Review of Books . Instead, look for more modest opportunities at smaller local papers, online magazines, and certain literary journals . As you research, make yourself a “hit list” of possible review outlets, figure out which upcoming books might be suited to those outlets, and start pitching.
Step 11. Pitch reviews effectively
First of all, always make sure that you’re contacting the right person at a magazine or newspaper. Don’t send your pitch to the city editor or the sports desk — word will get out that you don’t know how to do basic research.
It’s also good to bear in mind that you’re not pitching the idea of a review: you want to pitch the story your review might tell . The editor might not have considered running a review of the book you’re putting forward, so you have to sell them on the idea: why should they print a review of that book? Is it newsworthy (e.g. does it cover a topic in the current zeitgeist, or that is about to have a major anniversary)? Is it the latest book in a category that’s about to explode?
Once you’ve convinced an editor that the book you’ve proposed is worth reviewing, you’ll also have to make a case for why you should be the one to do it. Of course, you’ll want to link to your review samples to prove that you can write and that you’re well-versed in the genre. This should demonstrate your understanding and passion for that type of book and prove that you’re the ideal candidate.
To see what that might look like, check out this post from writer Erika Dreyfus. She provides an example where she mentioned how her grandfather was a businessman in post-WWI Germany as part of her successful pitch to review a new memoir set in that era.
Also, don’t pitch too late. Magazines will assign reviews weeks (if not months) in advance, so get your pitch in there early.
Step 12. Always follow up politely
Some people call this “hustling,” but in truth, it’s basic common sense. Wherever there is a submissions process, you can bet that there’s some poor soul who has to go through hundreds of emails. Naturally, emails will get lost in the pile and forgotten. If you don’t receive a reply from an outlet after two weeks, drop them a short polite reminder .
And if the answer is “no thank you,” then be gracious. Just because they don’t want you to review this book for them today, doesn’t mean they won’t be interested in something down the line. Who knows: after a few pitches, they might remember you as the “reviewer who’s big on Civil War fiction” and think of you the next time something appropriate turns up. So make a good impression and leave things on a positive note.
Keep plugging away, never stop reading, and always review with an eye to championing new talent and broadening readers’ horizons. You’ll eventually get a lucky break — and when that happens, you’ll be ready to seize the opportunity!
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A book review allows students to illustrate the author's intentions of writing the piece, as well as create a criticism of the book — as a whole. In other words, form an opinion of the author's presented ideas. Check out this guide from EssayPro — dissertation writing service to learn how to write a book review successfully. What Is a Book Review?
A book review is a thorough description, critical analysis, and/or evaluation of the quality, meaning, and significance of a book, often written in relation to prior research on the topic.
A book review will offer a recommendation for the audience. If these are the basic ingredients that make up a book review, it's the tone and style with which the book reviewer writes that brings the extra panache. This will differ from platform to platform, of course.
Writing a book review is a great way to let fellow readers know about an exciting new page-turner—or give a heads up that a book might not meet expectations. Whether you're reviewing a book on a site like Goodreads or on your personal blog, you'll want your review to be informative and helpful for your audience.
Book reviews mean to serve as research of a book or topic. Book reviews typically range from 500 to 2,000 words in length and provide critical analysis of the book being reviewed....
Book review definition, a critical description, evaluation, or analysis of a book, especially one published in a newspaper or magazine. See more.
book review noun 1 : a descriptive and critical or evaluative account of a book 2 : a newspaper supplement or magazine devoted chiefly to book reviews a typical book campaign in eight important book reviews Publishers' Weekly Word History First Known Use 1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Time Traveler
Writing a book review helps you read a book carefully, understand it better, and think about what the book means to you. Writing a book review as part of the work of a college course provides you with the opportunity to interact deeply with a writer's extended statement and to relate it to the subject matter of the course.
A book review is a form of literary criticism in which a book is analyzed based on content, style, and merit. A book review can be a primary source opinion piece, summary review or scholarly review. Books can be reviewed for printed periodicals, magazines and newspapers, as school work, or for book web sites on the internet.
Lawrence's efforts to develop his homestead — and forget his troubled past — partially form the basis for Homestead, the debut novel from Alaska-born author Melinda Moustakis. It's a book that ...
A writer will review their work for errors or grammar mistakes before giving it to an editor. Used in a sentence: Lola reviewed her letter to Santa Claus to make sure she included everything she wanted. review s to make sure the one you're eyeing will satisfy your dreams.
A book review may be a primary source, opinion piece, summary review or scholarly review. [2] Books can be reviewed for printed periodicals, magazines and newspapers, as school work, or for book websites on the Internet. A book review's length may vary from a single paragraph to a substantial essay.
A book review is a decription, critical analysis, and/or evaluation of the quality, meaning, and significance of a book. Reviews generally range between 500-1000 words, but may be longer or shorter depending on the length and complexity of the book being reviewed, the overall purpose of the review, and whether the review is a comparative analysis examining two or more books that focus on the ...
A book review is a description and a critical evaluation of a book. Below are the top five examples of book reviews that you can consider: ... This doesn't mean that it should include a lack of emotion, but it should be free of personal attacks on the author. Also, book reviews are meant to focus entirely on the story itself and give an ...
Synonyms for REVIEW: retrospect, reconsideration, retrospection, reexamination, reappraisal, recap, recapitulation, rehash; Antonyms of REVIEW: preview, stabilization ...
Definition A literature review is a comprehensive summary of previous research on a topic. The literature review surveys scholarly articles, books, and other sources relevant to a particular area of research. The review should enumerate, describe, summarize, objectively evaluate and clarify this previous research.
1 of 2 noun re· view ri-ˈvyü Synonyms of review 1 a : a formal military inspection b : a military ceremony honoring a person or an event 2 : revision sense 1a 3 : a general survey (as of the events of a period) 4 : an act or the process of reviewing 5 : judicial reexamination (as of the proceedings of a lower tribunal by a higher) 6 a
A review of a book is literary criticism, and it mainly consists of three things; a summary, analysis, and evaluation of the book. These are the keys to constructing a perfect book evaluation and review. A book review can vary from person to person, as everyone has a different take on what they read.
Author Satwik Gade (Courtesy the subject) The Alice Project examines its protagonist's quest for meaning and his attempts to create a solid foundation for himself even as he battles a perpetual ...
review meaning: 1. to think or talk about something again, in order to make changes to it or to make a decision…. Learn more.
review verb (THINK AGAIN) C1 [ T ] to think or talk about something again, in order to make changes to it or to make a decision about it: The committee is reviewing the current arrangement / situation. Let's review what has happened so far. He reviewed his options before making a final decision. More examples
Step 4. Always think of the reader first. It feels good to write a bad review. Eviscerating a terrible book can really get your blood pumping — but it's also something you should try to avoid wherever possible. As a reviewer, your job is not to punish an author for making you read a book you really didn't like.
Semantics and pragmatics - the study of meaning, and meaning in context, respectively - are two fundamental areas of linguistics, and as such are crucial to our understanding of how meaning is created. However, their theoretical ideas are often introduced without making clear connections between views, theories, and problems.