Resources
Was Harper Lee manipulated? Read Newsweek or the New Republic.
Do you want to read a review of To Kill a Mockingbird? Go to the Guardian.
Want to read a review of a book about Harper Lee? Read the review on Amazon.
Want to write a bad review? Visit Salon.com http://www.salon.com/2012/08/18/how_to_write_a_bad_review/
Want to learn more about writing reviews? Visit this teacher's page.
Writing a Book Review
Book reviews typically evaluate recently-written works. They offer a brief
description of the text’s key points and often provide a short appraisal of the
strengths and weaknesses of the work. A book review is designed to entice, or
not, a reader to buy and read a book. Consequently, whether or not you (the
reviewer) enjoyed the reading experience, and provide details on purchasing the
book.
Your primary goal is not to describe the plot and the characters.
Aim to create either a one-page or a double-page spread. Fill all white
spaces. Aim to write between 250 to 500
words.
Think about the book reviews you might have seen in magazines, newspapers,
and online.
Consider :
Author: Who is the author? What else has s/he written? Has this
author won any awards? What is the author’s typical style?
Context : With Go Set a Watchman, there is room to explore
the controversy behind its publication.
Genre: What type of book is this: fiction, nonfiction, romance,
poetry, youth fiction, etc.? Who is the intended audience for this work? What
is the purpose of the work?
Style : How would you describe this author’s particular style? Is it accessible to all readers or just some?
Title: Where does the title fit in? How is it applied in the
work? Does it adequately encapsulate the message of the text? Is it
interesting? Uninteresting?
The Story: Focus on the opening plot lines and the personality
traits of each character (without revealing too much of the story). Do you
empathize with the characters and appreciate the main storylines?
Themes/Motifs/Style: What themes or motifs stand out? How
do they contribute to the work? Are they effective or not? Do the ideas
explored make the novel good, different, or groundbreaking?
Quotes: What quotes stand out? How can you demonstrate the
author’s talent or the feel of the book through a quote?
Audience : which publication are you writing for ? Remember that your audience has not read the
work. Is Go Set a Watchman meant for your intended audience ? Will some
readers be lost or find the text too inaccessible?
Structure of your Review
•
Begin with a short
summary or background of the work.
•
The middle portion
of your review will detail your opinion of the work.
•
The closing section
should provide purchase details. Most book reviews include the publisher and
price of the book at the end of the article. Some reviews also include the year
published and ISBN.
•
Illustrate
How to Evaluate
you Work:
Choose one or a few points to discuss about
the book. What worked well for you? How does this work compare with others by
the same author or other books in the same genre? What major themes, motifs, or
terms does the book introduce, and how effective are they? Did the book appeal
to you on an emotional or logical way?
Remember to Proofread :
•
Carefully verify the following:
•
Double-check the spelling of the author name(s),
character names, special terms, and publisher. Underline publication names.
•
Try to read from the vantage point of your audience. Is
there too much/enough summary? Does your argument about the text make sense?
•
Should you include direct quotes from the reading? Do
they help support your arguments? Double-check your quotes for accuracy.
•
Does your page look visually attractive ?
•
Print a 'practice version' and ask friends and family to
give first impressions.
•
Can you immediately tell which publication you are
writing for ?
