Graf - Writing a Book Review

Contents

Review:

An act of carefully looking at or examining the quality or condition of something or someone: Examination or inspection: A report that gives someone's opinion about the quality of a book, performance, product, etc.

Some things, one may believe, are pretty in terms of being explained and answered: They make perfect sense without detailed explanations. For instance, there may be something you use every day or is just part of your life, and it simply doesnt need explanation. It just is because it is so simple and not complicated at all. That is until you start to explain it, and then you find that it is not as easy as you originally thought.

So, what is a book review?

Its a review of a book. Okay, and that is.? Its what I thought of the book. Very true, but it could be so much more. A real book review is much more complicated than that. It goes much further than just saying if a book was enjoyable for not. It gives an explanation so the reader of the review can determine if your opinion should be factored in their decision to purchase and/or read the books.

A book review is a powerful tool that should be wielded with extreme caution and pride. It can go so much farther than a mere statement of liking or disliking a book. It explores a book in a way to help both potential readers and the author. It digs down into characters, plot, and more.

Simple yet not quite so simple.

It can also be defined by looking at what a book review is not. It is by far not.

• A means to be mean to the author and/or readers
• A place to market your own books
• The method to get even with an author
• The only opinion out there

Since it is an opinion, it makes sense that it is also a critique though it can differ to a traditional literary critique. If you examine literary journals, a critique is much more than a typical book review. It explores themes, setting, styles, and in-depth literary studies. These critiques can take up page after page in the journals. Most standard book reviews will not come anywhere near such depth, but that doesnt mean they are not a critique or that they cant have some depth to them.

The official definition of a critique is an act of criticizing. That means to explore what is wrong with something or point out the faults. Now that doesnt mean you have to be nasty or mean, but if there is something missing from the story, wrong, or just plain something you dont like, then through a book review you point that out. Look at it as taking a trip before someone else does and you share insight into it so their trip can be smoother if they decide to go after your critique of it.

In the review, you are giving your opinion. You didnt like the book? Then tell me why. What was wrong with it? Even if it is just your opinion, share it with me in a professional manner. Explain how the plot wasnt strong or the characters were underdeveloped or it was too violent for you. Then Ill know whether or not it might be a book for me. If we have similar tastes then Ill have a better idea if that creative trip will be worth my time. I might still read it but decide to wait until I am on vacation or something. You help me plan my literary escape destinations.

I cannot stress enough that critiquing a book doesnt mean you are to be hateful. Too many reviewers take an extremely negative approach to their review. They take it as an opportunity to say extremely critical and mean things about the work and the author. Why?

You can point out issues without getting nasty. In fact, your constructive criticism can be quite encouraging.

I cannot stress enough that critiquing a book doesnt mean you are to be hateful. Too many reviewers take an extremely negative approach to their review. They take it as an opportunity to say extremely critical and mean things about the work and the author. Why? You can point out issues without getting nasty. In fact, your constructive criticism can be quite encouraging.