How to Write a Book Review

A good book review provides readers with enough information to determine whether the book is one that they want to read. It is not just a summary of a work, but also a critical commentary, including an opinion of the work substantiated with facts.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Familiarize yourself with the genre of the book you are reviewing. Whether it's a work of Italian postmodernism or contemporary poetry, knowing the conventions of the form will help you write a knowledgeable and authoritative review.

2. Read the book you are reviewing actively, making notes as you go along, either on slips of paper tucked in the book or on self-adhesive notes.

3. Briefly describe the book, touching upon its subject, scope, and, if it's a work of nonfiction, the author's primary assertions. Although an exhaustive description isn't necessary, your readers will want to have a general idea of what the book is about before they decide to read further.

4. Offer your critical opinion of the book, supported with examples with the book, your knowledge of critical theory, or other facts you have researched. What are the book's major strengths and weaknesses, and why?

5. Compare the work to others by the same author or others in the same genre, if appropriate. Describe the book's place in its field.

6. Conclude with some statements about your personal judgment of the book. Is this a book you would recommend to readers?

Tips & Warnings

• Consider the concerns of your particular audience when writing your review.

• Using short quotes from the book you're reviewing can be doubly helpful because they not only can help you support your opinions, but they will also give your readers a sense of the book's style.

• If you choose to read other critics who have written about the book, do so only after you have read the book and formed your own opinion to avoid being unduly influenced by others.

• Be careful not to give away too much information about the plot development, especially surprise twists. Leave this for the reader to discover.