How to Write a Detailed Book Review

A well-written book review can give readers a reason to read a particular book.

Writing a book review gives you the chance to describe a recently released title and offer your opinion of the book -- whether it is positive or negative. While book reviews are generally published in newspapers, magazines or online, you might be assigned to write one in a high school or college level writing or literature class. No matter which audience you're writing a review for, in general a review needs to provide compelling evidence to support your opinion and enough information so your readers can make their own assessment of whether they want to read the book themselves.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Read the book, taking notes as you read. Keep a notebook nearby, and jot down your impressions of chapters, lines or quotations that stand out or questions you have. Write down the page numbers on your notes so you can refer back to the book as you write.

2. Begin the book review by listing the title, author, number of pages publication date, and publisher. If you are writing the review for a publication, include the genre and price.

3. Introduce the review with a short summary of the major themes or argument of the book, without spoiling important plot twists or giving away the ending. Provide readers with a peek into what the book is about; use the back cover or inside flap copy describing the book as a model for your summary.

4. Write a paragraph detailing your impression of the book, either positive or negative. Offer a general assessment of whether you liked or disliked the book and why.

5. Support your opinion about the book in subsequent paragraphs, using the details from your notes. Provide examples that illustrate your argument; for example, if you call the author's descriptions "exquisite," include an example of a descriptive passage to demonstrate why they deserve that label.

6. Compare the book to other titles by that author, or similar books in the genre, if appropriate. For example, if the book is obviously a response to a trend, and pales in comparison to other books in the genre, mention that and explain why.

7. Summarize your review in the final paragraph. Reiterate your argument about the book, and suggest a potential audience for the book.

Tips & Warnings

• Most book reviews run between 500 to 750 words, but pieces for school assignments or features in publications may run significantly longer.

• Spell check and proofread your book review before submission.

• Avoid using empty language or vague descriptions in your book review.

References

• "Purdue Online Writing Lab"; Writing a Book Review; Allen Brizee; Oct. 2008
• Los Angeles Valley College Library; How to Write a Book Review; Feb. 2009
• Indiana University Writing Tutorial Services; Writing Book Reviews; April 2004