Book Reviews

[BlackSnake]

Anyone have a good take on writing book reviews? I do a book review in each issue of my magazine. Is there some guidelines/outlines for this? Something that I can digest and apply quickly. Time is a commodity that I don't have.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Anyone have a good take on writing book reviews? I do a book review in each issue of my magazine. Is there some guidelines/outlines for this? Something that I can digest and apply quickly. Time is a commodity that I don't have.

In a nutshell you wanna make it clear why the book is dynomite or sux. Note the premise of the book. And summarize the story in a paragraph or so.

 

[sr71plt]

Get the author's name and the title spelled correctly. Assess it on the basis of what it claims it's trying to do/be rather than on a personal quirk or how you would have written it. If you can't keep your personal feelings about a theme/character out of the review, don't publish the review. Assess it as a whole--the big picture--rather than slam it all because you found a missing end quote. Keep in mind who the audience is the book claims to be or seems to target and assess it on the basis of that targeted audience. (If you don't think it targets the right audience, you can certainly say so, though--giving some form of evidence.)

 

[Tio_Narratore]

Good, Pilot. I'm always trying to teach my students the difference between a review and a personal recommendation. You've captured the essence quite succinctly.

 

[BlackSnake]

Thanks guys, wearing so many hats I need these gut checks. As I seek to improve, and looking to make each issue worth reading. I really appreciate your help.