by Ruth Belena

Created on: January 12, 2010

When writing book reviews the main aim should be to communicate the essence of a book to a reader. People generally read book reviews to help them decide whether or not to read a novel, a biography, a travel guide or any type of book that could be useful, interesting or entertaining.

◊ Reviewing a novel.

Make it clear from the start of your book review which genre of fiction or type of book you are writing about. Introduce the main characters, identify the time period in which the novel is set and, if it is significant, name the location where the main action takes place.

 
When writing book reviews you should never retell a story or outline a plot in too much detail. Some threads of the storyline can be suggested, without writing too much of what happens within the plot. The outcome, or a dramatic turn in the story should never be revealed. You can hint that there is a big surprise half way through the book, or imply that there is a thrilling climax to the story, without giving away too much.

A book reviewer should note the writing voice and main perspective of a novel. Potential readers might like to know when narrative is all in the present tense, or if the main action in a story is told through old characters recalling earlier days. You can inform your readers when the author adopts a first person narrative in a book, as if the story is told by a fictional character. You can  remark on effective third person narrative that provides insight into the thought processes of different characters.

When assessing writing style in your book reviews, you can provide short quotations as examples of how good the writing is, and be critical where you find fault. If you think there is a problem with implausible characters or ineffective dialogue in a novel, give reasons why and how, in your opinion, the writer has failed.

You should add a warning or comment when a novel depicts acts of violence, contains explicit love scenes or uses strong language. Make it clear if some people might be offended, or when a book is unsuitable for young readers.

◊ Reviews of biographies and autobiographies.

When writing book reviews on biography, memoirs, collected letters or diaries, the focus should be on how well the book presents the life and times of the subject. It would help readers to know whether the book is based on speculation and gossip, or if it is well researched and gives new insight into the mind of the subject.

◊ Writing book reviews for other forms of non-fiction.

Book reviews of non-fiction titles should give a brief description of what the book can offer readers, and you should clearly state whether the author takes an objective view or if it is a polemic. You do not have to agree with what is expressed in any book you review and can leave it up to readers to decide if they accept the writer's view or see it as an oversimplified argument. 

Reviews of recipe books, guides and manuals should explain how much is covered in the book, who the book is intended for, and how useful or not you think the book will be for its readers.

When writing reviews you can make personal recommendations, but book review should never be filled with marketing hype. It is important to be aware that not all readers will share the same enthusiasm for a book. Even when you get paid for writing book reviews you can allow people to decide for themselves when they think the book will be worth reading or if it is unlikely to please them.

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