How to write a solid book review

Writing books reviews is an art, though it is one that can be achieved by anyone who has the ability to write in their chosen language. Where people fail is that without knowing what salient points a reader needs to find, writing of book reviews is often without structure. In enthusiasm for that wonderful book we just read, words flow onto the page and we tend to dwell on areas that made our read enjoyable instead of thinking how others may perceive the book to be.

The items that need inclusion in a book review are these:

*Comparison if possible with other books by the same author
*Basic storyline without giving away too much.
*Style or genre of book
*Book length
*Style of written work
*Quality of writing
*Comparisons with other authors

A comparison with other works is a great guide to those who may have read previous works. If you take as an example the Harry Potter books, when new editions come out, everyone wants to know how they compare. Often authors change style, or try new things and it doesn't always succeed. Here, as an astute reviewer, what you are doing is telling readers what to expect.

Storyline

How much of the storyline should you write ? Well, if you don't want to ruin the book for future readers, the best way of handling this is a rough outline. Here, never give away endings. That ruins a good book review. An outline helps someone looking for a book to decide if this kind of story would appeal.

Style of book and book length.

People get pulled in by different styles of book. They want to know whether it is romantic, factual, fiction etc., because this leads them to conclusions about whether it is the style they are looking for. They also want to know about book length and I find it useful to say the size of print, since there are readers out there that have vision problems, and some books are easier for them to read. This type of information can be used at the end of a review together with the ISBN number that identifies that edition that you are reviewing. Price isn't as important as prices change.

Style of written work and quality of writing

Here, the author of a book review has a chance to discuss the kind of writing and to whom it would appeal. This is a really important part of the review and here, you can discuss how characters in the book come over to the reader, the ambiance of the book and whether you found the characterizations and scenarios believable. Discuss your feelings towards the written work, and tell readers how enthused you are and why. What stood out as outstanding ? Where did the writer fail to convey their message ? Which characters were strongest ? How did the characterizations stand their ground ?

Comparisons with other authors are essential. Here, you may even get people to read the books you love because they know the other writers that compare with the author you are reviewing.

The kind of conclusion one would expect in a book review is an overall conclusion as to whether the book is worth buying or just borrowing. Many will only be read once, while others will stay on the bookshelf and get read again. This gives the reader a better picture of what to expect when they choose this author and the book you are reviewing.

Book reviews above all should be an honest appraisal of what you found, and how you felt about it. Only by honesty can the word be spread, and while many enjoy enthusing about a book they love, it is also possible to write a wonderful review about those books you did not enjoy by being honest and writing what you found, and sharing it with your readership.

Learn more about this author, Rachelle de Bretagne.
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