The first thing to remember when you write a book review is that what you are not writing is a book report. In other words, it is not going to be a blow-by-blow account of what happened in the book, but rather an evaluation of the work - your opinion of it.

A good book review will include vital information about the book. After a header that includes the factual information about the author, the place of publication, publisher, publication date, and number of pages, a good introduction is necessary to begin the review. It will include some points the reader will be able to find in the review itself. The author's name and the title of the book will appear again in the introduction to clarify that information for the reader.

Some information to put into a solid book review will be your opinions on whether the author has established any valid points. If so, are the points supported adequately? Is there any evidence provided as proof of the author's points? Is this book unusual or groundbreaking in any way? Is it unique? What group of readers would most appreciate it? Who would find it useful?

How about the author? Credentials and experience or background should have qualified the author to write the book, so consider the question of credibility. Is the author an expert on the particular subject? How well has the author done achieving the main purpose or goal of the book's contents? Your opinion on this should be stated in the review. If the purpose of the book was to tackle a problem, was that purpose achieved? Was the problem well-defined, were causes for it claimed, and was there a solution provided? If you want to assure yourself of the author's purpose, the book's introduction or preface is often the best place to look. Considering the author's level of expertise on the subject, all of these questions may be readily addressed in your book review.

In your assessment or evaluation of the book, you will want to include the issues of the author's achievement of goals, suggestions he or she may have offered, how well the book compares to other books on the same subject, and any of your own personal experiences that relate to the material.

On the negative side, you may want to discuss what you felt was omitted from the book, parts that have not convinced you, or any parts of the book that have made you doubt the value of the author's work.

A few comments at the end of the review can tie the above information together to create a well-rounded, solid book review. An analytical approach is best for considering the content of the book, and strong personal response is appropriate to explain why the book is meaningful to you. Your own skills as a book reviewer will be evident if you describe adequately what was in the book, analyze how the book achieved or failed to achieve its purpose, and by the expression of your personal reaction.

The final step is to polish the review - proofreading is a must. Errors and typos will diminish the value of it. Bibliographic information must be accurate so that the review will be given the attention it is due. A polished, accurate book review indicates your commitment to careful, adequate consideration of the work you have read.

Learn more about this author, Arabella Kelly.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about How to write a solid book review?
We want to hear your view. Write now!