TIPS TO WRITE BOOK REVIEWS

Here are some resources which provide tips to write good Book Reviews.

How to write Book Reviews:

•  How to Write a Book Review — a helpful guide prepared by the Stauffer Library at Queen’s University.
• Dalhousie University Libraries: How to Write a Book Review
• Laurentian University Desmarais Library: How to Review a Book
• University of Alberta Libraries: Book Reviews
• Online Writing Lab: Writing a Book Review
• Writing World: How to write a Book Review

Writing critical Book Reviews:

Consult Writing Critical Book Reviews, published by The Writing Centre at Queen’s Library

Author Luisa Playa gives her top tips for writing reviews:

1) Start with a couple of sentences describing what the book is about

But without giving any spoilers or revealing plot twists. As a general rule, try to avoid writing in detail about anything that happens from about the middle of the book onwards. If the book is part of a series, it can be useful to mention this, and whether you think you’d need to have read other books in the series to enjoy this one.

2) Discuss what you particularly liked about the book

Focus on your thoughts and feelings about the story and the way it was told. You could try answering a couple of the following questions:

• Who was your favourite character, and why?
• Did the characters feel real to you?
• Did the story keep you guessing?
• What was your favourite part of the book, and why?
• Were certain types of scene written particularly well – for example sad scenes, tense scenes, mysterious ones…?
• Did the book make you laugh or cry?
• Did the story grip you and keep you turning the pages?

3) Mention anything you disliked about the book

Talk about why you think it didn’t work for you. For example:

• Did you wish the ending hadn’t been a cliffhanger because you found it frustrating?
• Did you find it difficult to care about a main character, and could you work out why?
• Was the story too scary for your liking, or focused on a theme you didn’t find interesting?

4) Round up your review

Summarise some of your thoughts on the book by suggesting the type of reader you’d recommend the book to. For example: younger readers, older readers, fans of relationship drama/mystery stories/comedy. Are there any books or series you would compare it to?

5) You can give the book a rating, for example a mark out of five or ten, if you like

Courtesy: http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books/teenagers/writing-tips/tips-for-writing-book-reviews/