How-To
Review
A
book review has three parts, made up of at least three paragraphs. Part one is
the summary of content, part two is
the critical assessment, and part
three is the answer to the Big Question.
The
summary of content is generally one
to three paragraphs long. In this part of the review, you tell the reader what
book you are reviewing, who wrote it (including some other things they may have
written), what genre the book represents, and what the book is about. Important: This is not a summary. You are
writing a review to let people know whether or not they should read the book,
not to tell them the ending. Don’t be a spoiler!
The
critical assessment can be one to
three paragraphs. In here you get down to brass tacks: What you liked about the
book and what didn’t work for you. Maybe the plot was great, but the characters
seemed fake. Maybe the dialog was fast and realistic, but the pacing was too
slow. Important: It’s not enough to say
that you liked or did not like something; you have to say why.
Your
review will nearly end with the answer
to the Big Question, which usually takes the form of a short paragraph. The
Big Question is: “Should your reader seek out the book you are reviewing, and
read it herself? Why or why not?”
Finally,
one line: Where can readers find this book or short story?
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