Author: Sreelata Menon
You have a book to review .And you have no idea how to go about it.
So you ask around, read up articles on ‘how to do a book review’ and Google till dawn. Nothing but nothing tells you what to write.
Well that’s because none of them have read the book you are to review!
For that matter nor have you!
So lesson first learnt is to read the book! Once, twice or even thrice.
Not just a skim through the pages or a few pages here and there.
For if you do you’ll only come a cropper.
You need to understand the essence of it -the gist of it if you are to do a good job of it.
Otherwise it will be you who will be the one shown up!
In any case that is the least you can do for the author before you ‘write’ in judgment! So do read it cover to cover!
Next. Reviewing a book is all about what you think about it.
Not what others think or might think.
It is important that you understand thoroughly what the author is trying to convey, what its message or storyline is and what role its characters play.
Once that’s done you are more than half way there.
Where do you start?
How you start is what will probably set the tone of a good review.
There are many ways to do it.
Most reviewers start by comparing other works by the same author or by comparing it to other authors of the same genre.
Now if none of these work for you.
Start with the essence of the story and what it is telling you. Nine out of ten times this works!
Points to remember
Now that you are on your way please don’t rewrite the story in your ‘own’ words.
Please don’t summarize it either or tell us how it could have been written if it had been you.
You didn’t write it the author did-period. Limit it to what you think of it.
Instead just give us an overview of the story with perhaps special emphasis on what your sentiments are about the various characters and how the author has been able to or not weave them into the mosaic.
Draw comparisons with other similar characters in other books or only just what you like or not like about them.
What joy it gave you or how disappointed you were with it!
And if its fiction please do not reveal the ending!
Think of your review as a cinema trailer. By all means be clever enough to persuade or dissuade us from buying or not buying the book as the case maybe.
But leave it to us. There is no need to hit us over the head with it and spoil our fun!
And if you must criticize do it kindly.
Point out the errors (proof reading, editing), bring out the inaccuracies (plot-story line), but always highlight the good points.
After all somebody has taken a lot of trouble to write it and it can’t all be bad.
How do you conclude?
Then wrap it up nicely.
Tell us what you felt about the book on the whole and why you feel it is good or bad.
It should read smoothly and coherently tapering off with finality.
Generally a book review is never more than a few paras-preferably between two or four unless otherwise specified.
Lastly format it!
The name of the book and the name of the author goes first on top before you start your review.
It is to be followed by the name of the publishing company and the price/number of pages.
Well then, now you’re all set to go do that review!
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