How to write a book review? Furrukh Hussain Zai Book Review • • • • Describes Analyzes Evaluates An Opinion Books • Impression • Information • Recreation Readers • Scholars • General • Children Before Reading the book • Consider ▫ Title ▫ Preface or Introduction ▫ Table of Contents • Type of Book • Audience During reading • Consider ▫ Genre ▫ Views ▫ Style ▫ Language ▫ Format / Layout ▫ References During Reading • Make notes ▫ To quote in your review • Describes ▫ Agree or disagree with the author's point of view  To follow the author's thesis  To critiques ▫ Book's style / Language  Formal  Informal  Suitable for the intended audience or not  Is the language clear and convincing or not During Reading • Analyze ▫ Concepts are well defined or not? ▫ How accurate the information is  References are given or not  Footnotes given or not  Use of Sources… Primary / Secondary • Evaluate ▫ Book is accomplish ▫ More work needed ▫ Compare the book to others  By same author  Books in this field by other authors. Writing the Review • Citation ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ Author Title Imprint Edition Pages Special features (maps, etc.) Price ISBN Writing the Review • Opening Sentence ▫ Hook the reader ▫ Set the tone ▫ Be familiar with the guidelines  Plot summaries or not Writing the Review • Review the book you read ▫ Focus on the current work ▫ State the theme and the thesis of the book  Theme     Subject or topic Not necessarily the title It is usually not expressed in a complete sentence. It expresses a specific phase of the general subject matter.  Thesis      An author’s generalization about the theme The author’s beliefs about something important The book’s philosophical conclusion The proposition the author means to prove Express it without metaphor or other figurative language, in one declarative sentence. Writing the Review • Explain the method of development ▫ The way the author supports the thesis ▫ Illustrate your remarks with specific references and quotations • Types of Methods (use exclusively or in combination) ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ Description Narration Exposition Argument Writing the Review • Description: ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ Description presents background and setting. The author presents word-pictures of scenes Events by giving specific details Appeal to the five senses, or to the reader’s imagination. • Narration: ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ Its primary purpose is to tell a story. Describing series of event Presented in chronological order Narration tells what has happened. Writing the Review • Exposition: ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ Its primary purpose is to explain. Presents the facts about a subject An issue as clearly and impartially as possible The author uses explanation and analysis to present a subject or to clarify an idea. • Argument: ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ Its primary purpose is to convince. Techniques of persuasion Establish the truth of a statement Convince the reader of its falsity Argument takes sides on an issue Writing the Review • Write your review about the book ▫ From the views of interest, accuracy, objectivity, importance, thoroughness, and usefulness to its intended audience. ▫ author's main arguments are true or not ▫ Respond to the author's opinions ▫ Explore issues the book raises. ▫ What possibilities does the book suggest? ▫ What has the author omitted or what problems were left unsolved? ▫ What specific points are not convincing? ▫ Compare it with other books on similar subjects or other books by the same as well as different authors. ▫ Is it only a reworking of earlier books; a refutation of previous positions? ▫ Have newly uncovered sources justified a new approach by the author? Writing the Review • Include more information about ▫ The author - reputation, qualifications, influences, biographical, etc. or anything relevant to the book and the author's authority. • Think about the person reading your review ▫ A librarian buying books for a collection ▫ A parent who wants a good read-aloud ▫ General readers looking for information • Your conclusion should summarize, perhaps include a final assessment. Do not introduce new material at this point. Writing a Fiction Book Review Writing a Fiction Book Review • You don't have to answer every question -- they're suggestions! • Theme ▫ What was the story about? • Plot ▫ How are the various elements of plot     Introduction Suspense Climax Conclusion Writing a Fiction Book Review • Style ▫ Intellectual, Emotional, Aesthetic, Stylistic qualities of the writing • Setting ▫ What is the setting and does it play a significant role in the work Points to Ponder: • What was the story about? • Who were the main characters? • Were the characters credible? • What did the main characters do in the story? • Did the main characters run into any problems? Adventures? • Who was your favorite character? Why? Your personal experiences • Could you relate to any of the characters in the story? • Have you ever done or felt some of the things, the characters did? Your opinion • • • • Did you like the book? What was your favorite part of the book? Do you have a least favorite part of the book? If you could change something, what would it be? (If you wish you could change the ending, don't reveal it!) Your recommendation • Would you recommend this book to another person? • What type of person would like this book? Things to Bear in Mind • Do not write with bias attitude. • Do not be intimidated by famous authors -- many have written mediocre books. • Do not review books by people you know, love, or hate. Thank You