How to Write An Effective Book Review
Introduce the subject, scope, and type of book
· Identify the book by author and title
· Specify the type of book (fiction, nonfiction, biography, autobiography, etc.)
· Mention the books theme
Briefly summarize the content
· For a nonfiction book, provide an overview, including paraphrases and quotations, of the book’s thesis and primary supporting points
· For a work of fiction, briefly review the story line for readers, being careful not to give away anything that would lessen the suspense for future readers.
Provide your reactions to the book
· Describe the book
o Is it interesting, memorable, entertaining, instructive? Why?
· Respond to the author’s opinions
o What do you agree with? And why?
o What do you disagree with? And why?
· Explore issues the book raises
o What possibilities does the book suggest? Explain.
o What matters does the book leave out? Explain.
· Relate your argument to other books or authors
o Support your argument for or against the author’s opinions by bring in other authors you agree with.
· Relate the book to latger issues
o How did this book affect you?
o How have your opinions about the topic changed?
o How is the book related to your own course or personal agenda?
Conclude by synthesizing your ideas
· Close with a direct comment on the book
· Tie together issues raised in the review and create an interesting and new insight
· Offer advice for potential readers
Escales, Maria. "Literacy Education Online: Writing Book Reviews". St. Cloud State University. March 9, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Candide: Or Optimism by Voltaire
Filled with wit, intelligence, and an abundance of dark humor, Candide is relentless and unsparing in its attacks upon corruption and hypocrisy—in religion, government, philosophy, science, and even romance. Ultimately, this celebrated work says that it is possible to challenge blind optimism without losing the will to live and pursue a happy life.
I loved this story about a young man who learns that sometimes life is not as it seems. I felt it had personal application to my life as it helped me understand that life is what you make of it. Bad things may happen, I may lose all I have but in the end, it is I who chooses how I will react and what I will do with my life. At the end of the book Candide says, "We must cultivate our garden." I feel that my life is my garden. I choose what will be planted in it and what will not. There are often times things out of my control that happen that can set me back in life, such as the bad weather that effects gardens, but with time, effort and adding nutrients, my garden will blossom, and flourish as it grows.
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