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
Vanity Fair by William Makepeace
Scorned for her lack of money and breeding, Becky must use all her wit, charm and considerable sex appeal to escape her drab destiny as a governess. From London’s ballrooms to the battlefields of Waterloo, the bewitching Becky works her wiles on a gallery of memorable characters, including her lecherous employer, Sir Pitt, his rich sister, Miss Crawley, and Pitt’s dashing son, Rawdon, the first of Becky’s misguided sexual entanglements.
Filled with hilarious dialogue and superb characterizations, Vanity Fair is a richly entertaining comedy that asks the reader, “Which of us is happy in this world? Which of us has his desire? or, having it, is satisfied?”
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