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A BIG THANKS to all who responded to my question about writing a book review. I hope that this information will be helpful to others. Kay Dan Robinson H.W. Wilson Company Bronx, NY drobinson@info.hwwilson.com Here are the guidelines. GraceAnne gives you permission to post it as a HIT or pass it on, but asks that you keep her sig attached as it is her own work. How to Write a Decent Book Review I have been reviewing books for almost twenty-five years-- I wrote my first book review for the November 1973 issue of Library Journal. I reviewed for LJ for 19 years, until I became editor of Wilson Library Bulletin. I currently review children's books for Kirkus and children's and adult books for Booklist. I have also reviewed for other publications, most notably The New York Times Book Review (1983-84). Here are some thoughts on what I have learned. 1. Read the whole book. That is the very least you owe the author. You can't make a judgment on what they have done until you know all of it. 2. Review the book in front of you, not the book you wish they had written. You can and should point out shortcomings or failures, but don't criticize the book for not being something it was never intended to be. 3. Don't review in genres with which you are uncomfortable. There is no point in having a science fiction hater review sf, or someone who doesn't read romances review them. 4. Think clearly about who the audience for the review is. Is this another librarian who wants to know if s/he should buy the book for their collection? Is this a parent who wants a good read-aloud? Is this review for patrons looking for information on a particular topic, or for patrons searching for a good read? 5. If possible, compare the book to others in the genre or field of study. That helps any reader. 6. Criticize clearly and specifically but gently. A bad book takes as long to write as a good one, and each book is somone's baby. But a reviewer is charged to make a critical judgment, and fails if s/he does not do so. 7. Know the guidelines of your reviewing medium. Some don't want plot summaries at all; some insist on them. Some want you to say outright if you are recommending a book, others don't. 8. Be precise in your language. If this is the best book you have ever read, say so, and say why. If it is yet another nice little book on a nice little topic, say that, too. Find the words to say what you mean: the author did, and so should you. 9. Don't be cowed by a famous name. Even famous writers sometimes do mediocre books. 10. Don't review books by people you know, or love, or hate. It isn't fair. Only review a book once; do not review the same title for more than one venue. This ensures that people who are looking for multiple reviews with multiple opinions will actually get them. Enjoy! Reviewing is great fun, and deeply rewarding. It puts another spin on always having your nose in a book. And it is a kick to see a quote from your review on the back of the paperback. GraceAnne A. DeCandido Blue Roses Editorial and Web Consulting Bronx, NY ladyhawk@well.com www.well.com/user/ladyhawk/gadhome.html Randall M. Lakeland, FL The Writer, October 1996,"Becoming a book reviewer" by JoAnn C. Gutlin, p.18-20. Yapha Nussbaum Mason Brentwood School Library Media Specialist Los Angeles, CA Yapha_Mason@bwscampus.com If you are looking for books for adults on how to review books, Kathleen Horning has a fantastic book out that is called _Cover to Cover_. I saw it in paperback at a bookstore yesterday. It was reviewed in the Professional Reading section of the March School Library Journal. Marilyn Rose Edgemont Elementary, Provo, UT marilynr@psdunix.provo.k12.ut.us I didn't respond before because I don't feel qualified to tell you how to do one; therefore, I went to the Internet and found this site that looks like what you are looking for http://gopher.acadiau.ca:70/0/libinfo/Acadia%20University%20Library%20 Guides/arts/Howto Alice H. Yucht Library Management/Information Skills consultant Highland Park, NJ AliceInfo@aol.com You didn't say *why* you need to info on how to write book reviews, and that affects the kind of book review to be written. Are these: -- reviews written for professional journals -- reviews written for local media -- reviews for a local book discussion group -- reviews done by students as an assignment -- reviews of childrens' books, nonfiction, reference materials, adult reading, professional resources? Here's a generic framework/outline I use, and teach my students (middle school, grad school, etc.) to use: (Note: this is from my new book *FLIP IT! for Information Skills*, Linworth, 1997.) Rather than a simple recital of the plot details, this framework requires much more critical thinking, and also requires the reviewer to examine both content and process of the product. FOCUS: What this book is really about: Basic theme or subject of the book Main characters and their problem(s), and/or Issues to be resolved/examined LAYOUT: How the text of the book is structured: Arrangement, organization, layout Fiction: Standard genre characteristics used Plot summary (no more than 5 key events) Literary form used Nonfiction: What kind -- if any -- pictures are there? Chapters? Table of Contents? Index ? Authority, bibliography of resources used? Point of view Packaging details: Cover illustration Size/format of publication IMPACT: What makes this particular book so interesting: Unusual ideas, setting, or subject Personal reactions New things you learned from this book PASSING IT ON: Who else would be interested in this book, and why. Other books on this topic, in this series, by this author. How you would rate this book -- example: is it: a six-shiver mystery a four-handkerchief sob story a 20/20 exclusive a newsflash headline I hope this helps. You may repost it, if necessary, but please make sure to give me credit. Eileen Joyce ejoyce@awod.com Graduate Student, Davis College of Library and Information Science University of South Carolina This article was handed out to me in a YA lit class: Farrington, Jan. "A Time to Judge: How to Write a Book Review", WRITING! Feb 91. pp.4-11. Laura E. Linton Graduate School of Library and Information Science University of Washington, Seattle I got a bibliography from my professor on reviews and reviewing but I don't know if the articles will meet your needs. Some are studies, others critique the reviews. The best I can do is include the list at the bottom and let you check them out. I normally would do it before I gave it to you but I have 3 projects due in the next three days. See if the list below helps you any, if any of them suit your need. (Bibliography prepared by Carol A. Doll, professor, University of Washington, Graduate School of Library and Information Science.) Avi. "Review the Reviewers?" School Library Journal, March 1986, p. 114-155. Broderick, Dorothy M. "Fiction: Reality or Ideology?" VOYA, October 1990, p. 203-204. Busbin, O Mell and Susan Steinfirst. "Criticism of Artwork in Children's Picture Books: A Content Analysis." Journal of Youth Services in Libraries, Spring 1989, p. 256-266. Carter, Betty, and Karen Harris. "The Children and the Critics: How Do Their Book Selections Compare?" School Library Media Quarterly, 10:54-58 (fall 1981). Craver, Kathleen W. "Block Reviewers: An Empirical Portrait." School Library Media Quarterly, Fall 1984, p. 383-409. Sherry R. "The Reviewing of Controversial Juvenile Books: A study." School Media Quarterly, Winter 1986, 14:83-86. Doll, Carol A. "Which Book Will Win the Caldecott?" Publishing Research Quarterly, Fall 1991, p. 77-90. Gerhardt, Lillian. "Pre-Censorship." School Library Journal, July 1993, p. 4. Grover, Robert and Sharon Gonzalez. "A Study of Children's Film Reviews." Top of the News, Spring 1981, 37:248-257. Hearne, Betsy. "Reviewing and Criticism: A World of Difference." BookList, September 1, 1978, p. 46-48. Kennemer, Phyllis K. "Reviews of Fiction Books: How they Differ." Top of the News, Summer ,1984, 40:419-423. "Killing Books Softly: Reviewers as Censors." School Library Media Journal, September 1990, p. 155-162. Marantz, Kenneth. "The Picture Book as Art Object: A Call for Balanced Reviewing." Wilson Library Bulletin, October 1977, p. 148-151. Serebnick, Judith. "Book Reviews and Selection of Potentially Controversial Books in Public Libraries." Library Quarterly, October 1981, 51:390-409. Stewig, John Warren. "Picture Books: What Do Reviews Really Review?" Top of the News, Fall 1980, 37:83-87. Weber, Rosemary. "The Reviewing of Children's and Young Adult Books in 1977." Top of the News, Winter 1979, 35:131-137. Witucke, Virginia. "A Comparative Analysis of Juvenille Book Review Media." School Media Quarterly, Spring 1980, 8:153-160. Witucke, Virginia. "The Performance of Juvenille Book Review Media." Serials Reviews, Spring 1982, 8: 49-55. Kay Ellis Library Media Specialist Hannibal High School kellis@hannibal.k12.mo.us