BOOK

REVIEW
What is a Book Review
Presented by Group 2
(Roll Nos. 1711 -1720)
WHAT IS A BOOK REVIEW?
 Form of literary criticism
 Primary source or summary review
 Books can be reviewed for printing
 Length of the book review
 Reviewers may use the occasion of a book review

Book Reviews are found

in newspapers, magazines
and the internet
 **A BOOK REVIEW IS NOT A BOOK REPORT**

BOOK REVIEW BOOK REPORT

• In-depth analysis of the text
• PURPOSE: Evaluate the value of the story
(recommend the book to the reader or not)
• Gives opinions of the author and the
reviewers personal views
• Summary with a simple structure
• PURPOSE: Objective re- telling of the story
(author’s perspective)
• Doesn’t not include the reviewers opinions
 Structure and contents of the book • Evaluation of the book, supported
are as objectively as possible by evidence from the text

 Gives the reader a concise summary of the content

 Offers a critical assessment of the content
 Recommends whether the readers would value the work for its authenticity and overall quality
 1. Read the book and take notes
2. Think about the books genre and/or the field of study
3. Determine the major themes of the books
4. Consider the author’s writing style
5. Think about how well the author develops the major areas or points
in the book
6. Make note of the book’s format, if relevant
7. Consider any literary devices in the book
8. Think about how unique the book is
9. Assess how successful the book is
 Analyse the author’s treatment of the
FICTION characters, plot, setting and dialogue
 How interesting is the plot?
 Does it have many clichéd parts or does it come across as more
original? TIPS FOR
 Are there unresolved issues in the plot? Can the author sustain
the plot throughout the book? Is the plot confusing?
 How believable are the characters? Do you care about them? Can
you tell them apart or do they all sound the same, especially in
dialogue?
 How does this book compare to other books in the same genre ?
 How well does the author create mood through setting? Can the
action be visualized?
 If there is humour, does it work?
 Is the narration consistent throughout?
 BIOGRAPHY
Look at what aspects of the person are TIPS FOR
emphasized
How the subject matter is organized
 Discuss the point of view of the author and
whether he showed extensive knowledge of
the person
 Explore the way the material was organized
NON- FICTION and if the author’s writing was focused



Is the book interesting?
Which parts are most interesting or informative?
TIPS FOR
 How accurate is the information in the book?
 How objective is the information in the book? Is it
supposed to be objective?
 How thorough has the author been in his or her research?
 How useful is the information presented in the book?
 How does this book compare to other books in the same
genre?
 Find out if the book is a revision and compare it to earlier
books. You may want to look at the sources which were
used and the point of view of the author
TYPES OF BOOK REVIEW

1.Full Review
2.Thumbnail Sketch
3.Honourable Mention
4.Nano Reviews
BOOK CRITIQUE Similarities
v/s • Both are assessment or
evaluation of work
BOOK REVIEW • Both carry weight as
they provide scope for
improvement
A Critique is a critical assessment. • Both assess positive as
A Review is an opinion on the work. well as negative
features of the work
 REVIEW
A review is more subjective in nature.
Lacks a technical basis.
Written by someone who has more subjective
opinion of the work. Expertise in a field is not
required to write a review.
Presents the perceived pros and cons of the book for Tends to be a longer, deeper, more formal
the sake of potential readers.
Shorter and less in depth analysis
CRITIQUE
A critique tends to be objective.
Has a sound technical basis.
Written by an expert with technical comprehension,
who has a lot of experience and expertise of a
particular genre.
exploration and analysis of the text of the book itself
— a piece of book criticism feels like a work unto
itself.
More in depth analysis and professional

Characteristics of Critique and Review

 LITERATURE & BOOK REVIEW

Literature review Book review

• Secondary source • Primary source

• Evaluate article presenting new • Evaluate the book on the basis

research related to the study of personal taste
undertaken

• Common in a research
• Common in writing a review for
proposal or prospectus
a book
 DO DONT
• Point out what you liked about the • Get it too long
plot.
• Talk about your favorite character • Excessively criticize
• Tell if the author writes a great tale • Write about how the book offended
• Be careful what you say you
• Recommend the book • If you’re reviewing a work of fiction,
• Be honest don’t give away key plot points or the
ending of the story
• Be specific
• Take a stand • Ever make negative comments about
the writer
• Give your review a title that reflects
the content of the review
A SUCCESSFUL BOOK REVIEW
ANSWERS THE FOLLOWING
QUESTIONS: Good book review
• Point out Strengths and weaknesses of the book
• Looks what the author intended to and whether
the author did it or not
• Between 50 to 1500 words
 To make people know about a great book
 To know about a terrible book
 To boost an author’s profile
 To work on your own writing skills
 To hone your reading comprehension
 Development of Thinking Skills
 Development of Vocabulary
 Development of Ideas and linking thoughts and ideas
 Meeting and Interaction with authors of different and similar view
which will help in development of thinking skills, vocabulary and
ideas
 Encourages reading and writing and publishing
 Networking and popularity
 Gives an idea of what kind of book is widely read
 BOOK REVIEWS and SALE OF A BOOK
 Book Review and the number of book reviews will
impact popularity and even book sale
 Helps in identifying which class and type kind of book
is popular and famous
 Helps in continuing and extension of volumes of the
same book type depending on popularity
 Book Review and the success and popularity also
depend on one another
 Book Review and the review, revenue also are
dependent on one another