![]() What moved or challenged or inspired or infuriated or disappointed you? What drew you to–or left you cold about–the topic or characters? What did you like or dislike about the writing? And tell us what specific aspect of it you loved or hated. Don’t just say you loved the book or hated it, tell us why. Have mercy on not just the readers, but on the author.Ī good book review is specific. If you knew who the killer was on page 2, fine, say, “I knew who the killer was by page two.” But do NOT say, “I knew by page two that the butler was the killer.” If a book has a great twist, say that. What they want to know is what you thought of the writing, the message, the story.Įven more important, a good review doesn’t give away the ending/secret/mystery/twist! Please, friends, for the love of heaven, don’t ruin the read for others. Readers can get the summary from lots of places. (Now, if the authors are indie, then yes, they control those things…) But remember, what you’re reviewing is the writing, not the packaging.Ī good book review doesn’t give an extensive summary of the book and then one or two lines about your thoughts. Don’t base your review on the cover or endorsements or things over which, I guarantee you, most traditionally published writers have absolutely no control. You don’t have the right to go beyond that.Ī good review is about the author’s craft, not the book’s packaging. A reviewer’s job is to share your opinion of the book. Don’t make judgment calls about the author’s faith, intelligence, relationships, parenting skills, parentage, or whatever. ![]() Focus on the writing, on the treatment of the topic, on the characters, on the storyline, on the research, on the facts, and so on. No more, no less.Ī good review is about the book, not the author. A subjective evaluation of what you’ve read. (Hey, it could happen!) Yes, share your honest opinion. It takes into account that we all have likes and dislikes, and while this book may not be our cup of tea, it could be someone else’s absolute favorite. So here are some things, based on book reviews out there, for reviewers to keep in mind.Ī good review is balanced. Helping readers decide if this is a book for them. In our discussions of late on reviews and authors’ reactions to reviews, I thought it would be helpful to take a look at the elements of a good review.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |