Reviewing Books Correctly
Reviewing a book will get your audiences’ attention alright, but if they will see the text in a positive or negative light is largely dependent on the objectivity of the reviewer. Hence, the need to know how to review books correctly.
First of all, we should understand the meaning of BOOK REVIEW- it is a descriptive and critical or evaluative account of a book. It provides a summary of the content, assesses the value of the book, and recommends it (or not) to other potential readers. It is an objective summary of the main ideas and arguments that the book’s author has presented and the purpose of the report is to give enough information about the book. A book review is a thorough description, critical analysis and/or evaluation of the quality, meaning and significance of a book, often in relation to prior backgrounds.
For instance, In the book titled “God Chasers by Tommy Tenney”, the book is basically on how Christians can keep up with God at his pace, being where God is currently at and not where He used to be.
In other words, as a book reviewer, you should be able to summarize a book as the author wrote it. In addition, reviewing a book is not equivalent to summarizing it. it’s more than picking a line. it is an act of bringing life into a lifeless vessel…🤓…
Approaches to Reviewing a Book
Descriptive Approach: this approach presents the content and structure of a book as objectively as possible, describing essential information about a book’s purpose and what ideas it’s trying to drive. This is done by stating the perceived aims and purposes of the study, often incorporating passages quoted from the text that highlights key elements of the work.
Points to ponder:
What’s the general field or what genre does the book fit?
From what point of view is the book written?
Do you agree or disagree with the author’s point of view?
Can you follow the author’s thesis, “common thread”?
What is the author’s style, is it formal or informal, is it suitable for the intended audience?
Are concepts well defined, is the language clear and convincing?
Are the ideas developed?
What areas are covered or not covered?
How accurate is the information?
Is the author’s concluding chapter and the summary convincing?
If there are footnotes, do they provide important information? Do they clarify or extend points made in the text? If relevant, make note of the book’s format — layout, binding, etc.
Are there maps, illustrations? Are they helpful?
Critical Review: This approach describes and evaluates the book in relation to accepted literary and historical standards, it also supports this evaluation with evidence from the text, and in most cases, it does this by comparing the works with the research of others. It goes on to describe what strikes as noteworthy or important in the text, irrespective of whether or not the arguments made by the author were persuasive or not.
Basic structure of a book review
Bibliographical information: Give the author’s name, full title of book including subtitle, editor (if any), publisher and date of publication, edition (if applicable), and the number of pages and chapters in the book. here is an example of a well written bibliography;
Joyce Meyer- “Me and My Big Mouth” (Your answer is right under your nose) The CBA bestseller
Copyright ©1997 by Joyce Meyer
First Faith words Edition: October, 2002
Printed in the USA
279 pages
13 chapters excluding introduction, conclusion, scriptures on the mouth, prayer for personal relationship, endnotes and bibliography
In line with the bibliographic information, a reviewer can supply any information about the author which shows their credentials for writing in this field or which reveals any influences which may have affected the author’s point of view. Note any interesting circumstances that led to the writing of the book. for example, Joyce Meyer was abused many times in her life and this made her write the book titled ‘Do yourself a favour “FORGIVE”’. This in its initial state will help the listener (or the person reading your review) to understand the focus of the writer already as you dive into the book properly.
Subject of the book: This entails what the book is about. Tell your reader not only the main concern of the book in its entirety (subject), but also what the author’s particular point of view is on that subject. If you cannot find an adequate statement in the author’s own words (make sure you check for yourself to be sure), then you will have to compose a thesis statement that does cover all the material. This statement must be brief (a sentence or a paragraph), accurate and comprehensive.
N.B.: This is strictly what the author wants to convey in his book (not what you think).
Summary of the context: The summary is based on your reading notes. It should follow the author’s order, and consist of the main ideas which advance the author’s argument. It may be presented with the analysis of structure or discussed separately, it can also be the way the author decides to end his story. This brings about critical comments and these critical comments should form the bulk of the book review. State whether or not you feel the author’s treatment of the subject matter is appropriate for the intended audience.
In conclusion…
Tips to Writing a Good Review include but not limited to these:
- Read the book, don’t skim.
- Hook the reader with your opening sentence.
- Set the tone of the review…. include emojis (😉🙃😗☺😃😀🤪😞🤨) where necessary.
- Be familiar with the guidelines (i.e. recognize fonts for quotes, thoughts etc).
- Review the book you read, not the book you wish the author had written.
- If this is the best book you have ever read, say so and state the reason. If it’s merely another nice book, say it.
If it’s a story;
- What was the story about?
- Who were the main characters?
- Were the characters credible?
- What did the main characters do in the story?
- Did the main characters run into any problems?
— State Adventures (if any)
- Who was your favorite character and why?
- State Your personal experiences that you could relate to any of the characters in the story?
- Have you ever done or felt some of the things the characters did? state it.
- State your opinion, your favorite part of the book.
- If you could change something, what would it be? (If you wish you could change the ending, don’t reveal it!)
-Would you recommend this book to another person?
-Ask questions.
Thanks for reading this guide, your comments, corrections, addition and suggestions are welcome. please do well to leave some claps if you think this was a good job so as to get others to read it also.
Thanks.
