Annex B - Book Review Format

The following format will be used for the Book Review we will be doing this
semester. A more detailed description of this format can be found in the
handouts “How to Get Started Reading a Book to Review it,” and “How to Write
Critical Reviews of Nonfiction Works.”

I. Introduction:

A. Introduce your review appropriately. Identify the author, the title, the
main topic or issue presented in the book, and the author's purpose in writing the
book.

B. Explain Relationships. Establish your position as the reviewer (your

thesis about the author's thesis). As you write, consider the following questions:

 What type of book is this? (Is the book a memoir, a treatise, a collection
of facts, an extended argument, etc.? Is the article a documentary, a
write-up of primary research, a position paper, etc.)?
 Who is the author? What does the preface or foreword tell you about the
author's purpose, background, and credentials? What is the author's
approach to the topic (as a journalist? a historian? a researcher?)?

 What is the main topic or problem addressed? How does the work relate
to a discipline, to a profession, to a particular audience, or to other works
on the topic? Who’s the audience for this book?

 What is your critical evaluation of the work (your thesis or stance)? Why
have you taken that position? What criteria are you basing your position
on?

C. Provide an Overview. What are the author’s basic premises for

writing this book? What issues are raised, or what themes emerge? What
situation(s) provide a basis for the author's assertions? List any background
information that is relevant to the entire book and should be placed here rather
than in a body paragraph.

II. Evaluate the book. This is the heart of your book review. You should
discuss a variety of issues here:

 How clearly is the book written?

 Did the author achieve his goal? How did he do this or fall short?
 What are the author's most important points? List at least two examples
of how the author proved or did not prove points he was trying to make.
 What possibilities does the book suggest for the reader?
 What did the book leave out?
  How the book compares to others on the subject?
 What personal experiences do you have relating to the subject?
 What did you like best about the book? What did you like least about the
book?

Make sure that you distinguish your personal views from that of the author.

III. Conclusion. Tie together any issues raised in the review and provide a
concise comment on the book and whether or not you would recommend this
book to someone else.

There is, of course, no set formula, but a general rule of thumb is that the first
one-half to two-thirds of the review should summarize the author's main
ideas while the remainder of the report should evaluate the book.
The original draft was developed by a teacher friend of mine to use with her own
students. I have made a few additional enhancements which I believe make the
model more clear and complete.

A note of caution here. Your instructor may have another book report format that
he/she prefers. It might be wise to make sure they approve of this format before
using it.

1.Introductory Paragraph

The first sentence should state for which instructor and class the book-report is
being written.

The second sentence should state the title of the book and the author's name.

The third sentence should tell how many pages the book has and the name of
the publisher.

The fourth sentence can state basic bibliographic information about the book.
Bibliographic information means not only the author and title but also what
company published the book, what year it was published in and any other
relevant information such as the edition and if the book has been translated,
simplified or abridged. (see copyright page and the back of the title page.)

The next sentence should state the reason(s) you decided to read this book. Why
did you choose this particular book? Typical reasons might be:
◦You like the author.

◦You like this type of book (i.e. mystery, western, adventure or romance, etc.).

◦Someone recommended the book to you.

◦It was on a required reading list.

◦You liked the cover.

These reasons do not have to be complex. Most people choose the books they
read because they like the author or somebody recommended it to them. If you
chose the book because you like the author, then state why you like that author.

An optional sentence can be used if the cover (back cover) of the book gives you
any additional information then add a sentence with that information.

◦Was the book a best seller?

◦Are there X million copies in print?

◦Did it win any major awards?

2.Main Character(s) Paragraph

The first sentence of this paragraph should state who the main character or
characters of the book are, and why they are important. Refer to this person or
these persons as the Main Character or Main Characters.

You will need at least a complex sentence for this, and probably more than one
sentence.

3.Other Characters Paragraph

You should compose at least one sentence for each of the other prominent or
important characters in the book. State the name of each of the other important
characters, and the key role that each one plays in the book

Most books have five or six prominent characters besides the main character, so
simply listing each one and stating their role in the book will give you a good
sized paragraph.
4.Plot Summary Paragraph

This is perhaps the hardest paragraph to write in five sentences or so. If you
have to write a bit more don't worry. Here are the main points to cover:

◦State the type of book (Mystery, Western, etc.).

◦What place or country was the book set in?

◦What time period was the book set in? (19th century, the present, ancient Rome,
the 23rd century).

◦Other physical locations which are important, like: ships, airplanes, houses, or
buildings.

◦Other notable attributes of the book. (Was it violent, scary, fast paced, etc.).

◦What is the main character trying to do?

◦What is the outcome of the book?

◦etc.

Make sure you cover all of the major parts of the plot. You might have to go back
through the book, chapter by chapter, and make a few notes.
5.Personal Impressions and Conclusion Paragraph

Simply talk about what you liked or did not like about the book. Use this
paragraph as your conclusion. It should summarize your overall impressions of
the book and bring the report to a close.

◦Start with a sentence that states that you are now writing a conclusion. (For
example: "My final thoughts on 'A Fine Balance' are that it is a fascinating book
but I am not entirely sure if I completely understood the thematic message of the
book."

◦Restate your reasons why you liked and/or disliked the book using different
words.

◦Write two sentences that talk about the books good points and weak points.

◦Write a sentence or two about what you learned from the book.

◦Close with a sentence that states whether you would recommend the book to
others.
Don't be afraid to give your own honest impressions of the book. After all, if
you've read the book thoroughly, you are entitled to your own interpretation of it.

Typically, your book report should not exceed two double-spaced pages, and it
should be somewhere between 600 and 800 words in length.

Research Assistance

This site, which claims to be the best single research source online, maintains an
inventory of more than 25,000 research reports on thousands of subjects; many
of which are book summaries. Most are available for immediate download. If your
subject isn't already in their archives, they will do custom research and writing for
you. You can download existing papers and/or order custom research papers 24
Hours a Day!