How to write a book review

(Source: http://www.lavc.edu/library/bookreview.htm)

A book review is a description, critical analysis, and an
evaluation on the quality, meaning, and significance of a book,
not a retelling. It should focus on the book’s purpose, content,
and authority. A critical book review is not a book report or a
summary. It is a reaction paper in which strengths and
weaknesses of the material are analyzed. It should include a
statement of what the author has tried to do, evaluates how well
(in the opinion of the reviewer) the author has succeeded, and
presents evidence to support this evaluation.

There is no right way to write a book review. Book reviews are
highly personal and reflect the opinions of the reviewer. A
review can be as short as 50-100 words, or as long as 1500
words, depending on the purpose of the review.

The following are standard procedures for writing book
reviews; they are suggestions, not formulae that must be used.
1. Write a statement giving essential information about the
book: title, author, first copyright date, type of book, general
subject matter, special features (maps, color plates, etc.), price
and ISBN.

2. State the author’s purpose in writing the book. Sometimes
authors state their purpose in the preface or the first chapter.
When they do not, you may arrive at an understanding of the
book’s purpose by asking yourself these questions:

Ø? Why did the author write on this subject rather than on
some other subject?
Ø? From what point of view is the work written?

Ø? Was the author trying to give information, to explain
something technical, to convince the reader of a belief’s
validity by dramatizing it in action?
Ø? What is the general field or genre, and how does the
book fit into it? (Use outside sources to familiarize
yourself with the field, if necessary.) Knowledge of the
genre means understanding the art form. and how it
functions.
Ø? Who is the intended audience?
Ø? What is the author’s style? Is it formal or informal?
Evaluate the quality of the writing style by using some
of the following standards: coherence, clarity,
originality, forcefulness, correct use of technical words,
conciseness, fullness of development, fluidity. Does it
suit the intended audience?
Ø? Scan the Table of Contents, it can help understand how
the book is organized and will aid in determining the
author’s main ideas and how they are developed –
chronologically, topically, etc.

Ø? How did the book affect you? Were any previous ideas
you had on the subject changed, abandoned, or
reinforced due to this book? How is the book related to
your own course or personal agenda? What personal
experiences you’ve had relate to the subject?
Ø? How well has the book achieved its goal?
Ø? Would you recommend this book or article to others?
Why?

3. State the theme and the thesis of the book.

a. Theme: The theme is the subject or topic. It is not
necessarily the title, and it is usually not expressed in a
complete sentence. It expresses a specific phase of the general
subject matter.

b. Thesis: The thesis is an author’s generalization about the
theme, the author’s beliefs about something important, the
book’s philosophical conclusion, or the proposition the author
means to prove. Express it without metaphor or other figurative
language, in one declarative sentence.