Here at the Write Practice we have a longstanding tradition of giving critiques using the Oreo method: point out something that was a strength, then something we wondered about or that confused us, followed by another positive.
EVERYONE HAS A STORY REVIEW HOW TO
When I Don’t Know What to WriteĪbout a month ago, I realized I was overthinking how to write a book review.
Even (and especially!) when a book doesn’t fit neatly in a genre category, we need to consider what the book promises on those first pages and decide how well it succeeds on the terms it sets for itself. The stories we love most do those expected things in a fresh or surprising way with characters we root for from the first page. Sometimes genre expectations help us answer this question: a romance will end with a couple who finds their way, a murder mystery ends with a solved case, a thriller’s protagonist beats the clock and saves the country or planet. These are the books we put down immediately (unless a mixed-message beachy cover combined with an Austen vampire story is your thing).īut what if the cover, blurb, and first pages are cohesive and perk our interest enough to keep reading? Then we have to think about what the book has promised us, which revolves around one key idea: What is the core story question and how well is it resolved? Knightly about his plan for revenge on the entire human race, there’s been a breach of contract before I even get to page two. If a book cover has a picture of a lip-locked beautiful couple in flowing linen on a beach, and I open to the first page to read about a pimpled vampire in a trench coat speaking like Mr. It begins to set expectations the minute a reader views the thumbnail or cover. Tweet How to Write a Book Review: Consider a Book’s PromiseĪ book makes a promise with its cover, blurb, and first pages. The question is not, “How does this book compare to all books I’ve read?” but “How well did this book deliver what it promised?” I thought, “How can a Yorkshire Terrier compete with a Basset Hound?” The announcer explained that each is judged by the standards for its breed. In the final round, they trotted out dogs of all shapes, colors, and sizes. I realized my mistake one day as I was watching (of all things) a dog show. How can I compare a sweet romance with Dostoevsky? I can’t, and I shouldn’t. This is honestly why I didn’t give reviews of books for a long time. (Sorry for the all caps, but that’s how it felt, like a James Earl Jones voice was asking me where to put this book in the queue of all books.)
When I first started giving reviews, I made the mistake of trying to compare a book to ALL BOOKS OF ALL TIME. Once you’ve decided to give a review, you are faced with the task of deciding how many stars to give a book. Want to learn how to write a book from start to finish? Check out How to Write a Book: The Complete Guide. Maybe there’s an easier way to write a book review. What do I say? I mean, is this a book really deserving of five stars? How did it compare to Dostoevsky or Dickens? Regardless of how much you know about how to write a book review, the author will appreciate hearing how their words touched you.īut as you face the five shaded stars and empty box, a blank mind strikes. It is one of the best gifts you can give an author. If you enjoyed the book enough to stay up reading it way past your bedtime, consider writing a review. You finally reach the last page of a book that kept you up all night and close it with the afterglow of satisfaction and a tinge of regret that it’s over.
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