Comments on: Writing a Book Review

By: 3 Ways to Get Me to Read Your Book Review - YAnnabe

3 Ways to Get Me to Read Your Book Review - YAnnabe — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 01:24:15 +0000

[...] The Bluestocking Society: Writing a Book Review [...]

By: Nymeth

Nymeth — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:06:56 +0000

I take notes too, of thoughts that cross my mind and of memorable passages that I might end up including in my post.

I don’t consciously follow a structure when writing my posts, but I organize them more or less like this: first a plot summary, then my general opinion in a sentence or two, and then my explanation of why I have that opinion: what I liked about the book, what didn’t work for me, etc.

Great post, btw.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:22:49 +0000

Rebecca – I didn’t think that that you thought that! I just meant that I need to add a little more emotion to my reviews. Your comment just made me want to do that. :o)

By: Rebecca Reid

Rebecca Reid — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:08:13 +0000

Jessica, I didn’t mean to indicate your reviews are dry. I enjoy yours very much. I just meant that I always find reviews most interesting when there is an emotional response to the novel.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:22:48 +0000

Thanks for commenting everyone! I’m glad that this post struck a chord. Your ideas and processes have given me a lot to think about.

Loobiesmith – the quick review can be very useful to the reader by distilling it down to the most important tidbits.

Heather – I love (and am going to steal) the post-it note idea. I hate maiming books, even ARCs, and that is a good solution.

Suey – I tend to do the same thing: skim through really long reviews for that bottom line. I’ll have to keep that in mind when I tend to go on and on. :o)

Rebecca – I think you hit two really good points on the head: originality and emotional draw. I think my review tend to be a little dry.

Dorothy – Your note-taking process sounds like my may end up. Taking notes all of the time can take some of the fun and flow away from a book.