eWriteLife Blog

(?) Question from Jaye A. Clarke and Denise:

How do you critique a book or write a book review?

(!) Answer from Kevin Tipple:

Well, whether it is an author that I have never read before or an old favorite, I make sure I have a small pad of paper with me to make notes as I begin the book. I jot down the title, author, publication date, ISBN, and publisher.

As I read the book, I make notes to myself of the names of the characters and how they are related in the story. I look at tense and point of view, along with writing style and a basic description of events. As I move through the book, I concentrate more and more on the narrative style of the author and the story he or she is telling. Does it work for the reader or are there basic holes in the story?

One of the things I avoid at all cost when I write a review is giving away all the events that happened in the book. Too many times, I have read reviews where the reviewer told everything that happened in the work. Why read the book if you already know how it is going to turn out?

What I attempt to do is give a more detailed explanation than what is on the book jacket, at the same time not giving away too much information. I want to help the potential reader make a decision whether this book is interesting to him or her, without ruining the book. And, believe me, if someone feels that you ruined the book for him or her, they will most certainly tell you about it!