Conversations in Literature

Detailed Book Review Form

Writing a Book Review
Writing a book review accomplishes two things for you as the writer: practice in analytical reading and
thinking.. A book review tells what a book is about and how successfully the book explains itself. As a
reviewer, your job is to set the book in context, summarize the story, analyze how the book achieved its purpose
(theme, message), and express your personal reactions to it, which explains what the book might mean to the
reader of your review. The following is a guideline.
I. Book Citation:
1. Title of the book:____________________________________
2. Author’s name: ____ Country: ___ (birth-death): __________
3. Written: ___ Setting date: _____
4. Published: city, state Published by: company Copyright date: ___
II. Biographical Sketch of the Author: (2-5 sentences)
First, place the book in historical context just like we do at literature club. Remember that an author writes
within a culture and particular events and things in his culture shape his thinking and the message he wants to
give his readers. Second, write a brief biography of the author. Include things that show why he wrote this book
if it applies, aspects of his life that interest you, and other works he wrote.
III. Plot Summary: (5-15 sentences)
A plot summary is not a recap. It should not cover every scene and every moment of a story. Do not attempt to
recreate the emotional impact of the work through the plot summary. Well-written plot summaries describe the
major events in the work. A shorter summary can often help the reader to understand a work much better than
an overly long one. Your goal is to give the reader enough information to want to read the book himself.
These steps will help you get started.
Step 1: Your first sentence ought to be a complete summary of the book. This lets your readers know what the
review will say.
Step 2: Several sentences that explain the main points of that sentence.
Step 3: In 3-5 sentences identify the scope and thesis of the book. The scope is the time period encompassed by
the book and the thesis is the purpose (theme, message) of the book. Analyze how the book achieved its purpose
(theme, message).
Example: Little Red Riding Hood
Step 1: Little Red Riding Hood is the story of a young girl's encounter with a dangerous wolf in the woods."
Step 2: Briefly explain for the reader the girl, wolf, and encounter.
Step 3: Little Red Riding Hood has the feel of a medieval story and it teaches that danger sometimes comes
disguised in familiar things. The wolf dresses up and talks like grandmother. Notice I didn’t tell whether she
was hurt by the disguised danger or not. This would spoil things for the reader.
IV. Worldview and Culture of the Author
One of the things we studied this year was how an author’s life is often woven into his writing. Write a few
sentences showing beliefs and situations in the author’s life and where these show up in the book.
IV. Critical Evaluation:
Reflect on the theme. Express your personal reactions to it. How did the author use the setting, artistic literary
devices (metaphors, sentence structure, irony, satire, comedy, etc.) and characters to communicate his message?
How did his techniques make the story more interesting? With which characters did you sympathize? Love?
Hate? Want to help? Did the message affect you? How? Did you learn anything? Would you argue for or
against the message? How? Why? Was the story believable? Why? Why not? Have you read another book with
the same theme, message? What is the title and author?
V. Conclusion:
I think you should read this book because …..

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