A college book review demonstrates your understanding of the themes that are present in a literary work. Each review that you write should demonstrate your grasp of the topics that are presented in the book. Ensure that you read the book at least twice if possible in order to increase your understanding of the work.
A great way to get a better understanding of how great reviews are written is to find a website on the internet that produces them. One of these sites is Omnipapers, and it’s Essayshark reviews are masterful, worth checking out.
Beginning your Review
Each review that you write should be designed to help the reader find the book and enjoy it for themselves if they wish. Your review should start with bibliographic information, such as the author’s name, the publisher, and the date of publication. You can also include details on the price of the book and the number of chapters, or length of the work.
Speak briefly about the theme of the book during your introduction. You can go into further details later on in your review. However, initially, your readers should have some idea of what to expect. A brief synopsis helps them to have a foundation for understanding your thesis.
Talk about the author and give background information on previous works. This is critical since it helps readers to understand the context of the current work, in terms of the author’s complete prospective. For example, if an author is known for writing books about migrants and how they adjust to life in new countries, a book about Indian or European migrants and how they adjust to living in Australia will have greater meaning.
The relevance of the work changes slightly if the author’s background is understood. Similarly, if the author is a politician who has made strides in advocating for laws that protect the environment, a book on climate change would be viewed differently than if they had a completely different background.
Information on the writer helps readers to understand the relevance of that particular work to their own life’s work and life experience. It may even make your review have more relevance in terms of a personal connection for your readers. Some of them may share aspects of the author’s life experience and this may motivate them to read the book and your review.
Present a Well-Defined Thesis
Your thesis should be well-defined. Your professor wants you to show that you understand the course material and can make connections between it and the book.
If you have questions about anything that has been discussed during your course, this would be the best time to seek clarification. If you are unsure about the course material, your analysis will be affected. If you understand what was taught, it will improve your discussion.
Ensure that your thesis presents your perspective in an engaging way. Your entire review should answer specific questions about the book and not simply show that you have read it. Introduce your own analysis, supporting your thoughts with facts from the book.
Organize your Body
The body of your book review allows you to examine the author’s work in terms of their own discussion of their central ideas. If they have done a good job of presenting ideas and supporting these with facts, show this in your analysis. If there are areas where their discussion is logical or illogical, demonstrate why by presenting evidence.
The body of your work should have a logical structure. Ensure that you write an outline before you start your full analysis. Your body should discuss the main points made by the author, showing how they relate to each other, and if there is any comparison of any of the points that can be made.
Always keep your opinions distinct and cite your sources. This is especially important if you refer to other books in your analysis. If you use evidence presented in other books to support your own claims, it helps your readers when they can review these works for themselves.
Conclusion
Your conclusion should state your overall evaluation of the work, in a critical manner. Always refer to your thesis while writing your conclusion, and check your body to ensure that you have done a complete analysis of the points made in the book, with regard to your own proposal.
Discuss whether the author achieved their goal, whether their goal was directly stated or implied. Also, consider whether the book makes a significant contribution to the existing body of knowledge.