If you’re asked to write a book review as a college student, it’s worth requesting clarification from your professor as to whether you should write a descriptive or a critical book review. This will help you fulfill your professor’s expectations and earn a good grade on the assignment.
In particular, take notes about the following:
- How the book begins, proceeds and concludes
- The main themes of the book
- The setting
- The characters, how they change and how the author develops them throughout the story
- The plot, its major plot points and significant subplots
Each time you encounter something noteworthy while reading, you should write down the page number next to your notes. This allows you to easily return and review that particular passage while you’re writing your review.
Once you’re done reading, take some time to reflect upon the book. What was the main goal that the author was trying to accomplish? In your opinion, did the author accomplish it? Why or why not? (Be specific.)
In some cases, a book is best analyzed in context. For example, if you’re reviewing a novel written by a political prisoner who lived in 18th-century France, the main point of the novel is likely to be vastly different from a novel written by a tech entrepreneur living in the 21st century.
In other words, consider the time and place, as well as the major events that the author has experienced. You may need to do a little research to learn more about the author and their time period. Note that a discussion of the author’s experiences and the context of the time period isn’t always warranted; only include this if it’s relevant to the book itself and to your analysis.
Next, it’s time to start fleshing out your book review. Your book review is likely to follow much of the same structure as any other school essay that you write while working toward your English language degree. It will have an introduction, thesis, body and conclusion.
Begin by providing the book’s bibliographical information. This includes the title, author’s name, publisher and date of publication.