review

Steps for Writing a Good Book/Play Review

Also see Green Line Klasse 11/12, page 271 f.

1. Introduce the subject, scope, and type of the work

• Identify the work by author, title, year it was first published
• Specify the type of book/play (fiction, nonfiction, biography, autobiography, drama, comedy …).
• Mention the works's theme.
• Sometimes some background information is necessary to enable reader(s) to place the work into a specific context. For example, you might want to describe the general problem the book addresses, the situation in which it was written ...
  

2. Briefly summarize the content

• Nonfiction: overview, incl. paraphrases and quotations, of the book's thesis and primary arguments.
• Fiction: brief review of story line, without giving away anything lessening the suspense for readers.
  

3. Provide your reactions to the book/play

• Describe you reading experience (e.g. Expectations - were they fulfilled or not? ...) OR

Describe your experience watching the performance of the play : actors, stage, costumes, music, atmosphere, treatment of original text in production.

• Describe the work: Is it interesting, memorable, entertaining, instructive, disturbing, ...? What character, moment in the book/play is most important? Why?
• Respond to the author's opinions/views/depiction of events: What do you agree with? What do you disagree with? Why?
• Explore issues the book/play raises: What possibilities are suggested/what matters left out? What would you rather have expected? Explain!
• Relate the book/play to larger issues: How did it book affect you? How have your opinions about the topic changed? How is the book/play related to your own experiences or personal agenda.
  

4. Conclude by summarizing your ideas
Close with a direct comment on the book/play, and tie together issues raised in the review. If you like, you can offer advice for potential readers.

^{Written by Maria Escales for LEO and the Write Place, St. Cloud State University. It may be copied for educational purposes only. With additions by Joerg Thelenberg}