Although I mentioned the pitfalls of reviewing earlier this week, book reviewing is one area where you shouldn't have to face any kind of moral dilemma. After all, you will almost certainly have had to read the book to review it, eliminating the problem of writing 'fictional' reviews, and there are very few cases where you will be paid by an author or publishing house to write a review, so you will rarely have any kind of conflict between an honest review and a glowing piece of marketing blurb.
Book reviewing can be a rewarding process for many reasons.
In writing a review, you have to really asses what you loved or hated about the book. This kind of analysis is a great exercise for writers, helping you to identify techniques and skills that you admire, or habits that you want to avoid in your own writing.
Good book reviews can also be a good addition to your portfolio, showing potential clients or customers what type of literature you value, and how well read you are. If you dream about having a book on Cookery Traditions Around the World, for example then a blog or portfolio full of insightful reviews of regional cookery books may earn you brownie points, if not with a publisher or agent then at least with your potential readers.
Amazon, of course, rules the roost, when it comes to book reviews. At least in the world of online book selling. Having high profile reviews on their site can boost your own profile and send traffic to your own site or list of publications, as well as help to get your name out there. There are also some nice perks, if you can write well enough, as Amazon's Vine program selects a small stable of reviewers to send free books to each month and asks them to review them.
Once you have some great book reviews, you can even approach magazines and websites to try to get a regular column. This is how many great reviewers start out. The key is to be prolific and write regular reviews which offer readers useful information and insight about the book. Things to consider when writing a book review might include:
- How well does the author round out the characters? Do you feel real attachment towards them? Do they incite emotions in you?
- Does the plotline flow well, encouraging you to turn each page? Are there enough interesting elements without being confusing?
- What are the key themes of the book and how does the author present them?
- What do you think about the overall tone of the book?
- Is the story predictable, or did it carry you through a whole new world and adventure?
- Are there any kind of language peculiarities? I particularly love authors who can bend the English language to suit their stories, such as Margaret Atwood, BenOkri and Markus Zusak.
Things to avoid when booking reviewing are:
- A complete plot summary. Don't give away the ending for your readers!
- Repetitive language. Treat a review like you would any other piece of writing and avoid over use of certain adjectives.
- Don't be boring. Avoid bland words such as 'nice'.
- Don't be too personal. The characters may really have resonated with you, but leave your own story out of the review.
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