Sample book review

Making a draft. The first step to writing a successful book review is always to make a review draft. It is a rough outline for a book review. It includes gathering up the notes taken and making a body out of them. Place the notes in chronological order and write in prose form what you think should be included in the book review.

Published book reviews can appear in academic journals, newspapers, and magazines. They provide an overview of the book and indicate whether the reviewer recommends the book to the reader or not. Reading reviews written by others can help you get a feel and flavor of what good book reviews are.

Example of an academic book review. This book review is included here with the permission of both the author, Heather Kavan, senior lecturer in Business Communication, and the editor of Stimulus, the journal in which the book review was published. Behind Closed Doors. Ngaire Thomas, privately published, 2 Alaska Court, www.behind-closed-doors.

A book review is a summary of a book that you have read. You should review all aspects of the story.