BOOK REVIEW

In your review you should include:

- basic info (what type of book is it?)

- the plot (the reader needs to have an idea of the story but do this briefly)

- the characters ( describe them briefly)

- description (what was memorable or remarkable about it?)

- your reactions ( what did you enjoy or dislike about it?)

- would you recommend it? Why or why not? To whom?

First paragraph:  Introduction. Give title of book. Genre. General intro about the book.

Second Paragraph: Brief description of plot. DO NOT spend too long on this part.

Third paragraph: Discuss the things you liked/did not like about the book and WHY? How was the writer effective. Give examples to justify your arguments. Refer to all elements of the book: the plot, characters, language, style, genre.

Fourth paragraph: Conclusion. Say whether you recommend the book. Explain why/why not? Say who you think it would appeal to. Your final overall comment on the book.

VOCABULARY TO TALK ABOUT A BOOK

autobiographies    non-fiction    biographies    poetry   classic novels    romances   comic novels  science-fiction crime stories     thrillers      drama      Westerns     historical novels  whodunits        mysteries

 Which of these words below would be used to describe a book positively and which negatively?

amusing        thought provoking       best-selling        moving        entertaining      well-written      gripping    clear      literary complex        poetic        hard to understand      popular      lucid     predictable       readable     convincing      well-drawn         humorous      inventive      original    intriguing      unputdownable   full of suspense

THEME: The general overall topic of a text

love      friendship       the importance of family       ambition     war      violence     etc. 

The book/story is about…

The story is set in…

The characters are…

The plot tells the story of …

The author describes/tells the story of…

The author has written a tale of…

EXPRESSING YOUR OPINION

I felt / I thought it was

I was impressed by

What struck me most was

What I liked most / didn't like was

On reflection, I think it was

I would have no / little / some / a lot of hesitation in recommending

It struck me as being

In spite of these criticisms, I think

I especially liked/disliked

WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS…?

- a twist at the end

- a cliffhanger

- I couldn't put it down

FINAL ADVICE:

* Remember that when you describe the plot of a novel or film you use the present tense.

* Reviews should inform but also entertain. Bring the book to life.

* Do not go into great detail about the plot and never give away the ending! ! !

* A review should be well organised and easy to follow for the reader.

* Look at all aspects of the novel:

style: how well-written it is and if it is readable.

characters: what kind of people they are and if they are well-drawn.

setting: where the story takes place.

personal reaction: describe the emotions it produced in you.

SOME EXAMPLES

EXAMPLE 1

EXAMPLE 2