BOOK REVIEW: A few hints
A book review is different from the “book reports” you did in school. A book report is largely a summary of the book you read; by contrast, a book review is an attempt to examine the book critically. Certainly, you need to provide a brief overview of what the book is about; but beyond that, you should also provide some analysis. An acceptable book review should have the following:
- Bibliographic information about the book: Full title, author(s), publisher, date of publication; if a revised edition, be sure to provide that too.
- What are the author’s credentials to write on the subject? Has the author written other books related to this topic? Was he/she a participant? Try to use a source other than the back cover of the book; it may not provide the most objective information. Keep this part very brief, maybe a paragraph (unless, of course, it is a memoir).
- A brief overview of the book’s topic: Instead of, “In Chapter 1 this happened, in Chapter 2 the hero did that,” etc; that is a plot summary, and that’s not what I want. You should provide an idea of what the book covers, in just a few sentences, for example: “The author covers the Normandy campaign, from the earliest preparations for invasion, through D-Day, concluding with the liberation of Paris in August 1944. His emphasis is on the Allied viewpoint, though he also provides insight into the decisions of selected German commanders.”
- Thesis: Does the book have a particular theme, thesis, or point to make? Is the author challenging some long-held assumptions, or trying to correct the historical record? For example: “The author argues that World War II was not one global conflict, but rather two parallel conflicts, in Europe and the Pacific, fought for different reasons, with divergent agendas.”
- What research has the author done? Put another way, has the author done his/her homework? A well-researched book will have an extensive bibliography, citing primary sources, archives, interviews, and a variety of other sources. Is the research thorough? Or did he/she overlook something? (A memoir, of course, will be a little different—be aware of the limitations of a memoir; it is by definition one person’s viewpoint.)
- In relation to the above: How well does the author support the thesis? Is there new information (for example, recently-declassified documents) that the author has used? Keep in mind the date the book was published. A work published in the 1960s is not necessarily a bad book; the author would just not have access to more recent documents.
- Analysis: How good a job has the author done overall? Is the author’s style easy to read, hard to read, dry, or engaging? Does he/she tell a good story? Would you recommend the book to others? Is the thesis controversial? Is the author biased? Opinion is acceptable, as long as it backed up by some evidence.
- What did you get out of the book? How did it add to your understanding of the subject? Would you recommend the book for any particular audience?
A few other things to keep in mind:
- Review should be about 3-4 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font, please.
- If you use sources other than the book you are reviewing (and you are certainly free to do so), be sure to properly quote and cite those sources.
- Pay attention to spelling and grammar.
- You are responsible for finding a copy of the book you select. Many of these books will be available in the LRC on either campus, or possibly, at one of the public libraries. You may also check with a local used bookstore—The Book Lady in Monroe, or the Waxhaw Reading Room. You may also consider Inter-Library Loan—just be aware of the time limitations on this. Don’t wait until the last minute!
- Paper should be in narrative form. You don’t need to address the questions above under different headings; write the review as a complete essay.
- Be sure to abide by the Academic Integrity policy.
- Any book relating to American History up to 1865 will be acceptable; however, I must approve your choice.
- Pick a book on a topic that is of interest to you. Remember that the point of the exercise is to explore some aspect of American History up to 1865 in more depth. Don’t just pick the thinnest book on the library shelf—you will regret it! I will provide a list of suggestions for reading; you may choose something not on the list, but I will need to approve your selection. Violation of this rule will result in a zero for the assignment.
- See me if you need help selecting something.
- A grading rubric will be provided.
- Please try to select a title by about the time we get to Module 4 (I will circulate a sign-up sheet for your selections at that time) and start working on it immediately. Don’t wait until the last minute! (Did I mention that before?)
- Due date: TBA
