Guide for Composing an Ineffective Book Evaluation
Jacqui Murray, a prolific author, editor, and columnist, has developed a template for writing effective book reviews. Murray, who is also an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, reads an average of three books per week and reviews many books on her three blogs.
According to Murray, a good book review should be concise and structured, typically not exceeding five double-spaced pages for academic or critical reviews. It should provide a descriptive overview of the book’s main topic, purpose, structure, and the author's credentials, without resorting to mere summary or book report style.
Critical analysis is key in a book review. Murray suggests evaluating the book by addressing questions such as the author’s argument, adequacy of scholarship, themes, and comparison with other works on the subject. This involves citing specific examples and references for support.
Murray emphasizes the importance of maintaining objectivity in a review. Personal biases should be avoided, and the critique should focus on evidence-based assessment and characters like author expertise and quality of argumentation. Highlighting key moments and examples from the book helps make the critique concrete and credible.
Conclusions in reviews should be supported by evidence. Murray's book, "Building a Midshipman", which is about her daughter's journey to the United States Naval Academy, serves as a good example of this.
Murray advises against stating personal dislikes for a genre as a basis for a review. Instead, she suggests focusing on traditional traits like a compelling voice, developed characters, and well-paced plot if one is not familiar with the book's genre.
When it comes to debut novels, Murray suggests not comparing them to established authors. Instead, reviewers should judge the book on its own merits and offer advice for improvement. Murray also suggests showing how motivation/theme/goals connect to a wide range of readers, even if the character/plot/setting is unique.
In summary, an unbiased and effective book review balances concise description with critical evaluation grounded in evidence, respectful tone, and clear organization. It helps readers understand the book’s value and limitations objectively. Reviewers should also cite multiple sources and provide linkbacks for statements, and they should not judge writers but rather evaluate and offer advice.
A book review, following Jacqui Murray's template, can offer insightful opinions on books from various genres like lifestyle, home-and-garden, and book reviews. For instance, a review might discuss a book's organization and themes, illustrating how it connects with a wide range of readers, as demonstrated in her book "Building a Midshipman". In this instance, the review emphasizes the author's compelling voice, developed characters, and well-paced plot, traits that are equally relevant to books about lifestyle, home-and-garden, or other subjects.
