Customer Reviews

How to Write Book Reports 3E (How to Write Book Reports, 3rd ed)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For all of us who have reviewing as a hobby - and especially for college students, to whom this work is targeted to a text that shows the correct way to present an opinion is a godsend. In today's world, most of us are eager to express our feelings, to communicate our own impressions on everything that surrounds us. Sadly, a lot of our credibility slips through the cracks because of our own inability to present a valid argument, independently of it being true or not (after all, who owns The Truth?). As stated in Chapter 1, under the title of "The rewards of writing reviews", "You will learn to analyze your tastes, your likes, and dislikes, and back up your statements of opinion with sound reasoning" (Page 4).

"How to write book reports" includes all the tools and suggestions needed for effective reviewing. I liked very much the idea of presenting the "History of the Essay", as a reference on how it all began, since right up to the sixteenth century, as the author points out, everything that was considered culturally acceptable was always written in verse. It was since then, that qualified reviewers had been relied upon for almost everything mankind has been interested in trying. Sova devotes a whole chapter to the qualifications of the reviewer, be he an expert scholar or a starting student looking for good grades. Organization is the key not only of effective review-writing but also of everything that makes a good impression. The book divides the actual task of writing the report into three phases: preparing, organizing and writing it, providing in this way an actual blueprint for a flawless work. There are also suggestions on how to review the different literary genres, and an Appendix with further exercises to be done either orally or written, to provide fresh outlooks to the task. To give practical examples, a few sample reviews are provided; of a novel, a play, a short-story collection and a biography.

I hesitated at first about buying this slim volume because I saw it too high school, instead of professionally, oriented. Once I looked at its contents, I felt almost sure I had made a good choice. After having started to read it, I knew I had indeed purchased a simple but valuable volume. The book takes the fear (and boredom as well), out of reviewing assignments. The techniques suggested can be applied not only to literature but to anything related to art and culture, e.g.: music, cinema, graphic arts, etc. Dawn Sova intends to make the task of writing reviews an enjoyable experience, as she puts it herself "Reading, especially outside reading, should be fun" (Page 3). Throughout the book and in only ninety pages, she achieves this with a bang.

As a final suggestion, I would also recommend that you visit the publisher's website, called The Education Supersite, especially if you are just starting your own college period. It can be an invaluable resource as well if you are planning to go back to school, to find out about everything from financial aid to test preparation and universities that offer all types of online degrees.

There are few books on the market today with information about writing professional book reviews. How to Write Book Reports by Harry Teitelbaum is a reference device, written with the high school or college student in mind, but can be a handy tool for the discerning reviewer. The author actually explains the difference between a book report and a book review, and shares the rewards of writing reviews.

Because it is written for student use, the general focus is on book reports in essay form that would be graded by a teacher or professor. Be prepared to take a nostalgic journey back to high school English class, complete with grammar lessons. However, the outlined essay form can be a useful plan for organizing thoughts on an ungraded book review. The same rules a student would follow while writing a report can assist in creating a polished review that lends credence to the reviewer's opinions.

Teitelbaum advises the reader to take notes as they read. He provides several lists of questions to consider that generate thoughtful review material. These questions could be the most beneficial tool for the professional reviewer, as they are a springboard for critical analysis. For all writers, a list of proofreading symbols for editing is included at the back of the book. (Although, I wish the author would have taken a bit more time to proofread his own work. On page 30, he refers to author Stephen Crane as a female.)

How to Write Book Reports would be a helpful addition to any English professor's teaching curriculum. It shows the student how writing book reports and reviews can be a fulfilling task beyond the grade the instructor assigns. For those who have already discovered the joys of reviewing, this book can be an important aid for honing writing skills.

You already know how to write book reports if you can say what you dislike about a book or why you like it. Book reporting blends opinions with details: you take personal reactions based on your experiences and knowledge from life and other books; then back them up with facts and incidents from the book and with logic and reasoning. Along the way, you need to think not only what the book was about but also why it was written: for example, literature can bring out emotions or teach us something. So in the end, you want to say if the book did what the author wanted it to and if it is worth reading: these are the last thoughts that you leave with the reader. Harry Teitelbaum writes so well that what he says can be applied to any kind of writing, and I like to think that book reporting is the next best thing to the actual writing. His book leads in to other books on short, to the point writing: Mervin Block's WRITING BROADCAST NEWS, Syd Field's SCREENPLAY, Louisa Peat O'Neil's TRAVEL WRITING, and Elizabeth Penfield's SHORT TAKES.

When I finished this book ,I was tempted to give it a 3* but after reading the other reviews;two 5* and two 3*,I decided to go with 5*.There are a lot of good points made in these reviews and well worth reading.I can't pass up the temptation of reviewing these reviews;s collectively they merit 5*,at least "in my opinion".
First of all,it is the one and only book that I have seen, devoted exclusively to writing reviews;and covers in a formal way just about everything that should be covered,and why.It is much like a teaching aid or text,and therefore is directed towards a formal review.So,if you are the type who wants for formality,this book will provide it for you.Personally,even though I am an Engineer,and understand the reason for order,I prefer much more personal freedom in my reading and reviewing,and also in the reviews of others.
We all went through the formality of schooling.We all had to read "assigned reading" and write book reports and reviews.I,for one,never obtained my love for reading,and particularly that of writing reviews from my schooling exposure.As a matter of fact,by the time I finished university,I didnt even want to read anymore.A few years later,I picked up "Cannery Row" by Steinbeck,(Steinbeck was never ever mentioned in my school or university)and I enjoyed it so much,I proceeded to search for his other novels and one by one read them all.And so started my love for reading.
Over the years my reading continuedto increase,and even so much that I began to write reviews here on Amazon,and love every bit of it.
I have come to the conclusion that the education system is sadly lacking in two areas.First, we are not taught to read properly and no mention is made of Speed Reading or Memory Training.These are both great skills to have.As I see it, education is designed around correcting the student rather than inspiring him.I once was on a boat heading out to the Gulf Stream off Cape Hatteras,N.C.,and got into a long discussion with a retired University President.I told him about how I saw things and that in all my years in school and university,that there were only two teachers who inspired me in the least.His reply was "If you had more than one ,consider yourself lucky".
As a person ,I really liked my High School Literature teacher,but he never inspired me to read.On the other hand,one day I was telling my High School Math teacher how fascinated I was with Logarithms.He reached in his desk and pulled out a Slide Rule.He asked me if I had ever seen on.Of course I hadn't and he showed me what one could do with it.He sent me off with it and an instruction manual.That inspired me, and later I graduated in Electrical Engineering .In those days,before calculators and computers,a Slide Rule was an Engineer's stock in trade.
So if it's it's the fundamentals of a review you are looking for;this book is excellent.However,if it's inspiration for writing reviews;this book just won't give it.
However,to be fair,my 5* rating was because the author's intent with this book was to instruct as opposed to inspiring,and it certainly does that.

This book is an easy read and offers lots of advice that will make the job/task of writing a book review or book report easier. While most of us realize that giving our opinions on a book we've read is something we do verbally without preparation at the drop of a question -- writing a report/review takes preparation and time. In this book you get hints on what to take notes on, how to document so that when it comes time to write the report the information you need is easily found. There's also lists of questions for each genre type that can help to focus your approach.

Simply, useful overview for beginning reviewers.