| If you're looking for a good book to | | | | organically, naturally? Or are they |
| read—either for your own enjoyment or a | | | | forced—leaving you feeling manipulated. Does |
| book club suggestion—what's one of the first | | | | the ending wrap up loose ends? Does it wrap up |
| things you do? You can ask a friend. But | | | | things too neatly, to the point of being pat or |
| word-of-mouth recommendations depend to a | | | | trite? Or does it leave issues unresolved, open |
| large extent on personal taste. If you want a | | | | to different interpretations? |
| more reliable gauge, you'll want to find book | | | | Ideas—does the book offer an exploration of |
| reviews. | | | | ideas—perhaps a moral or ethical problem, or |
| Let's say you're at a bookstore and you're holding | | | | the meaning of relationships (familial, romantic, or |
| a book in your hand. Invariably, you turn to the | | | | friendship-based)? Does it offer interesting |
| back cover where you find excerpts of | | | | insights or a fresh perspective? |
| mainstream media reviews. They're glowing, of | | | | Style—is the writing heavy handed,...uninspired |
| course— “Characters with heart!” | | | | with over-written or even cliched phrases . Or is |
| “A non-stop page-turner!” “A major | | | | the writing feel fresh, even inspired? Is the |
| new voice in fiction!” | | | | writing funny or witty? |
| There might even be a quotation or two from | | | | Where do you find helpful reviews? The best, |
| well-known authors: “Characters with | | | | most in-depth are from major daily newspapers: |
| heart!” “A non-stop page-turner!” … | | | | the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, |
| and so on. Authors are frequently asked by their | | | | Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Boston |
| publishers to write favorably about new | | | | Globe, Chicago Tribune or Sun-Times, just to |
| imprints on the trade list. Some authors have | | | | mention some. Look also in periodicals like Time, |
| admitted they don't actually read the books | | | | Newsweek, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and |
| they're asked to review (gasp!), but they're willing | | | | Atlantic Monthly. |
| to go along because...well, they're generous | | | | You can head to your public library and dig |
| people. And they want the same treatment for | | | | through past issues of newspapers and periodicals. |
| their own books. | | | | Better yet, many libraries subscribe to online |
| Don't confuse these kinds of book comments | | | | databases that carry the full texts of articles |
| with genuine book reviews: what you see on | | | | from the major papers and magazines. |
| the book covers are promotional blurbs, carefully | | | | You can also go online at home. But most |
| culled by publishers from longer reviews, that | | | | newspapers and magazines require subscriptions |
| may—or may not—be altogether positive. A | | | | to get into their archives, so you won't always |
| blurb's purpose is to sell books, not to inform | | | | have access to full articles—although |
| readers. | | | | sometimes you get lucky and find them on right |
| What's worse, media outlets sometimes come | | | | on Google. |
| under pressure to write glowing comments so as | | | | You can also go to customer reviews at the big |
| not to offend their advertising clients, the | | | | online booksellers—Amazon and Barnes & |
| publishers whose books they review. It can be a | | | | Noble. But customer reviews tend to be all over |
| cozy, if sometimes uncomfortable, relationship for | | | | the place and are highly idiocentric. They can be |
| publishers and authors—but not particularly | | | | helpful but not always reliable. |
| helpful for readers. | | | | The best bet is to find an online book site you |
| When looking for a good book review, look for | | | | can trust, a website with an index of titles, |
| one that turns a critical eye on a book's style and | | | | reading guides, and book reviews. Look especially |
| content. A genuine book review considers the | | | | for ones that carry complete reviews—not |
| following elements: | | | | just blurbs—by Publishers Weekly, Library |
| Characters—are main characters convincing? | | | | Journal and especially Kirkus Reviews. Libraries |
| Do they have emotional and psychological | | | | subscribe to these review publications, so they |
| complexity and act according to authentic | | | | tend to be forthright in their assessments of |
| motivation? Or are they flat and one-dimensional | | | | books—after all, it's what libraries pay them for. |
| with little detail of their inner lives? | | | | Nothing's a guarantee, but knowing where to look |
| Plot—is the plot predictable or does it surprise, | | | | for reliable book reviews—rather than |
| going where you least expect it? Are there | | | | promotional blurbs—can go a long way to |
| interesting plot twists? Do events unfold | | | | ensuring a worthwhile read. |