Questions to Consider Before Writing a Book Review

Questions to Consider Before Writing a Book Review

• From what sources are the characters drawn?
• What is the author's attitude toward his characters?
• Are the characters flat or three dimensional?
• Does character development occur?
• Is character delineation direct or indirect?

• What is/are the major theme(s)?
• How are they revealed and developed?
• Is the theme traditional and familiar, or new and original?
• Is the theme didactic, psychological, social, entertaining, escapist, etc. in purpose or intent?

• How are the various elements of plot (eg, introduction, suspense, climax, conclusion) handled?
• What is the relationship of plot to character delineation?
• To what extent, and how, is accident employed as a complicating and/or resolving force?
• What are the elements of mystery and suspense?
• What other devices of plot complication and resolution are employed?
• Is there a sub plot and how is it related to the main plot?
• Is the plot primary or secondary to some of the other essential elements of the story (character,
• setting, style, etc.)?

• What are the "intellectual qualities" of the writing (e.g., simplicity, clarity)?
• What are the "emotional qualities" of the writing (e.g., humour, wit, satire)?
• What are the "aesthetic qualities" of the writing (e.g., harmony, rhythm)?
• What stylistic devices are employed (e.g., symbolism, motifs, parody, allegory)?
• How effective is dialogue?

• What is the setting and does it play a significant role in the work?
• Is a sense of atmosphere evoked, and how?
• What scenic effects are used and how important and effective are they?
• Does the setting influence or impinge on the characters and/or plot?

• Does the book give a "full length" picture of the subject?
• What phases of the subject's life receive greatest treatment and is this treatment justified?
• What is the point of view of the author?
• How is the subject matter organized: chronologically, retrospectively, etc.?
• Is the treatment superficial or does the author show extensive study into the subject's life?
• What source materials were used in the preparation of the biography?
• Is the work documented?
• Does the author attempt to get at the subject's hidden motives?
• What important new facts about the subject's life are revealed in the book?
• What is the relationship of the subject's career to contemporary history?
• How does the biography compare with others about the same person?How does it compare with other works by the same author?

• With what particular period does the book deal?
• How thorough is the treatment?
• What were the sources used?
• Is the account given in broad outline or in detail?
• Is the style that of reportorial writing, or is there an effort at interpretive writing?
• What is the point of view or thesis of the author?
• Is the treatment superficial or profound?
• For what group is the book intended (textbook, popular, scholarly, etc.)?
• What part does biographical writing play in the book?
• Is social history or political history emphasized?
• Are dates used extensively, and if so, are they used intelligently?
• Is the book a revision? How does it compare with earlier editions?
• Are maps, illustrations, charts, etc. used and how are these to be evaluated?

Source: https://libraries.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/library/CoreSkills/Book_Reviews.pdf