Writing Your Book Review Craft

Purpose This essay has two purposes: 1.) To take an in depth look at (and appreciate and analyze) the technique of the author you chose. 2.) To make a recommendation to other readers whether this book is worth their time and money. Today we will be focusing on # 1

Where To Start: Ask yourself this basic question: Did I like these stories/poems or dislike them overall? Then try to get to the bottom of why you felt this way. There was a reason. Search it out.

For Short Stories: Things you could/should discuss: Plot Characters Before you go any further: Was your book a novel? If so, you cannot use it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Check and make sure! If not sure, ask me TODAY! Things you could/should discuss: Plot Characters Symbolism/Imagery Sequence/Organization Writing Style

Plot: some questions to discuss: -How are the story events put together? -Are there plot holes? -Did the stories have satisfying endings? -Where on the plot line did the stories usually start? Was this starting place effective? -Did the stories follow a traditional or non-traditional plot line? Was this effective? -Were the stories similar or connected in any way? Did you like this?

Characters Did they seem real to me? Did I like or hate them (as appropriate to their role in the story)? Was there anyone to root for? Do the characters change in the story? Were the characters memorable? Good place to note quirky habits like odd names, strange character traits, etc.

The Other Stuff: Symbolism/Imagery: -Did objects reappear a lot? Could they mean something? -Did they do a great job with descriptions? Sequence/Organization -How was the collection put together? Were there parts? Did it seem to follow any order? Writing Style -What did you notice? Long sentences? Short sentences? Lots of words or a few? Dialogue or lack of?

For Poetry Same applies: Ask yourself this basic question: Did I like these stories/poems or dislike them overall? Then try to get to the bottom of why you felt this way. There was a reason. Search it out. Trust your instincts, you can make sense of poetry.

Poetry: Things you could/should discuss: Form Sound devices Symbolism/Imagery Sequence/Organization Writing Style

Form Are the poems in traditional forms (like the sonnet)? Do they rhyme? What kind of line breaks do they use? Are they effective? Are there end stopped lines or do they use enjambment? Are the poems long or short? Is there a particular form or structure they use a lot?

Sound Devices: Do the poems rhyme or are they free verse? If they rhyme what kind do they use (use your poetry lingo) Do they use other sound devices like alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia? What effect do they create? Does it make the poems more effective?

The Other Stuff Symbolism/Imagery: -Did objects reappear a lot? Could they mean something? -Do they use a lot of metaphors/similes about the same thing? Sequence/Organization -How was the collection put together? Were there parts? Did it seem to follow any order? Writing Style -Anything else you noticed about the poems not previously covered