How I write reviews
By
Ada Brownell
I’ve reviewed
more than 60 books for authors who are members of American Christian Fiction
Writers. Besides that, I wrote reviews for non-fiction Christian books for The Denver Post in the 1980s.
When I open a
book to read, I usually look to see where it was published. Because I’m a
writer, too, I am familiar with a few secular and most Christian publishers so
that sometimes tells me what to expect. The publisher’s name often tells me the
denomination represented; doctrines; and sometimes even the type of story or
premise that will be inside the book’s cover.
Since independent
publishing has gained more respect, I don’t frown on an author going with
Amazon or other reputable print-on-demand publishers. But I won’t review one
from a publisher I know scams authors and doesn’t bother with editing. We used
to never review a book done by a “vanity” publisher and a few of those are
still around preying on people.
I usually look
at the summary, table of contents, and then I critique in my mind as I read. With
fiction, I jump into the story and watch to see whether I like the lead
character and whether the person has a worthy goal. The minor character doesn’t
need to be likeable, but even if he is the villain he needs to be developed
enough to make me either like him or hate him early. With non-fiction, I’m
looking for a great premise and a fresh way of approaching a significant
subject.
The core of my
review revolves around whether it is squeaky clean (even non-fiction can have
unsuitable language, goals or suggestions) and in fiction I want enough plot to
keep me reading.
During the course
of working through the book, I take notes, and if I own it, I’ll turn down
pages and underline sections I like, don’t like, or don’t understand. Then I’ll
make notes in the front of the book giving page numbers and a brief explanation
for indexing purposes. If it’s not mine, I make notes on little piece of paper
and insert where I have a comment.
Great writers
keep me reaching for my pen to write down sentences and phrases I might want to
quote in a review. I usually don’t use them because of space limitations, but I
might share them with my writers’ group and further advertise a good book.
Yet, there is
something else important to me. I’m not looking for perfection. I want to know
what the writer did exceptionally well, and I usually find it if I like the
book well enough to read it to the end. Most of my reviews are 5-star because I
focus on the one thing I can rave about. I don’t review books I can’t give at
least a 4-star rating.
I take my notes,
sit down to the computer and make myself think about the story and start
writing. It’s amazing how fast it usually flows because I narrowed my focus. I
never reveal important twists or the ending in a fiction book and no reviewer
should.
The important thing is to sit down and write the review. Anybody can do it.
Truth is, all you need to do is say, “I enjoyed it!”
I rarely write a
review now since I’m cutting back on writing because of my age. Yet I still
read, and read, and read.
Here’s my new
book, Following the Tracks on my Amazon Author
page. https://www.amazon.com/Ada-Brownell/e/B001KJ2C06
Ada’s blog: http://www.inkfromanearthenvessel.blogspot.com
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