Book Reviewing: A guide to writing book reviews for newspapers, magazines, radio, and television
Editor: Sylvia E. Kamerman
Rating: 4-star
Publisher: The Writer, Inc
Published: 1978
Pages: 216
Find a copy at a local library
Are you interested in writing book reviews? Do you want to turn that into a paying job? You could do worse than reading this book for advice. 21 essays, edited by Kamerman, provide guidance for breaking into and writing reviews for print, radio, and television. While you won’t find advice for posting reviews online, much of the advice still applies. Be brief. Be consistent. Be bold. Be honest.
I’m struck that several of the essays touched on reading books. As in, you must actually read the book, sometimes twice, to provide a honest review. I thought this seemed evident, however a recent article in Writers Digesti suggested that reading the first 30 and last 40 pages of a book is sufficient in a pinch. And I seriously hope folks don’t take that to heart.
In any case, if you’re serious about improving as a writer covering books, I recommend that you find a copy of Book Reviewing. I think it is well worth your time.