Discussion: What are you looking for in a book review?
What's the purpose of this writing form in 2024?
As you might imagine, I spend a decent amount of time thinking about the book review as a writing form. What is its purpose? What should it communicate? How long should it be? Should I give ratings? In the 6+ years I’ve been writing this newsletter, I’ve landed on a form that I like . . . and yet I’m always examining and questioning it.
Because of a new essay collection by Lauren Oyler, an author and book critic, the art of the book review has been discussed across the literary web more than usual in the last few weeks. Oyler is known for her no-holds-barred takedowns of popular authors, which is ironic given some of the roasting she’s received for these essays. (For what it’s worth, I enjoyed the collection, even if it was a bit purposely pretentious.)
Honestly, I don’t generally enjoy book reviews published by major publications like the New York Times, the LA Times, the Washington Post, and plenty of others. By the end, it often feels like the review is more about showing how much the reviewer knows rather than telling us if the book at hand is readable, enjoyable, and recommendable.
Perhaps I’m weird, but I prefer to have a clear idea of whether the book was liked by the reviewer and what kind of reader would enjoy the title. I don’t necessarily want an essay; I want a genuine and straightforward review.
Given my own preference, it makes sense that I try to make my feelings rather obvious in my ~350-word reviews (short, by most critical standards). And, given my own nature, I’m not one to give bad reviews. That’s why my Friday newsletter is called “What to Read Next”; everything in it is a thumbs-up recommendation, if not for everyone then at least for a subset of readers. There are plenty of books I read that don’t make the newsletter. (Poor reviews have their place and review inflation is very real, it’s just not my thing.)
All of this very niche introspection has me wondering: What do you look for in a book review? What are you hoping to get out of a bookish newsletter? I can’t say I’ll change my approach, I’m just genuinely curious what other readers think.
This:
'By the end, it often feels like the review is more about showing how much the reviewer knows rather than telling us if the book at hand is readable, enjoyable, and recommendable.'
YES. I do like Ron Charles reviews in The Washington Post, but NYTimes and the freelance reviews in WaPo leave me cold. Stop showing off and tell me how the book made you *feel*.
In a world where award winning books can sit on a shelf in a bookstore right beside the latest schlock with 100,000 amazon 5 stars, but only because it entertains …and for the same price…. book reviews like yours are immensely helpful.
(You pay more for gifted art and live music, but not the written word? Yet , this poor person is glad of it)
Help me avoid mediocre writing, formulaic stories, hidden propaganda, erotica, and unnecessary foul language. Point out books worthy of second reads or passing on to my teenage grandkids. Those that help the reader empathize with situations reflecting real people they would never meet in their own bubble.
Thought provoking, world building, changed my life kind of books. They are out there hidden among the over published, over promoted, trend of the moment, flash in the pan.
Thanks for helping me sort through the stacks to find them. Keep up the good work!!