What makes a good book review for me is an honest rating (10 = drop everything to read it). And, if it’s nonfiction, describing the insights that most influenced how you live your life
I'm doing something similar, sometimes, with my memoir deep dives. Not exactly a review, it's what I learned about the writing and how I can apply it to my own writing. I'm certain some people don't care for these posts (ie my husband) but that's okay because as long as I'm learning and it's helping me then I know it could be valuable to at least one other person.
In my early deep dives I'd point out something I liked in a book and basically be like, isn't this so good? Now I always, always, only include something if I can bring it back to me, if I can come up with an example in my own writing. Sometimes I fail and the example isn't good, but as long as I try to do what the author did and make an attempt, I think that's helpful.
So the personal angle is always my favorite but most important is that whatever approach you do is really fun for you, because that will come across in the writing. Have fun!
…to fully answer your prompt though i think a great book essay adds truth or creativity to the author’s experience with the art…what information can you uniquely relate to us because of “this” book…i a more of a movie nerd as relates to reviews but one thing that say Ebert had was the ability to know the review was his mind and experience as relates to the films…the universal gets in there sometimes but tends to be sloppy and wrong pending whose universe is connecting…if we can connect to your connection the better we might want to make our own connections…kind of like spinning a record at a party…someone hears your taste and enjoyment and then asks…who is this?…
I haven’t been to the UP, now I simultaneously miss the beautiful summers and don’t regret being elsewhere for the slow summers. I like this takeaway with patience. I want to read more fiction this year and am trying to find the balance between making it easy to start and commit vs waiting for the book to hit its stride. I think you’re right that patience is part of the process. Love the new name!
Tying your personal experience with the UP and the setting of the story makes the review very realistic, not to mention "homespun."
I am always down for a good creatine joke 😎
What makes a good book review for me is an honest rating (10 = drop everything to read it). And, if it’s nonfiction, describing the insights that most influenced how you live your life
Keep up the reps and the fresh reads!
💪 Azul
Thanks Azul! Really thinking about launching some YouTube shorts / TikTok videos as well. I'm mortified. But you're my inspiration.
Reps and reads! Love the new name and direction.
I'm doing something similar, sometimes, with my memoir deep dives. Not exactly a review, it's what I learned about the writing and how I can apply it to my own writing. I'm certain some people don't care for these posts (ie my husband) but that's okay because as long as I'm learning and it's helping me then I know it could be valuable to at least one other person.
In my early deep dives I'd point out something I liked in a book and basically be like, isn't this so good? Now I always, always, only include something if I can bring it back to me, if I can come up with an example in my own writing. Sometimes I fail and the example isn't good, but as long as I try to do what the author did and make an attempt, I think that's helpful.
So the personal angle is always my favorite but most important is that whatever approach you do is really fun for you, because that will come across in the writing. Have fun!
Phenomenal advice ... as always.
…definitely creatine jokes…
…to fully answer your prompt though i think a great book essay adds truth or creativity to the author’s experience with the art…what information can you uniquely relate to us because of “this” book…i a more of a movie nerd as relates to reviews but one thing that say Ebert had was the ability to know the review was his mind and experience as relates to the films…the universal gets in there sometimes but tends to be sloppy and wrong pending whose universe is connecting…if we can connect to your connection the better we might want to make our own connections…kind of like spinning a record at a party…someone hears your taste and enjoyment and then asks…who is this?…
Great stuff, thank you! The personal seems very important ... POP can apply to book essays, also.
I haven’t been to the UP, now I simultaneously miss the beautiful summers and don’t regret being elsewhere for the slow summers. I like this takeaway with patience. I want to read more fiction this year and am trying to find the balance between making it easy to start and commit vs waiting for the book to hit its stride. I think you’re right that patience is part of the process. Love the new name!