Here are 9 simple steps to keep in mind when creating a book review. Any kind of book review, either written or via web video, explores the main aspects of the book, along with more specific examples. However, a good book review is not simply a book report or a summary – it goes a step further and connects the book to the world around us. Some things to keep in mind when reviewing a book: 1. State the name of the book, author and publication information exactly. This seems simple, but is sadly often botched. 2. Do your research and read the book carefully. Don’t review the book if you haven’t completely read it. 3. Never give away the whole story. The goal is to entice readers with your review. Let them know what the book is about; while leaving them wanting more. 4. What is the theme of the book? If a work of fiction, how does the author use characters and setting to drive the plot? 5. What genre is the book? Does it live up to that genre? If it is a mystery, did it keep you guessing? Or, if for instance a how-to book, could one follow the instructions and perform the tasks described? 6. Let people know how you related to the book. Did it make you laugh or cry? Try to share some highlights of the book without giving away too much. Share your personal connection with the book. It makes the review interesting, and gives the person watching or reading your review a sense of who you are. 7. You don’t have to, in a general sort of way, love the book you’re reviewing. Be specific and give specific examples out of the book that support your opinion. 8. Have you read other titles by the author? Comparing the title you are reviewing to other books by the same author will help people gauge their interest in the book. 9. Do some research about the author. There may be something very interesting about the author that readers want to know.
Archive for May, 2010
Posted in 
Tags: 
Researching The Historical Novel, Part II
I have mentioned previously that the Romance genre is almost a sure bet, and that mystery stories are a pretty close second. I also included adventure in the popular list, but particularly dwell on the historical novel because it not only has remained popular through the years, but recently has experienced somewhat of a growth period, as has the formerly almost dormant western. I also have intimated that in no other genre, is research the most dominant requirement. A historical novel, above all else, must be accurate in its historical details. In my previous discussion, I covered some of the problems encountered in researching the historical novel. There are a number of others, with which one must contend. If one selects a period in antiquity, such as Costain’s previously mentioned The Black Rose, one will find a great deal of confusion and overlapping descriptions of both terrain and the people living there. A prime example, is offered by wandering groups of marauding nomads who invaded China’s northwestern borders in the waning B.C. years. Reportedly, their depredations were so annoying as to cause erection of the first part of the Great Wall in Gansu. These Xiongnu were described and often called “Huns,” by early eighteenth century writers. The grave confusion occurs because the Chinese destroyed the Xiongnu in the second century A.D., and no evidence ever has surfaced that there had ever been any westward migration of the Xiongnu. Attila, the Hun, and his hoards, did not appear and begin their devastating raids in Europe until some two hundred years later. This is just one of the myriad problems one can experience in attempting to set a story in such a out-of-the-way time and place. The research must be thorough, because if it is not, someone is going to spot it. Before starting a novel in this era, I might suggest perusal of Frances Wood’s, The Silk Road, as an excellent place to begin. It is well researched and beautifully written. Also, a novel by Sam Barone, entitled Dawn of Empire, is a well-written example of a fairly recently published novel set in a similar early era. Another factor that I mentioned briefly in an earlier discussion, is that of geography. I recalled the tremendous change that had taken place in the seashore area just outside of Marbella, Spain in just a few short years. These changes are not unique. All of Europe has, and is, changed quite drastically. Certain, mostly desert parts, of Morocco and Algiers have changed little except for the eternal movement of the sands. The rest provides horrendous mixes of the new with the old. Parts of Ireland remain pretty much as they were, but even the once remote Ring of Kerry has encountered much change. If one is to write about the United States, one must remember the tremendous changes that have taken place here, as well. One has only to remember, for a graphic example, some of the recent motion pictures depicting New York City at the turn of the century. Other changes that are more difficult to remember, and perhaps picture, are the ‘Great American Desert’ that once covered much of the southwestern part of the country, and the once untenanted Llano Estacado that now is heavily populated and even contains whole cities. Characterization is a third major factor that one must consider in the historical genre. Individual personalities, perhaps have changed little. Anger, jealousy, pettiness, fear, magnanimity, have all existed for eons of time. However, the mores of the various societies in which these personalities live, have undergone a tremendous revolution. Those of the ancients contrast sharply with those of the Renaissance, the Elizabethan, and every other marked period of history, as they do from nationality to nationality; viz, the duena system of courtship in Spanish society, or the Creole institution of placage in Old New Orleans. So, if one wishes to write in the historical genre, each and every one of these factors must be carefully considered and researched. It is not an easy task if one does not enjoy spending countless hours perusing numerous sources. However, if you enjoy such pursuits, you will find many rewards well worth the time.
Good Fiction is Credible Fiction
So you want to write a good story? The kind of fiction that resonates with its readers; the kind that lasts longer on the shelf than the milk at your grocer; the kind that keeps people up at night like a narcotic? Well, then here’s a little advice my fifth grade teacher, Ms. Pendergast, gave me: do your homework. But you don’t like research, you say. That’s why you write fiction and not non-fiction, you say. With fiction you can just make everything up. You don’t need to do any research. OK, so how is that working for you? Before you answer, let me also ask you this: ever hear of Michael Crichton? How about The Da Vinci Code? I could go on and on, listing authors and titles that most anyone has heard of, besides maybe Osama—though I bet even he has read The Da Vinci Code. And though there are many reasons why these authors are so successful, there is at least one thing they have in common. They do their homework. Their works are rich with research. Think about it. If Dan Brown just made everything up in The Da Vinci Code would it have become a #1 world bestseller? Absolutely not. The Da Vinci Code’s success is directly related to Dan’s ability to convince the reader that in fact it may just be that Jesus had wed, born children, and that his lineage exists down to the present. Despite all the churchyard signs, documentaries, and nay-saying experts to the contrary, Dan’s book is credible, at least to the reader. And that is the kind of fiction that sells—credible fiction. Now keep in mind that credible isn’t synonymous with absolute truth or fact. The Da Vinci Code is by no means a historical textbook, nor should anyone read it as such. Even Crichton’s work, as authentic as many of his may be, should never be mistaken for absolute truth, facts, or any form of non-fiction. They are all works of fiction. But they do speak a truth of a different kind. They speak of emotional, moral, and even universal truths. And it these truths that readers hunger for, not necessarily the facts. Works such as Crichton’s State of Fear and Brown’s The Da Vinci Code ring true, feel true, and in a metaphoric sense are true. And the key to earning this sort of credibility, this authority to speak a subjective truth, is building a story upon a foundation of in-depth, exhaustive research. Readers are intelligent, in a street-wise sort of way if not in an academic sense. They know when they’re being lied to, when an author is faking it, or when she is flat out wrong. And readers also recognize sincerity, subject matter expertise, and especially when an element of a story overlaps with their own personal experience. You don’t have to discover an ancient secret that rewrites history, understand the complex workings of nano technology, or even travel beyond your city library. Your story can be a simple detective story or genre romance. But there is research that can be, and should be, done to tell that romance or who-dunit with authority and credibility. To give an example, one I’m quite familiar with, my first novel was a thriller about Sasquatch or Bigfoot. Now I knew two things going into this project. First, most of my potential readers already believed Sasquatch to be a hoax or simply a myth at best. Second, the scariest sort of monster is one that is real, one the reader can’t simply dismiss as pure fantasy whenever the tension gets too tight for their comfort. So my task was to convince the reader that Sasquatch might not be as fantastic as they believe. Perhaps it may even be alive and well in their own backwoods. And the only way to accomplish this was through research. I had to create an authentic creature on the page for the reader to behold. Not only that, I had to graft my story into the very world the reader knew to be their own. And I accomplished that be doing a little homework on Lewis & Clark, specifically the possibility that the two legendary explorers may have actually discovered Sasquatch. The end result was Cryptid: The Lost Legacy of Lewis & Clark. Osama may not have read Cryptid yet, but it is on bookstore shelves, and for far longer than the milk at my grocer. And I guarantee you it’s not because of my vivid imagination and ability to make-up a good story about Bigfoot. On the contrary, it is because I made-up very little, just enough. The rest came from over a year of thorough research. Readers care about the story because it feels true. And it feels true because in a large sense it is true. So listen to Ms. Pendergast, Mr. Thatchet, or whoever your fifth grade teacher was. Do your homework. You might be surprised to find it easier to keep me up at night reading your book if you had researched it rather than faked it.
Science Fiction: A Genre with No Limits
Science fiction, on the whole, has captivated movie-goers, novel readers, and television enthusiasts equally for generations. While many people would classify science fiction itself as a genre, there is much more to it than that. It is a very broad genre that truly is made up of a large variety of smaller sub genres. Often times, science fiction fans are classified and clustered into one large group with the same interests and tastes and that is simply not the case. Throughout television, literature, films, and even theater, science fiction has become one of the most widespread yet varied forms of mass media today. Another misconception when it comes to the genre of science fiction is that it is based on fantasy. Fantasy and science fiction are closely tied, but there is a main difference between the two. Science fiction always finds a way to justify the storyline or interactions between characters in a scientific way that makes the story plausible. On the other hand, fantasy media portrays impossible situations with no set explanation. Fantasy just allows your imagination to run free. Science fiction always gives you an explanation which lets you believe more in the story and focus more on the plot rather than question the seemingly impossible aspects. One of the great parts about science fiction is the timelessly classic feeling that older movies contain. Sure it’s great to see the big bad new age films with explosions and multi-million dollar budgets, but there is something to be said for the old classics. Even with massive budgets and all the high talent actors possible, some of the new movies can never truly convey the imagination and creativity of the originals. Science fiction novels and movies are put together as a way to entertain the mind with thoughts of the true possibilities of science and the future. Unlike other genres where superheroes simply fly free or spin webs, science fiction captivates audiences because it provides a way to imagine a world where the possibilities are endless. What could be possible in the future and what sort of technology might we possibly be able to look forward to? Sure many of the ideas inherent within science fiction seem far fetched at times, but there is always a basis of reality that often gets fans excited about the future endeavors of our world. From Star Trek to Star Wars and everything in between, the possibilities for science fiction as a genre are infinite. While other genres may indeed run out of plot lines or have stories redone on numerous occasions, this just does not happen with science fiction and that is what makes it so intriguing and inviting for old time fans and newcomers alike. Whether you have been a science fiction fan for decades or are just recently falling in love with the genre, there is a never ending list of movies, TV shows and books that are sure to captivate you and your mind.
Enlighten yourself With Fiction Books
In order to enlighten oneself and to enhance language skills, there is no better alternative than reading books. Books entertain a reader and carry him/her to another world altogether. Different kinds of books are available in contemporary market for people and they can choose the best one that caters to their interests. Among all other genres fiction books are playing a vital role in exciting and thrilling the reader. Fiction can be understood as imagination in the form of a short story. These stories are based on the writers own experience or real life incidents. Fiction books range from mystery, science, adventure and romance. These books are written with the aim of instilling certain core values and principles therefore also have a social message. Sometimes these books have a touch of fantasy in them and an amusing array of characters. Among these fiction books, the science fiction and romantic fiction books have grabbed the interest of the readers all over the world. Romantic fiction books are sometimes tragic integrated with a bit of action. Science fiction and romance stories are sometimes scary. We have the urge and suspense to find out what will happen next. The reader also experiences the whole situation of the novel. Some of the timeless hot-sellers include Margaret Mitchell’s classic “Gone with the Wind” which has still sustained in capturing the imagination of its readers with its gripping plot. Another unforgettable and famous book is of the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.Moreover the trend of online fiction books is also picking up pace as the reader does not need to flip through the pages.