“Books are a uniquely portable magic!”
_Stephen King.
Isn’t it true?
You open a book and begin reading the words carefully put together by the writer and you are transported to a world where live people leading lives you might never, or, you wish you could.
Books, for many of us, give the relief we need as we face the vagaries of Life. For some, they are the best friends who make their need for people redundant.
But, apart from it all, books are the best teachers we could ever have. And, being writers, the need to read books can never be discounted.
Some of my favourite books are from the fiction genre, especially suspense/ thrillers. In non-fiction, I like the real-life inspirational stories, like the ones by Dr.Brian Weiss, and Anita Moorjani. And, it’s these non-fiction ones that have inspired me while writing my posts.
I love mythological ones, too! Jaya, by Devdutt Pattanaik, for instance. And, some historical stories, as well. No romance, or chick-lit for me, though. Guess, I have passed that age where we know what Love is all about!
I was a voracious reader earlier, but then, Life took over and reading became a luxury I could hardly afford. So, it was only after I began writing that I realised how important it is to read; read so that you improve your writing, and develop your craft, rectify your syntax errors and learn the magic formula required to grab a reader’s attention.
Book reviews happened by chance. Couple years ago, motivational speaker, Priya Kumar had her book release. She approached many a blogger to review her book and publish the review on their respective blogs. I was one of those bloggers, too. It felt wonderful being requested to do the review by her, but daunting, as well.
Never having done a book review, I had to first learn the art of reviewing books and writing an honest, impartial review. Sentiments cannot be hurt, and yet you need to put across your views about the book – whether it is good, likable, or read-at-your-own-risk kind.
There are a few book reviewers whom I follow closely. Bloggers who have carved an identity for themselves reviewing books, and from whom I learned a lot.
So, if you wish to learn what book reviewing is all about, do visit these blogs. Just reading the different genres they have reviewed will give you a fair idea of how to go about it.
There are also some blogging communities that offer books for reviews. If you wish to try your hand at it, do visit these sites and register there to receive books. Do follow the rules they have laid out for book reviewing.
Book reviewers I admire:
Community for book lovers:
The book club
Do visit these bloggers and the communities if you would like to give reviewing a try. It’s a fun way of widening your horizons!
Things to remember for book reviewing:
Read the book, thoroughly. Of course, that’s understood! However, try not to skip the parts that seem tedious.
Write an honest review. Never trash the book, especially if it’s a début work, and do not praise it to the skies, either.
And remember, not all might agree with your view of the book. So, do give reasons for the criticism, as well as the commendation.
Love,
SHILPA…
My theme for the A to Z Blogging Challenge is all about my blog, Metanoia, and my blogging journey from the time I started, 5 years ago. The lessons I learnt, the tips and tricks I picked up from fellow bloggers and the guidelines I could have used back when I began.
You will find all of my A to Z posts here.
Useful tips for wannabe book reviwers. Will use them if I ever review a book in the future and visit the book bloggers you have suggested.
Lovely artwork as usual.
Bodylicious @NamySaysSo
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Thank you, Namratha!
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Useful tips shilpa. Reading is easy but reviewing is difficult.. Will keep a look out on those bloggers book reviews.
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Yes, Deepa. Studying others’ works before working on our own helps in getting a clear idea of how to go about it.
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Great post Shilpa, and being a book warm I just loved your tips. indeed, books are best friend, and they always help us a lot to deal with any difficult situation. #BlogchatterA2Z
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True, Ritu. If it hadn’t been for books, I wonder what I would have done to forget about all the pain that’s so much a part of life.
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A very balanced approach to book reviewing. I completely agree with your list of book reviewers whose reviews are delightful though I must admit that when a blogger only does book reviews, I tend to give it a miss because I hardly get to read a book these days. Somehow I haven’t got down to reading on line and regular reading is getting harder by the day.
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The perfect way to approach books and reviews Shilpa. My problem is most often I need to review book thats totally not the genre I enjoy reading. However I still try to get the gist of it all, and appreiate what good the writer has done to it.
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That’s what I learnt from you Ramya. That’s what I keep reminding myself !
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B is for Balaka 🙂 Just Kidding. I used to do Book reviews, I still do in Goodreads. This is a simple yet lovely post Shilpa.
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Thanks Balaka!
Actually, I wasn’t too pleased with this post myself, but decided to share it anyway. Lots of stuff happening at home too, so the mind is kinda going crazy! 😅
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Love the way you started your book reviewing journey. It happened that way for me too. Have taken a break from reviewing books now, for I want to read books that I want to read.
Agree with the tips you have shared. The review has to be honest and at the same time not demeaning the author.
5 Travel Books to Spark Your Wanderlust #AtoZChallenge
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I too love books. All friends you listed are awesome. I too love them all. thanks for sharing this useful tips for reviewing books.
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Thank you Vasantha!
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Oh, I absolutely agree. I simply go with book reccos from Ramya, Shantala, Saumya and Sanch. You should read and review books more often, Shilpa 🙂
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Will do it now Shalini! It’s my new goal 😅
Thank you!
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Nice post! Have never done book reviewing except at Good Reads or Amazon. Will surely keep your tips in mind should I ever take up book reviewing seriously.
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A bibliophile myself, I loved doing book reviews when I started blogging. Thank you for reminding me about the need to get back to reading and reviewing more. I’m so glad to have read your post today.
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Sonia, as much as my A to Z posts are for bloggers who have just begun on the blogging journey, they are also for me. The kind of encouraging comments you leave on my posts,it is really reassuring! Makes me feel good I chose this theme!
So, thank you so much!<3
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Useful tips, Shilpa. I had one book reviewer who “enjoyed the story part of the book” but thrashed me for adding inspirational sections saying it failed as a novel – it would have worked fine as a devotional book. She gave me ONE star! Guess what? It WASN’T a novel! It was a devotional book! Really? Brains! Are we stuck with what we have?
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Aww…that must have hurt, Shirley! I can understand. Reviewing a book is serious business, and taking it so lightly , trashing it the way she did is really so wrong.
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Even I started off as a book reviewer first, slowly got hooked to reading books and eventually to what I love, writing. On second thoughts, I should send a copy of my book for review. 🙂
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Oh, that would be great, Rohan! But, I think, I already have reviewed your book – The 23rd girl! 🙂
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Hey..thanks Shilpa for adding my name here. Humbled. Enjoying your posts.
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I enjoy your reviews, Lata. Reading those has taught me so much. Of course, I had to suggest your name, else this list would have been incomplete!
❤
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This is a wonderful post. Agree with the points on managing a book review.
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Thank you, Roshan!
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Think I’m yet to step into the book review scenario. Not sure at the moment I want to, but who knows. Interesting inputs about the same Shilpa. And yes that list of bloggers who do book reviews is fab.
April Anecdotes
Burden or Unburden
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It does help us learn a lot just by reading books and reviewing them, I feel.
Thanks for visiting, Natasha!
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I love that quote and agree with it wholeheartedly 😉 Wait for my M; its Brian Weiss’s book that changed my life for good. I have gifted that book to so many peeps now as I feel its one book everyone must read.
I too have the same list of favourite Book reviewers; these guys are just awesome.
I have a book review to do which I am dreading as I wasnt impressed by it – will keep your points in mind!
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‘Sentiments cannot be hurt, and yet you need to put across your views about the book – whether it is good, likeable, or read-at-your-own-risk kind.’ – Couldn’t agree more. I also started reviewing recently, and as a policy I try to balance the negatives with the positives.
That’s an interesting list of book reviewers, thanks for that.
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I love reading a book, have only ever reviewed one book which was an honour 🙂
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Love reading books and book reviews are so useful in discovering and picking up the next one. Will go through the list 🙂 The artwork again is splendid.
B is Bold – Love is not my need
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I’ll never be a good book reviewer. I am too impatient – and yes, I skip the tedious parts. At this point in my life, I feel life is too short. Actually I have, perhaps, written a book review on my blog once or twice. A book has to be prize winning material for me to be moved to do that. But how I love to read! I’ve been reading for 61 years.
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Hi Shilpa! I´m glad I discovered you via the #AtoZChallenge 2018. I think it´s important to read. I got into book reviews recently and have been enjoying it.I recognise 2 names from this book reviewer list and will check the rest including yours. Some of the book reviewers I like are Ashima Jain, Piyusha Vir, Maitabi Banerjee, Anupama Dalmia, Kasturi Patra to name a few.
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Around ten years back, I wanted to start a blog to reviews books. But then where was the time to read. I was an erratic reader. But your post makes me rekindle my interest in book reviews
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Book reviewing is never easy. I still write very detailed reviews and some authors always complain that I might give away the plot someday 😛
I’m learning, slowly but steadily.
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I am not a book reviewer but I will admit I have wanted to review a book or two on my blog. Your tips are helpful as is the list of your fav book reviewers.
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I have just started in bookreviewing …this post might help ….thanks!!!
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You are welcome!
Thank you for visiting!
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That was a great post.. And you chose a very good topic for AtoZ challenge !!
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Thank you!
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Books have been an integral part of my life. They are never to go away from it…
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Same here, Adi!Thanks for visiting!
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