What do you look for in a book review?

[PaulineDesigns]

Originally Posted by Crusader

I wouldn't view it as a cliffhanger, but rather as an open-ended ending. .... You can take it to mean something, and somebody else might think it means something else. There's no definite conclusion.

Ah! "Open-ended"...thank you! I knew cliffhanger wasn't a good word but couldn't think of a better one. That's why I tried to explain what I meant in the first part about leaving it to the reader.

[VydorScope]

So you are talking about stories like "The Lady or the Tiger" ?

[GraceKrispy]

I often state something about the ending in my review, but do it in a non-spoiler way. That means I do mention if it's an ending that leaves the reader to think of the options. I don't think that's spoilerish, and some people can't stand that type of ending, so I'm doing a service by letting them know ahead of time

[PaulineDesigns]

VydorScope: yes, that would be a case where it works.

bashfulbanshee & GraceKrispy : Thanks for the input!

[Haarlson]

Honesty.

[maianhvk]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

Umm I do not understand this mentality... why read the review AFTER you read the book?

My bad. I meant, you shouldn't read reviews that talk about weaknesses before you read the book. All other kinds of reviews? Feel free to read them at anytime

Originally Posted by bashfulbanshee

@maianhvk: I hate reading translator's reviews. I keep on reading them when I shouldn't. So much spoilers! I think they're review type #2, but for some reason, they're been traditionally placed in the beginning of all "classic" works. It ruined Faust for me among other things.

What you said above is perfectly like what I wanna say all the time! Why do they always tell us all the good and bad things that happen in the story, their comments, their thoughts... at the very beginning? And worse, I always forget not to read translators' reviews...

[Giggleton]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

Sure but what would the purpose be of reading it after? At that point what do you gain out of reading the review?

I may look at a review to decided whether or not to buy a book, movie, or anything, but once I committed to read/watch it I dont go looking for reviews to review what I already know.

Sometimes I like to review reviews.

[RichL]

Age group it is aimed at.

Genre (hard sci-fi, future fiction, cowboy romance, cowboy action etc.)

Succinct overview. Explain general storyline in two to three sentences.

Give general readability i.e. Has many difficult concepts, smooth reading throughout, generally a smooth read but occasionally gets bogged down in detail (you get the picture)

Would you buy another book by the author.

[VydorScope]

Originally Posted by maianhvk

My bad. I meant, you shouldn't read reviews that talk about weaknesses before you read the book. All other kinds of reviews? Feel free to read them at anytime

Of course there probably is no way to know what kind of review it is till after you read it....

[DMB]

I like a review of fiction to address:

1. Quality of prose;
2. Craft of the plotting;
3. Plausibility of the plot (without spoilers);
4. Characterisation;
5. Setting, and the competence of the author in bringing it alive;
6. Discussion of the author's probable aims;
7. Overall impression;
8. If possible, some discussion of the author's other works.

For non-fiction, depending on type, some or all of the following:

1. Discussion of the basic topic as an introduction;
2. Explanation of the author's credentials;
3. Reference to other books dealing with the topic;
4. Explanation of the author's take on the subject;
5. Suggestion of other reading that might be necessary for non-specialists to cope with the book;
6. Overall judgment.