Example of a Book Review: Definition, Benefits, Elements and How to Review a Book

Example of a Book Review – Have you ever reviewed a work of writing using the book review method? During school, college or someone who has the profession of a writer, writers must have done it. Book review is an activity to examine a work in the form of a story that is poured into a book, novel, short story or a book of knowledge. Making a review cannot be solely assessed, but there are provisions that must be obeyed when writing a review.

Do you know what a book review is, do you know how to review a book like that? It is very important that you know more about things about the reviewer, starting from the definition, steps to make, benefits, goals, to the elements of the review. We will thoroughly examine the book review, stay tuned!

A. Definition of Book Review

Therefore, a book review is to provide a critical review or assessment of the quality of a book. Reviewing a book means someone’s activity to convey ideas in writing in terms of measuring the merits of a book. Things that are measured from one book include content, presentation structure, and benefits for readers.

Not just books, you can review various things. As in the book The Art of Restaurant Review which reviews how to be a good food journalist and make a good restaurant review.

B. Purpose of Book Review

1. Help readers (public) who haven’t had the opportunity to read the book being reviewed, 

Reviewing a book provides a glimpse of information related to the contents of the book in the form of a brief storyline, consisting of how many chapters, number of pages and so on.

2. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the book being reviewed

Unknowingly, the activity of reviewing books has given an assessment of a book. Usually, before reading a novel or other work, readers will look at the reviewers first so they don’t make the wrong choice, it’s the same as when going to see a film in a cinema, the audience will always see what the rate is, if the rate is high, it’s not wrong for the film to be watched. definitely quality.

3. Knowing the background and reasons for the book being published, 

Knowing in advance why, and why a book deserves to be published and read by many people in the future.

4. Knowing the comparison of books by other similar authors

You can also use this technique, so you know the advantages and disadvantages of one book with another having a similar character.

5. For book writers, information is very useful for their creativity

The author of the book being reviewed can be used as valuable input for the next creative process of writing.

C. Elements of a Book Review

The elements that you really need to review include

1. Title of Review

The title is part of the charm as an attraction at first sight for reading. This is the part that can steal the heart of the reader to get to know a book. In addition to describing the contents of the review in outline, the title must be written in an interesting way that makes the reader want to keep reading until the end of the sentence and even prove it by buying a book that has been reviewed.

2. Book Identity

Book identity is a general description of the book that contains the book title, author name, year of publication and year of publication, book thickness, book edition number, publisher, book price if necessary up to book size.

3. Digest of the Book

This section discusses the synopsis. When writing it, there is no need to pay attention to the chronology of the story. You can write a synopsis freely. It is really necessary to compose a synopsis that arouses the reader’s interest without the need to write the full contents of the book so that your writing makes the reader stupefied and reads the original book.

4. Author Biography

The next element talks about the author or author of the book. This section is usually written succinctly. It contains the author’s life, from his background, expertise, to his works. When writing an author’s biography is an essential element in a review because of the track record , the image of a writer whose name is widely known will arouse the curiosity of the reader. In addition, the reader has an overview of the author’s story and career so far and awards and achievements during his career. This section is one of the guide points for readers to choose a book.

5. Strengths and Weaknesses of Books

The next vital element that must exist is the view of a book and its contents. Generally contains an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the book. This section contains opinions on the book being reviewed. This section is also reviewed carefully by the reader to ascertain whether the book is worth reading or not, whether it is what is being sought or not.

6. Conclusion

The last element is in writing a conclusion. You can write an opinion about a book. The contents can be in the form of criticism and input addressed to the author of the book. You can’t give recommendations to readers.
Wow, you already know what you need to have when reviewing a book, then what are the benefits of writing a book review? A person who is involved in this field is known as a “resensator”.

D. The Benefits of Reviewing a Book

Here are some of the benefits of writing book reviews that you need to know

  1. Sharpen our reasoning to keep growing
  2. Understand in depth the contents of the book being reviewed
  3. Get income if reviews are displayed in the mass media, both print and online
  4. Recognized and recruited to continue to review books by book publishers if you practice and be productive in making book reviews
  5. Get experience and new knowledge from the many books that have been reviewed
  6. Getting partners who will expand and multiply.

So, there’s no need to hesitate to review a book because there are many benefits for readers, writers, and book authors. But, don’t you know step by step so you are sure to write a book review? Take it easy, after we will explain in sequence the steps for making a book review.

E. Book Review Steps

Here are the steps, don’t miss it! There are six simple steps to reviewing a book that you can also use when you are going to give a review of a work that is not just a book…
Oops, it’s better before hearing all the stages, you have to get to know him more closely, uh… a book

  1. Understanding or capturing the content and purpose of the author of the book with the work he made,
  2. Have a direction in making book reviews, so you have to know who to read the review to
  3. Get to know or know the tastes of all ages of readers and the level of understanding of the readers
  4. Mastering all knowledge from various disciplines as a benchmark when explaining the strengths and weaknesses of books, and
  5. Being a book observer and diligent in reading any book because there are already many facilitators or online book reading service providers such as the Library which is managed by sinaumedia to open windows to the door of knowledge.
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Are you sure you know the book that will be reviewed? If so, here’s how to make a book review.

F. How to Write a Book Review

1. Determine the choice of books to be reviewed

Deciding which book to review. Is the book genre fiction or non-fiction, study, science or a novel? Writing a book review is basically the same. It’s just that it still has a few differences, especially the chronological side of the story.
As for what you need to pay attention to a number of points when deciding which book to review. The book must meet the parameters in the form of content about actual issues, good quality books, never been reviewed, and new publications.

2. Reading Books

Of course, read the book before writing a review, because by not reading the contents clearly, you will not know the contents, purpose, meaning and message contained in the book as the real voice of the author of the book. When reading a book, don’t forget to mark important points that will be included as one of the materials for writing a review.

The process of reading the book later you will feel for yourself how the author tells the stories contained by getting feelings and emotions when understanding the storyline, as well as getting implicit wisdom and information so that you get ideas and a framework for reviewing the book.

Apart from that, you can determine the interesting side of the book that can be raised into a review that you really need to discuss so that readers know and the author will also know the fun part of the connoisseurs of the work he wrote by selecting the parts/contents of the book that he likes. highlights in the review.

3. Determining the Right Technique for Writing Reviews

This is an important suggestion for choosing the right review writing technique to use. There are various techniques for writing reviews, namely the Cutting and Glueing Technique, the Focusing Technique, and the Comparing Technique.

  • Cutting and Glueing Techniques: techniques for writing reviews by gluing together parts of the text. All of these sections contain material that attracts attention, which is contained in the book we are about to review, and reflects the main ideas of the author of the book.
  • Technical Focusing: the technique of writing a review by focusing on one particular aspect presented in the object of the review can focus on the author, the characters or the plot of the story
  • Comparing Technique: writing technique by comparing the things contained in the object of the reviewer with other sources that discuss the same topic.

4. Write a complete six elements review

At this stage, you really have to not forget the important parts in the elements of the review. After getting the story that will be raised in the review, you must determine the title of the review, write the identity of the book, make an abstract, provide an assessment containing strengths and weaknesses, and close the review with your opinion and recommendations if needed.

5. Check Back All Reviews That Have Been Written

After finishing writing a review, it’s no doubt correcting your writing by re-reading it, checking for typos, errors in the writing structure, incomplete data, and so on. This method is used so that the review writing becomes epic and beautiful so that readers remain loyal to reading it to the end, are comfortable, and easily grasp the contents of the review.

G. Example of a book review

After this, there are five examples of reviewing a book in the non-fiction, fiction, knowledge, study and novel genres.

1. Example of a Non-Fiction Book Review

Book Identity :

  • Book title: An Art of Being Totally Stupid
  • Author: Mark Manson
  • Publisher: sinaumedia Widiasarana Indonesia
  • Date of Issue: 20 February 2005
  • ISBN: 9786024526986
  • Page thickness: 256 pages
  • Width: 14.0cm
  • Length: 21.0cm

Book Synopsis:

“Whatever the case, the concept is the same: solve problems, then be happy. Unfortunately for many people, it feels like life isn’t that simple. That’s because they deal with problems in at least one of two ways: denial or a victim mentality” (pg 37)

Review Contents:

This book tells of a Charles Bukowski, an alcoholic who likes to play women, a chronic gambler, an abusive, miser, and a debtor. He dreams of becoming a writer. Bukowski’s work was always rejected by almost every magazine, but this did not make him give up, he continued to write and compose poetry. So that with his experience he has a very stupid attitude

In his book, which contains the meaning of being ignorant which doesn’t mean you don’t care about anything, Charles Bukowski has a simple illustration of redirecting life’s expectations in choosing what is important because at its core life is just a series of problems that have no end.

Book Advantages:

Through the character of Charles Bukowski who is strong and persistent, we get a special meaning to be indifferent, and still be happy looking at the problems that are being experienced.

Book Disadvantages:

Even though the title seems to give the impression of ignorant tips, it turns out that it is not ignorant here, describing a warrior who achieves his dream against all odds.

2. Examples of Fiction Book Reviews

Book Identity

  • Book title: Rapijali
  • Author: Dee Lestari
  • Publisher: Library Coverage
  • Issue Date: 24 February 2021
  • ISBN: 9786022917724
  • Page thickness: 368 pages
  • Width: 13.5cm
  • Length: 20.0cm
  • Weight: 0.22 kg

Book Synopsis

Ping felt she had everything she needed. His peaceful world on Batu Karas Beach, his home full of musical instruments on the banks of the Cijulang River, his best friend and grandfather who loves him. However, Ping secretly harbors anxiety about her bleak future.

Her special musical talent has no platform, and she doesn’t dare to aspire. Ping’s life is turned upside down when she has to move to Jakarta and live with the family of a candidate for governor. Ping must face a new school, new friends, and new challenges. Could he find what he’s been missing all this time? And is Ping ready for what he discovers, that his life is not as simple as he thought.

Contents of the Book Review

The contents of Rapijali’s story have the background of a child who is enjoying new experiences to follow current trends such as having social media, smartphones, participating in talent search competitions. We will get acquainted further with the world of Ping. There is Oding, his best friend since childhood, who is good at surfing, Mang Acep Mulyana and Bu Lilis Sudrajat –Oding’s parents- and some of his grandfather’s bandmates.

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The author makes a different thread about Ping, to make it more relevant today. All of that, of course, is not implied in the original script, which is set in the ’90s.

The advantages of the book

Reportedly this book will have a series of sequels, the story that is written is quite interesting as entertainment for young people who are fond of the world of musicians

Weaknesses of the Book

The conflict that is told is very subtle

3. Examples of Textbook Reviews

Book Identity

  • Book title: Biology for SMA & MA Class XII
  • Author: Dra. Irnaningtyas
  • Publisher: Erlangga
  • Issue Date: 24 February 2018
  • ISBN: 9786022987741
  • Page thickness: 406 pages
  • Width: 18.0cm
  • Length: 25.0cm
  • Weight: 0.7 kg

Book Synopsis

There is no book because it is a collection of questions

The contents of this book review

were prepared by the Master Tentor Team for class XIII high school students as textbooks or reading reference sources on Biology materials. This book is also equipped with pictures, practice questions and material for discussion with students and teachers. Where this book places students as subjects who carry out independent learning activities or with tutors to discuss existing biology materials.

The presentation in this book seeks to train cognitive activities in reading a book with the habit of illustrating several questions that will be used to strengthen students’ memory, discussions can also understand everything in the biology book.

Book Advantages:

Various Biology materials for XII SMA class have been chosen by the author using simple language, none other than to make it easier for students to study independently. In addition, there are several questions and joint activities that are carried out together to train students in groups so that they are accustomed to having discussions, daring to express opinions or answers to existing questions and be able to solve new problems in subjects, especially biology.

Book Weaknesses:

There are scientific words that students may have never heard of, so in using them a biology dictionary is needed as a companion for self-study in order to correctly understand scientific words written. Therefore, students are required to think creatively in solving new problems if they need to study in groups with friends or with their teacher.

4. Example of Knowledge Book Review

Book Identity

  • Book title: Why? Camera – Camera
  • Author: Yearimdang
  • Publisher: Elex Media Komputindo
  • Issue Date: January 13, 2021
  • ISBN: 9786230022197
  • Page thickness: 160.0 pages
  • Width: 18.0cm
  • Length: 24.0cm
  • Weight: 0.25 kg

Book Synopsis

This book tells about a camera that was poured into comic form to convey information about the development of the use of cameras that are not only used to photograph beautiful landscapes, but can also be used to take pictures with three-dimensional sensors and virtual reality which give a very real feeling.

Book Reviews

Why? Camera – Camera, one of the books packaged by Yaerimdang in a simple and clear way through comic characters. This book contains the history of the development of the camera until the camera becomes a tool used to photograph an object that can be applied to virtual reality yet .

Learning general knowledge is needed in this 20th century. The flow of information is increasingly accessible and growing so fast, that we have to learn quickly. Not to mention science that continues to develop and improve.

This book offers the concept of fast learning without making the reader feel bored. Therefore, this book will provide photographs, three-dimensional images and virtual reality that give a very real feel, to sensors for artificial intelligence. Through this book, let’s find out the world behind the extraordinary camera.

Book Advantages

This book is very informative for all ages. The author makes the book into comic form which of course will not saturate the readers. The language used is easy for laypeople to understand, and can also be used as a reference.

Book Weaknesses

This book is made in a concise, concise and complete manner so that it contains important information. There is not too much explaining about cameras historically that is written in length.

5. Example of a Novel Book Review

Book Identity

  • Book title: Wingit
  • Author: Sara Wijayanto
  • Publisher: Elex Media Komputindo
  • Issue Date: December 16, 2020
  • ISBN: 9786230021831
  • Page thickness: 256.0 pages
  • Width: 12.5cm
  • Length: 10.5cm
  • Weight: 0.15 kg

Synopsis:

The search for an abandoned old housing complex in the East Jakarta area that night was initially pleasant. Before entering the complex area, I, together with Wisnu, Fadi, and Demian, opened a vlog with a fun gimmick to lighten the mood. However, when I arrived at the location of a level house surrounded by trees and bushes, I saw more and more invisible creatures that surprised me.

Not far from there, I felt the presence of a ghost who wanted to communicate with me. The ghost turns out to be in the form of a small boy. Fadi took over the search when the creature communicated with me. Next, we call the child ghost the name Adik.

He has a habit of lifting his right leg and then rubbing the shin of his right foot against the calf of his left leg as if feeling an itch. As it turned out, the younger brother was not alone. He was with a kuntilanak who he called Aunt. My sister even showed me where Aunt was, in a tree to be precise. This is the tracing of the story of Adik and Aunt Kun….

Book Review :

The horror -themed novel tells about Sara Wijayanto’s experiences during her search in a place that has not been inhabited for a long time and contains a mysterious story, considered “haunted” or inhabited by invisible creatures.
The story set forth in the wingit novel contains the life journey of a figure who inhabits an empty building, the owner of the house or building has long since left. One of the figures told is Siti trying to tell through Sara, the story of when she was alive. Siti expressed her desire to be a woman by profession as a woman in general, never dreamed of working as an entertainer. Siti could not choose her career path because the environment that brought her had to live life on the dark side.

Book Advantages:

Wingit’s novel tells the story of invisible figures that exist in every building, Sara’s goal in writing her story in exploring a location in the form of a book, is none other than to introduce a figure who used to live with all the sweet and bitter stories of life to those of us who are still given age. long so as not to regret like the figures told by Sara in her book.

Book Weaknesses:

We will feel fear because there are images of astral beings that cannot be seen with the naked eye and not all astral beings are ignorant of living humans. This book also tells the life story of someone who is no longer there and whose figure has been resembled by a superstitious genie, therefore not everyone believes and cares about the existence of an invisible figure.

Reference:

  1. Haryanto. 2008. Making a Review. Semarang: Sindur Press.
  2. Kuncoro, Mudrajad. 2008. Proficient in Writing Tips for Writing Articles, Columns, and Book Reviews. Jakarta: Erlangga

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