Kate Lansing

On Book Reviews

Since I started taking my writing more seriously, I’ve become a more critical reader. Whenever I finish a book, I challenge myself to pinpoint what I especially like or dislike about a story. And I LOVE doing this.

I absolutely love reviewing books. Dissecting the craft, analyzing different narrative styles, seeing the way a story can be better constructed for a bigger emotional payoff.

Because, as Stephen King wisely states in On Writing, “The more you read, the less apt you are to make a fool of yourself with your pen or word processor.”

There are certain trends I’ve noticed, things I always consider when reviewing books. Here’s what I look at, and some questions I ask myself after finishing a book:

Predictability. Did the story feel generic? Could I predict what was going to happen after the first chapter? Were there unexpected surprises that kept me from setting the book down? *Note* By their nature, genres like romance tend to be pretty predictable; you know the couple’s going to end up together at the end, but it’s how they get together that’s important.

Dialogue. Was the dialogue realistic? Was it easy to follow? Admittedly, this is one of those things where if it’s done well, I sometimes won’t even notice, but if it’s done poorly, I’ll dock a book big time.

Characters. Were the characters compelling? Did they feel real and relatable, but also larger-than-life extraordinary? Did the main character(s) have flaws, or something they had to learn? Were the main character’s actions consistent, or believable, to who they were throughout the entire story?

Feelings. Did the story make you feel something? Did it stir up nostalgic feelings, resonate on a deeper level, or move you in some way? Did the book make you laugh out loud, cry, or seethe in anger at an injustice?

Writing. Did you find yourself swept away by the prose, astounded by beautifully written observations? Or were you having to slog through awkwardly constructed sentences, or paragraph after paragraph of needless description? Here’s the thing: there are so many books out there, there’s no reason to continue reading something that causes you to stumble over every other word.

Voice. Did the voice of the main character (or characters if there were multiple POVs) make sense? Did it feel authentic, add to the story, help set the mood? Did the author have a unique voice, distinct style, or purpose underlying their writing?

Plot. This is a no duh!, but did you actually like the plot of a book? Did the book have a unique plot, seamlessly stitched together, while also complying with genre rules (i.e., say I’m looking to read an epic fantasy, would this book satisfy that craving?)? Was the book entertaining the entire time, or did it suffer from the Mushy Middle, or other boring intervals?

Typos. If there are 3 typos that pull me out of a story, I immediately dock a star. Oddly, this one feels the most persnickety to me, but typos take away from the professionalism of a book, or rather, a piece of work.

Bonus Points: Narrative. I’m not a stickler for narrative. If all of the other components are done well, I’m usually a satisfied reader. But I give a book extra points if the narrative is something interesting that I’ve never seen done before, or so well-crafted that it takes the story to a whole new level.

What do you think about when you review books? Are there things that make you automatically dock or add a star??

What I’m reading: Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

What I’m listening to: Badly Drawn Boy — The Hour of the Bewilderbeast

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