To Write Or Not To Write A Book Review ~ That Is The Question

I am a firm believer that writing a book review is a critical (no pun intended) part of the reading process. Reading can be very emotional, so once I complete a novel, I compare the review process to a written catharsis.

Once I put all my opinons, characterizations, and assessements of the novel on paper, I am released of any sorrow, pain or low points experienced by the characters, yet I can embrace the joy, happiness and high points. I also feel we (the reader) have an obligation to perform this task; be it favorable, marginal, or unfavorable, as part of the literary "due" process.

Below are some tips for writing a book review from Amazon:

• Include the "why": The best reviews include not only whether you liked or disliked a book, but also why. Feel free to talk about related novels or authors and how this book compares to them. • Be specific: Your review should focus on specific features of the book, as well as character assessement and other topics that convey how you feel about the book overall. For video reviews, we recommend that you write a brief introduction. • Not too short, not too long: The ideal length is 75 to 500 words. Video reviews have a 10-minute limit, but we recommend 2 to 5 minutes to keep your audience engaged. • Be sincere: We welcome your honest opinion about the book--positive or negative. We do not remove reviews because they are critical. We believe all helpful information can inform our customers’ buying decisions.

An author once told me that reviews can catapult a novel to the next level by putting it on the radar of literary reviewers and publications that would not have noticed it otherwise. She went on to say that the process should not be taken lightly, or pushed aside as an undesirable chore.

So, once you have completed Til' The Well Runs Dry, please take a few minutes to "grind" out a review detailing what your liked or disliked about it. Future readers will appreciate it and and so will the author.