Finding Book Finding Book ReviewsReviews

H. CalogeridisH. Calogeridis

R. CaldwellR. Caldwell

UW LibraryUW Library

Last Updated: March 2005Last Updated: March 2005

What is a Book Review?What is a Book Review?

A book review A book review is an overviewis an overview oror a a critical assessmentcritical assessment of a particular of a particular bookbook

It is a It is a special type of articlespecial type of article published in journals, magazines and published in journals, magazines and newspapers (usually following the newspapers (usually following the book’s initial publication)book’s initial publication)

Book reviews appear in a variety of Book reviews appear in a variety of lengths, ranging from a few lines to a lengths, ranging from a few lines to a few pagesfew pages

Scholarly reviews are typically longer Scholarly reviews are typically longer and of more use to researchersand of more use to researchers

A book review is A book review is NOTNOT an in-depth an in-depth critical evaluation of the author’s workcritical evaluation of the author’s work

Book reviews may include Book reviews may include commentscomments on: on:

the author’s style of writingthe author’s style of writing motifs or themesmotifs or themes outstanding featuresoutstanding features reading level and anticipated audiencereading level and anticipated audience plot summaryplot summary the reviewer’s opinion of the bookthe reviewer’s opinion of the book

Starting Your SearchStarting Your Search

To begin your book review search, you To begin your book review search, you need to know:need to know:

the the author’sauthor’s full namefull name

the the completecomplete titletitle of the book of the book

the the yearyear the book was the book was publishedpublished

Book Review SourcesBook Review Sources

The Library has The Library has print indexesprint indexes that are that are entirely devoted to book reviews.entirely devoted to book reviews.

Examples:Examples: Book Review DigestBook Review Digest (Abs Z1219.C96 Porter)(Abs Z1219.C96 Porter)

Book Review Index Book Review Index (Abs Z1035.A1B6 Porter)(Abs Z1035.A1B6 Porter) Canadian Book Review Annual Canadian Book Review Annual

(Abs Z1035.A1C3x Porter)(Abs Z1035.A1C3x Porter)

Print Indexes – Sample ReviewPrint Indexes – Sample Review

book review information by book review information by author/titleauthor/title

Reviewed AuthorReviewed Title

Abbreviated Review Sources

Many general and subject specific electronic Many general and subject specific electronic journal indexesjournal indexes and and researchresearch databasesdatabases also give access to book reviews.also give access to book reviews.

(available at http://journal-indexes.uwaterloo.ca)(available at http://journal-indexes.uwaterloo.ca)

it is important to remember that the it is important to remember that the search search strategystrategy for finding book reviews may for finding book reviews may varyvary depending on the databasedepending on the database

Examples:Examples: General Science AbstractsGeneral Science Abstracts Humanities Full TextHumanities Full Text LexisNexis AcademicLexisNexis Academic Social Science Full TextSocial Science Full Text Web of ScienceWeb of Science

Research Databases - ExamplesResearch Databases - Examples

electronic electronic research databasesresearch databases can be can be found via the Library’s home pagefound via the Library’s home page

Sample Search in Humanities Full Sample Search in Humanities Full TextText

combine the combine the titletitle of the book being of the book being searched with the “searched with the “Book ReviewBook Review” option ” option (located in the (located in the Document TypeDocument Type menu) menu)

e.g.e.g. God’s Man for the Gilded AgeGod’s Man for the Gilded Age and and Book Book ReviewReview

Document Type

Title of Book

Full Text Option

Check Library Holdings

Abstract

Document Type

Title of Book

Review Source

Sample Search in Web of ScienceSample Search in Web of Science

1.1. from the list of search options, select from the list of search options, select Cited Cited Reference SearchReference Search

2.2. enter the name of the enter the name of the Cited AuthorCited Author you wish you wish to reviewto review

3.3. enter the enter the Cited YearCited Year

4.4. search your entry by selecting the search your entry by selecting the SearchSearch buttonbutton

5.5. select which citations you would like to view select which citations you would like to view from the from the Cited Reference IndexCited Reference Index

6.6. select select Book ReviewBook Review as the as the document document typetype

7.7. set your set your LanguageLanguage preference preference

8.8. select the select the Finish SearchFinish Search button button

9.9. choose which record you would like to choose which record you would like to view by clicking on its respective view by clicking on its respective titletitle

Cited Author

Cited Work

Cited Year(s)

Search Button

Select Citations to View

Document Type

Language SettingFinish Search Button

Select Record Link

Title of Book Review

Author of Book Review

Review Source

Abstract

Check Library Holdings

Document Type

Sample Search in Sample Search in LexisNexis AcademicLexisNexis Academic select select Guided News SearchGuided News Search from the from the

top menutop menu select the select the news categorynews category: : Arts & Arts &

Sports NewsSports News select the select the news sourcenews source: : Book, Book,

Movie, Music & Play ReviewsMovie, Music & Play Reviews enter enter search termssearch terms (title, or (title, or

author/title information)author/title information)

Search

Search Terms

News Source

Guided News Search

News Category

Book Title

Author of Reviewed Book

Book Review

There are also many There are also many online book reviewsonline book reviews freely available on the freely available on the WebWeb..

Examples:Examples: H-Net Reviews H-Net Reviews ((http://www.h-net.org/reviewshttp://www.h-net.org/reviews)) New York Review of Books New York Review of Books ((

http://www.nybooks.comhttp://www.nybooks.com)) New York Times Book Reviews New York Times Book Reviews

(http://www.nytimes.com/pages/books/index.html)(http://www.nytimes.com/pages/books/index.html)

For a more complete listing, consult the For a more complete listing, consult the Directory of Book ReviewsDirectory of Book Reviews at: at:

http://acqweb.library.vanderbilt.edu/bookrev.htmlhttp://acqweb.library.vanderbilt.edu/bookrev.html

Here is a more Here is a more complete UW Library complete UW Library GuideGuide to finding book reviews: to finding book reviews:

http://www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/libguides/1-http://www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/libguides/1-3.html3.html