Book reviews - what do you like to see?

For me, it depends on what type of book it is.

I prefer more information when it's non-fiction. Typically for fiction books I like more general summaries, with maybe information on things like character development.

I like quick summaries of each chapter and then some discussion about the overall tone of the writer / book. I find that to be most helpful.

I like to see some snippets. For example, I recall reading a review of some erotica and the reviewer posted a snippet which I thought was horrendous. Although the review was good, it really helped to show this book was NOT for me.

Thanks for starting this thread - book reviews are one of the areas where I am weak, and it's good to see suggestions.

I will keep this post in mind when I write 2 more book reviews. My books should come in the mail soon. Of course I need a few days to read them too.

Anyone find my *Quick Facts* part of my reviews helpful. Should I put them in the top of the review?

Nabokov references. Or something similarly pretentious. Bring your best Armond White to the table.

I like to see a sort of summary about the concept behind the book and a break down of its chapters but all without going into detail. Sort of like an overview; rather than chapter one is x chapter 2 is y, etc. I also like it when there is some detail about things that struck the reader that he might want to convey as relevant in understanding the book or is simply interesting.

I like to get a fairly good idea of what's in the book - more than I could deduce from the product description or from a look at the table of contents and excerpt on Amazon.com. I want to be able to decide whether or not to purchase the book by reading some reviews first.

Similar to what has been mentioned above, I like it when there is a short summary of what the book is all about--similar to what you might find on the back of the book or the jacket flaps. Then, a breakdown of writing style, topics covered if it's an informational book, and a snippet or two. Snippets really help a review! Personal reactions are good too (in the experience section, I guess?) Basically, like a really good Amazon.com book review, only with more factual information embedded. Book reviews are pretty hard to write!

Honestly, I'd advise one spend a little time reading the NYT Book Review. Not that one need be that stuffy-minded (especially when it comes to erotica, which, quite frankly, doesn't require that sort of analysis due to its highly subjective nature); however, a good NYT review contains all the essentials of good analysis:

- introduction to the subject(s) covered in the book
- background on the author, when applicable
- direct quotes from the book
- comparisons to other works (something that film critic Armond White excels at; whether he likes the film he's reviewing or not, he will always compare it to other like works)
- where does it succeed/fail?

A good example, from this week's Review: link

Thanks for starting this thread DBD! I'm reading a book I was thinking of reviewing, but I really had no idea where to start with the review until I read this.

If I could read... I would read books and then review them, but I still think this is a great idea.

Yeti if you could read as much as I can (Like posts and things) I'm sure you could read this book called "Red Hot Touch". More about it later...

I dropped out at 10th grade so my actual reading skills are very poor as I was reading at like a 7th grade level I think when I dropped out. But anyway most sex instruction books I've read don't use big words or hard to follow instructions unless they are using a medical word to describe a muscle or something. Very down to earth book. It's not at all like reading a novel where they try to use big words to make it sound interesting or show off their writing skills.

Basically red hot touch is a book about using your hands to please your man or woman. (They cover both) When I was done reading the book I put it down and said something like, DAMN I didn't know my hands could do so much.

The first part of the book was lacking pictures and good description but the first part is about sensual massage like how to massage the scalp ears arms back shoulders and toes and stuff... I found some of it hard to follow.. but the second part of the book was what I bought it for and fixed the issues I had about the book's first part.

The second half of the book was very good which I believe was done by a different author (it sure felt like it it was 1000 times better). It tells you how to please someone (Male or Female) sexually with your hands. Its got a tons of ways to use your hand some I never thought of for how to please a man. And it has techniques for the A spot too. Prior to reading the book I had no clue what it was or even that there was such a thing as an A spot. It has drawings for some of the techniques which really help to show how to do it. but I must warn it does not have pictures for all the techniques but the ones that didn't were really simple to understand and I didn't think they required a picture. But it has 100's of ways to please your partner. I was able to understand all the words they used in the book except maybe 1 or 2..

I wish Eden would carry it but they do not other wise I'd give it 4 stars bc the first part of the book was somewhat hard to follow, but the rest had a whole shit load of stuff that I'm dying to to try. I'd give the first part of the book 2-3 stars and the second part max+ stars.. but the second part of the book was the reason I bought it and it delivered more than I could have ever imagined I could do with my hands. I feel like if I used all the techniques on a woman she would think I was some kind of sex god..

Plus it has exercises for you hands to strengthen them and make them extra sensitive.

One of the exercises actually made me be able to do the Vulcan thing from Star Trek where you split your fingers down the center with out glue or tape. Basically Index and middle finger off to one side and the ring and pinky finger of to the other making a V shape with your hand.. Then all you have to do is say "Live long and prosper" and you'd be an instant hit with the trekkies.. hehe so far I can only do it with one hand but I haven't really been doing the exercises much. And I was able to do the Vulcan thing the same day I read the book after I did the exercises a few times

Though the book does have some oral in it that you can do along with the hand stuff, the book is specifically about using the hands which is something you may not think your lacking in but I hadn't even thought of half the stuff in the second part of the book..

Hmm I'm writing a book review and so far it probably exceeds the 800 word limit or is very close (I don't have a word processing program that would tell me how many exactly)and I'm only half way through the book. I don't want to skimp on the review so I was thinking of posting my review in the forums and then put the link to the forum in the review and only bring up certain key points in the actual review..

Does this idea sound reasonable it's a very good book and it has lots of good info and I want to detail it BC it's soooooo good.. I'm not releasing techniques though for that you'd have to buy the book. But it just has so much different info that I think it should be stated about whats in the book

If I put a link to the forum post in the review would you actually click it to read the WHOLE review its quite lengthy already but it talks about the different topics covered in the book and there are some interesting ones..
it does not contain any non useful or fluff info that I feel I could take out. I personally feel that if I limit the review to 800 words that it would be kind of crappy for what the book has to offer..

what is your view on this..