Avoiding Ineffective Book Appraisals: Tips and Strategies
Jacqui Murray, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer and a columnist for Examiner.com and TeachHub, has outlined key principles for writing unbiased and impactful book reviews.
Murray emphasises the importance of factual accuracy and evidence-based opinions. She advises against drawing conclusions without evidence and encourages reviewers to discuss how authors present their opinions in their works.
When it comes to reviewing, Murray suggests avoiding personal history and focusing on critical analysis. She also recommends steering clear of phrases like "this isn't my favourite genre," as they may indicate a lack of understanding of the genre being reviewed. Instead, she advises focusing on traditional traits such as a compelling voice, developed characters, and a well-paced plot.
Murray also developed a template for what to avoid in reviews, including opinionated reviews, narrow perspectives, and dismissing books based on personal genre preferences. She encourages reviewers to show how motivation, theme, and goals connect to a wide range of readers, even if the characters, plot, and setting are unique.
In terms of style, Murray advises reviewers to be pithy and laser-focused, avoiding overly complex or fancy language that can confuse readers. She also recommends keeping reviews concise and avoiding repetition and rambling to keep the reader engaged.
Murray's work primarily focuses on integrating technology into education. However, she also reviews books on one of her three blogs. One of her recent reviews is for her own book, "Building a Midshipman," which is available at her publisher's website, Structured Learning.
Critics have a weighty responsibility to approach their work with respect and humility, and Murray's guidelines offer a useful starting point for those looking to write effective and unbiased book reviews. She also encourages reviewers to cite sources and provide linkbacks to support their statements, and to avoid using fake or purchased reviews, as these undermine credibility and violate ethical guidelines.
[1] Source for avoiding overly complex language: [Link] [2] Source for avoiding spoilers and irrelevant details: [Link] [3] Source for maintaining a balanced perspective: [Link] [4] Source for avoiding unsubstantiated personal bias: [Link] [5] Source for avoiding fake or purchased reviews: [Link]
In line with her principles for writing unbiased reviews, Jacqui Murray suggests examining home-and-garden books from a balanced perspective, avoiding personal biases and drawing conclusions without evidence. Instead, she encourages focusing on the book's content, such as the presentation of ideas and the quality of the writing, while steering clear of expressions like "this isn't my preferred genre." Additionally, when reviewing lifestyle books, Murray advises maintaining a concise and factual style, citing sources and providing linkbacks to support claims, and avoiding using fake or purchased reviews to maintain credibility.
