Library Research Guides: How to Find Book Reviews, Literary Criticism, and Other Reviews: Home

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Welcome

This library research guide provides an introduction to library resources related to finding book reviews and literary criticism, using both the library's resources as well as those available online; the tab titled "Other Types of Reviews" offers assistance on finding art, film, music, and theatre reviews as well.

If you have any questions about writing, research, or anything else, check out the Writing Center or chat with a SC4 Librarian.

Book Reviews vs. Literary Criticism

newspaper book review, book reviews text, books

A book review is

"1 : a descriptive and critical or evaluative account of a book

2 : a newspaper supplement or magazine devoted chiefly to book reviews"

Book reviews are usually published soon after a book is released and tend to be shorter and less scholarly than literary criticism. They generally offer the reviewer's opinion on the book's overall quality and significance, and provide purchasing details.

stack of books, literary criticism text, leather bound books

Literary criticism is:

"the reasoned consideration of literary works and issues [and] the interpretation of meaning and the judgment of quality."

Literary criticism is a scholarly study of literature which seeks to examine, evaluate, and interpret works of literature. Unlike book reviews, literary criticism generally offers a more in-depth analysis and can be written at any point in time, whether the book is one year old or one thousand years old.

Writing a Book Review

Writing Literary Criticism

Citations

Text: Crews, Frederick C. "Literary Criticism." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2014, https://www.britannica.com/art/literary-criticism. Accessed 21 Apr. 2018.

Text: "Book Review." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2018.