Contents:  

Writing a book review?
Steps to finding a book review
How to Find a Book Review Using Databases
   Library Catalog | General | Religion/Theology | Education | Other

A book review, or critical review, is an evaluation of an author's work in which the reviewer delineates the success or failure of the work in the light of the author's purpose. A review does the following:

• It tells what the author does.
• It tells how well he/she does it (reviewer's opinion).
• It gives examples from the work to support the evaluation.It presents an evaluation as free from bias and prejudice as possible so that the reader of the review can form his/her own opinion of the work.
• It compares the book with others of similar nature.

Almost all college level English composition textbooks will contain information about writing book reviews.
Examples:
Simon & Schuster Handbook for Writers, PE1408.T696 LRC-R
The Little English Handbook, PE1408.C587 LRC-R

1. Have the necessary information for the book. Information that you may need includes:
   -Complete title of book
   -Author's full name
   -Date of copyright
   -Edition of book
   -Whether it is a reprint (If not a first edition, you may need to know the original copyright date.)
    
2. Search an electronic index (database) or look in an appropriate print index to identify where a review can be found. (Indexes are listed below.)
    
   Books reviews are generally found in periodicals (journals, magazines or newspapers). To locate a review in a periodical you will need to search an electronic index (database) or look in a print index. (Indexes tell you which journals have specific book reviews.) Once you identify a periodical where your book review can be found, record (or print) the citation information: the periodical title, date, volume/issue, and page number.
    
3. Find the actual review article.
    
   In an electronic index or database:
   If you search a database and full text of the review article is available, click the appropriate link--HTML, PDF, or linked full text.
   If full text is not available, click the link "Check for article availability" (or similar link) to see if the article is available elsewhere in the library. Look for the years and volumes that you need. Identify the format (online, microform, print). If the years/volumes you need are in microform or print you will need to record the call number. Microfilm and print periodicals are located in the Periodicals area, LRC-4th floor. Assistance is available at the Reference Desk.
    
   In a print index:
   If you find a review in a print index, search for the exact periodical title in the ORU Journal List.
    
4. If the periodical is not available at ORU, you can request it through the online Interlibrary Loan (ILL) link in the database or ORU's online ILL form.

ORU Library Catalog
Some book records in the Library Catalog include reviews and summaries, which are linked under Item Information in the left menu of the book's record. Click the Reviews link, when available. Scroll the page to read the review(s).
General subjects
Academic Search Premier, Masterfile Premier, or Newspaper Source.  On the Refine Search tab for Document Type choose Book Review (or similar). Enter the author or title of the book in the Find text box. (Use quotation marks to search the title as a phrase.)
Religion / Theology
ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials for reviews of scholarly theological books. On the Refine Search tab for Publication Type choose Review. Enter the author or title of the book in the Find text box. (Use quotation marks to search the title as a phrase.)
Christian Periodical Index (for reviews of more popular materials) Click the Index tab. For Index to Search, choose Document Type (DT). Mark the check box for Review. Enter your term, such as an author or title.
Education
Education Full Text (HW Wilson) In Advanced Search, for Document Type choose Book Review. Enter the author or title of the book in the Find text box. (Use quotation marks to search the title as a phrase.) ERIC In Advanced Search, for Publication Type choose Book/Product Review. Enter the author or title of the book in the Find text box. (Use quotation marks to search the title as a phrase.)
Alternative Resources - For Synopsis/Annotations
Books in Print (BIP) If you are unable to find a book review, searching Books in Print may be helpful. There are no signed book reviews but most book records include a synopsis and some included multiple reviews. Type your search. From the list of records, use the BIP Legend icons to identify which titles have Reviews and/or Synopsis. The icons precede the book title. Click the title to access the full record.
Click the Title Reviews tab, if available.

Print Indexes

For older books, except for theology since ATLA Religion Database goes back to 1949, you may need to use the bound indexes in the Reference Room (LRC-R) or Periodicals area index shelf (LRC-P). The oldest volumes are shelved in the main collection. Listed below are some of the bound indexes in the ORU library. Many of these volumes cannot be accessed online. When using a print index:

• Look in the volume with the year your book was copyright, or in the following two or three years.
• Be sure to find the "Book Review" section.
• Look up by title or author. Older volumes are at the same call number in the main collection.

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