Reading Record Comments Examples? The 135 Top Answers

How to write a book review

Author Luisa Plaja shares her top tips on how to write a brilliant review of the last book you read – whether you liked it or not.

Other readers will always be interested in your opinion on the books you have read. Whether you loved the book or not, if you share your honest and detailed thoughts, people will find new books that are right for them.

If you don’t know what to say in a review, it can help to imagine that you are speaking to someone who is asking you to read the book.

1. Start with a few sentences that describe what the book is about

But without giving spoilers or revealing plot twists! As a general rule, try not to write in detail about everything that happens from about the middle of the book. If the book is part of a series it may be helpful to mention this and if you think you would need to have read other books in the series to enjoy this one.

2. Discuss what you particularly liked about the book

Focus on your thoughts and feelings about the story and the way it was told. You could try answering a few of the following questions:

Who was your favorite character and why?

Did the characters feel real to you?

Did history keep you guessing?

What was your favorite part of the book and why?

Were certain types of scenes particularly well written – for example sad scenes, tense scenes, mysterious…?

Did the book make you laugh or cry?

Did the story captivate you and make you turn the pages?

3. Mention anything you didn’t like about the book

Talk about why you think it didn’t work for you. For example:

Do you wish the ending wasn’t a cliffhanger because you found it frustrating?

Did you find caring for a main character difficult and were you able to figure out why?

Was the story too scary for your taste, or did it focus on a topic you didn’t find interesting?

4. Round off your rating

Summarize some of your thoughts about the book by suggesting the type of reader you would recommend the book to. For example: younger readers, older readers, fans of relationship drama/crime stories/comedy. Are there any books or series you would compare it to?

5. You can give the book a rating, for example a rating of five or ten, if you like!

Luisa Plaja loves words and books and used to edit the book review site Chicklish. Her teen novels include Split by a Kiss, Swapped by a Kiss and Kiss Date Love Hate. She lives in Devon, England and has two young children.

Calling book lovers and avid readers of all ages! Have you ever wondered what are the benefits of reading besides leisure and education? From learning new words to maintaining your sanity, books can do everything! In case you want to be reminded how important regular reading is to our well-being and literacy, here are the top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:

1. Reading trains the brain

When reading, we need to remember different characters and locations that belong to a particular story. Even if you like to read a book in one go, you need to remember the details throughout the time it takes you to read the book. Therefore, reading is a workout for your brain that improves memory function.

2. Reading is a form of (free) entertainment

Did you know that most of the popular TV shows and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment and immerse yourself in reading? Most importantly, it’s free with your Markham Public Library card.

3. Reading improves concentration and the ability to concentrate

We all agree that reading cannot happen without concentration and to fully understand the story we need to focus on each page we read. In a world where gadgets are getting faster and reducing our attention spans, we need to constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, thus improving your ability to concentrate.

4. Reading improves literacy

Have you ever read a book where you came across an unfamiliar word? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary and ability to communicate effectively will grow. In addition, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different styles of writing.

5. Reading improves sleep

By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal your body that it’s time to sleep. Now more than ever, we rely on more screen time to get us through the day. So by putting down your phone and picking up a book, you’re telling your brain it’s time to calm down. Additionally, since reading helps you relieve stress, doing it right before bed will help calm your mind and anxiety and improve sleep quality.

6. Reading increases general knowledge

Books are always full of fun and interesting facts. Whether you read fiction or non-fiction, books can give us information we wouldn’t otherwise know. Reading a variety of topics can make you a more knowledgeable person, which in turn improves your conversational skills.

7. Reading is motivating

Reading books about protagonists who have overcome challenges often encourages us to do the same. Whether it’s a romance novel or a how-to book, the right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive.

8. Reading reduces stress

Reading has the power to take you into another world and away from the monotony of everyday life. In this way, reading can reduce stress, lower heart rate, and lower blood pressure.

9. Reading leads by example

Reading is a key component of early literacy, and you can show how important this is by modeling the behavior yourself. Children are great at imitating the adults around them, which means that if you regularly schedule some “me time” to read, your children will learn to do the same.

10. Reading teaches empathy

Books allow us to experience realities outside of our lives. They teach us to relate to others, often putting us in the narrator’s shoes. This simple technique is called empathy. Empathy is defined as the ability to understand and share another’s feelings. Reading builds empathy by constantly presenting us with thoughts and scenarios outside of our perspective.

List created by mradzevich

Reading adds endless benefits to our daily lives, including stress relief and entertainment. Learn about the benefits of reading with these book suggestions.

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List created by mradzevich

A collection of books that will foster a love of reading in your children. From stories about learning to read to stories about first library visits, these books are a wonderful place to start.

Show full list

On Read a Book Day (September 6th), let’s escape into the world of fiction or nonfiction and learn something new. A great day to encourage others to read a book and share the various benefits that come with reading which is detailed below:

1. Reduces stress and helps you relax

Losing yourself in a good book is the best escape from the worries and stress of everyday life. A 2009 study from the University of Sussex showed that just reading can reduce stress by up to 68%! So when you feel stressed, just grab a book and let the stories enchant you and relax your mind and body.

2. Improves your concentration and memory

Not only should we exercise physically to stay healthy, we also need to do some mental exercises that will push our memory and concentration to the limit. Reading is the best mental exercise for us, and you need to remember different characters, settings, plots, turns, and connections. This strengthens your memory and concentration because your full attention is focused on the story.

3. Expanding vocabulary and strengthening your writing skills

Reading a well-written book will expose you to more words and this will help you be a better communicator. Instead of just saying you’re sad or not in the mood, you can say you’re anxious, tired, irritable, frustrated, or tired. Because although all these words can be described as sad, each one needs a different solution. Expanding your vocabulary, communication skills, and exposure to different writing styles will help you improve your writing skills.

4. Improves your knowledge

Reading recipes, magazines, newspapers, articles or books fills your head with information. We never know when it will be useful, but having all this information might come in handy in the future.

5. Increases your imagination and creativity

Reading stimulates imagination and creativity and immerses you in a new world and characters. This will feed your brain to develop ideas, possibilities, understanding and be more open to hearing the opinions of others.

power of reading

The Power of Reading is about teaching literacy through the use of quality books and creative teaching approaches such as art and drama. This approach aims to engage and motivate children in their reading and writing lessons, while also allowing children to deepen their understanding of texts and providing a meaningful context for writing. Some of the high quality texts we have used as a basis for learning literacy.

How are the texts used?

A quality text serves as the basis for the several weeks of learning. Children explore and discuss the text through creative activities. As part of the unit, they will also write across a range of genres. For example, you could write a letter in the role of a character, or write a newspaper report about the events in the text.

Reading aloud is a key element of the power of reading. The strategy gives all children access to quality texts. Reading aloud also allows the teacher to model expressive and fluent reading for the children. The children then reproduce what they read in their own writing.

Why did we decide to introduce the power of reading at North Walsham Junior, Infant and Nursery School?

• We have chosen to introduce the Power of Reading into EYFS and KS1 as part of our focus on further raising standards in literacy. It was introduced in September 2019 as a supplement to the RWI. Based on the success we saw in 2019-20, we introduced the program to KS2 in September 2020.

• Analysis of previous cohorts has shown that reading comprehension is not as good as reading accuracy. The power of reading helps develop reasoning, deduction and understanding skills. It also engages children to write regularly across genres and creates a more cohesive learning experience.

• Literacy is at the heart of the curriculum and the texts allow for a range of exciting cross-curricular work.

For so many reasons, book buddies are some of the very best types of friends there are. For the extroverts among us, books provide an endless source of conversations—from what you’ve read lately, comparing a movie to the novel it’s adapted from, or your favorite local bookstore. If you’re feeling a little socially anxious, “What are you reading?” is an easy way to start a conversation. And if you love companionable silence, what better way to achieve that than sharing a sofa or a stretch of beach, each quietly turning the pages and trapped in their own world?

But what do you do when you don’t have book friends? Maybe you just moved to a new city, or maybe all your friends are getting married and moving to the suburbs, or find parenthood too overwhelming to have time to read. Or maybe you already have friends but aren’t sure how to figure out which of them is into books – you know how people who read Book Riot are really into books.

Never be afraid! We can solve this problem together.

1. Hanging out at a bookstore.

If you go to your local bookstore often, you’re bound to bump into the same people after a while. And sometimes the bookstores also have events to help you make friends—the bookstore I work at has book clubs you can join and the occasional meet-up, including a recent happy hour for introverts to read together with minimal social interaction . Another hosts a Bookternet meeting locally. If you’re feeling particularly brave, you can even ask your local bookstore if you can start a book club in their space – the benefit of this approach is that people will be drawn to a neutral space and won’t feel weird doing so . I don’t know anyone else. Plus, you’re drawing from a much larger circle than just your friends, or even friends of friends—especially since the bookstore will no doubt be promoting your book club, or at least mentioning it on their website.

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2. Join a book club somewhere else.

It can take courage to join a group full of people you don’t know, but I did it six years ago and it’s still one of the best things I’ve ever done! If you’re not sure where to find one besides a local bookstore – and not everyone is lucky enough to have a bookstore nearby – here are some suggestions:

Visit meetup.com

Post on Facebook and ask if anyone knows anyone interested in starting or is in one to join a book club – you can do this on your own wall or in one of the many Facebook groups on the topic do reading

post something on another social network – Litsy is a great place to find nice book buddies

3. Chat with the person behind you in a book signing.

Chances are, anyone who finds themselves in the same line as you at a book event has more in common with you than just a favorite author. It can be awkward, but take a deep breath and ask them how they found out about the event or if they come to the bookstore often. At the very least, it will make the wait seem shorter – and who knows if you’ll end up making a lifelong friend!

4. Wear an enamel pin (or other merch that sparks conversation).

You can wear a pin that expresses your love for your favorite book podcast or for reading more generally – or be less subtle and go all out with a t-shirt. That way, other people — possibly other people looking for book buddies — will be more likely to start a conversation with you instead of requiring you to take the initiative, which can be discouraging.

5. Join Bumble BFF.

Speaking of taking the initiative, if you’re feeling brave enough to go “date” with potential new friends, Bumble BFF is great for it! You probably know the popular dating app – BFF is another mode found in the same app where people are just looking for friends. You can say on your profile that you like books, or more explicitly say you’re looking for people to talk to about books, or a book club to join, and swipe right to other bookworms. Because of the app, I ended up being invited to a book club to speak when my novel came out! So it really works.

6. Get a job at a book store.

Granted, this is a bit of a radical life choice, but I don’t think I know a better way to meet other book nerds! People who go into bookstores are usually passionate about reading, so not only can you get paid to be among books, but you can also have wonderful new colleagues who are keen to share their latest finds or their opinion on that hot new novel share. On top of that, some customers become regulars, and you can end up clicking with them too!

Don’t strive to be like everyone else, find your own voice and attract your own community. Then it’s never hard work, it’s just another step towards refining your writing voice.

That’s the key to writing book reviews, blog posts, stories, letters, and even novels. If you’re interested in writing reviews, here are some of my thoughts on how it’s working for me.

I started writing reviews while accompanying my 9-year-old daughter on a two-week hospital visit following her Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis. I wanted to get my writing out so with everything else besides taking care of my daughter I read her A Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson, she created digital art of her imaginary secret garden and I wrote my first review post.

Secret garden by day

Secret garden at night

Writing is a wonderful journey and for me reading books and writing reviews are small steps on this journey that I travel word by word.

I think the following points are helpful when preparing a book review.

10 tips on how to write a book review and why anyone can do it

#1 Be challenging when reading

It’s good to read outside of our comfort zone and genre, but when it comes to books I want to review, I read what I’m sure I’ll really enjoy. I’ve learned to take great care in choosing the book I read, because writing about something we value improves our ability to get our minds across to the reader. We understand the reasons why we like a book better than the opposite and are better able to articulate those reasons.

When choosing, trust your instincts, that first voice that tells you whether you want to read something or not. If you’re not sure, put it aside until you’ve read a few reviews and considered the opinions of those you trust.

#2 Mark your favorite passages

Don’t pass by favorite phrases, paragraphs that made you stop and re-read or think “wow”! Highlight, highlight, turn the corners, whatever your habit. Books that fill up with sticky notes or markers inspire us more and we can prove it. It could be a descriptive passage if you like poetic language, a gripping dialogue, or that point where the story suddenly grabbed you.

Using citations in the review is visually interesting and lets the reader know if their tastes are similar to yours. Some readers choose a book based on well-chosen quotes.

As you read, try to be aware of your emotional state, how it made you feel and where it changed.

#3 Believe in your voice

For me, writing about books is a conversation. It’s like talking to a friend or writing him a letter, they listen to every word, don’t interrupt the flow and even if they’re not particularly interested, they never communicate indifference. And like a conversation, there’s no need to structure it, just share whatever comes to mind.

Believe in your voice, write how you think or speak, and don’t dwell on the first draft, just get to the point.

#4 Keep a small notebook

I write in a small notebook no bigger than my pen and it is always with me. I often write the first draft of my reviews in a notebook because I work on the go and not in front of the computer. I find the freedom of the outdoors and the distance from familiar surroundings to be a better repository for my thoughts. I don’t write a review immediately after reading it, I let it incubate for a while. The notebook is essential for two reasons:

a. inspiration

I write when I’m feeling inspired, when my thoughts spill over into a book, I need to get them down on paper before I forget them. There is no structure, I just write down the things that happened to me. The structure comes later, the review from afar, a first draft is creative, the editing is more logical and less inspired.

b. Convenience

Pour your thoughts into a notebook, sitting on a train or bus, a parked car, those in-between moments; my clearest thoughts come away from home and the computer, in the free moments in between when nothing is asked of us.

My review notebooks

#5 No spoilers

Never give away anything that identifies a turning point in the plot, something that enlightens the reader, details that you really liked, and leave the reader with pleasures to discover by alluding to them.

I recently read Robin Oliveira’s new historical novel about the lives of Impressionist painters Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas and, to add to the intrigue, I did not look at any of their paintings until I had finished the book. In order to keep this option for the readers, I also didn’t show pictures of her paintings in my review, too much fun for me, I wanted the readers to have the opportunity to have the same experience.

#6 Constructive criticism

Don’t be negative. But don’t lie either. Challenge yourself to write about a book you didn’t like (if you decide to write the review) without being negative but still being true. We all have personal tastes and the purpose is not to convert readers to our tastes or to assert superiority, but to present a book that some will undoubtedly be drawn to and point out why it didn’t work for you.

For me, a review is successful when someone decides they want to read a book that I’ve reviewed but didn’t enjoy despite my personal opinion because I didn’t put them off, I was honest in a constructive way. They understand I didn’t like it, they understand why, but they think they might like it. When we read a book we don’t like, think of point 1: be discerning about your reading – and ask yourself, had I taken enough care in choosing this book, could I have known beforehand that it wasn’t for me?

Some say it’s better not to review a book we didn’t like, but I think it’s important to have balanced reviews on both ends of the spectrum and I personally read the 1 and 2 star reviews to understand the criticism. If you would like an example of a review I wrote about a book I didn’t like, check out Never Let Me Go on my blog and the interesting comments it generated. For many, this book was one of their absolute favorite reads. Not at all for me.

#7 Use images and paragraphs

Always show the cover of the book and if possible a picture or two. Images make a text more readable, less dense and make reading a review more enjoyable. Similar to paragraphs, they break up the text so people can read it more easily and it’s less likely to be skipped.

#8 Structure of the review

Forget structure on that first creative draft, but if you reread your review, make sure you’ve covered these points.

a. introduction

Write a friendly first paragraph, I usually tell how I came across this book, why I decided to read it, if I have read other books by the same author, or the personal story that led me to read this book to take in hand. Yes, make it personal! Well, unless you’re writing for a publication, then cut out the “too personal” bits, but for a blog, save your anecdotes, most readers love to know about book-related contexts.

b. overview

Plot, Characters, Setting, Era. Give a brief synopsis of the book, what is it, a novel, short stories, a collection of essays, genre, the main character(s), the form (letters, 1st or 3rd person narration, stream of consciousness), where and when it is set But remember that people read reviews after opinions, so keep plot descriptions short.

c. highlights

Favorite passages, quotes, pictures.

i.e. The judgment

Thoughts, themes, aspects appreciated, whether it was thought-provoking and in what way, anomalies and frustrations (never use the words like or dislike, tell why), comparisons to other books. Analyze at a level you are comfortable with, share what you have felt and perceived.

When I read reviews, I often skim plot summaries and look for the paragraph where the reviewer shares their thoughts on the reading experience. It’s like the difference between reading a travelogue and actually experiencing it. We want to know what the experience was like, how you felt reading it – describe your encounter with the book and don’t be afraid to say why.

writing on the spot

#9 Comments on reviews

I don’t read reviews while reading or reviewing a book. Reviews help me decide if I want to read a book and as soon as I have it I stop. Read reviews as we try to write our own #3 compromises. Believe in your voice. This risks waking up the inner critic and silencing the sensitive, more than capable subconscious within us that knows exactly what it has to say.

No one else can write in your voice as well as you, and people are drawn to your words precisely because of their authenticity. Your audience is people like you!

After you complete a review for your blog, visit other blogs that have reviewed the title and leave honest, heartfelt comments. Don’t link to your review, it’s not to promote your blog, it’s to engage and support the community.

Great comments are sufficient invitation for a like-minded reviewer and book lover to reciprocate. Check the twitter feed and join the conversation about the book and reply/tweet to reviewers who wrote reviews, spread the word!

#10 Be respectful

Above all, reread your words and make sure they remain respectful to the author. Writers can accept criticism if it’s constructive, but they are naturally empathetic beings and therefore more sensitive than most. A book is rarely significant in a reader’s life, but it can be anything to the person who wrote it.

Forget the rules

The last tip is: forget the rules and advice and just follow your instincts. By writing regularly we all improve and develop our style and in the blogging world anything goes; People respond to integrity and we attract what we put out. Great courage!

“It’s harder to take the first step toward a goal than it is to look back from the height of achievement.”

And remember:

Don’t strive to be like everyone else, find your own voice and attract your own community. Then it’s never hard work, it’s just another step towards refining your writing voice.