How to Do a Good Book Review
#inclasstoday | II BA English Class
Today in the II BA English Class, we had a discussion on the essentials of a good book review.
To help the students remember the rubrics, I gave them a mnemonic to facilitate remembrance and recollection.
A – ‘Attention Grabber’ element about the book. (Was it the well-written blurb, or the vibrant cover design, or the opening lines…?)
B – Book Details viz., Author, Title, Publisher, etc.
C – Characterisation – Your favourite character (or a character you dislike), and what makes you love them or hate them, how the character’s personality evolves in the course of the story. Other characters whom you loved / unloved, etc.
D – Discuss the strengths and the shortcomings of the book.
E – Evidence from the text to authenticate for your claims.
F – Formulate your Final Verdict - Would you recommend this book to others? Would you read another book by this author? Who would be the preferred audience, etc, and then conclude it with a Star Rating or a Score.
Well, after discussing the rubrics, I then proceeded to give an open call to the class for anyone to come forward and do a review of a book they’ve read, using the above rubrics.
Aishwarya was the first one to volunteer. Eshal came next.
Over to Aishwarya –
Whenever I visit a book stall or a library, I would first search for Ruskin Bond’s books. One day, when I was at the airport, I came upon a good book stall there, and I was literally a bit adamant with my father to buy me this awesome set by Ruskin Bond that I spotted in the stacks. It’s titled, The Adventures of Rusty: Collected Stories - An omnibus edition containing many of his adventures.
When someone once asked Ruskin Bond, if Rusty represented his childhood days, Ruskin Bond replies, ‘Rusty is you’ - Suggesting that this inherent spirit isn’t unique to him or his creation, but is present in everyone.
It’s published by Penguin Books.
The book is semi-autobiographical, and the character Rusty is based on Bond’s own teenage years in Dehradun. The book is written in the first person (“I”) thus making the character an extension of the author, reflecting his personal perspectives and deep emotional insights.
The stories in the Rusty series cover the period of Rusty’s life from pre-adolescence to childhood to early teens. The book presents a genuine perspective of adolescence, exploring the emotional turmoil, loneliness, confusion, and deep yearning for independence, friendship, and love experienced by the protagonist, Rusty.
He wanted to keep the book as child-like as possible, and so he makes mention of every little thing that he sees! Be it the crow, or the cart or the bird or the bee... you have it there!
He has practised the art of noting down even such innocuous details in his narration.
About the strengths of the book, I would say that, the book’s strength lies in its portrayal of real-life incidents in such a neutral and highly engaging perspective.
About the shortcomings, I would say that, since the book has been made into separate sections, the continuity is gone. It’s like a barricade for your curiosity.
But for that, personally to me, the book is perfect.
This book can shape the perspective of the Indian Education System.
On one interesting Textual Evidence from the text -
Well, it is part of the book Rusty Runs Away, in which, Rusty, plans to run away from his strict boarding school, along with his friend Daljit. Their grand ambition is to travel the world by reaching a seaport and stowing away on a ship.
The two boys manage to sneak out of the school and begin their journey down the hills. They try various means of transport. In one part of their journey, they manage to hitch a ride on a truck. The boys are ultimately discovered by the truck driver and soon Rusty is promptly returned to Dehra.
Textual Quote -
Running away from school!
It is not to be recommended to everyone.
Parents and teachers would disapprove. Or would they, deep down in their hearts?
Everyone has wanted to run away, at some time in his life, if not from a bad school or an unhappy home, then from something equally unpleasant.
Running away seems to be in the best of traditions. Huck Finn did it. So did Master Copperfield and Oliver Twist. So did Kim...
Final Verdict: I strongly recommend this book for teens – not only to read, but also to study the book in order to witness first-hand the struggles, the conflicts and the crises that Rusty went through in his life.
Give your Rating: As for my rating, I would give the book an eight upon ten, and that’s because I haven’t completed the entire Rusty series,
said Aishwarya.
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