Comments on: Meet Book Critic Dana Kaye http://www.ninc.com/blog/index.php/archives/meet-book-critic-dana-kaye The international organization of multi-published novelists Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:45:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dana Kaye http://www.ninc.com/blog/index.php/archives/meet-book-critic-dana-kaye/comment-page-1#comment-2648 Dana Kaye Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:12:44 +0000 http://www.ninc.com/blog/?p=2013#comment-2648 Megan, I usually don't take notes but occasionally I use little sticky notes to mark memorable passages. I usually go through a book in a day or two and my memory is fairly sharp. As for well-written reviews, I'd say there needs to be a balance of plot summary and opinion which captures the essence of the book. A good review doesn't just say whether or not the critic enjoyed the book. A good review illustrates whether or not YOU will enjoy it. I always try to capture the tone of the novel (gritty, humerous, etc.) because despite the plot summary, the tone can easily change a person's opinion. Hope that was helpful! Megan,
I usually don’t take notes but occasionally I use little sticky notes to mark memorable passages. I usually go through a book in a day or two and my memory is fairly sharp.

As for well-written reviews, I’d say there needs to be a balance of plot summary and opinion which captures the essence of the book. A good review doesn’t just say whether or not the critic enjoyed the book. A good review illustrates whether or not YOU will enjoy it. I always try to capture the tone of the novel (gritty, humerous, etc.) because despite the plot summary, the tone can easily change a person’s opinion.

Hope that was helpful!

]]> By: Megan Hart http://www.ninc.com/blog/index.php/archives/meet-book-critic-dana-kaye/comment-page-1#comment-2644 Megan Hart Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:49:56 +0000 http://www.ninc.com/blog/?p=2013#comment-2644 Thanks so much for being here, Dana! I agree that life's too short to read books I don't like. ;) But what's your review process like? Do you take notes as you read, or go back later to fill in your points? What do you think makes (or breaks) a good review -- and I don't mean it has to be positive, but well-written. M Thanks so much for being here, Dana! I agree that life’s too short to read books I don’t like. ;) But what’s your review process like? Do you take notes as you read, or go back later to fill in your points? What do you think makes (or breaks) a good review — and I don’t mean it has to be positive, but well-written.

M

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