Getting Started
Looking for a review of a fictional work? Nonfiction? Academic work? Start with these resources.
Remember: Most book reviews are published close to the time of publication.
- Book Review IndexLocated in Lincoln Park 2nd floor reference shelving at R. 028.1 B725. Dates of coverage: 1965 to present.
- Book Review DigestLocated in Lincoln Park 2nd floor reference shelving at R. 028.1 B724. Dates of coverage: 1905-2005.
- New York Review of BooksOnline from 1963 to the present
Newspapers are also a great source for reviews! Try these:
- Chicago Tribune Current Content This link opens in a new windowContains full text from the Chicago Tribune. Historical years can be accessed via the Chicago Tribune Historical Content collection.
Dates Covered: 1996-present.
Why Book Reviews?
Book reviews can help you:
- Find short pieces of criticism
- Evaluate books
- Understand how an older book was originally received by critics.
Literary Criticism vs. Book Reviews
One of the simplest criterion for distinguishing book reviews from literary criticism is the time of publication of the review/critical article compared to the original publication date of the book. Book reviews tend to be written around the same time the book was published, while literary criticism will be published in later years.