230 likes | 242 Vues
Learn how to find book reviews in print indexes, electronic databases, and online sources. This guide provides tips and strategies for conducting an effective book review search.
E N D
Finding Book Reviews H. Calogeridis R. Caldwell UW Library Last Updated: March 2005
What is a Book Review? • A book review is an overviewora critical assessment of a particular book • It is a special type of article published in journals, magazines and newspapers (usually following the book’s initial publication)
Book reviews appear in a variety of lengths, ranging from a few lines to a few pages • Scholarly reviews are typically longer and of more use to researchers • A book review is NOT an in-depth critical evaluation of the author’s work
Book reviews may include comments on: • the author’s style of writing • motifs or themes • outstanding features • reading level and anticipated audience • plot summary • the reviewer’s opinion of the book
Starting Your Search To begin your book review search, you need to know: • the author’sfull name • the completetitle of the book • the year the book was published
Book Review Sources The Library has print indexes that are entirely devoted to book reviews. Examples: • Book Review Digest(Abs Z1219.C96 Porter) • Book Review Index (Abs Z1035.A1B6 Porter) • Canadian Book Review Annual (Abs Z1035.A1C3x Porter)
Print Indexes – Sample Review • book review information by author/title ReviewedTitle ReviewedAuthor AbbreviatedReviewSources
Many general and subject specific electronic journal indexes and researchdatabases also give access to book reviews. (available at http://journal-indexes.uwaterloo.ca) • it is important to remember that the search strategy for finding book reviews may vary depending on the database Examples: • General Science Abstracts • Humanities Full Text • LexisNexis Academic • Social Science Full Text • Web of Science
Research Databases - Examples • electronic research databases can be found via the Library’s home page
Sample Search in Humanities Full Text • combine the title of the book being searched with the “Book Review” option (located in the Document Type menu) e.g.God’s Man for the Gilded Age and Book Review
Title of Book Document Type
Full Text Option Title of Book Check Library Holdings Review Source Abstract Document Type
Sample Search in Web of Science 1. from the list of search options, select Cited Reference Search 2. enter the name of the Cited Author you wish to review 3. enter the Cited Year 4. search your entry by selecting the Searchbutton 5.select which citations you would like to view from the Cited Reference Index
6.select Book Review as the document type 7. set your Language preference 8. select the Finish Search button 9. choose which record you would like to view by clicking on its respective title
Cited Author Cited Work Cited Year(s) Search Button
Select Citations to View Document Type Language Setting Finish Search Button
Title of Book Review Author of Book Review Review Source Abstract Check Library Holdings Document Type
Sample Search in LexisNexis Academic • select Guided News Search from the top menu • select the news category: Arts & Sports News • select the news source: Book, Movie, Music & Play Reviews • enter search terms (title, or author/title information)
Guided News Search News Category News Source Search Terms Search
Book Title Author of Reviewed Book Book Review
There are also many online book reviews freely available on the Web. Examples: • H-Net Reviews (http://www.h-net.org/reviews) • New York Review of Books (http://www.nybooks.com) • New York Times Book Reviews (http://www.nytimes.com/pages/books/index.html) For a more complete listing, consult the Directory of Book Reviews at: http://acqweb.library.vanderbilt.edu/bookrev.html
Here is a more complete UW Library Guide to finding book reviews: http://www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/libguides/1-3.html