For the next few weeks, I'll be posting book reviews, writing tips, promotion for new books, and maybe even a tiny bit of personal bragging.
Tomorrow's blog will be about the new catalog coming out for 4RV's books.
Monday, I'll be posting my review of J.A. Jance's thriller Queen of the Night.
Please join me and discover what I'm writing about this time.
Showing posts with label book reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book reviews. Show all posts
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Stolen is here - Please Read and Comment
Stolen is now available. I'm ordering some copies to have on hand.
I had scheduled a virtual tour for Stolen to be in September, but I took longer to recover from surgery than expected. Due to "help," much of my papers were moved in my office, some never found, including the list of hosts for the blog tour. So, I'm starting from scratch to have the blog tour from December 1 - 10.
Anyone with an active blog interested in hosting Stolen? If so please email me. I'm giving ARCs as gifts for each day's comments, one per blog stop. I'll also send a PDF of the novel to each host that would like one.
I do remember two people who said they would host a stop: Holly Jahangiri and Nancy Famolari. However, I need Nancy's email address and the URL for her blog.
Allow me to share a review for the novel, written by Ginger Simpson, eBooks Examiner:
Review - Stolen - Contemporary mixed with Suspense and Romance
• August 4th, 2010 8:22 pm ET
• By Ginger Simpson, eBooks Examiner
Stolen by Vivian Gilbert Zabel
The novel’s tag line sums it up: When troubles and tragedies steal the joy and happiness from life, a person has two choices: to rebuild and find a way to continue living or to give up.
Research done by Ms. Zabel estimates that over 200,000 children are abducted by family members each year. One can only imagine that the pain is still the same, even knowing the child is with someone you know, or thought you knew. The loss of a child through abduction has to be horrific, and Stolen captures one mother’s agony, determination, and faith.
Teacher, Torri Adamson probably wouldn’t say a bad word about anyone. That has to be the reason she continues her marriage to a man who cheats. She’s the type who counts her blessings, but the loving world she pictures with her two children starts to unravel the day she receives a phone call from another woman who demands to talk to Mike. Torri explains he isn’t home, but gives out her address. When the two women meet face-to-face, the lie is revealed. Mike is married to both of them. Even when his bigamy is exposed, he still tries to blame Torri for anything that goes wrong in his life.
Luckily, Torri has a great support group. Her gram and gramps live nearby and are more than happy to have her and the children live with them in their Bed and Breakfast. In the happy atmosphere described there, how could the children not thrive with all the attention and love? You’ll see the divorce coming but there is so much more to this story.
In Stolen, Ms. Zabel weaves a tale that draws you in and makes you part of the family. You’ll revel in the good times and suffer through the bad…just like real life. Friends come and go, people die, but you never, ever expect your ex-husband to steal your children.
You’ll simply have to read this awesome story to see if Torri can find peace with Jason, the husband of her deceased best friend as they try and help one another through the grief. Religious or not, you’ll pray at the beginning of every chapter for the children’s safe return to the mother and step-father who love them so much. If you want to know how it turns out, you’re going to have to read the book for yourself.
For information about Ms. Zabel's upcoming release, stay tuned to 4RV Publishing.
Note from the Reviewer:
This poignant tale becomes much more personal and tear-jerking if you read Ms. Zabel's post on her blog. May God Bless her and her family.
Thank you, Ginger.
The novel isn't available yet on Amazon or in bookstores, but it can be ordered from 4RV Publishing Bookstore. It will be available on other online stores and brick and mortar stores in about two weeks.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Writing Reviews for Fiction Books
A book review describes, analyzes, and evaluates the quality, meaning, and significance of a book. It should not retell, and it is not a book report or a summary. A review is a commentary. Although no “right” way to write a review exists, some essential information is needed in each. Fiction and non-fiction books have differences not only in the content but also what components should be in a review. Let’s look as some suggestions to consider when writing a book review for a book of fiction. I will use elements from reviews of one of my books in the examples.
First of all, do not give away the full story, climax, or ending of the book. Do use occasional quotes from the book to support or explain points made in the review.
The first paragraph should include the title of the book and the author’s name. Sometimes publishing information such of ISBN, publisher, type of book, and general subject matter is noted.
Example of a first paragraph: The Base Stealers Club, by V. Gilbert Zabel, follows the progress of a middle-school-aged baseball team as it plays its way to a championship. A part of the team also help solve a mystery plaguing the community. Published by 4RV Publishers, ISBN: 978-1-84728-220-0, the book appeals to those who interested in sports, mystery, and adventure.
Other points to be covered, in different paragraphs, are as follows:
Characters: Are the characters flat or round? A round character is multiple dimensional. Round characters make a story line more interesting and believable; therefore, the analysis of the author’s use of three-dimensional characters or flat characters is important.
Example of character portrayal: Ryan Scott not only is an excellent athlete, but he also cares about others. He helps find the thief in the story; then he wants to help the young man who stole money from locker rooms. An instance where he acted as peace maker on the team is shown in the following excerpt:
Ryan stood beside Colby, slipping his arm across the shorter boy’s shoulders. “Hey, Colby, settle down. Josh is just repeating what he heard. I’ve heard my dad say the same thing about some criminals.” With a slight smile, Ryan turned to Josh. “Josh, what does the preacher say about forgiving? What have we learned in church about forgiving others?”
Theme: The theme of a book may not be written word for word, but the review should note how the author reveals or develops the theme or themes. Mention whether you, as the reviewer, agree or disagree with the author’s theme(s) and why.
Example of theme: The author gives support for moral values and actions through the book. Yet, the message isn’t preachy or blunt, but the theme flows throughout the story. The author’s opinions are solid and are ones that young readers need to realize and learn to accept.
Plot: Are the various elements of plot handled well? The elements of plot include introduction, conflict, climax, and conclusion.
Example of plot: The Base Stealers Club introduces the conflict, the problem in the first two chapters of the book, both the start of the games leading to a successful season and the missing money in locker rooms. The suspense intensifies as the team plays and tries to help find the thief. The climax is unique, as is the reaction of team members.
Author information: V. Gilbert Zabel, who also writes under the name Vivian Gilbert Zabel, for adult level books, played baseball and softball and helped coach a baseball team. Her interest and background in the sport, as well as with children, can be found in the pages of this book.
Give a brief summary of the book: Give an overview, but do not give away the plot climax or conclusion.
Example of summary: The Jonesville Chargers, a baseball team of middle school-aged boys, pursues championship dreams and the solution of a mystery plaguing their team.
Give your opinion of the book: Tell how the book affected you. Say whether or not the book is interesting, entertaining, or memorable. Would you recommend the book to readers? Why or why not?
Example of opinion: I enjoyed The Base Stealers Club because I became swept up in the chronicling of a team’s season, games and attempt to find a thief. This book will appeal to readers aged ten to fifteen who love baseball. Young sports fans will be better for having read the book.
Important note: Having correct grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and other components of good writing are as important in a review as in writing a book. Reviews are a form of writing.
The suggestions can be arranged differently or combined, and some others can be added. Some can be eliminated, but most of the information needs to be somewhere in the review.
Anyone can write a competent review with a bit of practice.
First of all, do not give away the full story, climax, or ending of the book. Do use occasional quotes from the book to support or explain points made in the review.
The first paragraph should include the title of the book and the author’s name. Sometimes publishing information such of ISBN, publisher, type of book, and general subject matter is noted.
Example of a first paragraph: The Base Stealers Club, by V. Gilbert Zabel, follows the progress of a middle-school-aged baseball team as it plays its way to a championship. A part of the team also help solve a mystery plaguing the community. Published by 4RV Publishers, ISBN: 978-1-84728-220-0, the book appeals to those who interested in sports, mystery, and adventure.
Other points to be covered, in different paragraphs, are as follows:
Characters: Are the characters flat or round? A round character is multiple dimensional. Round characters make a story line more interesting and believable; therefore, the analysis of the author’s use of three-dimensional characters or flat characters is important.
Example of character portrayal: Ryan Scott not only is an excellent athlete, but he also cares about others. He helps find the thief in the story; then he wants to help the young man who stole money from locker rooms. An instance where he acted as peace maker on the team is shown in the following excerpt:
Ryan stood beside Colby, slipping his arm across the shorter boy’s shoulders. “Hey, Colby, settle down. Josh is just repeating what he heard. I’ve heard my dad say the same thing about some criminals.” With a slight smile, Ryan turned to Josh. “Josh, what does the preacher say about forgiving? What have we learned in church about forgiving others?”
Theme: The theme of a book may not be written word for word, but the review should note how the author reveals or develops the theme or themes. Mention whether you, as the reviewer, agree or disagree with the author’s theme(s) and why.
Example of theme: The author gives support for moral values and actions through the book. Yet, the message isn’t preachy or blunt, but the theme flows throughout the story. The author’s opinions are solid and are ones that young readers need to realize and learn to accept.
Plot: Are the various elements of plot handled well? The elements of plot include introduction, conflict, climax, and conclusion.
Example of plot: The Base Stealers Club introduces the conflict, the problem in the first two chapters of the book, both the start of the games leading to a successful season and the missing money in locker rooms. The suspense intensifies as the team plays and tries to help find the thief. The climax is unique, as is the reaction of team members.
Author information: V. Gilbert Zabel, who also writes under the name Vivian Gilbert Zabel, for adult level books, played baseball and softball and helped coach a baseball team. Her interest and background in the sport, as well as with children, can be found in the pages of this book.
Give a brief summary of the book: Give an overview, but do not give away the plot climax or conclusion.
Example of summary: The Jonesville Chargers, a baseball team of middle school-aged boys, pursues championship dreams and the solution of a mystery plaguing their team.
Give your opinion of the book: Tell how the book affected you. Say whether or not the book is interesting, entertaining, or memorable. Would you recommend the book to readers? Why or why not?
Example of opinion: I enjoyed The Base Stealers Club because I became swept up in the chronicling of a team’s season, games and attempt to find a thief. This book will appeal to readers aged ten to fifteen who love baseball. Young sports fans will be better for having read the book.
Important note: Having correct grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and other components of good writing are as important in a review as in writing a book. Reviews are a form of writing.
The suggestions can be arranged differently or combined, and some others can be added. Some can be eliminated, but most of the information needs to be somewhere in the review.
Anyone can write a competent review with a bit of practice.
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