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by Jason Lockwood
Jason Lockwood’s book review column, “Lock on Books,” appeared in The Leader, a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student newspaper.
Selection
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Choose good books and movies, whenever possible. The goal of reviewing, like
the goal of Objectivism in general, is to present positive, life-affirming values. |
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Choose bad books or movies only in a particular context: the book or movie has
been praised in the mainstream press and you are offering an opposing viewpoint. For
example, The English Patient was lauded as “romantic,” whereas it
was actually naturalistic and plotless. Be sure, however, to give your readers good
alternative choices at the end of your review. That way, you reaffirm the positive. |
Preparation
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Take as many notes as possible while reading the book or watching the movie. These
notes can take the form of brief comments or questions that come to mind about a
particular passage or scene, or about the overall theme or style. |
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Focus on essentials. For example, Burton Folsom’s Empire Builders is
an excellent defense of capitalism, despite his occasional lip service to religious
altruism. |
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Make a note of quotable passages, but keep the quotes short and to the point. It
is perfectly acceptable to cut unnecessary verbiage from a quote, as long as you
indicate this with ellipses. |
Writing
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Grab the reader. A compelling lead will motivate your audience to continue
reading. Ayn Rand wrote wonderfully sharp and focused leads in her articles. |
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Be brief. It is possible (and desirable) to write a complete review, even of a
long book, in fewer than 1,000 words. You also stand a better chance of avoiding
unwanted editing of your piece if you keep it tightly written. |
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No spoilers. This means that you should reveal only the basic plot of a novel or
movie, without giving away the entire story. |
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Stick to the actual content of the book or movie. Don’t speculate about what
“should” be in it, aside from brief suggestions about how the book or movie
might have been better. Avoid unnecessary polemics or digressions. Let the material
stand on its own merits. Honest readers do not appreciate reviewers who
proselytize. |
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