The first in a series of articles on writing online book reviews. Today’s article includes an overview, and options for getting started with book reviews, even if you do not have your own blog yet.

Have you noticed the plethora of blogs on the internet that are now publishing online book reviews? Have you ever wondered how you too could get started writing online book reviews? I have, and having done some further thought, blog visiting, and website surfing I have found a few answers that I thought you too might be able to benefit from as fellow book lovers. (I am assuming most bloggers love books, because they enjoy reading blogs!)

Early in my Christian homeschooling walk I did a bit of hunting around on the internet for Christian book lists for homeschoolers, reading lists and the like. I was looking for recommendations and reviews of Christians who had, with the help of the Holy Spirit, discerned which titles currently available could be used to develop Christian character in their children. Which titles would be profitable to our family in discipling our children, adding to their love for Jesus rather than drawing them away from Him. I was successful in finding a few book review websites, some of which seemed fairly static, having stalled in their review production, but they were an initial help to me.

I later joined homeschooling mailing lists online to glean further reading recommendations from experienced mothers who had already read books to and with their children to see what they had found fruitful for their homeschool. There were of course homeschooling curriculum websites that offered reviews, and homeschooling yahoo groups offering end user reviews as well that I truly appreciated (and still do!), as they help me find new and exciting resources, and if I have a specific need, often help to direct me in the right direction. It was during this time of searching that I, myself, became interested in writing book reviews from a conservative Christian perspective.

The first opportunity that I was made aware of to review books was through the Harper Collins First Look programs. They are run separately in the U.S. and in Canada, and after perusing their lists of available titles I was blessed to be able to review two separate books for them – Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, by Barbara Kingsolver, and The Spiritual Brain, by Mario Beauregard and Denyse O’Leary. I submitted the reviews to them, as well as to Amazon, and one of them to a book trading club book review blog.

However, from month to month many of the titles were not what I would consider edifying or fruitful reading for Christians, so I passed them over without entering to review any of the available titles. They are certainly worth a look to see if there is anything there you’d be interested in reviewing. Harper Collins requires reviews to be returned to them within 1 month of their sending the book, and they post the reviews on their website, though sometimes this takes quite some time. They encourage you to post your reviews online in other places as well – ex. Amazon.com, your blog (if you have one), any other site you may frequent where reviews are welcomed. They certainly do not hinder you from spreading the review love!

Since then I have become aware that Zondervan, a major Christian publisher also has an Advanced Reading program. You must be over the age of 13, and live within North America. I have just requested my first book (today) so I’m not certain of how all the details work as of yet.

All Advanced Reader programs such as this send out ARCs or AREs (advanced reader copy, advanced reader edition). These may not be the finalized version of the book, there may still need to be fine editing work done, the cover art may be different, the layout may change slightly etc. They are always paperbacks, and are sent out for review and publicity prior to the release of the finalized copy of the book. The ARCs I’ve been privledged to receive have been a real delight however, with pleasing, and close to the final cover art, and have been very well laid out and polished books. ARCs and AREs cannot be resold, a used bookstore will not take them, and they are clearly marked as publicity materials. Another important point to note is that ARCs and AREs are sent out free of charge in order to promote the book. In exchange for reviewing the book, and sending in/posting your review online you receive the review copy for free. Exciting, isn’t it?

When you are getting started with book reviews, it is best to start slowly, and advanced reader programs are a great way to get started. While you are waiting for your books to arrive you should try your hand at writing some reviews of books on your shelf. Write them up in a word processing program, and save them to your computer. Even if you don’t have a blog to post them to, you may want to expand into this arena at some point, and having previously unpublished book reviews ready to go is always an asset. This practice will also help you to develop your skills as a reviewer, simply through the practice of putting words on the page, and the discipline of making it all the way through a book.

Related Links:

Harper Collins Canada

Harper Collins USA

Zondervan

Do you know of any other ARC/ARE programs that may be of interest to those getting started in book reviews? Please let me know in the comments, or feel free to share any of your own advice about reviewing books online. Also, please sign up for updates to the blog (in the upper right hand corner) to read the rest of this upcoming series, featuring interviews with established online book reviewers, more opportunities to review books online (both with and without a blog) and advice for new reviewers.