How does one write a spoiler-free review?

The goal is to tell people what to expect from a book without giving away any plot details that they won't find out in the first few pages. This may sound difficult, but it's really not that bad. For instance, without giving away the plot, you can still:

• comment on the writing style ("the pacing is really uneven. I was bored for the first half, but found it very exciting after that", "the author plays with words on every page, using related sounds to segue unexpectely to unrelated ideas")
• discuss the characters ("the main character was so morose that I spent the whole book focusing on how much I wanted to slap him", "the relationships felt unreal, and did not develop at all during the story")
• compare the book to other works by the same author, or to stories from other authors
• discuss what's (un)realistic, or what biases or ideals the author seems to have ("like being hit on the head with the Mallet of Capitalism")
• generally, try to give indicators to help others determine whether they would like this particular work

What kinds of books should we review?

Books of all genres are welcome (including non-fiction).

What should I do if I want to review something that's already been reviewed?

Just add your own review to the existing page.

Can I edit someone else's review?

Well, you can, but you really shouldn't, in general. Unless it's to close an HTML tag or something, just add your own review to the top or bottom of the page.

How long should my review be?

As long as you want.

How can I get started?

Contact Lauren Schmidt at bookreviews@neuralgirl.net to get the wiki password. Then go to the books by title page, look at what's already there, and jump in and add your own.

Can I see some examples?

Sure! Here's a mediumish one, a shorter one, and a very short one.

Can I see a BAD example?

Sure! Don't write something like this about Huck Finn or Hamlet.

What if I REALLY LIKE a book?

Be sure to link to it on the StronglyRecommended page and say who recommended it.

How do I edit and format the wiki?

Look at any of the existing pages in Edit mode for ideas, or check out WikiStyle. You can also go to the SandBox tab from the main page and play around there. Try things out there if you're still figuring stuff out.

Who should I contact if I have more questions?

Send email to Lauren Schmidt at bookreviews@neuralgirl.net for questions about wiki content. The wiki itself is run by the folks at pbwiki, however.