Academic institutions would often assign book reviews or essays to students. This is to help broaden their reading and writing skills.
Book essays are like book reviews. This is one of the most common assignments given to students.
What if you have to choose any book that you like? What would be the best titles to review for your assignment? How do you write an effective book essay?
Below we’ve included interesting book titles you might want to pick up for review. We’ll also include simple tips on how to improve your book essay, so keep reading below!
What Books to Use as I Write My Paper?
There is a plethora of books available that it can be difficult to choose from. When given the freedom to pick up your favorite book, it’s best to go with one that offers a lot of discussions.
Picking a book that opens up a lot of arguments makes an interesting book essay. What if you’re not familiar with such books? Here are some suggestions of three titles that you could have a go at.
- The Kite Runner
Author: Khaled Hosseini
This book follows the story of a Sunni Muslim named Amir. The main conflict is how he struggles to find his place in the world. He strives to overcome traumatic childhood events in his life. Amir starts looking for redemption and tries to form a connection with his father.
This is a story of finding one’s self, hope, and the effects of decisions. It opens up a good discussion on many Afghanistan single-parent homes. The story gives readers a way to relate to many contemporary household struggles.
- The Great Gatsby
Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
The story takes place in Jazz Age New York and is about the tragic life of Jay Gatsby. Jay is a self-made millionaire who pursues Daisy Buchanan. Daisy is a wealthy young woman that the protagonist has cherished since his younger days.
Nick Carraway, a Yale University graduate coming from the Midwest, narrates the book. Nick pursues a career in bonds when he moves to New York after World War 1.
There is a series of flashbacks in the story. Nick recalls everything from the summer he spent two years before the East. What makes the book interesting is that it’s not told in regular chronological order.
When you’re looking for Classic American fiction, then this book is a good choice. The Great Gatsby is also synonymous with the term Great American Novel.
- Pride and Prejudice
Author: Jane Austen
This one is considered a classic of English literature. The book is popular for character delineation. The plot focuses on Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. The former is a country gentleman’s daughter, and the latter is a landowner and an aristocrat.
Both encounter an exciting and challenging relationship. The plot takes place in England in the early 19th century. The author focuses on how first impressions, pride, and rank affect relationships. The characters play off each other. One holds high pride and self-respect while the other is snobbish.
If you want to read a book that has gripping characters, then this is one of the best choices. The novel stays on top of its popularity because of Elizabeth. She is the favorite of the author among all her heroines.
Constructing Your Book Essay
Now that you have the book, your next question is “how do I write my paper?”
There are many ways to write essays, and you have the freedom and creativity to choose. Many academic institutions would provide instructions that students need to follow. The first piece of advice in writing your book essay is to read the instructions well.
- Write Your Theme Statement
This is a statement in one sentence that explains what the intention of the author is. When you start analyzing questions about the book, the better your statement becomes. After formulating the best statement, you can use it as a great introduction to your essay.
- Determine the Subject You Wish to Focus On
More than the plot, you need to talk about the substance of the book. Base your analysis on the theme of the book. If it helps, have a list of the recurring themes so that you can pick one or two of them to discuss.
- Drafting and Brainstorming
Drafting is your first attempt at writing the essay. This is where you plot out your ideas and arrange them to connect with each other. Brainstorming is where you get into the details of your essay.
When you ask questions, you also need to prepare answers. Ask the right questions to direct your discussion in the right way. Use as much information from the book to address the questions.
Talk about the causes and effects of certain situations in the story. Discuss how these affect the characters and what it means to show the reader. If you have two subjects, you can use the situations in the book to show how they connect and the impact of their connection.
Come Full Circle with Your Conclusion
Address any questions or discussions you’ve opened in your introduction. Prove that your understanding of the book is correct with the points you’ve discussed in your essay.
Always go back to what the author wants to convey. Remember that you’re not writing about the plot but showing the intention of the book to your readers.