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Book Review Guidelines for Class 11

This document provides guidance on writing a book review, including common elements that should be included. It lists key information that should be presented such as the title, author, publisher, number of pages, and price. It advises that an opening sentence should set the tone and provide an overall feel of the work. A concise summary of the plot should be given along with discussion of specific aspects, characters, and scenes. The review should also highlight any outstanding ideas or themes in the book and provide an overall impression, including any shortcomings. The document then provides a sample book review as an example.

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50% found this document useful (2 votes)
2K views2 pages

Book Review Guidelines for Class 11

This document provides guidance on writing a book review, including common elements that should be included. It lists key information that should be presented such as the title, author, publisher, number of pages, and price. It advises that an opening sentence should set the tone and provide an overall feel of the work. A concise summary of the plot should be given along with discussion of specific aspects, characters, and scenes. The review should also highlight any outstanding ideas or themes in the book and provide an overall impression, including any shortcomings. The document then provides a sample book review as an example.

Uploaded by

Joya Singh
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

CLASS-XI

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

DIRECTED WRITING-BOOK REVIEW

A book review describes, analyses and evaluates the merits of a contemporary work. It conveys an opinion, supporting it
with evidence from the book. It is unbiased and critical in nature. Although, there is no set formula for writing a book
review, it does have certain common elements. These include the following:
 The Title, Author, Publisher, No. Of Pages & Price
 An opening sentence to set the tone of the review, giving an overall feel of the work
 The general feel or genre of the book, like fiction or non-fiction.
 A concise summary of the plot, followed by the specific aspects of the work, individual characters, incidents and
scenes.
 The outstanding idea that runs through the book to highlight its unique points.
 Overall impression of the work, including its shortcomings if any.

Sample Book Review

The Three Mistakes of My Life

Author: Chetan Bhagat


Publisher: Rupa Publications
Pages: 258
Price: Rs95

What strikes you first about Chetan Bhagat’s novels is the fact that this author writes about Indians and for Indians. His
characters are young, ambitious and passionate and have the same moral, social and religious dilemmas as many of the
young Indians today. At the same time their context and sensibility too is unabashedly Indian. The new and the third
Bhagat book, “The 3 mistakes of my life", has all these qualities.
The setting is the city of Ahmedabad that though being urban is yet not as metropolitan as many of its metro
counterparts. It retains its small town flavour in colonies, traditional Indian households and small vegetarian eateries. It
has the protagonist Govind with his passion and acumen for accounts and business, it has Ishan for whom cricket is the
element around which his life revolves and it has Omi, a priest’s son and loyal friend who is ready for anything that his
friends are game for.
The book is based on real life events. It begins in a dramatic enough fashion with Bhagat receiving an e-mail from Govind
who had taken many sleeping pills and was writing to him while waiting for the deadly sleep’s embrace. Chetan was
shaken enough by the incident to track the boy down to an Ahmedabad hospital. Fortunately he was still alive to tell the
tale. The book is loosely based on the three mistakes Govind made in his life.
What follows is a mix of cricket, religion, business, love and friendship. Govind sets up a sports shop along with his friends
in the temple compound with Omi’s family’s help. The shop prospers as Ishan coaches young boys in cricket and Govind
teaches maths to Ishan’s sister Vidya who also captures his heart. Ishan then meets Ali, a child prodigy with a hyper reflex
condition that makes him hit each ball for a six. Ali displays the talent which Ishan never had and Ali’s destiny becomes his
own.
Enter Omi’s Bitoo mama (maternal uncle), a communal party man bent on converting the young into fighters in the name
of religion. Situations come to a head and Ahmedabad burns in riot fires. The background strongly replicates the Godhra
Riots. The events that follow, lead Govind to his death-bed and that is when he writes the email to Bhagat.
Perhaps, this is the biggest compliment an author can receive. It’s not when New York Times describes him as the biggest
selling English language author in the country or when he crosses the coveted two million book sales’ figure, but when
someone chooses to remember him in his last minutes, that make a writer go beyond the ordinary. After all, isn’t the
purpose of all writing, to touch someone’s heart?
“The 3 mistakes of my life" is written simply and has the quality that makes one want to read the book cover to cover in
one sitting. The pricing of the book is just right for the target audience - young people. This book like Bhagat’s earlier one,
“One Night @ the Call Centre, too has the spice, emotion and pace to turn into a potential blockbuster.
CLASS-XI

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

DIRECTED WRITING-BOOK REVIEW

Question
Write a review of a book you have recently read (In approximately 300 words). Make use of the given points:
Name of the Book – Author – Publisher – Readership – Cover & Illustration – Plot – Characters – Insight into some
interesting incidents – Message, if any – Appeal that the book holds for you.

Common questions

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In 'The 3 Mistakes of My Life', character complexity enriches the narrative by providing depth and relatability. Characters like Govind, Ishan, and Omi exhibit multifaceted personalities facing real life dilemmas, such as ambition, moral conflict, and loyalty. Their development is crucial in driving the plot, as their decisions and interpersonal relationships create tension and resolution around key events. Their imperfections and growth allow readers to engage with their journeys on a personal level, enhancing narrative engagement .

In 'The 3 Mistakes of My Life', characters like Govind, Ishan, and Omi embody ambition and friendship through their interactions and personal journeys. Govind's passion for business and entrepreneurship reflects his ambition, while Ishan's dedication to cricket represents his unfulfilled dreams projected onto Ali, a child prodigy. Omi's loyalty showcases the strength of friendship despite differing paths and moral dilemmas. The intertwining of personal ambitions and deep bonds of friendship drive the narrative, exploring how these themes affect their decisions and lives .

Real-life events play a crucial role in Chetan Bhagat's storytelling by providing authenticity and relatability to the narrative. In 'The 3 Mistakes of My Life', the background of the Godhra Riots adds historical depth, giving readers insight into real societal issues. The novel mirrors the communal tensions and challenges, hence connecting readers to current events and encouraging them to reflect on their societal impact. This real-world anchoring makes the story more compelling and powerful .

Receiving an email from a character on his deathbed is a profound compliment for an author. It signifies that the author's work has deeply resonated with the reader, influencing them to reach out during their final moments. This level of impact is viewed as surpassing commercial success or critical acclaim, as it indicates that the author's writing has truly touched a reader's heart and life .

Chetan Bhagat's 'The 3 Mistakes of My Life' reflects Indian culture by focusing on characters who are unapologetically Indian in their context and sensibilities. The novel is set in Ahmedabad, which, despite its urban setting, retains a small-town flavor reflecting Indian tradition. The characters face moral, social, and religious dilemmas common among young Indians, such as ambition and friendship. The plot intertwines elements of cricket, religion, and business, which are significant in Indian society .

The pricing and writing style of 'The 3 Mistakes of My Life' are strategically designed to appeal to young readers. With a price of Rs95, it is affordable for the target audience, ensuring wider accessibility. The writing style is simple yet engaging, making it easy for readers to consume in one sitting. This approach aligns with the habits and preferences of younger readers, who often seek relatable content presented in a digestible format .

A book review requires several crucial elements such as the title, author, publisher, number of pages, and price. It should start with an opening sentence to set the tone, followed by a discussion of the book's genre. A concise summary of the plot is essential, which includes specific aspects such as individual characters, incidents, and scenes. The review should address the book's outstanding ideas to highlight its unique points and provide an overall impression, including any shortcomings .

Chetan Bhagat's success as an author is significantly influenced by his personal impact on readers, evident through direct interactions and relatable narratives. His ability to address themes like ambition, friendship, and societal issues in an accessible manner resonates deeply with readers. The emotional connection fostered by his storytelling encourages readers to view him as a voice for contemporary Indian experiences, which extends beyond commercial success to creating a loyal reader base. This personal impact is a key factor in his widespread acclaim and influence .

The opening sentence in a book review is critical as it sets the tone and captures the reader's attention. It provides an immediate impression of the book's overall feel, guiding the reader's expectations. A well-crafted opening sentence can convey the reviewer's opinion or the book's emotional essence, creating initial intrigue and framing the subsequent analysis. This introduction helps orient the audience and establishes the direction of the review .

The setting of Ahmedabad in 'The 3 Mistakes of My Life' plays a critical role by shaping the narrative's cultural and social backdrop. The city's small-town characteristics contrast with urban India, retaining traditional values while presenting modern challenges. This duality influences character dynamics and the plot, especially during communal tensions reflective of real-life historical events like the Godhra Riots. The setting thus supports the story's authenticity, making the characters' experiences more relatable and compelling to the Indian readership .

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