Review: Julie Andrews’ ‘Home Work’ a graceful look back at her Hollywood years

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After her breakthrough in “Mary Poppins,” Julie Andrews worried that taking the role of Maria in “The Sound of Music” might lead to being typecast as a nanny. The short, blond look she sported in the second film was actually designed to cover up a hairstyling mishap that turned her normally brown hair bright orange. Visiting the Von Trapp villa in Austria for the location shooting turned out to be a disturbing experience once she learned that the place had been taken over during World War II by SS leader Heinrich Himmler.

Those are a few of the intriguing tidbits in Andrews’ new book, “ Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years ,” written with daughter Emma Walton Hamilton. But unlike many Hollywood memoirs these days, it doesn’t contain any shocking or titillating revelations.

For the record:

3:41 p.m. Oct. 13, 2019 An earlier version of this article misidentified the title of Andrews’ book as “Home Again” in the final paragraph.

Instead, the 84-year-old British-born actress and singer comes across pretty much as the Julie Andrews that we admire on the screen — graceful, elegant and wholesome, but not particularly complicated or troubled.

“Home Work” is the story of an ordinary person blessed with extraordinary gifts, including a soaring, angelic soprano voice, whose big struggle was to maintain that normalcy in a Hollywood rife with exploitation and excess.

As detailed in her previous book, 2008’s “ Home: A Memoir of My Early Years ,” Andrews got her start in show business at age just before her tenth birthday, standing on a beer crate to reach the microphone as she sang in her mother and stepfather’s vaudeville act. By the time she was a teenager, she had become her family’s main means of support, roaming England and trying to cheer up dreary dressing rooms with a bunch of flowers between twice-an-evening performances in smoke-filled halls full of inebriated adults.

The young Andrews, who never had time for an education, said she feared for her future in British vaudeville’s dying days. She was saved by the grace of her talent, which led producers to cast her in British musical theater. Andrews’ performance in “Cinderella” at the London Palladium was so good she got an offer to cross the Atlantic and play the lead role in a Broadway production of “The Boy Friend,” just before her 19th birthday.

During rehearsals, an American producer, Cy Feuer , took the inexperienced actress out to the theater’s fire escape and gave her a bit of sage advice: Abandon any trace of camp or shtick, and play her character as simply and truthfully as she could. Andrews did just that and “The Boy Friend” became a smash hit.

That led Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, those giants of the Broadway musical, to offer her the stage role of Eliza Doolittle in “My Fair Lady,” where she honed her craft under the supervision of legendary director Moss Hart. After seeing her perform in “Camelot,” Walt Disney enticed Andrews to Hollywood for the lead in “Mary Poppins.” Andrews recounts how she headed west with then-husband, set-director Tony Walton , and their infant daughter Emma for a crash course in film acting alongside the more experienced comedian Dick Van Dyke.

homework book review

Andrews admits she was unhappy about being passed over for the role of Eliza Doolittle in the film version of “My Fair Lady,” in favor of non-singer Audrey Hepburn. ( Marni Nixon , the famous Hollywood “ghost singer,” did the actual vocals in the film.) But Andrews says she ultimately felt grateful for the snub, because it enabled her to star in “Mary Poppins.”

Of all her films, “Mary Poppins” gets the most lavish, detailed description in “Home Work,” from the ballet-influenced walk she developed for her character, to the advice she gave Van Dyke as he struggled to approximate a cockney accent. She recalls Disney in glowing terms — “always very encouraging and full of bonhomie” — and learned, to her amazement, about the daunting amount of editing, re-recording of dialogue and other tinkering that a major production required to get into theaters.

Andrews’ debut film earned her a lead actress Oscar in 1965. By then, she already had another massive musical hit, “The Sound of Music.” The most interesting part of that production for her was traveling to Austria to shoot on location, where she was moved by the beauty of the mountains and chilled to learn about the Himmler connection to the villa. “You can literally feel the evil that once permeated those walls,” she recalls.

She reveals that her favorite song in the film is “Edelweiss,” even though she only got to sing it in the Von Trapp ensemble, not as a solo.

Back in Hollywood, Andrews — still in many ways a small-town English girl — struggled with press appearances and other requisites of stardom. She and Tony Walton drifted apart, due to the frequent separations required by their work. In an effort to save her marriage, Andrews sought help from a psychoanalyst and even briefly considered abandoning her acting and singing career, until her therapist advised her that it would take her a long time to become as good at anything else. Moreover, he explained, it was a shame to waste a gift that gave so much pleasure to others.

Andrews’ first marriage didn’t survive, but as she was leaving the therapist’s office one day, she had a chance encounter in the street with the man who would become the love of her life, director and writer Blake Edwards . Initially, he wanted to cast her in his film “Darling Lili,” but a romance soon blossomed and the two eventually married.

Andrews’ portrait of Edwards, to whom she was married until his death at age 88 in 2010, is more revealing than anything she writes about herself. He is as complex as she is straightforward. She describes him as witty, insightful and kind, and a gifted cinematic storyteller, but also prone to depression and dependent upon painkillers to cope with a bad back. She writes that he became embittered by a bullying, callous Hollywood studio culture, which he battled to keep his films from being ruined by executives’ meddling.

Andrews herself seems to float above the 1960s-70s counterculture tumult in Hollywood, an old-fashioned movie star who probably would have been more at home in the Golden Age of the 1940s. Nevertheless, the book documents her encounters with colorful figures such as Alfred Hitchcock, who directed her in “Torn Curtain,” and with the hard-living Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. The lone intersection with “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood” is when she and Edwards invited martial arts great Bruce Lee to lunch at their home, where he entertained them by springing from his chair into a flying side kick. (“Can Nureyev do this?” Lee asked.)

The most moving part of the book is Andrews’ account of postwar Vietnam and Cambodia, which she visited in the early 1980s as part of a humanitarian delegation. (She has two adopted daughters, Amelia and Joanna, who were Vietnamese orphans.) She devotes more space and vivid detail in the book to those scenes of heart-wrenching deprivation and suffering than she gives to some of her movies. The trip, she notes, changed her “on a profound level,” giving her a new sense of purpose. She became an activist, lobbying for legislation to allow the Asian American children left behind by U.S. servicemen to immigrate to this country.

“I never anticipated any of it,” Andrews says of her film career. “I just took the opportunities that were in front of me and waded in.”

That degree of candor — and Andrews’ refreshing unpretentiousness and gentle sense of bemusement at her life’s adventures — make “Home Work” a book that will appeal to fans of her films, as well as anyone who wants to be reassured that being a celebrity doesn’t have to involve scandal.

Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years

Julie Andrews

Hachette Books: 352 pages; $30

Kiger has written for GQ, Sierra magazine, Fast Company and History.com. He’s also co-written two nonfiction books, “Poplorica” and “Oops.”

The Los Angeles Times Book Club and the Ideas Exchange welcome Julie Andrews in conversation with columnist Mary McNamara about “Home Work.”

When: 7:30 p.m., Nov. 18.

Where: Orpheum Theatre, 842 S. Broadway, Los Angeles

More info: latimes.com/bookclub

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Book Review

Book Review Examples

Last updated on: Nov 20, 2023

Good Book Review Examples to Help you Write a Great Review

By: Nova A.

Reviewed By: Chris H.

Published on: Mar 30, 2021

Book Review Examples

A book review is a common assignment that allows the students to demonstrate the author’s intentions in the book. It also provides them with the chance not only to criticize but also to give constructive criticism on how they can make improvements.

The purpose of writing a book review is to come up with your opinion about the author’s ideas presented in the book. On the other hand, a book analysis is completely based on opinions that are relevant to the book.

Writing a review is something that can be done with any book that you read. However, some genres are harder to write. But with a proper plan, you can easily write a great review on any book.

Read some short book review examples in this guide. They will help you understand the key elements of writing a great review in no time.

Book Review Examples

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Academic Book Review Examples

If you are assigned to write a book review, referring to some examples will be of great help. In addition, reading examples before starting the writing process will help you understand what elements are needed for a great book review. There are also many review sites online you can get help from.

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Book Review Examples for Middle School Students

Book Review Example For Kids

Book Review Examples for High School Students

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Book Review Examples for College Students

Book Review Examples for University Students

How to Write a Book Review - Examples

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1. Provide a Summary

What is the book about? Write about the main characters and what is the conflict that is discussed in the book.

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Rate and recommend the book to others who will enjoy reading this book.

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Book Review Introduction Examples

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Book Review Conclusion Examples

Critical Book Review Examples

A book review is a critical evaluation of the book, movie, or any other literary work. It has two goals: the first is to inform the readers about the content of the book, and the second is to evaluate your judgment about the book.

A book review is more than a book report. A review is basically a critical essay that evaluates the merits of a literary work. The purpose of writing a book review is not to prove that you have read a book but to show that you think critically about the chosen book.

When you are asked to write a critical book review, you need to identify, summarize and evaluate the ideas of the author. In simpler words, you will be examining and evaluating another person’s work from your point of view.

Science Book Review Examples

A scientific book review will contain the same elements as writing a review for a fiction book; some elements might vary. When you are reviewing a scientific text, you need to pay attention to the writing style and the validity of the content.

Most students turn to non-fictional sources of information. It is important to make sure the information you provide in your review is factual and scientific.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do you write a book review example.

Here are some steps that will help you to write a book review example.

  • Start writing with few sentences and describe what the book is all about
  • Focus on your thoughts
  • Mention things that you dont like about the book.
  • Summarize your thoughts.
  • Give rating to the book.

Nova A.

Thesis, Law

As a Digital Content Strategist, Nova Allison has eight years of experience in writing both technical and scientific content. With a focus on developing online content plans that engage audiences, Nova strives to write pieces that are not only informative but captivating as well.

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Homework: A Novel

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Margot Livesey

Homework: A Novel Paperback – September 8, 2001

  • Print length 352 pages
  • Language English
  • Publication date September 8, 2001
  • Dimensions 5.5 x 0.79 x 8.5 inches
  • ISBN-10 0312420447
  • ISBN-13 978-0312420444
  • See all details

Editorial Reviews

“Arresting...Homework skillfully infuses psychological fright into the ordinary routine of living.” ― Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, The New York Times “[An] artful narrative...rife with Hitchcockian suspense and a vivid re-creation of terror worthy of the master himself.” ― Brett Singer, Los Angeles Times

About the Author

Product details.

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Picador; 1st edition (September 8, 2001)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0312420447
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0312420444
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.79 x 8.5 inches
  • #18,446 in Psychological Fiction (Books)
  • #32,414 in Psychological Thrillers (Books)
  • #120,085 in Literary Fiction (Books)

About the author

Margot livesey.

Margot Livesey is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels The Flight of Gemma Hardy, The House on Fortune Street, Banishing Verona, Eva Moves the Furniture, The Missing World, Criminals, and Homework. Her work has appeared in the New Yorker, Vogue, and the Atlantic, and she is the recipient of grants from both the National Endowment for the Arts and the Guggenheim Foundation. The House on Fortune Street won the 2009 L. L. Winship/PEN New England Award. Born in Scotland, Livesey currently lives in the Boston area and is a professor of fiction at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.

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The Homework Myth

homework book review

Why Our Kids Get Too Much of a Bad Thing

Death and taxes come later; what seems inevitable for children is the idea that, after spending the day at school, they must then complete more academic assignments at home. The predictable results: stress and conflict, frustration and exhaustion. Parents respond by reassuring themselves that at least the benefits outweigh the costs. But what if they don’t? In The Homework Myth , nationally known educator and parenting expert Alfie Kohn systematically examines the usual defenses of homework–that it promotes higher achievement, “reinforces” learning, and teaches study skills and responsibility. None of these assumptions, he shows, actually passes the test of research, logic, or experience. So why do we continue to administer this modern cod liver oil–or even demand a larger dose? Kohn’s incisive analysis reveals how a mistrust of children, a set of misconceptions about learning, and a misguided focus on competitiveness have all left our kids with less free time and our families with more conflict. Pointing to parents who have fought back–and schools that have proved educational excellence is possible without homework–Kohn shows how we can rethink what happens during and after school in order to rescue our families and our children’s love of learning.

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The Only Book Review Templates You'll Ever Need

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Blog – Posted on Thursday, Nov 11

The only book review templates you'll ever need.

The Only Book Review Templates You'll Ever Need

Whether you’re trying to become a book reviewer , writing a book report for school, or analyzing a book, it’s nice to follow a book review template to make sure that your thoughts are clearly presented. 

A quality template provides guidance to keep your mind sharp and your thoughts organized so that you can write the best book review possible. On Reedsy Discovery , we read and share a lot of book reviews, which helps us develop quite a clear idea what makes up a good one. With that in mind, we’ve put together some trustworthy book review templates that you can download, along with a quick run-through of all the parts that make up an outstanding review — all in this post! 

Pro-tip : But wait! How are you sure if you should become a book reviewer in the first place? If you're on the fence, or curious about your match with a book reviewing career, take our quick quiz:

Should you become a book reviewer?

Find out the answer. Takes 30 seconds!

Book review templates for every type of review

With the rapid growth of the book community on Instagram, Youtube, and even TikTok, the world of book commentary has evolved far beyond your classic review. There are now many ways you can structure a book review. Some popular formats include:

  • Book reports — often done for school assignments; 
  • Commentary articles — think in-depth reviews in magazines and newspapers; 
  • Book blog reviews — short personal essays about the book; and
  • Instagram reviews — one or two-paragraph reviews captioned under a nice photo. 

But while the text in all these review styles can be organized in different ways, there are certain boxes that all good book reviews tick. So, instead of giving you various templates to use for different occasions, we’ve condensed it down to just two book review templates (one for fiction and one for nonfiction) that can guide your thoughts and help you nail just about any review. 

homework book review

⭐ Download our free fiction book review template  

⭐ Download our free nonfiction book review template  

All you need to do is answer the questions in the template regarding the book you’re reading and you’ve got the content of your review covered. Once that’s done, you can easily put this content into its appropriate format. 

Now, if you’re curious about what constitutes a good book review template, we’ll explain it in the following section! 

Elements of a book review template

Say you want to build your own book review template, or you want to customize our templates — here are the elements you’ll want to consider. 

We’ve divided our breakdown of the elements into two categories: the essentials and the fun additions that’ll add some color to your book reviews.

What are the three main parts of a book review?

We covered this in detail (with the help of some stellar examples) in our post on how to write a book review , but basically, these are the three crucial elements you should know: 

The summary covers the premise of the book and its main theme, so readers are able to understand what you’re referring to in the rest of your review. This means that, if a person hasn’t read the book, they can go through the summary to get a quick idea of what it’s about. (As such, there should be no spoilers!) 

The analysis is where, if it’s a fiction book, you talk more about the book, its plot, theme, and characters. If it’s nonfiction, you have to consider whether the book effectively achieves what it set out to do. 

The recommendation is where your personal opinion comes in the strongest, and you give a verdict as to who you think might enjoy this book. 

You can choose to be brief or detailed, depending on the kind of review you’re writing, but you should always aim to cover these three points. If you’re needing some inspiration, check out these 17 book review examples as seen in magazines, blogs, and review communities like Reedsy Discovery for a little variation. 

Which review community should you join?

Find out which review community is best for your style. Takes 30 seconds!

Which additional details can you include?

Once you’ve nailed down the basics, you can jazz things up a little and add some personal flavor to your book review by considering some of these elements:

  • A star-rating (the default is five stars but you can create your own scales); 
  • A bullet-point pros and cons list; 
  • Your favorite quotation from the book; 
  • Commentary on the format you read (i.e., ebook, print, or audiobook);
  • Fun facts about the book or author; 
  • Other titles you think are similar.

This is where you can really be creative and tailor your review to suit your purpose and audience. A formal review written for a magazine, for instance, will likely benefit from contextual information about the author and the book, along with some comment on how that might have affected the reading (or even writing) process.

Meanwhile, if you’re reviewing a book on social media, you might find bullet points more effective at capturing the fleeting attention of Internet users. You can also make videos, take creative pictures, or even add your own illustrations for more personal touches. The floor is yours at this point, so go ahead and take the spotlight! 

That said, we hope that our templates can provide you with a strong foundation for even your most adventurous reviews. And if you’re interested in writing editorial reviews for up-and-coming indie titles, register as a reviewer on Reedsy Discovery !

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Book summary and reviews of The Homework Myth by Alfie Kohn

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The Homework Myth by Alfie Kohn

The Homework Myth

by Alfie Kohn

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A compelling expose of homework—its negative effects, why it's so widely accepted, and what we can do about it. Death and taxes come later; what seems inevitable for children is the idea that, after spending the day at school, they must then complete more academic assignments at home. The predictable results: stress and conflict, frustration and exhaustion. Parents respond by reassuring themselves that at least the benefits outweigh the costs. But what if they don't? In The Homework Myth , nationally known educator and parenting expert Alfie Kohn systematically examines the usual defenses of homework—that it promotes higher achievement, "reinforces" learning, and teaches study skills and responsibility. None of these assumptions, he shows, actually passes the test of research, logic, or experience. So why do we continue to administer this modern cod liver oil—or even demand a larger dose? Kohn's incisive analysis reveals how a mistrust of children, a set of misconceptions about learning, and a misguided focus on competitiveness have all left our kids with less free time and our families with more conflict. Pointing to parents who have fought back—and schools that have proved educational excellence is possible without homework— Kohn shows how we can rethink what happens during and after school in order to rescue our families and our children's love of learning.

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"There aren't enough case studies in Kohn's work, but Kohn sounds an important note: parents need to ask more challenging questions of teachers and institutions." - PW.

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Kohn is the author of ten previous books including Punished by Rewards , The Schools Our Children Deserve , and Unconditional Parenting .

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Homework Made Simple

Tips, tools, and solutions for stress-free homework.

Ann K. Dolin Softcover $14.95 ( 272pp ) 978-0-9714609-8-0

Homework can be one of the most painful aspects of parenting. For parents tired of being “cast in the role of nightly homework police,” Dolin addresses the pitfalls of homework in this easy-to-follow guide. She begins with an overview of why homework is so hard, especially for kids who have weak executive functions (e.g., strategizing, planning ahead, organizing, and recalling information), attention issues, reading issues, skill deficits, and emotional problems. She then follows with a look at how parenting styles affect homework and provides successful approaches that work with every child. Routine, replacing idle threats with meaningful praise, and family meetings are key, according to Dolin.

The bulk of the book centers on the six most common problem homework profiles—the Disorganized, the Rusher, the Procrastinator, the Avoider, the Inattentive, and the Easily Frustrated—with a chapter dedicated to each type of student. These chapters open with a quiz to help parents identify their child’s correct homework profile. Step-by-step tips offer practical and easily replicable strategies. Additional tips, graphs, charts, and labeled photographs, such as an image of a study zone for the Disorganized, an example of a project planning guide for the Procrastinator, and an example of a break reward log for the Inattentive make each plan clear throughout the chapters.

A concluding section focuses on improving study skills, including reading comprehension, note taking, remembering and retaining information, and studying, and discovering a student’s learning style. Dolin also tackles difficult situations that pose more challenges for homework, such as working parents with limited time, divorced parents, students who lie about homework, balancing studying with extracurricular activities, and technology distractions.

Ann Dolin comes to this book as a teacher, tutor, and parent. An expert in learning disability issues with over 20 years of teaching experience, the author is the founder of Educational Connections, Inc., which provides one-to-one instruction based on students’ learning styles, and sits on the boards of Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder and the International Dyslexia Association.

For exasperated parents, this guide book is an ideal starting place for putting homework battles to rest. Dolin’s compassionate yet no-nonsense solutions can be implemented with any student. Schools and public libraries should have several copies on hand, as this title probably won’t sit on shelves for long. Homework Made Simple is sure to transform family life.

Reviewed by Angela Leeper December 23, 2010

Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

homework book review

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Book Review

So, maybe it's like this. You hated homework as a kid. You hate making your kids do their homework. They hate doing it. When they don't have homework, you're as happy as they are, maybe happier, because for one blessed evening you don't have to argue about it and watch them stretch a 15-minute assignment into a 45-minute tear-studded marathon.

But. You don't protest, because you've been told that homework is important, that it reinforces what your kids learn at school, teaches good study habits (whatever THAT means), and makes your kids more independent as learners. Plus, if kids don't start doing homework in elementary school (kindergarten!), they'll be overwhelmed in high school when things really get tough.

What if you found out that not one of these assumptions is supported by research? That in fact, where there is research regarding these points, they often show that homework is at best useless and at worst detrimental?

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I LEFT MY HOMEWORK IN THE HAMPTONS

What i learned teaching the children of the one percent.

by Blythe Grossberg ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 17, 2021

A sobering close-up of parental wealth and power—and the children hurt by it—at tony Manhattan schools.

A tutor gives low grades to rich, meddlesome parents of the New York prep schoolers she calls “Gatsby’s children.”

Grossberg taught for years at an elite Manhattan prep school while moonlighting as a tutor for middle and high schoolers who might return from a weekend “and report that they had been introduced to Bono at a concert and had gone skiing.” She recalls her alternately rewarding and maddening experiences, focused on students with learning differences, in a book that “has elements of memoir.” She uses composite characters to show how the ultrarich work—or game—a system that favors families who can afford space camp and “$800— per hour ” SAT tutors. Lily’s mother demands that a school let her daughter retake a test because the proctor miscalculated the allotted time by one minute. Trevor’s father expects after-school tutor Grossberg to know whether his son uses his ADHD accommodations at school because “I’m not home enough to collect more than core samples on my son.” Sophie’s mother plays “the legal card” so her daughter can redo a paper after her father is charged with unrelated financial missteps in the New York Times . Students suffer from the interference by “litigious and combative” parents of Gatsby-like wealth: “The result of all this meddling in their children’s lives…is that many kids achieve beyond their ability, so that tutoring has to follow them to college.” Some children deal with anxiety, depression, exhaustion, or White privilege (they resent having to watch the civil rights documentary Eyes on the Prize in class). Grossberg’s novelistic flourishes (“She pauses for a minute and licks her lips nervously”) can be distracting, but most of her stories ring true and insightfully support her broad point that fear drives the parental excesses: “These parents, having achieved the apogee of success and wealth, have nowhere to go but down.”

Pub Date: Aug. 17, 2021

ISBN: 978-1-335-77553-5

Page Count: 304

Publisher: Hanover Square Press

Review Posted Online: June 15, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2021

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New York Times Bestseller

by Stephanie Johnson & Brandon Stanton illustrated by Henry Sene Yee ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 12, 2022

A blissfully vicarious, heartfelt glimpse into the life of a Manhattan burlesque dancer.

A former New York City dancer reflects on her zesty heyday in the 1970s.

Discovered on a Manhattan street in 2020 and introduced on Stanton’s Humans of New York Instagram page, Johnson, then 76, shares her dynamic history as a “fiercely independent” Black burlesque dancer who used the stage name Tanqueray and became a celebrated fixture in midtown adult theaters. “I was the only black girl making white girl money,” she boasts, telling a vibrant story about sex and struggle in a bygone era. Frank and unapologetic, Johnson vividly captures aspects of her former life as a stage seductress shimmying to blues tracks during 18-minute sets or sewing lingerie for plus-sized dancers. Though her work was far from the Broadway shows she dreamed about, it eventually became all about the nightly hustle to simply survive. Her anecdotes are humorous, heartfelt, and supremely captivating, recounted with the passion of a true survivor and the acerbic wit of a weathered, street-wise New Yorker. She shares stories of growing up in an abusive household in Albany in the 1940s, a teenage pregnancy, and prison time for robbery as nonchalantly as she recalls selling rhinestone G-strings to prostitutes to make them sparkle in the headlights of passing cars. Complemented by an array of revealing personal photographs, the narrative alternates between heartfelt nostalgia about the seedier side of Manhattan’s go-go scene and funny quips about her unconventional stage performances. Encounters with a variety of hardworking dancers, drag queens, and pimps, plus an account of the complexities of a first love with a drug-addled hustler, fill out the memoir with personality and candor. With a narrative assist from Stanton, the result is a consistently titillating and often moving story of human struggle as well as an insider glimpse into the days when Times Square was considered the Big Apple’s gloriously unpolished underbelly. The book also includes Yee’s lush watercolor illustrations.

Pub Date: July 12, 2022

ISBN: 978-1-250-27827-2

Page Count: 192

Publisher: St. Martin's

Review Posted Online: July 27, 2022

BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR | ENTERTAINMENT, SPORTS & CELEBRITY | GENERAL BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR

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by Brandon Stanton photographed by Brandon Stanton

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by Brandon Stanton ; photographed by Brandon Stanton

LOVE, PAMELA

LOVE, PAMELA

by Pamela Anderson ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 31, 2023

A juicy story with some truly crazy moments, yet Anderson's good heart shines through.

The iconic model tells the story of her eventful life.

According to the acknowledgments, this memoir started as "a fifty-page poem and then grew into hundreds of pages of…more poetry." Readers will be glad that Anderson eventually turned to writing prose, since the well-told anecdotes and memorable character sketches are what make it a page-turner. The poetry (more accurately described as italicized notes-to-self with line breaks) remains strewn liberally through the pages, often summarizing the takeaway or the emotional impact of the events described: "I was / and still am / an exceptionally / easy target. / And, / I'm proud of that ." This way of expressing herself is part of who she is, formed partly by her passion for Anaïs Nin and other writers; she is a serious maven of literature and the arts. The narrative gets off to a good start with Anderson’s nostalgic memories of her childhood in coastal Vancouver, raised by very young, very wild, and not very competent parents. Here and throughout the book, the author displays a remarkable lack of anger. She has faced abuse and mistreatment of many kinds over the decades, but she touches on the most appalling passages lightly—though not so lightly you don't feel the torment of the media attention on the events leading up to her divorce from Tommy Lee. Her trip to the pages of Playboy , which involved an escape from a violent fiance and sneaking across the border, is one of many jaw-dropping stories. In one interesting passage, Julian Assange's mother counsels Anderson to desexualize her image in order to be taken more seriously as an activist. She decided that “it was too late to turn back now”—that sexy is an inalienable part of who she is. Throughout her account of this kooky, messed-up, enviable, and often thrilling life, her humility (her sons "are true miracles, considering the gene pool") never fails her.

Pub Date: Jan. 31, 2023

ISBN: 9780063226562

Page Count: 256

Publisher: Dey Street/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: Dec. 5, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023

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Book: Tim Allen Exposed Himself to Pamela Anderson

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The Homework: A Celebration of Untamed Imagination

Our editorial intern, Nandini Ranganathan, had some wonderful thoughts about The Homework, written by Ashwin Guha and illustrated by Vaibhav Kumaresh. 

homework book review

The word ‘homework’ brings mixed emotions with it, especially for those of us who do not have to deal with it anymore. It hits us hard with nostalgia and makes us want to laugh at ourselves for thinking that we were even worried about homework assignments back in the day.  

When we were still in school, however, not finishing an assignment was the end of the world. We did not have anything bigger to deal with, and that was as scary a situation we could ever be in – the doom of impending punishment, the embarrassment of being laughed at by our classmates, and the dread of our parents inevitably coming to know about the incident during the parent-teacher meet.

So, like Bhattu and Kittu, the protagonists of The Homework , we would try to take a shortcut and submit whatever we could. At least, we would be turning in  something . The duo approaches their elder sister, Meena, for help in finishing their illustrated essay on a big mammal. Annoyed at being interrupted while reading, she gives them information on rhinos off the top of her head, and the hilarious aftermath of her half-hearted help is seen when the boys turn in their work.

Children, by nature, connect what they hear to what they know. They fill the gaps in their knowledge with the cues they get from us and weave their realities. They may be profound, or they may be bizarre. They could also be a combination of the two, similar to the way Bhattu evolves a new and improved species of rhinos – the  Lastminuteus homeworkaceros . We can’t help lauding his artistic skills, with each detail we notice in his diagram of the rhino, and defending his creation by saying, “He’s not drawn anything false, though!”

The Homework , perfect for children aged 4 to 6, comically introduces the concept of words having multiple meanings, encouraging children to look for other such instances. The illustrations by the Emmy-nominated animation filmmaker, Vaibhav Kumaresh, complement the humour of the book perfectly, leaving readers of all ages in splits. The stick figures, paper cut-outs and the blue-lined paper make us feel like we’re perusing through our completed assignment.  

That’s not all. The book, which celebrates the wild imagination of children, also subtly poses a question. “Does the system, as it stands, aim to nurture our imagination or fetter it?”  

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Nandini Ranganathan

homework book review

How to Write a Book Review Tips

homework book review

Book reviews are like guiding lights in the world of literature, helping readers navigate through countless stories. But writing a good review isn't just about summarizing a book – it's about making your thoughts resonate with the audience. 

Whether you're a writer, a critic, or someone who loves books, knowing how to prepare a book review can enrich your reading experience and contribute to the literary community. 

In this article, experts of our book review writing service break down the key elements and tips for compelling book reviews that spark conversation and excitement.

What Is a Book Review

A book review is a critical evaluation of a book, where the reviewer discusses its content, themes, and overall impact. It typically includes a summary of the book's main points, the reviewer's analysis and opinions, and a recommendation for potential readers. The goal is to inform others about the book's strengths and weaknesses, helping them decide if it’s worth reading.

Later in the article, you’ll find a quality book review example for your inspiration and motivation. If you’re in a hurry, try our cheap essay writing service that covers all types of academic papers.

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How to Write a Book Review: Step-By-Step

Writing a book review might seem complex, but in reality, the process can be divided into only three steps:

How to Write a Book Review: Step-By-Step

Summarize the Book's Content

Book reviews summarize the source's content by providing a brief and clear overview of the main plot, key characters, and central themes without giving away any spoilers. This helps readers understand the essence of the book and sets the stage for your analysis and evaluation.

Actionable Tips:

  • Read the Book Thoroughly: Ensure you grasp the full story, including subplots and character development.
  • Highlight Key Points: Note down significant events, character arcs, and main themes as you read.
  • Be Concise: Keep your summary short and to the point, focusing on the most important aspects.
  • Avoid Spoilers: Do not reveal major plot twists or the book’s ending.
  • Use Your Own Words: Write the summary in your own language to maintain originality and avoid plagiarism.
  • Provide Context: Include the book’s genre, setting, and relevant background information to help readers understand the summary.
  • Focus on Clarity: Ensure your summary is easy to read and understand, avoiding complex language or unnecessary details.

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Analyze and Evaluate

You’re always halfway through writing a book review! Next, you have to critically examine its elements, such as the writing style, character development, plot structure, and thematic depth. This step is where you share your personal insights and opinions, providing evidence from the text to support your views.

Tips Explanation
Consider the Writing Style Assess the author's writing style, including tone, language, and pacing. Is it engaging and appropriate for the genre?
Evaluate Character Development Analyze how well the characters are developed. Are they believable and well-rounded? Do they evolve throughout the story?
Examine the Plot Look at the plot structure. Is it coherent and well-paced? Are there any plot holes or areas that felt rushed?
Assess Themes and Messages Identify the main themes and messages of the book. Are they effectively conveyed and thought-provoking?
Use Specific Examples Provide specific examples from the book to support your analysis. This could include quotes, key scenes, or significant events.
Reflect on the Emotional Impact Consider how the book made you feel. Did it evoke strong emotions or leave a lasting impression?
Compare with Similar Works If relevant, compare the book to other works in the same genre or by the same author. How does it stand out or fall short?
Balance Praise and Critique Offer a balanced perspective, highlighting both strengths and weaknesses. Be fair and objective in your evaluation.

Conclude with a Recommendation

We’re almost reached the finishing line of the how to write a book review race. Conclude your review of a book with either a summary, recommendation, or addressing readers directly. This step provides a clear and concise verdict based on your analysis, helping potential readers decide if the book is right for them.

Tips Example 1 Example 2
Summary "Overall, this book is a must-read for fans of historical fiction, offering a gripping narrative and well-researched background." "While the book has some strong points, such as vivid descriptions and compelling characters, its slow pace might not appeal to everyone."
Recommendation "I highly recommend it to those who enjoy rich historical settings and complex characters." "I recommend it with reservations; it's worth trying if you enjoy detailed world-building, but be prepared for a slower pace."
Audience "Ideal for readers who appreciate historical depth and emotional storytelling." "Best suited for readers who enjoy immersive settings and don’t mind a leisurely narrative."

Dive into literary analysis with EssayPro . Our experts can help you craft insightful book reviews that delve deep into the themes, characters, and narratives of your chosen books. Enhance your understanding and appreciation of literature with us.

book review order

Book Review Structure

A book review outline usually follows a structured format with an introduction, main body, and conclusion.

Introduction

This section introduces the book, mentioning its title, author, genre, and publication details. It gives a brief overview of the book's premise and main themes to provide context for the reader.

The main body offers a detailed analysis and critique of the book. It's divided into paragraphs focusing on specific aspects such as plot, characters, and writing style. Each paragraph provides evidence from the book to support the reviewer's analysis.

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The conclusion summarizes the reviewer's overall thoughts and impressions of the book, restating key points and the main argument. It often includes a recommendation for potential readers and may provide final reflections or insights about the book's significance.

Book Review Template

Here's a basic structure you can follow every time you’re tasked with such an assignment:

Section Description
Title [Book Title]
Author [Author's Name]
Genre [Genre of the Book]
Publication [Publication Date/Year]
Introduction - Briefly introduce the book, including its title, author, genre, and publication information.
Summary - Provide a concise overview of the book's premise and main themes.
- Summarize the main plot points, characters, and setting.
- Highlight key events and any significant themes or motifs.
Analysis - Evaluate the book's strengths and weaknesses.
- Discuss the writing style, character development, and pacing.
- Analyze how effectively the book conveys its themes and ideas.
Critique - Offer a critical assessment of the book.
- Discuss what you liked and disliked about the book.
- Compare the book to similar works in its genre.
Conclusion - Summarize your overall thoughts and impressions of the book.
- Restate your thesis statement or main argument.
- Recommend the book to potential readers or suggest its target audience.
- Provide any final reflections or insights.

Extra Tips for Writing Better Book Reviews

Here are 11 extra tips for writing better book reviews:

  • Look for essay topics that are interesting personally for you.
  • Consider your audience and what they might want to know about the book.
  • Be mindful not to give away major plot twists or endings that could ruin the reading experience for others.
  • Use quotes or examples from the book to support your analysis and critique.
  • Express your opinions openly, but respect the author and their work.
  • Think about the book's historical, cultural, or social context when evaluating its themes and messages.
  • Paint a vivid picture of the book's qualities using descriptive language to engage your readers.
  • Acknowledge the book's strengths and weaknesses to provide a balanced review.
  • Aim to be concise and to the point, focusing on the most important aspects of the book.
  • Let your enthusiasm for the book shine through in your review to captivate your readers.
  • Gain insights from reading other reviews to see different perspectives and approaches to reviewing books.

Book Review Example

As promised at the beginning of the article, we’d like to share a good example of a book review as it should be done by students either in school or college:

Final Thoughts

Book reviews empower students to become active participants in the literary conversation. They learn to contribute their unique perspectives and interpretations to the broader discourse. With a custom term paper writing service , learners can become true educational powerhouses who never miss deadlines.

Through critical engagement with literary sources, students develop a deeper understanding of complex themes and issues, honing their ability to think analytically and empathetically. At the end of the day, aren’t these two skills that every educated individual should possess? 

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How To Write A Book Review?

What to include in a book review, what is a book review.

Adam Jason

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

homework book review

  • Added new infographics.
  • Updated writing tips.
  • Added new example.
  • How to write a book review | BookTrust. (n.d.-b). https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/tips-and-advice/writing-tips/writing-tips-for-teens/how-to-write-a-book-review/
  • Book Reviews – The Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (2024, May 14). The Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/book-reviews/
  • Research Guides: Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Assignments: Writing a Book Review. (n.d.). https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/assignments/bookreview  

How to Write a Personal Narrative

Paperback Row

6 New Paperbacks to Read This Week

By Shreya Chattopadhyay Aug. 16, 2024

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Shreya Chattopadhyay

Looking for a new book? This week’s picks include a Pulitzer Prize-winning history of a car crash in Jerusalem, a magical realist novel about an apartment terrace, a biography of Cleopatra’s daughter and more.

Here are six paperbacks we recommend →

In 2012, a school bus crashed outside of Jerusalem, killing 5-year-old Milad Salama and six others. Tracing Milad’s father’s life as a Palestinian under Israeli occupation before and after the crash, Thrall explores “how much ... individual choices matter under a system that determines the daily routines, the course of one’s life, and even one’s death,” our reviewer wrote.

This surreal debut novel, which our reviewer Katie Kitamura called “a caustic rendering of immigration, diaspora and deracination,” follows an unnamed narrator who unexpectedly returns to his home country after 26 years and must confront his passivity, guilt and shame about leaving. It is both “a marvel of compressed unease,” Kitamura continued, and “wildly exuberant.”

In his review of this comprehensive biography, Dwight Garner called Smith — an anthropologist, filmmaker, painter and record collector whose circle included Patti Smith, Thelonious Monk and Allen Ginsberg — “one of the great downtown New York figures of the second half of the 20th century.”

This magical realist novel, which revolves around an apartment terrace that magically appears and disappears, considers “the possibility of embellishing the banal architecture of a life, of opening a physical door onto another, more desired existence at will,” according to our reviewer.

Draycott’s account of the life of Cleopatra Selene, the daughter of the Egyptian queen and the Roman leader Marc Antony, who ruled the North African kingdom of Mauretania for almost 20 years, uses archaeological evidence to put forth “an account of Rome and Alexandria at the turn of the first millennium,” Shadi Bartsch-Zimmer wrote in her review.

In early 1960s Spain, an English spinster named Louise steals the 5,000 British pounds that Henri, a former police officer in Algeria, was supposed to deliver. So begins an international chase, which our reviewer described as “a Hitchcockian thriller and teasingly, tangentially a love story.”

Read more books news:

Ailton Krenak, in a button-down shirt and a beaded bracelet, speaks while sitting near some plants.

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    With this second memoir, Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years, Andrews picks up the story with her arrival in Hollywood and her phenomenal rise to fame in her earliest films--Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music. Andrews describes her years in the film industry -- from the incredible highs to the challenging lows.

  2. Review: Julie Andrews' 'Home Work' a graceful look back at her

    If you go. The Los Angeles Times Book Club and the Ideas Exchange welcome Julie Andrews in conversation with columnist Mary McNamara about "Home Work.". When: 7:30 p.m., Nov. 18. Where ...

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    In this New York Times bestselling follow-up to her critically acclaimed memoir, Home, Julie Andrews reflects on her astonishing career, including such classics as Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, and Victor/Victoria. In Home, the number one New York Times international bestseller, Julie Andrews recounted her difficult childhood and her emergence as an acclaimed singer and performer on the stage.

  4. Home Work : A Memoir of My Hollywood Years

    With this second memoir, Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years, Andrews picks up the story with her arrival in Hollywood and her phenomenal rise to fame in her earliest films -- Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music. Andrews describes her years in the film industry -- from the incredible highs to the challenging lows.

  5. Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years

    In HOME, Julie Andrews recounted her difficult childhood and her emergence as an acclaimed singer and performer on the stage. With this second memoir, HOME WORK, Andrews picks up the story with her arrival in Hollywood and her phenomenal rise to fame in her earliest films: Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music. Andrews describes her years in the film industry, from the incredible highs to the ...

  6. Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years

    In Home, the number one New York Times international bestseller, Julie Andrews recounted her difficult childhood and her emergence as an acclaimed singer and performer on the stage. With this second memoir, Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years, Andrews picks up the story with her arrival in Hollywood and her phenomenal rise to fame in her ...

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    Homework: A Novel. Paperback - September 8, 2001. Celia Gilchrist believes that she has finally found the right man in Stephen, but when she moves in with Stephen and his young daughter Jenny, things begin to go subtly, menacingly wrong. Money disappears, a sweater is ruined, small, common-place lies escalate into awkward confrontations.

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  12. Summary and reviews of The Homework Myth by Alfie Kohn

    This information about The Homework Myth was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter.Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication.

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    Share your opinion of this book. When fifth-graders Judy, Sam and Kelsey discover their classmate Brenton Damagatchi's homework machine, they think they are on to a good thing and begin to visit him regularly after school. Alphabetically seated at the same table, the brilliant Asian-American computer geek, hardworking, high-achieving African ...

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  20. The Homework: Book Review

    The Homework, perfect for children aged 4 to 6, comically introduces the concept of words having multiple meanings, encouraging children to look for other such instances. The illustrations by the Emmy-nominated animation filmmaker, Vaibhav Kumaresh, complement the humour of the book perfectly, leaving readers of all ages in splits.

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    Book Review: I Left My Homework in the Hamptons If you were a Gossip Girl fan but always wanted to see a bit more of their lives inside the walls of Constance/St. Judes, this book is for you. This non-fiction work comes off almost as a study of the extreme upper class youth (and their parents) as author Blythe Grossberg details her time ...

  24. 6 New Paperbacks to Read This Week

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