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Where does culture come from?

Terry eagleton.

I n ​ Jude the Obscure , Jude Fawley finds himself living in Beersheba, the area of Oxford we know as Jericho, home at the time to a community of craftsmen and artisans who maintained the fabric of the university. It doesn’t take Jude long to realise that he and his fellow craftsmen are, so to speak, the material base without which the intellectual superstructure of the colleges...

Marxism is about leisure, not labour. The only good reason for being a socialist, apart from annoying people you don’t like, is that you don’t like to work.

Samuel Johnson’s Criticism

Freya johnston.

C riticism, ​ for Samuel Johnson, was female, her votaries for the most part malicious, ineffectual men. In an early issue of the Rambler from 1750, Criticism is presented as ‘the eldest daughter of Labour and of Truth’, charged by the Muses with distinguishing good from bad writing and duty-bound to confer immortality or oblivion. Eventually, worn out, she gives up trying to judge...

Johnson’s life has often been depicted as a series of contests from which he emerged more or less victorious. The diaries he left behind are melancholy, desultory and remorselessly self-recriminating, consisting in large part of resolutions, inevitably broken, to rise early, study hard and control himself. Yet Johnson was also a convivial, energetic, witty man, the cure for whose weakness (as he said himself) was company.

Women in Philosophy

Sophie smith.

W omen in philosophy ​ have always needed a special stroke of luck. Like men, they have usually had to be well-born, well-off, talented and – in the European tradition at least – white. But most women philosophers before the late 20th century needed something more: access to a man who held the uncommon view that women – or at least certain women – could be serious...

Whenever I read claims about ‘forgotten women’, I want to ask: ‘By whom?’ Feminists? Society? The ‘culture’? And why ‘forgotten’? Forgetting presupposes something once known, but the general ‘we’ who have ‘forgotten’ these women are also the ‘we’ who were not taught them in the first place. 

Militant Constitutionalism

Martin loughlin.

I n ​ 1831, a young French aristocrat, charged by his government with reporting on American prison conditions, spent the year travelling in the United States. Alexis de Tocqueville’s inquiries into the penitentiary and its ideological underpinnings led him also to think about the character of the political regime. He published his reflections as Democracy in America (1835). Tocqueville...

Democracies implode when the authoritarian tendencies of the leaders of mainstream political parties are not reined in by constitutional mechanisms that are supposed to impose checks. 

Three Genocides

Eyal weizman.

O n 11 January ​, at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, South Africa argued that Israel’s actions in Gaza have been ‘genocidal in character’, since ‘they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnic group.’ Lawyers cited the killing of 23,000 Palestinians (the number is now more...

On 13 January, the president of Namibia, Hage Geingob, rebuked Germany, arguing that it ‘cannot morally express commitment to the UN Convention on Genocide while supporting the equivalent of a holocaust and genocide in Gaza’. He added that ‘the German government is yet to fully atone for the genocide it committed on Namibian soil.’

At Columbia

Bruce robbins.

It’s the first time the police have been invited onto Columbia’s campus since 1968. Like 1968, 2024 may go down as an inauspicious year for university administrations trying to defend the indefensible.

In the latest issue

25 april 2024.

• Terry Eagleton: Where does culture come from?
• Jorie Graham: ‘No One Today’
• Sophie Smith: Women in Philosophy
• Alexandra Walsham: Atheistical Thoughts
• Tom Crewe: Pratt and Smith
• Emily LaBarge: At the Perimeter
• Martin Loughlin: Militant Constitutionalism
• Alexander Clapp: Montenegro’s Pivot
• Chris Lintott: Short Cuts
• Greg Afinogenov: Russia in Central Asia
• Susannah Clapp: On Pockets
• Tim Parks: On Hisham Matar
• Michael Wood: At the Movies
• John Kerrigan: Famous Seamus
• Charles Hope: Above the Altar
• Freya Johnston: Samuel Johnson’s Criticism
• Christopher Siwicki: At the Capitoline Museums
• Nicole Flattery: Patrick deWitt’s Dioramas
• Eyal Weizman: Diary

Don’t take our word for it

Subscribe to the  LRB  – perfect for anyone with an interest in history, politics, literature and the arts.

Famous Seamus

John kerrigan.

T owards ​ the end of 1997, Seamus Heaney wrote to his friend Derek Mahon from Magdalen College, Oxford. ‘ Amigo , Here briefly, at the fall of the leaf,’ he began, archly but affably. ‘The deer-park misty, the choir angelic, the heart aswim.’ Mahon had just published The Yellow Book , a collection of long-lined, sophisticated poems steeped in Baudelaire and the fin de...

As Seamus Heaney’s fame grew, and ‘the N-word’ (Nobel) added lustre, he attracted intrusive commentary. There were ‘feminist uppercuts’ and ‘Marxist flesh wounds’ from the academics. The mid-life letters are genial but often let slip how wary and frazzled he felt.

Russia in Central Asia

Greg afinogenov.

I t’s ​ a crowded field , but the most unsubtle of all 19th-century Russian paintings might be Vasily Vereshchagin’s 1871 canvas The Apotheosis of War . In an arid landscape, a towering pyramid of human skulls is being picked over by crows, with ruined Islamicate architecture in the background. This heavy-metal album cover avant la lettre was dedicated ‘to all great conquerors,...

Though people like Vasily Vereshchagin often castigated the British for the arrogance and cruelty of their brand of imperialism, in practice the Russians were no better. Clichés such as Russia being ‘between East and West’ were propaganda aimed at spreading the idea of a kinder, gentler empire closer to its subjects than the British were to Indians or Africans.

Montenegro’s Pivot

Alexander clapp.

I n August ​ 2011, a Montenegrin sailor called Goran Radoman fled the scene of a late-night car crash in Havana. He was arrested three months later at José Martí International Airport and sentenced to seven years in prison for manslaughter. According to the Serbian TV channel Insajder , the highest levels of the Serbian state lobbied the Cuban government for Radoman’s...

More than anywhere else in Europe, and in ways that may only be comparable to Central America, the cartels in Montenegro today are indistinguishable from the state.

‘The Delinquents’

Michael wood.

R odrigo Moreno’s ​ The Delinquents has taken a while to reach us. Its premiere was at Cannes in May 2023. The fate of the film imitates, in a way, its main theme. It’s about getting lost, or not getting lost enough. It has been described as a heist movie and a comedy. These labels are appropriate only if every bank robbery is a heist, and if we call films comedies when we...

Rodrigo Moreno’s​ The Delinquents has been described as a heist movie and a comedy. These labels are appropriate only if every bank robbery is a heist, and if we call films comedies when we can’t think of another word to describe them.

Patrick deWitt’s Dioramas

Nicole flattery.

P atrick deWitt ​ is the sort of writer you imagine checking his emails on an old desktop computer in the library. His five deceptively simple novels suggest pleasant, old-fashioned things. They hinge on traditional plot devices – misunderstandings, a letter delivered or undelivered, a chance meeting. There is no modern technology here. In deWitt’s first novel, Ablutions (2009),...

Like good theatre, Patrick deWitt's fiction is full of dialogue, quick, eventful, nimble. Then there is the life-altering incident, which is always a monologue delivered centre-stage and projected to the cheap seats in the back.

Pratt and Smith

I t is not ​ a coincidence that the quality of writers in Parliament has declined along with the quality of the political class – most of its contemporary representatives are poor at speaking and reasoning, with no sign of what Denis Healey called a ‘hinterland’ – and that this has been simultaneous with a collapse in respect. Is Chris Bryant an exception? Labour MP for...

Mrs Berkshire went swiftly upstairs and put a bold eye to the keyhole. When she did, she saw that Pratt and Smith’s trousers were down. Later, in court, she confirmed that she had seen both men’s private parts. ‘Laying down?’ she was asked. ‘Or in a state of erection?’

Christopher Siwicki

N ot ​ many artists merit an exhibition where none of their work is on display. But for the masters of classical Greece there is little choice: most of their paintings and sculptures have been lost or destroyed and what we know of them comes from the descriptions and copies of later generations. Fidia , at the Capitoline Museums in Rome until 5 May, is the first exhibition dedicated to the...

The Parthenon was Pericles’ great project. Phidias’ role in its construction isn’t clear; Plutarch says that the architects were Callicrates and Ictinus. Phidias is sometimes cast as a works supervisor, project manager or, as the Capitoline exhibition has it, ‘artistic director’. But it’s impossible to know which elements he ‘directed’, let alone whether he carved any of it himself.

On Shuvinai Ashoona

Emily labarge.

A blue creature ​ – part platypus, part squid, part amorphous squiggle – scuttles behind a pale three-headed figure with one webbed foot. A naked human form being consumed by (or is it wearing? becoming one with?) a large orange octopus stands with an empty box of Kellogg’s cornflakes under one bare foot. A red-haired figure, placid face peeking out of its raised parka hood,...

Inuit art as we know it – though often assumed to be an ancient cultural tradition – is a product of the 20th century. Its imagery, however, is a complex fusion of old and new, of the pre-colonial and post-colonial, of the human world and the spirit world, of interior and exterior life. In Inuit culture, the seen and the unseen co-exist.

Susannah Clapp

W hen I complain ​ it is sexist, the men on the door think I am having a laugh. Every week before being allowed into a theatre I have to prove I’m not dangerous by opening my bag for inspection. Meanwhile my male companion is invariably waved through – though that bulge in his pocket could be a knife.

Thanks to Hannah Carlson, I now regard this ritual as part of a widespread garment...

Routinely sewn into male but not into female clothing, they have helped men make their way through the world, fully equipped, as if they were armoured vehicles or portable garden sheds.

From the blog

In brussels, erin l. thompson.

‘Why are you crying, habibi?’ Mansoor Adayfi asked the elephant. He had got into the habit of talking to animals at Guantánamo Bay. Held  . . .

Helen Vendler 1933-2024

‘It is Vendler’s supreme critical virtue,’ Tom Paulin wrote in the LRB in 1998, reviewing Helen Vendler’s book The Art of Shakespeare’s  . . .

Legal Fiction

Nicholas reed langen.

‘The Rwanda bill is a legal fiction that makes the law look like an ass,’ Lord Anderson KC said in the final debate on the Safety of Rwanda  . . .

It’s the first time the police have been invited onto Columbia’s campus since 1968. Like 1968, 2024 may go down as an inauspicious year for  . . .

Miranda Seymour

In Merchant Ivory’s 1981 adaptation of Jean Rhys’s first novel, Quartet (1928), Alan Bates and Maggie Smith play a predatory expatriate couple  . . .

Interests at Work

Rebekah diski.

There is always a tension between a union’s bread-and-butter role to protect its members’ jobs and the wider role that some unions, at some  . . .

Olivia Giovetti

Last Friday afternoon, shortly after the Palestinian writer and researcher Salman Abu Sitta had said that ‘the voice of the victim is silenced  . . .

Brasil Paralelo

Forrest hylton.

The situation is contradictory, even paradoxical: on the one hand, the machinery of justice is moving, however slowly, to prosecute Bolsonaro  . . .

A Series of Headaches

When Michael Dobson wrote about the printing of Shakespeare’s First Folio for the London Review of Books, he described it as a ‘series of headaches’. When we tried to replicate those 17th century methods to celebrate the anniversary of the First Folio with our own Shakespearean print, we discovered how true that was.

In this film, letterpress printer Nick Hand pulls apart the...

When Michael Dobson wrote about the printing of Shakespeare’s First Folio for the London Review of Books, he described it as a ‘series of headaches’. When we tried to replicate...

'If God is a snail'

In her writing about food for the London Review of Books in the 1980s, Angela Carter found a potent subject for her unique combination of savage wit and political commentary. In the ‘piggery triumphant’ of modern foodism she saw a ‘hysterical new snobbery’ in which a kirsch roulade is photographed according to the conventions of pornography. In the history and origins...

In her writing about food for the London Review of Books in the 1980s, Angela Carter found a potent subject for her unique combination of savage wit and political commentary. In the ‘piggery...

The word ‘culture’ now drags the term ‘wars’ in its wake, but this is too narrow an approach to a concept with a much more capacious history. In the closing LRB Winter Lecture for 2024, Terry Eagleton examines various aspects of that history – culture and power, culture and ethics, culture and critique, culture and ideology – in an attempt to broaden the...

The word ‘culture’ now drags the term ‘wars’ in its wake, but this is too narrow an approach to a concept with a much more capacious history. In the closing LRB Winter...

Remembering the Future

Hazel v. carby.

If we want to decolonise the university, we first need to decolonise our imaginations. Many Black and Indigenous artists are wrestling with the legacies of colonialism, enslavement and environmental destruction. How do we reconstruct histories that have been lost or erased? And what futures can we imagine in a time of imminent catastrophe?Hazel V. Carby delivered this lecture as part of the...

If we want to decolonise the university, we first need to decolonise our imaginations. Many Black and Indigenous artists are wrestling with the legacies of colonialism, enslavement and...

Among the Ancients II: Pindar and Bacchylides

Emily wilson and thomas jones.

In the fifth episode of Among the Ancients II we turn to Greek lyric, focusing on Pindar’s victory odes, considered a benchmark for the sublime since antiquity, and the vivid, narrative-driven dithyrambs of Bacchylides. Through close reading, Emily and Tom tease out allusions, lexical flourishes and formal experimentation, and explain the highly contextual nature of these tightly...

In the fifth episode of Among the Ancients II we turn to Greek lyric, focusing on Pindar’s victory odes, considered a benchmark for the sublime since antiquity, and the vivid,...

On Satire: The Earl of Rochester

Clare bucknell and colin burrow.

According to one contemporary, the Earl of Rochester was a man who, in life as well is in poetry, ‘could not speak with any warmth, without repeated Oaths, which, upon any sort of provocation, came almost naturally from him.’ It’s certainly hard to miss Rochester's enthusiastic use of obscenities, though their precise meanings can sometimes be obscure. As a courtier to...

According to one contemporary, the Earl of Rochester was a man who, in life as well is in poetry, ‘could not speak with any warmth, without repeated Oaths, which, upon any sort of...

Political Poems: 'Easter 1916' by W.B. Yeats

Seamus perry and mark ford.

Yeats’s great poem about the uprising of Irish republicans against British rule on 24 April 1916 marked a turning point in Ireland’s history and in Yeats's career. Through four stanzas Yeats enacts the transfiguration of the movement’s leaders – executed by the British shortly after the event – from ‘motley’ acquaintances to heroic martyrs, and...

Yeats’s great poem about the uprising of Irish republicans against British rule on 24 April 1916 marked a turning point in Ireland’s history and in Yeats's career. Through four stanzas...

Collections

Marvel years.

Childhood memoirs in the LRB archive by Hilary Mantel, Richard Wollheim, Lorna Sage, Edward Said, Mary-Kay Wilmers, Rosemary Dinnage, David Sylvester, Jenny Diski, Sean Wilsey, Lorna Finlayson, Yun Sheng...

Living by the Clock

Writing about time by David Cannadine, Perry Anderson, Angela Carter, Stanley Cavell, Barbara Everett, Edward Said, John Banville, Rebecca Solnit, David Wootton, Jenny Diski, Malcolm Bull, Andrew O’Hagan...

In Hyperspace

Writing about science fiction by Jonathan Lethem, Fredric Jameson, Jenny Turner, Tom Shippey, Colin Burrow, Stephanie Burt, Thomas Jones, Margaret Anne Doody, Nick Richardson, Sherry Turkle and Rachel...

LRB Winter Lectures 2010-2023

Judith Butler on who owns Kafka; Hilary Mantel on royal bodies; Andrew O’Hagan on Julian Assange; Mary Beard on women in power; Patricia Lockwood on the communal mind of the internet; Meehan Crist...

Missing Pieces I: The je ne sais quoi

Writing about mystery, the unintelligible and that for which no words can be found by Jenny Diski, Jacqueline Rose, Adam Phillips, John Lanchester, Alice Spawls and Hal Foster.

Missing Pieces II: What was left out

Writing about obsolete objects, missing words and anonymous writers by Andrew O’Hagan, Amia Srinivasan, Irina Dumitrescu, Lucia Berlin, Lawrence Rainey and Sheila Fitzpatrick.

Missing Pieces III: Alchemical Pursuits

Writing about cognitive gaps, stolen artworks and missing the things you never had by Hilary Mantel, Michael Neve, Rosa Lyster, Clancy Martin, James Davidson and Malcolm Gaskill.

LRB Diary for 2024: 52 ways of thinking about Kafka

Analysis gone wrong.

Unorthodox psychoanalytic encounters in the LRB archive by Wynne Godley, Sherry Turkle, Mary-Kay Wilmers, Nicholas Spice, Mikkel Borch-Jacobsen, Jenny Diski, Brigid Brophy, Adam Phillips, D.J. Enright...

Gossip and Notes on Work and Reading

For the first time since 1982, there is no annual Diary by Alan Bennett. He says his life is so dull he won’t inflict it on LRB readers. If it suddenly gets more interesting he promises he’ll let us...

Writing about drinking by Victor Mallet, Anne Carson, John Lanchester, Wendy Cope, Christopher Hitchens, Tom Jaine, Jenny Diski, Marina Warner, Clancy Martin and John Lloyd. 

War on God! That is Progress!

Writing about anarchism in the LRB archive by Steve Fraser, Susan Watkins, T.J. Clark, Zoë Heller, Hal Foster, Wes Enzinna and Jessica Olin.

Suffering Souls

Writing for Halloween by Leslie Wilson, John Sturrock, Thomas Jones, Michael Newton, Marina Warner and Gavin Francis.

Ministry of Apparitions

Writing about superstition by Matthew Sweeney, Hilary Mantel, Malcolm Gaskill, Patricia Lockwood, Theodore Zeldin, Katherine Rundell, Peter Campbell, Barbara Herrnstein Smith, Angela Carter, Ian Penman...

The day starts now

Summer morning reading from the LRB archive by Angela Carter, Eleanor Birne, Steven Shapin, Tom Crewe, Patrick McGuinness and Jenny Diski. 

Summer lunchtime reading from the LRB archive by James Meek, Penelope Fitzgerald, Bee Wilson, Colm Tóibín and Rosa Lyster. 

Oh What A Night

Summer evening reading from the LRB archive by Anne Carson, Rosemary Hill, John Gallagher, Zoë Heller, Anne Diebel and Patricia Lockwood.

World Weather

From June 2022 to June 2023, the LRB has been collaborating with the World Weather Network, a constellation of weather stations set up by 28 arts organisations in oceans, deserts, mountains, farmland,...

Writing about thinking up other worlds by Glen Newey, Terry Eagleton, Sheila Fitzpatrick, Susan Pedersen, David Trotter and Anthony Pagden. 

In the Classroom

Writing about teaching and learning by William Davies, Ian Jack, Jenny Turner, Thomas Jones, Lorna Finlayson, Paul Foot, Wang Xiuying, Marina Warner and Stefan Collini.  

Close Readings 2024

In our pioneering podcast subscription, contributors explore different areas of literature through a selection of key works. This year it’s Adam Shatz with Judith Butler, Pankaj Mishra and Brent Hayes Edwards on revolutionary thought of the 20th century, Thomas Jones and Emily Wilson on truth and lies in Greek and Roman literature and Colin Burrow and Clare Bucknell on satire. Listen to all three series for just £4.99 a month or £49.99 for the year.

LRB Screen x Mubi: 'Quartet'

The second of this year's six LRB screenings at the Garden Cinema, in partnership with MUBI, is James Ivory’s vivid and rarely screened adaptation of Jean Rhys’s 1928 novel. Rhys's biographer Miranda Seymour will introduce and discuss the film with Gareth Evans.

Kristin Hersh & Jennifer Hodgson: The Future of Songwriting

Tom overton & matthew harle: john berger's the underground sea, olivia laing & jon day: the garden against time.

In the next issue: Azadeh Moaveni on sexual violence in Israel and Palestine, Julian Barnes on art and memory, Rosemary Hill on Barbara Comyns.

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Literary Review

The current issue, march 2012 issue - out now.

In This Issue: John Gray on Tony Judt’s Thinking the Twentieth Century • Elaine Showalter on the first Pop Age • Donald Rayfield on Belarus • Praveen Swami on Sharia law • A C Grayling: What are Universities For? • The Letters of Joseph Roth • Jane Ridley on the Queen • Seamus Perry on the poetry of translation • Jonathan Fenby on Mao • Richard Holloway on religion for atheists • John Sutherland on growing old • Frances Wilson on cruelty and laughter and much, much more…

View Contents Table

‘This magazine is flush with tight, smart writing.’ Washington Post

Literary Review covers the most important and interesting books published each month, from history and biography to fiction and travel. The magazine was founded in 1979 and is based in central London.

Literary Review covers the most important and interesting books published each month, from history and biography to fiction and travel. The magazine was founded in 1979 and is based in London.

Highlights from the Current Issue

April 2024, Issue 528 Richard Williams on Miles Davis * Deborah Levy on David Bowie * Jon Savage on Pulp * Mark Blacklock on doomsday lit * John Keay on Orkney * Charlie Campbell on The Blues Brothers * Suzannah Lipscomb on Tudor queens * Malachi on O'Doherty on IRA supergrasses * Lucy Moore on revolutionary dress * Sophie Oliver on fashion & feminism * Susan Owens on rural Woolf *  Alan Ryan on America's love of dictators * Rosa Lyster on creative non-fiction * Deirdre Nansen McCloskey on Joseph Stiglitz * Sarah Dunant on democracy * Oliver Soden on cats * James Campbell on Percival Everett * Stevie Davies on David Nicholls *  and much, much more…

Deborah Levy

Lady stardust.

Earth was dying. We had five years left to live. Ziggy Stardust, the bisexual alien rock star, was sent from another planet to grey, binary 1970s Britain to give us a message of hope. I’m not sure about the hope part of the message, but he really turned us on. Apparently, Ziggy was a fictional character. We knew that, but we didn’t want to know it. It’s not like we were in the mood for critical thinking as we set about freeing our secret freakish selves. Bowie understood the power and point of enigma, right to the end of his life. Narrative needs to be porous so that we can fill it with our own yearnings, desires, imaginations. It’s still hard to accept that Ziggy didn’t fall from the stars in full makeup to blow our minds. Yes, other people helped create him. One of them was Suzi Ronson...  read more

More Articles from this Issue

Richard williams, 3 shades of blue: miles davis, john coltrane, bill evans and the lost empire of cool, by james kaplan, the notebooks of sonny rollins, by sam v h reese (ed).

On a February afternoon in 1958, at the end of a session lasting four and a half hours in a deconsecrated Armenian Orthodox church on East 30th Street in New York City, a sextet led by the trumpeter Miles Davis recorded two takes of a newly composed tune called ‘Milestones’. Here...  read more

On a February afternoon in 1958, at the end of a session lasting four and a half hours in a deconsecrated Armenian Orthodox church on East 30th Street in New York City, a sextet led by the trumpeter Miles Davis recorded two takes of a newly composed tune called ‘Milestones’. Here was the first fully realised evidence that Davis was pursuing an interest in moving the basis of his improvisations away from the harmonic obstacle course of bebop – the form of modern jazz identified with his mentor, the saxophonist Charlie Parker – and towards less enclosed structures based not on repeated cycles of chord sequences but on scales just about as ancient as music itself.

The first take of the tune would have passed muster on most occasions but in this case turned out to be just a run-through, a test of pacing and trajectory. The second attempt, lasting just under six minutes, is as exquisite in its balance of calculation and spontaneity as Louis Armstrong’s ‘West End Blues’ or Coleman Hawkins’s ‘Body and Soul’, two other recordings that, in 1928 and 1939 respectively, gave jazz a shove into its future. Fore-and-aft iterations of Davis’s simple but indelible four-note melody enclose improvised solos by each of the sextet’s three horn players. First comes the alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, whose habit was to turn the blues into a shout of optimism as endlessly inventive and joyously unpredictable as a blackbird’s song. Then Davis arrives to change the weather, his phrases shaped with poised restraint and extruded with a feline elegance. Third up is John Coltrane, whose tenor saxophone had acquired a slate-grey tone that compelled attention as much as the convoluted lines with which he seemed to be mapping the furthest reaches of harmony. The three solos, so disparate in emotional temper, were linked as if by an intuitive thread, something more than mere composed source material. Unusually for the era, the track was faded out at its conclusion – not unresolved, but heading into infinity.

Liberty Equality Fashion: The Women Who Styled the French Revolution

By anne higonnet.

After they were released from prison in Paris in the late autumn of 1794, both having narrowly escaped the guillotine, new bosom friends Rose de Beauharnais and Térézia Tallien found they had nothing to wear. Dressmakers and milliners had all but disappeared from a city still reeling from the Reign of Terror. In an era of desperate need and rampant inflation, a time when even the most prosperous took candles and...  read more

After they were released from prison in Paris in the late autumn of 1794, both having narrowly escaped the guillotine, new bosom friends Rose de Beauharnais and Térézia Tallien found they had nothing to wear. Dressmakers and milliners had all but disappeared from a city still reeling from the Reign of Terror. In an era of desperate need and rampant inflation, a time when even the most prosperous took candles and bread with them when they went out to dinner, who could afford a silk dress, still less stays, hoops, acres of petticoats and several maids to sew you into it?  

The new feminine uniform they devised, making a stylish virtue of necessity, was simple, based on cotton chemises previously worn as underwear. In Liberty Equality Fashion , the art historian Anne Higonnet breaks down its creation into stages: over a period between 1794 and 1796, the multi-part formal gown became a single-part frock; sashes crept upwards from the waist to just beneath the bust; petticoats were abandoned. In 1788 a single party dress might have cost 150 livres. Eight years later, the entire wardrobe of Rose de Beauharnais, by now married to Napoleon Bonaparte and known as Joséphine, was worth not quite five times that, giving her eighteen mostly cotton dresses a rough value of thirty livres each.

Storm’s Edge: Life, Death and Magic in the Islands of Orkney

By peter marshall.

From St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, a lane once led through fields up to a small patch of grass. In the centre of this green, where formerly stood a stake, there is now a stone slab engraved: ‘in memory of those accused of witchcraft’. Convicted at trials held in the cathedral, the condemned were marched up the lane with hands bound, lashed to the stake and then ‘wyrried’ – that is strangled to death by the public executioner – and burned to ash...  read more

From St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, a lane once led through fields up to a small patch of grass. In the centre of this green, where formerly stood a stake, there is now a stone slab engraved: ‘in memory of those accused of witchcraft’. Convicted at trials held in the cathedral, the condemned were marched up the lane with hands bound, lashed to the stake and then ‘wyrried’ – that is strangled to death by the public executioner – and burned to ash. Other forms of execution were available; common criminals and traitors might also be wyrried but not reduced to ashes. Burning, however, was ‘cheust’ – ‘just’ – for witches. Yet the witches were otherwise quite undistinguished: ‘they wur cheust folk’ declares the slab’s main inscription in suitably Orcadian spelling.  

The memorial is new and was the idea of a local heritage group. In Storm’s Edge , an engrossing and near-faultless book about ‘life, death and magic’ in Orkney between the 16th and 18th centuries, Peter Marshall, professor of history at Warwick University and himself an Orcadian, endorses the slab’s sentiments. Trawling through the records of legal proceedings for the years 1594–1708, he identified ninety-seven witches, at least eighty-one of them women. As a proportion of the total population, roughly twice as many people were convicted of witchcraft in Orkney as in Scotland as a whole. ‘It is right to recognise the cruelty and injustice of proceedings against them,’ writes Marshall, for nearly all were ‘cheust folk’ – ‘simple, uneducated people, accused of crimes they could not possibly have committed yet could not plausibly deny’.

Mark Blacklock

Everything must go: the stories we tell about the end of the world, by dorian lynskey.

The end of the world is in the air. Should we be surprised? The climate emergency claws at every aspect of our lives, from holidays to the cost of food. We’ve just lived through a global pandemic. War in Europe continues, while the UN describes a genocide emerging in Gaza. The news is not good. Culture responds. Dorian Lynskey highlights some recent touchstones at the start of his capacious survey of apocalyptic...  read more

The end of the world is in the air. Should we be surprised? The climate emergency claws at every aspect of our lives, from holidays to the cost of food. We’ve just lived through a global pandemic. War in Europe continues, while the UN describes a genocide emerging in Gaza. The news is not good.

Culture responds. Dorian Lynskey highlights some recent touchstones at the start of his capacious survey of apocalyptic narratives. Bo Burnham’s 2021 Netflix special Inside ironised the distress of inhabiting – surviving, just about – a world in which we are all locked indoors. Lynskey quotes lines from the song ‘That Funny Feeling’: ‘Hey, what can you say? We were overdue/But it’ll be over soon, you wait.’ In cinema, there’s been the 2021 ‘doomsday satire’ Don’t Look Up , as well as last year’s Leave the World Behind (which appeared too late for inclusion here) . And then there are the zombies. ‘The early twenty-first century has seen a global pandemic of zombie movies, from the US and UK to South Korea, India, Argentina and Japan. Metaphors pile up like bodies,’ Lynskey writes.

Charlie Campbell

The blues brothers: an epic friendship, the rise of improv, and the making of an american film classic, by daniel de visé.

The pages of my copy of The Blues Brothers started to fall out as I was reading it, just as John Belushi entered the story. It was perhaps fitting, since his considerable talents were matched by a gift for self-destruction. Belushi was at the front of a wave of talented actors and comedians who announced themselves to America on NBC’s Saturday Night, which then...  read more

The pages of my copy of The Blues Brothers started to fall out as I was reading it, just as John Belushi entered the story. It was perhaps fitting, since his considerable talents were matched by a gift for self-destruction. Belushi was at the front of a wave of talented actors and comedians who announced themselves to America on NBC’s Saturday Night , which then became Saturday Night Live . The show, with its mixture of comedy and political satire, launched a number of careers, including those of Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase and Bill Murray.

Belushi and Aykroyd would go on to make The Blues Brothers , the focus of this absolute blast of a book by Daniel de Visé, full of incredible research and fascinating details. Originating in a Saturday Night Live sketch, the film features Belushi and Aykroyd as ‘Joliet’ Jake and Elwood Blues, two brothers ‘on a mission from God’ to raise money to save the Catholic orphanage where they were brought up from closing. It’s a film in the great tradition of Tinseltown lunacy, one of those overblown productions that go way over schedule and budget. Acquired by Universal after a bidding war, the project had no script at the outset, just two stars and their desire to reacquaint America with some of her greatest black musicians and their work – and crash lots of cars while doing so. Hampered at every turn by bureaucracy and a wayward cast, The Blues Brothers might have become ‘a cinematic Vietnam’. That it didn’t is a miracle as surprising as anything that happens in the film.

James Womack

Until august, by gabriel garcía márquez (translated from spanish by anne mclean).

The billing of Until August as Gabriel García Márquez’s ‘dementia novel’ is a simplification. Although García Márquez’s last years were marked by a falling away of his powers, and his brother confirmed a diagnosis of dementia in 2012, the manuscript was largely finished by 2004. An earlier version of the story, in a translation by Edith Grossman rather than Anne McLean, appeared in the New Yorker in 1999...  read more

T he billing of Until August as Gabriel García Márquez’s ‘dementia novel’ is a simplification. Although García Márquez’s last years were marked by a falling away of his powers, and his brother confirmed a diagnosis of dementia in 2012, the manuscript was largely finished by 2004. An earlier version of the story, in a translation by Edith Grossman rather than Anne McLean, appeared in the New Yorker in 1999. The book as a whole seems to have been put away once García Márquez realised that he couldn’t pull off his intended structure: five stories of similar length, all with the same protagonist. Readers who want to examine this slip of a book pruriently, as a chance to see the shattered visage of a once-great writer, should look elsewhere.

This is not to say that there aren’t issues with its publication, as the preface to this translation makes clear. García Márquez himself was blunt: ‘This book doesn’t work. It must be destroyed.’ In their introduction, García Márquez’s sons disarmingly discount this opinion, using a logical jujitsu that I would be proud to hear from my twelve-year-old: ‘the fading faculties that kept him from finishing the book also kept him from realizing how good it was.’ I think this is specious; your mileage may vary.

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The best book review sites for enthusiastic readers.

Book lovers, stop us if you’ve heard this one before: you’ve just finished a mind-blowing book and you need to hear some discussion about it. What do you do? Dive straight into the limitless realm of the Internet and search for book review sites, of course. 

Or here’s another scenario: you’ve finished reading a novel and now you’re searching for something to fill the void. Maybe you want more of the same, or maybe something completely different to switch things up. You’ll probably also scour the Internet for ratings and trustworthy recommendations. 

Fortunately, there are endless review blogs and book review sites that you can peruse. Un fortunately, not every one of them features a wide enough variety to help you. But don’t worry: we’ve got you covered with ten of the best book review sites to satisfy the bookworm in you. If you want to cut to the chase and get a personalized pick for a book review site in 30 seconds, we first recommend taking this quick quiz:

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Then read on for the full explanation of all of the best book review sites out there!

1. Goodreads 

It’s impossible not to mention Goodreads when discussing book communities: it’s the Facebook of book reviews — the ultimate social media platform for bibliophiles. If you’ve somehow managed to go this long without stumbling upon this omnipresent site, here’s the run-down: you can use Goodreads to organize, display, and discuss your virtual bookshelf with other users. 

Goodreads recommendations are based on your listed interests. You can follow authors and book influencers ranging from Celeste Ng to Bill Gates . This allows you to see all their reviews, which vary from compact one-liners to critical analysis, and watch the new reviews roll in. For a quick verdict, just take a look at the star rating that they give the book. 

Also if you like to browse lists, Goodreads compiles the best and most popular books for every genre. There’s also the annual Goodreads’ Choice Awards to celebrate each year’s new releases, where you can cast your vote or peruse the list of contenders to find a new book to read. It’s a site for every kind of reader, with abundant ways to comment and interact. 

2. LibraryThing

This is the OG of all online book catalogues and discussion boards — take a look and you’ll see that it’s an oldie but a goodie. Of course, the basic functions of LibraryThing are rather similar to Goodreads: there are millions of books that readers can add to their lists, as well as review with star ratings.

While the interface harks back to the earlier days of the world wide web, LibraryThing has a secret weapon that’ll appeal to all readers, especially modern ones: their Zeitgeist . This page displays the latest crème de la crème of the whole site, from the most popular books to the hottest reviews , which you can also write with the help of a good book review template . Just a glance shows that the readers here know how to read between the lines and wield their words!

So if you’re hoping to read or share some in-depth literary thoughts with fellow sharp-minded users , LibraryThing is the site to browse. (You can even access it without creating an account!) 

3. Reedsy Discovery 

Now, if you’re searching for some hidden gems to peruse, Reedsy Discovery ’s got your back. While our blog features everything from classics to contemporary hits, Discovery’s specialty is indie publications, many of which are accompanied with succinct comments from experienced reviewers . There’s no better way to broaden your horizon! 

Moreover, if casual and creative reviews are more your cup of tea, then rejoice: the burgeoning community of readers on Discovery can leave comments, one-line reviews, and video reviews (calling all Booktubers!) on just about any book. It’s a fun and interactive way to geek out over your favorite reads and discover all the coolest new titles you won’t find anywhere else.

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4. LoveReading 

Though it’s UK-based, this prolific site caters to audiences around the world. LoveReading is strictly a reviewing site, with a base of staff writers and carefully selected contributors, so you know the reviews are top-notch. The staff often give quite personal reading experiences in their reviews, which make their recommendations very endearing, like they’re from a close friend. They even offer you presents — well, if you think of giveaways as presents! 

LoveReading covers books from every genre you can think of. They also have weekly, monthly, and yearly list features to keep you up to date with the latest stellar releases, so you’ll never be in want of something to pore over. 

5. The Millions 

In search of reviews that really dive into the themes, metaphors, and overall executions of interesting and highbrow books? The Millions has got you covered. 

Written by a collection of seasoned critics, these reviews are speckled with memorable quotes, elegant analysis, and plentiful comparisons to other works — which means extra reading recommendations for you! If contemporary and literary fictions are your go-tos, then The Millions is the site for all your lit nerd needs. 

6. SFBook Reviews 

Those who think quantity and quality don’t go hand in hand, you clearly haven’t encountered SFBook Review . The five reviewers on the team here share two common and important goals: firstly, to follow the outpour of new titles in the sci-fi, fantasy, and horror genres every year, and secondly, to give thoughtful reviews to as many of them as possible.

This team knows their SFF niches inside out, so their verdicts are very credible. Still, their reviews are quite friendly and personal — they discuss other related books and share their reading experiences to help you make your own reading choices. 

7. Bookpage

Bookpage features all kinds of genres: from children’s books to nonfiction, from the works of household names to debut authors, and so much more. Their format is neat and straightforward — they bring you the volumes they think are most worthwhile, recommending them to you by summarizing and concisely commenting on the prose, the theme, and the plot of each chosen book.

In addition to this, Bookpage also features author interviews and articles that unearth the deeper themes and purposes of certain books. If you’re a true book lover seeking like-minded literary aficionados, this may be the perfect place for you.

8. Book Riot 

Avid readers, you’ve probably stumbled upon Book Riot more times than you can remember. While it’s not a site that individually assesses titles, it has lists for everything — from timeless literary giants to the top books in each genre. What’s more, Book Riot has lots of thinkpieces that dive deep into the way certain titles make readers feel — be it exhilarated, motivated, or enraged — and that’s really all you need to know when deciding to embark on a new reading adventure. 

Additionally, if you’d rather listen to discussions and reviews rather than read them, you'll be happy to know that Book Riot has a range of podcasts for you to choose from. 

9. NetGalley 

NetGalley is another platform bringing you new and unconventional recommendations. They specialize in connecting authors who are publishing to readers who’d like to preview and put in their two cents. While the database of books available here are not the most expansive, those that are featured are certainly worth your time. 

Readers can benefit most from NetGalley via their book recommendation site, Bookish , where the staff reviewers update you with their recent reads and in-depth thoughts on those reads. Along with that, Bookish also has book club kits, equipped with comprehension questions and discussion points, to help readers explore stories mindfully. 

10. BookBub

While it’s very similar to Goodreads, BookBub focuses more on connecting readers to books that might suit them specifically — which is partly why you’ll see plenty of bargains and deals promoted on the site.

Because of this promotional value, BookBub has quite a strong author community. Diana Gabaldon and Gillian Flynn , for instance, are constantly recommending books on their accounts. So if you’d like to tag along with your favorite author, this is an excellent website to visit. The only drawback of BookBub is that they only have community reviews from users based in the US, and you have to sign up in order to read them. 

With these ten sites, you’ll be sure to find your little community of fellow book lovers regardless of what your interests are. Here’s to exciting TBR lists and nourished minds!

If you want to try your hand at reviewing, we’ve got a little guide to help you out ! On the other hand, if you want to plough away at your books, why not consider the Kindle Cloud Reader ?

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The 13 Best Book Review Sites and Book Rating Sites

Knowing where to buy books can be challenging. So, here are the best book review sites to help you avoid buying books that you'll regret reading.

Nobody likes to spend money on a new book only to face that overwhelming feeling of disappointment when it doesn't live up to your expectations. The solution is to check out a few book review sites before you hit the shops. The greater the diversity of opinions you can gather, the more confidence you can have that you'll enjoy the title.

Which book review and book rating sites are worth considering? Here are the best ones.

1. Goodreads

Goodreads is arguably the leading online community for book lovers. If you want some inspiration for which novel or biography to read next, this is the book review site to visit.

There's an endless number of user-generated reading lists to explore, and Goodreads itself publishes dozens of "best of" lists across a number of categories. You can do a book search by plot or subject , or join book discussions and reading groups with thousands of members.

You can participate in the community by adding your own rankings to books you've read and leaving reviews for other people to check out. Occasionally, there are even bonus events like question and answer sessions with authors.

2. LibraryThing

LibraryThing is the self-proclaimed largest book club in the world. It has more than 2.3 million members and is one of the best social networking platforms for book lovers .

With a free account, you can add up to 200 books to your library and share them with other users. But it's in the other areas where LibraryThing can claim to be one of the best book review sites.

Naturally, there are ratings, user reviews, and tags. But be sure to click on the Zeitgeist tab at the top of the page. It contains masses of information, including the top books by rating, by the number of reviews, by authors, and loads more.

3. Book Riot

Book Riot is a blog. It publishes listicles on dozens of different topics, many of which review the best books in a certain genre. To give you an idea, some recent articles include Keeping Hoping Alive: 11 Thrilling YA Survival Stories and The Best Historical Fiction Books You’ve Never Heard Of .

Of course, there's also plenty of non-reading list content. If you have a general affinity for literature, Book Riot is definitely worth adding to the list of websites you browse every day.

Bookish is a site that all members of book clubs should know about. It helps you prep for your next meeting with discussion guides, book quizzes, and book games. There are even food and drink suggestions, as well as playlist recommendations.

But the site is more than just book club meetings. It also offers lots of editorial content. That comes in the form of author interviews, opinion essays, book reviews and recommendations, reading challenges, and giveaways.

Be sure to look at the Must-Reads section of the site regularly to get the latest book reviews. Also, it goes without saying that the people behind Bookish are book lovers, too. To get a glimpse of what they’re reading, check out their Staff Reads articles.

5. Booklist

Booklist is a print magazine that also offers an online portal. Trusted experts from the American Library Association write all the book reviews.

You can see snippets of reviews for different books. However, to read them in full, you will need to subscribe. An annual plan for this book review site costs $184.95 per year.

6. Fantasy Book Review

Fantasy Book Review should be high on the list for anyone who is a fan of fantasy works. The book review site publishes reviews for both children's books and adults' books.

It has a section on the top fantasy books of all time and a continually updated list of must-read books for each year. You can also search through the recommended books by sub-genres such as Sword and Sorcery, Parallel Worlds, and Epic Fantasy.

7. LoveReading

LoveReading is one of the most popular book review sites in the UK, but American audiences will find it to be equally useful.

The site is divided into fiction and non-fiction works. In each area, it publishes weekly staff picks, books of the month, debuts of the month, ebooks of the month, audiobooks of the month, and the nationwide bestsellers. Each book on every list has a full review that you can read for free.

Make sure you also check out their Highlights tab to get book reviews for selected titles of the month. In Collections , you'll also find themed reading lists such as World War One Literature and Green Reads .

Kirkus has been involved in producing book reviews since the 1930s. This book review site looks at the week's bestselling books, and provides lengthy critiques for each one.

As you'd expect, you'll also find dozens of "best of" lists and individual book reviews across many categories and genres.

And while you're on the site, make sure you click on the Kirkus Prize section. You can look at all the past winners and finalists, complete with the accompanying reviews of their books.

Although Reddit is a social media site, you can use it to get book reviews of famous books, or almost any other book for that matter! Reddit has a Subreddit, r/books, that is dedicated to book reviews and reading lists.

The subreddit has weekly scheduled threads about a particular topic or genre. Anyone can then chip in with their opinions about which books are recommendable. Several new threads are published every day, with people discussing their latest discovery with an accompanying book rating or review.

You'll also discover a weekly recommendation thread. Recent threads have included subjects such as Favorite Books About Climate Science , Literature of Indigenous Peoples , and Books Set in the Desert . There’s also a weekly What are you Reading? discussion and frequent AMAs.

For more social media-like platforms, check out these must-have apps for book lovers .

10. YouTube

YouTube is not the type of place that immediately springs to mind when you think of the best book review sites online.

Nonetheless, there are several engaging YouTube channels that frequently offer opinions on books they've read. You’ll easily find book reviews of famous books here.

Some of the most notable book review YouTube channels include Better Than Food: Book Reviews , Little Book Owl , PolandBananasBooks , and Rincey Reads .

Amazon is probably one of your go-to site when you want to buy something. If you don’t mind used copies, it’s also one of the best websites to buy second-hand books .

Now, to get book reviews, just search and click on a title, then scroll down to see the ratings and what others who have bought the book are saying. It’s a quick way to have an overview of the book’s rating. If you spot the words Look Inside above the book cover, it means you get to preview the first few pages of the book, too!

Regardless of the praises or criticisms you have heard from other book review sites, reading a sample is the most direct way to help you gauge the content’s potential and see whether the author’s writing style suits your tastes.

12. StoryGraph

StoryGraph is another good book review site that's worth checking out. The book rating is determined by the site's large community of readers. Key in the title of a book you're interested in and click on it in StoryGraph's search results to have an overall view of its rating.

Each book review provides information on the moods and pacing of the story. It also indicates whether the tale is plot or character-driven, what readers feel about the extent of character development, how lovable the characters generally are, and the diversity of the cast.

13. London Review of Books

The London Review of Books is a magazine that covers a range of subjects such as culture, literature, and philosophy. Part of its content includes amazingly detailed book reviews. If you feel that most modern book reviews are too brief for your liking, the London Review of Books should suit you best.

You'll gain insight into the flow and themes of the story, as well as a more thorough picture of the events taking place in the book.

Read Book Reviews Before You Buy

The book review sites we've discussed will appeal to different types of readers. Some people will be more comfortable with the easy-to-interpret book rating systems; others will prefer extensive reviews written by experienced professionals.

Although it’s easy to be tempted by a gorgeous book cover, it’s always best to have a quick look at the book reviews before actually buying a copy. This way, you can save your money and spend it on the books that you’ll be proud to display on your shelves for a long time. And check out recommendations, as well, to help you find what's worth reading.

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Links to Book Review sites at the complete review

See also separate pages with links to : Literary Weblogs | General Literary sites | (Inter)national Literary sites | Publishers

     The complete review does not meet all your book preview and review needs ? Well, let us help you find sites that can. Links to Book Review sites : On this page we have Book Review links to: English-language reviews -- reviews in English Foreign-language reviews review sites -- reviews in other languages There are currently links to   242   book review sites In addition we have separate pages for links to: Literary Weblogs General Literary sites -- General literary information sites, including online periodicals. Also: links to Online Texts - Book and Periodical Collections (Inter)national Literary sites -- Sites on specific national literatures. Publishers -- Publishers' sites in the US, UK, and elsewhere. And remember that Amazon.com often has extensive information about any book you need. Go directly to:

Book Review Sites (reviews in English)

NOTE that these links do not necessarily refer to the front pages of the listed sites, but rather only to the relevant pages -- those offering book reviews. Many newspaper and media sites (especially ones which use user-unfriendly and annoying frames) have great book review pages which, however, can not be linked to directly; the complete review refuses to provide links to such sites. Print media sources (see explanation of categories) Major - fully, freely accessible (5) Secondary - fully, freely accessible (22) Other - current, but limited archive (21) Major - registration (sometimes) required - (9) Web-based sources Aggregators - [7] General interest - (74) Genre and special interest - (57) (categories: Film, International, Law, Mysteries, Poetry, Romance, Science fiction and fantasy, Science and Technology, Serious non-fiction, Special Interests) See also : Foreign-language reviews review sites -- reviews in other languages

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Literary criticism and book reviewing is not restricted to English. Here a brief list of sites the complete review has found useful, in the following languages: Dutch French German Italian Russian Scandinavian Spanish Turkish

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100 Best UK Book Blogs and Websites

• For Reading Addicts
• Lovereading | Helping you choose your next book
• A Little Blog of Books
• Lovereading 4 Kids Blog
• The Hub by London Bookfair
• Hodderscape | science fiction, fantasy and horror books
• Travelling Book Junkie
• Teen Librarian | Libraries, Teens, Books, Reviews News
• London Review of Books
• LSE Review of Books
• Whispering Stories
• Linda's Book Bag | Loving books and reading
• Salt | Great books, all the time
• Close to the Bone
• Pan Macmillan
• Rosie Amber
• eBook Addicts UK
• Picture Book Party
• Annabookbel
• Lonesome Reader
• Books'n'Stuff ~ Between the Lines
• Federation of Children's Book Groups
• So many books, so little time
• A life in books | Book news, reviews and recommendations
• Crime Book Junkie
• A Little Book Problem Blog
• An Awfully Big Blog Adventure
• BOOKS etc. Blog
• Austin Macauley Publishers Blog
• Bookchatter@Cookiebiscuit
• Mills & Boon Blog
• CBY Book Club
• Winstonsdad's Blog
• Tales of Yesterday | Chelley Toy Book Blog
• A.J. Sefton Author | Book Reviews
• Me and My Books
• The Book Lover's Boudoir
• Barrington Stoke | Cracking Reading For Over A Decade
• Bookread2day
• NeverImitate | Trying to avoid society's pigeonholes
• Jill's Book Cafe | Bookish News
• Uptown Oracle
• Grab This Book
• Page to Stage Reviews
• Rea Book Reviews
• Stephen Writes
• CJR thebrit
• Books, Life and Everything
• Kelly Lacey & Love Books Tours
• Robin Stevens Blog
• Felicity Heaton
• Nose in a book
• Diary of Difference
• Floris Books Blog
• JeanzBookReadNReview
• The Book Lovers' Sanctuary
• Art and Soul | A book blog with a generous slice of cake.
• Girl with her Head in a Book
• Hair Past A Freckle
• The Tattooed Book
• The Queen Of Teen Fiction
• Reader Dad Book Reviews
• A Cascade of Books
• Books on the 7:47
• Bookshine And Readbows
• Espresso coco | Book Reviews
• Clare Lydon | Writer, Blogger & Creative Copywriter
• Book Inspector
• Wordy Witterings
• BookLoverWorm
• Rose Auburn
• Maggie Craig Scottish Writer
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Here are 100 Best UK Book Blogs you should follow in 2024

1. For Reading Addicts

2. Lovereading | Helping you choose your next book

3. A Little Blog of Books

4. Lovereading 4 Kids Blog

5. The Hub by London Bookfair

6. Hodderscape | science fiction, fantasy and horror books

7. Travelling Book Junkie

8. Teen Librarian | Libraries, Teens, Books, Reviews News

9. London Review of Books

10. LSE Review of Books

11. Whispering Stories

12. Linda's Book Bag | Loving books and reading

13. Salt | Great books, all the time

14. Close to the Bone

15. Pan Macmillan

16. Rosie Amber

17. eBook Addicts UK

18. Picture Book Party

19. Annabookbel

20. Lonesome Reader

21. Books'n'Stuff ~ Between the Lines

22. Federation of Children's Book Groups

23. So many books, so little time

24. A life in books | Book news, reviews and recommendations

25. Crime Book Junkie

26. A Little Book Problem Blog

27. An Awfully Big Blog Adventure

28. BOOKS etc. Blog

29. Austin Macauley Publishers Blog

30. Bookchatter@Cookiebiscuit

31. Mills & Boon Blog

32. CBY Book Club

33. Winstonsdad's Blog

34. Dystopian

35. Tales of Yesterday | Chelley Toy Book Blog

36. A.J. Sefton Author | Book Reviews

37. Me and My Books

38. The Book Lover's Boudoir

39. Barrington Stoke | Cracking Reading For Over A Decade

40. Bookread2day

41. NeverImitate | Trying to avoid society's pigeonholes

42. Jill's Book Cafe | Bookish News

43. Uptown Oracle

44. Grab This Book

45. Page to Stage Reviews

46. Rea Book Reviews

47. Stephen Writes

48. CJR thebrit

49. Books, Life and Everything

50. Kelly Lacey & Love Books Tours

51. Robin Stevens Blog

52. Felicity Heaton

53. Nose in a book

54. Diary of Difference

55. Floris Books Blog

56. JeanzBookReadNReview

57. The Book Lovers' Sanctuary

58. Art and Soul | A book blog with a generous slice of cake.

59. Girl with her Head in a Book

60. Hair Past A Freckle

61. The Tattooed Book

62. The Queen Of Teen Fiction

63. Book Bongo

64. Reader Dad Book Reviews

65. A Cascade of Books

66. Books on the 7:47

67. Bookshine And Readbows

68. Espresso coco | Book Reviews

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7 Book Review Sites That Put Your Book in Front of Readers

May 13, 2021 | Book Marketing | 9 comments

Now that you finally published your book , it’s time to gather book reviews. With so many options to promote your book and get it in front of readers, it’s hard to choose which one(s) will help sell this book and the ones that follow. Book review sites are one way to use your advertising dollars to promote reviews and, potentially, book sales.

Why are book reviews so important?

Book reviews are the social proof for your book. It lets other readers know your book is worthy of their time and money. Just like you wouldn’t go to a restaurant without reviews, most readers, unless they know you, have seen you, or a friend recommends your book, won’t pick up your book without reviews. Your first goal is to get to 25 reviews as quickly as possible. Once you reach that goal, keep pushing for more. There is no such thing as too many reviews.

When should you spend money on book review sites?

When you have a small email list or small following on social media and can’t generate the number of desired book reviews organically, you may consider turning to book review sites. It is against Amazon rules to have your mother and friends stuff your book page with reviews. So, it may be advantageous to engage readers out of your own ecosystem.

What to expect from book review sites

The most important thing to understand about engaging with book review sites is that you aren’t paying for reviews. You are paying to have your book in front of readers who may select your book and leave a review. Readers are under no obligation to leave a review, although most will, and they are under no obligation to leave a positive review.

Most reviewers sign up for the sites’ free and nearly free ebooks email list and/or social media feeds. They choose books in genres they like or will go off their normal reading patterns and choose something new because there is little to no risk if the book is free or cheap.

Who can expect the greatest return?

Not all books are created equal. Genre fiction (romance, mystery, etc.) will get consumed at a ravenous rate compared to nonfiction. You increase your chance of success with review sites using the same elements as you will selling them: a professional cover, an engaging description, and a well-written, well-edited book. Make sure you put your best book forward to entice readers.

Why give away your book?

Why would you give away your book for free? Isn’t the point to make money? Long-term, the goal is to generate income. In the short term, it may be more advantageous to expose your book to more readers and build a following. More reviews or more Amazon (or another platform) traffic may mean higher sales after you’ve run your book review promotion. Especially if you have more than one book, book review promotions can help with sales of all of your books. Your goal is to turn readers into fans. Giving your book away is one way to start.

Book review sites

The style, competition, and offerings vary from site to site. While there are free review sites available, the ones listed here are all paid sites. Except for Book Marketing Tools, all are run out of their own site using their list of reviewers. You can also sign up to become a reviewer and receive free and discounted book offers. You’ll help other authors and read some great books!

Most free book review sites won’t evaluate your book. Their Twitter lists may not be vetted either. This is one instance that you get what you pay for. Read the details of each program to understand what you are getting.

Book Marketing Tools

Book Marketing Tools has been around for a number of years, giving sound book marketing advice to its readers. More recently, they built a tool to easily add your information once and use it to be listed on 31+ free book promotion sites. While it isn’t a book review platform in itself, it does ease your efforts. And, of course, time is money. At the time of this blog post, it cost $29 to access this feature.

Readers Favorite

Readers Favorite offers free and paid book review opportunities. According to their site, 50% of the books listed for free receive a review within 3 months. For guaranteed, expedited reviews, there are three options for one, three, and five reviews. Readers Favorite only publishes four- and five-star reviews and with enough depth to allow you to pull out several shorter quotes for use on social media and other avenues.  Their pricing model includes free, $59, $129, and $199 offerings.

Reedsy Discovery

With Reedsy Discovery , you first pick your launch date and are matched with readers who give reviews in your category. You receive a book landing page and are added to their Discovery feed. The best books get featured in their catalog. For $50, you are eligible for one review. If your book is not reviewed, you can resubmit it three times at no charge. They require that you submit your book within six months of publication and must submit a copy of your ebook and front cover.

NetGalley is a way to reach a growing community of influential readers (media, reviewers, booksellers, librarians, bloggers, and educators) who can read, review and recommend your book(s). You can enroll in 3-6 month packages individually or through partners like Books Go Social (below) or Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for $199-$399 (partner prices). Reviewers request pre-publication digital copies of your book and publish reviews to their profile and to share with their audiences.

Book Raid is another high-quality book review site. The benefit to promoting your title with this site, besides its popularity with readers, is that you only pay per click on your book, and your maximum spend is capped at $60. While they don’t take everyone, they do have a few requirements including minimum page count, recently discounted or free, and not promoted on their site within the last eight weeks, among other things.

Written Word Media

Written Word Media is another popular site hosting a variety of book promotion options. Among their offerings are Free Booksy for free books, Bargain Booksy for discounted books usually between $.99 and $2.99, Red Feather Romance, New Releases for books released within four months, and a Facebook/Instagram ad option called Reader Reach. Their tiered pricing levels the field with more popular genres promoted for a higher cost. Your book gets the attention it deserves with a growing reader list of well over 300,000 to date.

Books Go Social

Books Go Social offers a variety of book review opportunities as well as ad programs through Facebook and Amazon. Their package pricing varies depending on the service, and many packages offer tiered pricing options. They offer launch packages with ads, a book trailer, cover, description, and subtitle reviews, tweets, and email placements to their legions of followers, along with NetGalley membership. They also offer 4-8 week memberships to boost book sales and reviews. Packages start at $99.

BookBub earns its title as the coveted spot for book marketing. Books are vetted, and authors compete for featured deals due to the prestige and effect on sales that accompany it. There are many factors in getting your book accepted or denied. Some of those are required, like page count (differs between categories), or not discounted enough or already discounted within a month. You must offer at least a 50% discount on your ebook, preferably at a price between $.99-1.99. Most others are subjective. You are competing with other books. A great cover and description, wide distribution, well-edited, and plenty of reviews put you in the running. While they don’t have a requirement for the number of reviews, it is clear that under 25 positive reviews won’t cut it.

BookBub’s pricing reflects the high demand for the service. Costs for the Featured Deal vary by the popularity of the book category and the price you charge for the book. At the time of this writing, a featured deal could be as low as $92 or as high as $3066. Pricing changes regularly based on several factors. Here is more information about boosting your chances to get a BookBub featured deal.

Ok. That’s eight but who’s counting?

These are just a few of the book review sites available. As with many advertising programs, success will vary based on the platform and its ability to connect your book with the right readers. Once the promotion ends, use your online presence to turn readers into fans. They will be poised and ready for your next book or another product or service.

Do you need help navigating the book marketing path? Find your guide here .

But these reviews are not verified purchases–so does Amazon still use them in the rankings?

Thanks for your comment. Amazon uses purchases in their rankings and not reviews. They will post reviews, although some are removed if they think they aren’t actually readers.

This comment makes me very hesitant to use most of these sites which do not provide verified reviews.

Hi Regina, If reviewers are receiving their books from Amazon, they are verified. However, you can have reviews that aren’t verified that are still valid reviews wherever they purchased or received the book.

HOPE TO START A NEW CHAPTER IN MY LIFE

We’re always writing new chapters. That’s what makes life exciting!

What do you think of pubby book review site?

Betsy, I’ve heard that Amazon has been rejecting many of the reviews generated from that site. Amazon’s review policy disallows reciprocal reviews and that seems to happen a lot on the Pubby site, according to some anecdotal evidence.

I found a $49 lifetime deal on BookMuffin, which works in a similar way to Pubby but is smaller. I think it is worthwhile is it doesn’t matter if it takes a week or more for people to review my books because I am not paying a monthly fee.

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

• Email Marketing for Writers - Happy Self-Publisher - […] and build enthusiasts and evangelists. Your list will likely become your first readers, first reviewers, and first to recommend…
• Build Credibility Through Writing - Happy Self-Publisher - […] are a few ways to build credibility. Customer reviews and referrals are powerful drivers of sales in your business.…
• Write a Book Description that Sells - Happy Self-Publisher - […] blogs (guest blogs), and interviews. You can also use it to pre-sell books and garner pre-launch book reviews. As…
• How to price your self-published book - Happy Self-Publisher - […] Life, or other publishing back office, you can change the price at any time. You may do so for…
• How to Get More Book Reviews - Happy Self-Publisher - […] Book review sites are a form of advertising specifically designed to encourage new readers to find and experience your…

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12 of the UK’s best independent bookshops, chosen by readers

From old tales to new thinking, gardening to science fiction, our tipsters find literary nourishment – and cake, too – at these indie booksellers

Winning tip: Deep thoughts and homemade cake, Derbyshire

Scarthin Books in Cromford, Derbyshire, is a tall, thin bookcase of a building. Its many rooms, stacked one on top of the other, have new books, old books and every sort of reading matter in its nooks and higgledy-piggledy crannies. You can lose yourself for hours. Rest, revive and continue after a break in its cosy reading room. Try a homemade cake in the cafe upstairs (when Covid rules allow) or, for food for thought, attend a talk in its Café Philosophique . And whether you need it or not, take a peek in the authentic Victorian bathroom with literary memorabilia-lined walls. Gayle Wood

Plant the seeds, Walton, West Yorkshire

Books on the Lane in Walton, near Wakefield, must be one of the least-known indie bookshops around. Situated in an old joiner’s workshop, it specialises in nature writing and gardening books – especially handy as the lovely owners also run a plant shop on site. The kids’ section is a highlight, and it’s heartwarming to know the profits all go towards supporting live music in the area. It’s on the edge of the village, and I recommend a walk in the nature reserve next door before stocking up on good reads, unusual herbs and even nabbing a cake as you pass. Laura King

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A new Chapter, Loftus, North Yorkshire

Once lockdown eased, I finally stepped inside Chapter One . Vibrant displays, a friendly smile – I knew I was welcome. The shop opened in November, days before the last lockdown. After a nursing career, Paul Jones-King wanted to do something for his community – open a bookshop. The shelves reflect a commitment to Loftus: local authors, local history and local artwork. They also reflect social awareness and encouragement to explore the world. During the pandemic Paul has split his time between selling books and working for the NHS. Online sales, click and collect and free delivery in the area mean that everyone has had the companionship of books over a lonely winter. Debbie Rolls

Hive minds, Norwich

In a narrow street in the winding medieval labyrinth of Norwich’s lanes, the Book Hive is an oasis of culture where you forget about the world outside for an hour or two. Browse new or secondhand sections at your leisure. A real treat is the way the owners arrange or display ever changing recommended titles by writer, category or themes, with handwritten notes on show highlighting key pleasure points of books. They can order books from indie publishers too. The aptly named Book Hive has a real time warp/through the booking glass vibe, and is open seven days a week, too. Nigel Williams

Life lessons, Hackney, London

Pages of Hackney , in this trendy east London area, is light and bright, with friendly staff and shelves crammed full of contemporary and classic fiction, travel books, cookbooks and children’s stories. The basement is a real treat, full of retro, vintage and secondhand Penguins from the 1960s and 70s, science fiction, philosophy and art books. The bookshop also hosts regular talks from indie writers, and bookclub chat sessions. There are comfy armchairs where you can read and exchange opinions on books with staff and like-minded customers. An afternoon here is not only literary leisure – it’s a lesson in life. Julia

Basement that time forgot, Sydenham, London

Where Kirkdale meets Westwood Hill and Sydenham Road, on a busy roundabout that boasts a Nando’s and an estate agent, stands Kirkdale Bookshop . At street level it carries a range of new books that will please most book lovers, adults and children alike. But downstairs is where the gems are to be found: naval histories, speeches by black leaders, old cookbooks with sepia photos. It’s a place to lose time and forget about the hubbub above ground for a while. Alice Schofield

Gaiety and laughter, Bloomsbury, London

Two things kept me going through multiple lockdowns in my small London flat: laughing with fellow members of my queer bookclub, and ordering each month’s book from a friendly man at Gay’s The Word . They have even introduced an online order form for those who are phone-shy, which allows you to filter by identity and genre. Eleanor

No plastic, no batteries, Ramsgate, Kent

A child entering Moon Lane children’s bookshop in Addington Street, Ramsgate, must feel like Charlie did when he walked through the gates of Willie Wonka’s chocolate factory. Every inch is covered in children’s books and appropriate toys. This isn’t about plastic and batteries; it’s about Gruffalos and dinosaurs. Everything from rag books for tiny babies, picture books, reference books, classics and yet-to-be-discovered classics are waiting for young bookworms. The toy train that runs around the top of the wall leads into an area usually used for story readings. Even older children and teens are spoilt for choice. Karina Barker

Fat tomes and flat whites, Bristol

North Street in Bedminsterr was missing a bookshop, so I was delighted when Storysmith opened. It is a real gem – such a welcoming, friendly space offering tea and coffee while you browse. It has great selection of books, and for those that are not in stock they offer a super speedy ordering service. Emily, Dan and all the staff are helpful and enthusiastic. I’ve certainly missed being able to browse over lockdown but their book subscription service is something I look forward to receiving each month. Emily Matthews

Guilty pleasure, Penarth, Cardiff

Griffin Books is at the heart of our lovely seaside town. It is an active and imaginative creative hub with many spokes: you are welcome to browse, buy online, be part of active book clubs and online meet-the-author sessions. Owned by Mel, supported by a friendly knowledgable and creative team. It is a Tardis, full of an eclectic and wide ranging mix of books – entertaining and challenging older and younger readers alike to broaden their reading journeys. Sally

Devon Victorian, Bideford, Devon

Our family favourite is Walter Henry’s Bookshop in Bideford. Whenever we visit Devon on our holidays we make a pilgrimage to this gorgeous Victorian-fronted bookshop. The amazing curved glass front is only outdone by its impressive book displays. The shop is extremely child friendly (the girls love making an addition to the chalk board) and we always make an addition or two to our ongoing collection. Plus there is the bonus that you may bump into a certain Michael Morpurgo out doing his shopping! Darren Atkinson

Glorious miscellany, Penzance, Cornwall

The walk up pedestrianised Causewayhead in Penzance brings you to Barton Books . Run by Barry Sinton, the bookshop is a glorious mix of art, nature and miscellany. Past purchases have reflected this mix: a Hokusai exhibition catalogue, the Salt Path and Rudyard Kipling’s The Cat that Walked by Himself. Presents have been wrapped in the bookshop’s kimono- and insect-inspired papers, memories written in Barton’s exquisite notebooks and Barry’s “Pick an animal” competitions have supported many local charities. Relaxed browsing, unusual stock and a very knowledgable owner make this bookshop an exceptional treat. Beverley Randle

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Why Blackthorne’s Attempted Sacrifice in ’Shōgun’s Finale Was Very Different From the Book

The creators of the series felt like the Englishman's seppuku had to go a different way.

The Big Picture

• The creators of Shōgun made changes, such as delaying Blackthorne's seppuku scene for more impact.
• The decision to postpone the seppuku scene allowed Blackthorne's character to develop more authentically.
• Shōgun rejects white saviorism by having Blackthorne's seppuku be a meaningful contribution rather than appropriation.

The creators of the limited series, Shōgun , stayed authentic to the source material, but in very few cases, there had to be changes. Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo spoke to Slate about deciding to change John Blackthorne’s ( Cosmo Jarvis ) attempted seppuku in Episode 10. The series depicts the act of ritual suicide at length in some of the most tragic scenes , but by the Japanese characters that understand its cultural significance. For Blackthorne to choose to take this action, it would have to be meaningful.

“There’s a very famous portion of the book where Blackthorne proposes seppuku,” Marks said, “and that’s a moment that carries a lot of weight. But it occurs earlier in the book, and we didn’t feel like it was earned, so we kicked it down the line to where it carried more weight."

In a separate interview with Collider , the husband and wife writing team explained that this moment would have been in Episode 4 if it was faithful to the source material. This placement would have been far too soon for Blackthorne to truly understand the context of this undertaking. Only after losing Mariko ( Anna Sawai ), his way of getting home, and his entire purpose, could he be in a place to undertake this monumental decision. Marks added that they weren’t sure if they would include the scene, but if they did, it would have to be right.

“It did eventually feel right, but I think the flash-forward structure was part of getting us there and understanding, 'What if we could just build Blackthorne's story to that point?' When it came together, it was like, 'Of course. Now it's inevitable that he would have to sort of do that.' And he’s bad at it. He’s not doing proper seppuku, believe me, but he is understanding how one can use life and death as a weapon towards expressing one's will.”

Blackthorne's act of desperation ultimately seals his fate in Japan, whether he realizes it at the time or not.

'Shogun' Rejects the White Savior Narrative

At this point in the series, Blackthorne is so powerless that seppuku seems the only option. He sees Lord Toranaga ( Hiroyuki Sanada ) submitting the village to senseless violence, and only by choosing ritual suicide can he make a meaningful contribution. The writers were highly aware of how this scene could go wrong. From the start, it seems the Englishman is heading straight into white saviorism. But at every turn, the character proves this is not his story, especially when Toranaga stops him from dying.

The lord kills these villagers for the direct purpose of testing Blackthorne. With his attempted seppuku, Toranaga can finally trust that the English navigator is resigned to his side. The scene very quickly changes course from an Englishman appropriating Japanese culture to a character who must realize he is not the one in control. His fate is to stay in Japan and he ultimately accepts his destiny. Making these small changes can benefit any story. It doesn’t besmirch the source material but elevates it. The series has become a television phenomenon for good reason. Viewers can catch the end of Shōgun by streaming it on Hulu.

Shogun (2024)

When a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village, Lord Yoshii Toranaga discovers secrets that could tip the scales of power and devastate his enemies.

WATCH ON HULU

Children’s Books

A Quite Contrary Alphabet Book Asks, How Did Our Gardens Grow?

Jamaica Kincaid and Kara Walker unearth botany’s buried history.

“B Is for Breadfruit,” from “An Encyclopedia of Gardening for Colored Children.” Credit... Kara Walker

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By Celia McGee

Celia McGee writes frequently about books and authors for The Times, and is a contributing reviewer for Air Mail.

• April 19, 2024
• Barnes and Noble
• Books-A-Million

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AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GARDENING FOR COLORED CHILDREN: An Alphabetary of the Colonized World, by Jamaica Kincaid. Illustrated by Kara Walker.

It bears considering that had anything resembling “An Encyclopedia of Gardening for Colored Children” actually existed in the days of antebellum plantation culture, it would have been forbidden fruit: Few enslaved people, young or old, were allowed to learn to read or write.

With its mordantly anachronistic title and schoolroom-green cover, the book also serves as a reminder that the segregationist term “colored,” brought to you by the Jim Crow era, which extended well into the 20th century, drew lines almost as stark, limiting opportunities for many Black children to experience gardening as an activity of pure enjoyment. Jamaica Kincaid, now as well known for gardening writing as for fiction, once put it this way (about her garden in Vermont): “I have joined the conquering class: Who else could afford this garden — a garden in which I grow things that it would be much cheaper to buy at the store?”

In collaborating with the fiercely imaginative visual artist Kara Walker, Kincaid has transposed this mode of thinking into an amalgam of erudition, discourse, storytelling and picture book art. A simple child’s garden of ABCs their “encyclopedia” is not.

Kincaid’s adult base, too, will gravitate toward it, and occasionally want to elucidate for younger readers some of its references and allusions — the H.M.S. Bounty sailing in jauntily under “B Is for Breadfruit”; the oblique treatment of Thomas Jefferson; the classification of Carl “L Is for” Linnaeus, the proud papa of taxonomy, as “notorious.” Art collectors will pounce on the book for the rich contribution it makes to the continuum of Walker’s work.

Playfulness, in its world, never comes without a price. Walker’s opening illustration, a lacy ball of greenery and graphics, is not a toy; it’s a declaration of intent, spelling out the book’s subtitle. As an “Alphabetary of the Colonized World,” the book sets about peeling back botany to display the history behind it — to reveal conquest as arrogant and destructive, economics as exploitation, the brutal privileges of slaveholding, the propagation of racial injustice. Plants are the pawns of trade routes and of encounters that don’t end well for Indigenous peoples.

The book names names, including species’ Latin nomenclatures, because Kincaid believes that the rigors of language as well as its profuse bounty have much to teach. Witness her own roots and cultivation: Born Elaine Potter Richardson in what was still the British colony of Antigua, she was sent by her family at 17 to work as an au pair in the United States, where she proceeded to launch herself on a singular trajectory that eventually deposited her at The New Yorker.

In illustrating Kincaid’s fancifully wonky entries, Walker takes down a notch the natural-world metaphors of the monumental cut-paper silhouettes that brought her to prominence — the ocean waves charting the Middle Passage; the pastoral Southern landscapes blooming with violence and violation; moonlit trees that are lynching posts.

Cunning and often anthropomorphic, the alphabet book’s imagery interpolates child-driven versions of her acidly sardonic shadow art with soft-edged, watercolor-drenched vignettes that play hide-and-seek with the letters they’re called on to represent. Sometimes, as with the burdens cotton placed on those shackled to an inhumane system, she lets subjects simply speak for themselves.

You can feel the nostalgic tug of precedents on the book. It places itself within the tradition of the pre-Raphaelites reanimating fairy tales and mythology for the Kelmscott Press, Salvador Dalí tackling “Alice in Wonderland,” Alexander Calder taking on Aesop.

In Kincaid’s view, the elements of the past we miss or regret form a paradise we’ve been cast out of, by force or life’s unforeseen circumstances — an Edenic ideal that impels gardeners high and low to make their mark.

After all, as she reminds us in “K Is for Kitchen Garden,” the luxury of a just-because garden “feeds and nourishes our souls and inspires us to think about ‘things’: the little doubts we harbor deep inside ourselves, our hatreds of others, our love of others, the many ways in which we can destroy and create the world and live with the consequences.”

The resemblance between Kincaid’s own explosively colorful, emphatically personal Vermont garden and her distinctive writing style has been remarked upon. “Her hundreds of plants,” the critic Darryl Pinckney recently observed, “are layered into a composition of informal design, expressive of her refined aesthetic and untroubled eccentricity.”

Sure enough, “An Encyclopedia of Gardening for Colored Children” has ideas looping hither and yon, the musicality of repetition, a generous embrace of idiosyncrasy, a punching up of symbolism.

Some of those redundancies and quirks might have benefited from pruning, and clarifying sunlight. As a collaboration, though, the book is charming and instructive. Kincaid and Walker are unafraid to spin the world differently and make it matter in new ways.

AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GARDENING FOR COLORED CHILDREN : An Alphabetary of the Colonized World | By Jamaica Kincaid. Illustrated by Kara Walker. | (Ages 8 and up) | Farrar, Straus & Giroux | 96 pp. | $27

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