Book Reviews


Finding Book Reviews in Library Resources:

Online Web Sites

Library Databases

Journals with Interdisciplinary Book Reviews

Special Interest Book Review Sources

Reviews of Children's Books  

The more information you have about a particular book you are looking for, the easier it will be to find reviews.

Before beginning your search, you should know:

The complete title of the book;

The full name of the book's author;

The year the book was originally published.

Begin your search with the year in which the book was published.  In some cases, reviews may also appear in the year following the book's publication, or even several years later.

Also, you can browse book review sources for subjects of interest.



Online Web Sites for Book Reviews

ACQWEB's Directory of Book Reviews on the Web

A Web site maintained by librarians with a list of links to  book review sites on many subjects.


Google Book Search

Offers scholarly or popular book reviews on many of the titles listed.  "About this book" tab for a particular title may also include: contents, "search this book," selected or fulltext pages, references to the book from Web pages or other books, popular passages, related books, various editions, places mentioned in the book.


New York Times Book Review

Book reviews and book-related news back to 1996.


NPR (National Public Radio) "Books"

See the "Books" section of the Web site for this "internationally acclaimed producer and distributor of noncommercial news, talk, and entertainment programming."



Library Databases with Book Reviews 

Several databases that are linked from the Swilley Library home page lead to book reviews.  (To get any current Mercer University password click here to access your library record.)


Book Index with Reviews.  

A database within GALILEO containing over 800,000 full-text searchable reviews of both fiction and nonfiction books in all genres. Review sources include Library Journal, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, CHOICE, and others.


Literature Online Reference Edition.  

A collection of literary reference and criticism resources, covering literary authors and literature studies scholars.  Years covered are from 1990 to the present. Also includes records from the Annual Bibliography of English Language and Literature (ABELL) dating back to 1920. The database includes citations and some full text.  Electronic access through GALILEO.

For book reviews, select “Reviews” in the advanced search menu.


Literary Reference Center.  

Includes book reviews in addition to other major content, e.g. plot summaries & synopses; articles of literary criticism; author biographies; full text of literary journals, poems, short stories, classic novels, author interviews; and images of key literary figures.


Ulrich's Periodicals Directory.  

This database, accessible from the Swilley Library home page's "Databases A-Z" list, is the authoritative source of detailed information about over 300,000 periodicals of all types.  It will describe features within a journal, for example "book reviews."

To identify a group of subject-related journals that offer book reviews follow these steps:
1.  Click on "Advanced Search."
2.  Use the INDEX next to each search box to search on "Features and Attributes" for BOOK REVIEWS INCLUDED.
3.  Use the INDEX for a different search box to select a subject.
4.  Add any other search requirements for a list of journals in your field that publish book reviews.



Journals with Interdisciplinary Book Reviews

American Book Review

A journal that specializes in reviews of works from small and independent presses.  Electronic access to issues from 2002 to present may be found in the following GALILEO databases:

Wilson OmniFile: Full Text Mega Edition
At the Wilson Omnifile "Guided Search" page limit your search term as "Books Reviewed."  Covers from September 2002 to present.

Academic Search Complete
One of several Ebsco databases in GALILEO that cover this title.  Covers from September 2002 to present.


Book Review Digest (in print only)

Bound volumes by year, containing excerpts from and citations to reviews of fiction and nonfiction titles published in English for the years indicated.

Print holdings at Swilley Library: 1937-1939, 1941-1990.

Location at Swilley Library, Atlanta: 1st floor Reference, shelved at the end of the Bound Periodicals.  

Call Number: Z 1219 .C95

Note that Tarver Library in Macon also has print holdings for  1905-1996.


Booklist

Single-paragraph summary/reviews of fiction and nonfiction for adults and youth

Print or microfilm holdings:  1970-1973, 1979-1995.

Electronic access:
Academic Search Complete
(as well as other Ebsco databases in GALILEO from January 2002 to 2 weeks ago.

ProQuest Research Library from October 1997 to present.

 

Magill Book Reviews

Short reviews of popular fiction and nonfiction books.

Electronic access:
Academic Search Complete
(as well as other EBSCO databases in GALILEO from January 1990 to present.

 

New York Review of Books (in microfilm)

Excellent in-depth discussion of books and issues.

Print holdings:  1972-90

Location:  Microfilm, 2nd Floor, just past the Circulation Desk on the left.

Note:  Limited text is available at the Web site.

 

New York Times Book Review (also, see direct Web site, above)

Published weekly in the Sunday edition of the newspaper.

Print holdings:  Current year shelved in current periodicals on the 2nd Floor, just past Circulation on the left.

Electronic access through GALILEO to issues from January 1997 to present.

ProQuest Research Library, and 
ProQuest Newspapers.



Special Interest Book Review Sources

 

Black Issues Book Review

Book reviews and book-related feature articles from an African-American perspective

Electronic access in several Galileo databases, including:

Academic Search Complete:  July 1999 to present.

ProQuest Research Library:  July 1999 to present.

Wilson OmniFile: Full Text Mega Edition: June 2001 to present.

 

Books & Culture (print only)

A Christian review of books, art, music, and film.

Print holdings:  2000 to present.

Current year shelved in current periodicals: 2nd Floor, just past the Circulation Desk on the left.

Bound issues are on 1st Floor.

 

Lambda Book Report

Reviews, interviews, and articles focusing on gay and lesbian literature

Electronic access:

ProQuest Research Library from March 1990 to present.

Academic Search Complete (and in several other Ebsco databases in GALILEO) from January 1995 to present.



Theological Book Review (print only)

Reviews vary in length and scope. All focus on theological works, with an emphasis on titles intended for an academic audience.

Print holdings:  Current year is shelved in current periodicals on the 2nd Floor, just past Circulation on the left

Issues dating back to October 2000 are in Bound Periodicals (1st floor).



Reviews of Children’s Books

 

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Each issue features dozens of brief reviews with evaluative ratings, and one longer, in-depth review. Covers titles for preschool through high school readers.

Swilley Library print or microfilm holdings: 1977 to present

For electronic access you may specify the journal title when you search within the following GALILEO databases.  (To get the current Mercer University password for GALILEO click here to access your library record):

ProQuest Research Library from 04/01/1998 to present.

Wilson OmniFile: Full Text Mega Edition from 09/01/1999 to 2007.

Horn Book Magazine

Short evaluative summaries of books for children, from preschool through high school.  Offers recommendations for juvenile literature.

Swilley Library print or microfilm holdings: 1968-1990

Direct electronic access is available from the following GALILEO databases.  (To get the current Mercer University password for GALILEO click here to access your library record):

     Academic Search Complete from July 1990 to present.

     Advanced Placement Source from July 1990 to present.

     Literary Reference Center from July 1990 to present.

     MasterFILE Premier from July 1990 to present.

     Professional Development Collection from July 1990 to present.

Also, you may specify the journal title when you search within the following GALILEO databases:

     ProQuest Research Library from 1992 to present.

     Wilson OmniFile: Full Text Mega Edition from May 1997 to present.

 

Fall Semester 2008