Assignment:
Book review for Dunant, Sarah. The Birth of Venus: A Novel. New York: Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2004.
I. What's the thesis of this work? Why was it written? (What's the one really big message the author wants readers to understand?)
II. What kind of evidence does the author use to make her/his case? (How broad is the coverage? How deep? A lot of stories and examples? References to other histories? Statistics and other data?)
III. Is the author convincing? (Is there a good "fit" between the evidence and what the author wants to say? Is the treatment of the evidence thorough and objective?)
IV. Are there any special features of this work that your readers should know about? (Is the writing particularly engaging? Stuffy or difficult? Is there anything noteworthy about the author or the book?)
V. Reader recommendation? (Who will enjoy reading this book/article? Would this material appeal to most people, or is it really just for people with a special interest?)
Reviews should run 1 to 2 pages.