’’Book Review Writing

and
The Memo Writing’’
A Complete Guide to Write
Book Review and Memo

- Rana Muhammad Umair Jameel

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Chapter 01

“Book Review Writing”

Book reviews typically evaluate recently-written works. They offer a brief description of the text’s key
points and often provide a short appraisal of the strengths and weaknesses of the work. A book review
typically ranges from 500-750 words, but may be longer or shorter. A book review gives readers a sneak
peek at what a book is like, whether or not the reviewer enjoyed it, and details on purchasing the book.

Before you begin to read, consider the elements you will need to include in your review. The following
items may help:

• Author: Who is the author? What else has s/he written? Has this author won any awards? What
is the author’s typical style? You must begin with information of the author. A review of the work done
so far by author must be helpful for the readers. Reviewer must review prior profession of the author.
This will explain the inclination and abilities of the author.

• Genre: What type of book is this: fiction, nonfiction, romance, poetry, youth fiction, etc.? Who is
the intended audience for this work? What is the purpose of the work?. So before writing a review you
must be clear about genre of the book under review.

• Title: Where does the title fit in? How is it applied in the work? Does it adequately encapsulate
the message of the text? Is it interesting? Your review should explain the title of the book or title page
too sometimes to make it grasping.

• Preface/Introduction/Table of Contents: Does the author provide any revealing information

about the text in the preface/introduction? Does a “guest author” provide the introduction? What
judgments or preconceptions do the author and/or “guest author” provide? How is the book arranged:
sections, chapters? You must give an account of preface, chapters, pages and topics given in the book.

• Characters: Are there characters in the work? Who are the principal characters? How do they
affect the story? Do you empathize with them? Explain the characters and their types, their
psychological state, their social conditions. Also explain why writer chose this character in this story line
or setting and what message he wants to convey.

• Themes/Motifs/Style: What themes or motifs stand out? How do they contribute to the work?
Are they effective or not? How would you describe this author’s particular style? Is it accessible
to all readers or just some? Themes are the main ideas of any book. Explain main idea or motif
of the writer explained in this book according to your opinion. Also mention literary style of the
author.

• Argument: How is the work’s argument set up? What support does the author give for
her/findings? Does the work fulfill its purpose/support its argument? Also discuss whether writer’s
claimed arguments are supported by his work under review. You should have your own argument after
you study that book.

• Key Ideas: What is the main idea of the work? What makes it good, different, or
groundbreaking? You should discuss main ideas of the book. They can be related to any social, political
or religious topic. They can be related to that particular field.

• Quotes: What quotes stand out? How can you demonstrate the author’s talent or the feel of the
book through a quote? Mention most impactful quotations used by writer that coordinate with
arguments presented in the book.

WHEN YOU BEGIN TO WRITE

Start with a short summary or background of the work, but do not give too much away. Many reviews
limit themselves only to the first couple of chapters or lead the reader up to the rising action of the

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work. Reviewers of nonfiction texts will provide the basic idea of the book’s argument without too much
detailed.

The final portion of your review will detail your opinion of the work. When you are ready to begin your
review, consider the following:

• Establish a Background, Remember your Audience: Remember that your audience has not read
the work; with this in mind, be sure to introduce characters and principles carefully and deliberately.
What kind of summary can you provide of the main points or main characters that will help your readers
gauge their interest? Does the author’s text adequately reach the intended audience? Will some readers
be lost or find the text too easy?

• Minor principles/characters: Deal only with the most pressing issues in the book. You will not
be able to cover every character or idea. What principles/characters did you agree or disagree with?
What other things might the author have researched or considered?

• Organize: The purpose of the review is to critically evaluate the text, not just inform the readers
about it. Leave plenty room for your evaluation by ensuring that your summary is brief. Determine what
kind of balance to strike between your summary information and your evaluation. If you are writing your
review for a class, ask your instructor. Often the ratio is half and half.

• Your Evaluation: Choose one or a few points to discuss about the book. What worked well for
you? How does this work compare with others by the same author or other books in the same genre?
What major themes, motifs, or terms does the book introduce, and how effective are they? Did the
book appeal to you on an emotional or logical way?

• Publisher/Price: Most book reviews include the publisher and price of the book at the end of
the article. Some reviews also include the year published and ISBN.

REVISING
When making the final touches to your review, carefully verify the following:

• Double-check the spelling of the author name(s), character names, special terms, and publisher.

• Try to read from the vantage point of your audience. Is there too much/enough summary? Does
your argument about the text make sense?

• Should you include direct quotes from the reading? Do they help support your arguments?
Double-check your quotes for accuracy.

Examples of literary fiction book reviews

1. Kirkus Reviews Ralph Ellison’s The Invisible Man:

An extremely powerful story of a young Southern Negro, from his late high school days through
three years of college to his life in Harlem.
His early training prepared him for a life of humility before white men, but through
injustices- large and small, he came to realize that he was an "invisible man". People
saw in him only a reflection of their preconceived ideas of what he was, denied his
individuality, and ultimately did not see him at all. This theme, which has implications far
beyond the obvious racial parallel, is skillfully handled. The incidents of the story are
wholly absorbing. The boy's dismissal from college because of an innocent mistake, his
shocked reaction to the anonymity of the North and to Harlem, his nightmare
experiences on a one-day job in a paint factory and in the hospital, his lightning success
as the Harlem leader of a communistic organization known as the Brotherhood, his
involvement in black versus white and black versus black clashes and his disillusion and
understanding of his invisibility- all climax naturally in scenes of violence and riot,
followed by a retreat which is both literal and figurative. Parts of this experience may
have been told before, but never with such freshness, intensity and power.

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This is Ellison's first novel, but he has complete control of his story and his style. Watch
it.

2. Lyndsey reviews George Orwell’s 1984 on Goodreads:

YOU. ARE. THE. DEAD. Oh my God. I got the chills so many times toward the end of
this book. It completely blew my mind. It managed to surpass my high expectations
AND be nothing at all like I expected. Or in Newspeak "Double Plus Good." Let me
preface this with an apology. If I sound stunningly inarticulate at times in this review, I
can't help it. My mind is completely fried.
This book is like the dystopian Lord of the Rings, with its richly developed culture and
economics, not to mention a fully developed language called Newspeak, or rather more
of the anti-language, whose purpose is to limit speech and understanding instead of to
enhance and expand it. The world-building is so fully fleshed out and spine-tinglingly
terrifying that it's almost as if George travelled to such a place, escaped from it, and
then just wrote it all down.

I read Fahrenheit 451 over ten years ago in my early teens. At the time, I remember
really wanting to read 1984, although I never managed to get my hands on it. I'm almost
glad I didn't. Though I would not have admitted it at the time, it would have gone over
my head. Or at the very least, I wouldn't have been able to appreciate it fully. […]

3. The New York Times reviews Lisa Halliday’s Asymmetry:

Three-quarters of the way through Lisa Halliday‘s debut novel, ―Asymmetry,‖ a British
foreign correspondent named Alistair is spending Christmas on a compound outside of
Baghdad. His fellow revelers include cameramen, defense contractors, United Nations
employees and aid workers. Someone‘s mother has FedExed a HoneyBaked ham from
Maine; people are smoking by the swimming pool. It is 2003, just days after Saddam
Hussein‘s capture, and though the mood is optimistic, Alistair is worrying aloud about
the ethics of his chosen profession, wondering if reporting on violence doesn‘t indirectly
abet violence and questioning why he‘d rather be in a combat zone than reading a
picture book to his son. But every time he returns to London, he begins to ―spin out.‖ He
can‘t go home. ―You observe what people do with their freedom — what they don‘t do
— and it‘s impossible not to judge them for it,‖ he says.

The line, embedded unceremoniously in the middle of a page-long paragraph, doubles,

like so many others in ―Asymmetry,‖ as literary criticism. Halliday‘s novel is so strange
and startlingly smart that its mere existence seems like commentary on the state of
fiction. One finishes ―Asymmetry‖ for the first or second (or like this reader, third) time
and is left wondering what other writers are not doing with their freedom — and, like
Alistair, judging them for it.

Despite its title, ―Asymmetry‖ comprises two seemingly unrelated sections of equal
length, appended by a slim and quietly shocking coda. Halliday‘s prose is clean and
lean, almost reportorial in the style of W. G. Sebald, and like the murmurings of a shy
person at a cocktail party, often comic only in single clauses. It‘s a first novel that reads
like the work of an author who has published many books over many years. […]

4. Emily W. Thompson reviews Michael Doane's The Crossing on Reedsy

Discovery:

In Doane‘s debut novel, a young man embarks on a journey of self-discovery with

surprising results.
An unnamed protagonist (The Narrator) is dealing with heartbreak. His love, determined
to see the world, sets out for Portland, Oregon. But he‘s a small-town boy who hasn‘t
traveled much. So, the Narrator mourns her loss and hides from life, throwing himself
into rehabbing an old motorcycle. Until one day, he takes a leap; he packs his bike and
a few belongings and heads out to find the Girl.

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Following in the footsteps of Jack Kerouac and William Least Heat-Moon, Doane offers
a coming of age story about a man finding himself on the backroads of America.
Doane‘s a gifted writer with fluid prose and insightful observations, using The Narrator‘s
personal interactions to illuminate the diversity of the United States.

The Narrator initially sticks to the highways, trying to make it to the West Coast as
quickly as possible. But a hitchhiker named Duke convinces him to get off the beaten
path and enjoy the ride. ―There‘s not a place that‘s like any other,‖ [39] Dukes contends,
and The Narrator realizes he‘s right. Suddenly, the trip is about the journey, not just the
destination. The Narrator ditches his truck and traverses the deserts and mountains on
his bike. He destroys his phone, cutting off ties with his past and living only in the
moment.
As he crosses the country, The Narrator connects with several unique personalities
whose experiences and views deeply impact his own. Duke, the complicated cowboy
and drifter, who opens The Narrator‘s eyes to a larger world. Zooey, the waitress in
Colorado who opens his heart and reminds him that love can be found in this big world.
And Rosie, The Narrator‘s sweet landlady in Portland, who helps piece him back
together both physically and emotionally.
This supporting cast of characters is excellent. Duke, in particular, is wonderfully
nuanced and complicated. He‘s a throwback to another time, a man without a cell
phone who reads Sartre and sleeps under the stars. Yet he‘s also a grifter with a ―love
‗em and leave ‗em‖ attitude that harms those around him. It‘s fascinating to watch The
Narrator wrestle with Duke‘s behavior, trying to determine which to model and which to
discard.
Doane creates a relatable protagonist in The Narrator, whose personal growth doesn‘t
erase his faults. His willingness to hit the road with few resources is admirable, and he‘s
prescient enough to recognize the jealousy of those who cannot or will not take the
leap. His encounters with new foods, places, and people broaden his horizons. Yet his
immaturity and selfishness persist. He tells Rosie she‘s been a good mother to him but
chooses to ignore the continuing concern from his own parents as he effectively
disappears from his old life.
Despite his flaws, it‘s a pleasure to accompany The Narrator on his physical and
emotional journey. The unexpected ending is a fitting denouement to an epic and
memorable road trip.

5. The Book Smugglers review Anissa Gray’s The Care and Feeding of
Ravenously Hungry Girls:

I am still dipping my toes into the literally fiction pool, finding what works for me and
what doesn‘t. Books like The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa
Gray are definitely my cup of tea.
Althea and Proctor Cochran had been pillars of their economically disadvantaged
community for years – with their local restaurant/small market and their charity drives.
Until they are found guilty of fraud for stealing and keeping most of the money they
raised and sent to jail. Now disgraced, their entire family is suffering the consequences,
specially their twin teenage daughters Baby Vi and Kim. To complicate matters even
more: Kim was actually the one to call the police on her parents after yet another fight
with her mother. […]

Examples of children’s and YA fiction book reviews

1. The Book Hookup reviews Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give:

♥ Quick Thoughts and Rating: 5 stars! I can‘t imagine how challenging it would be to
tackle the voice of a movement like Black Lives Matter, but I do know that Thomas did it
with a finesse only a talented author like herself possibly could. With an unapologetically
realistic delivery packed with emotion, The Hate U Give is a crucially important portrayal
of the difficulties minorities face in our country every single day. I have no doubt that this
book will be met with resistance by some (possibly many) and slapped with a
―controversial‖ label, but if you‘ve ever wondered what it was like to walk in a POC‘s
shoes, then I feel like this is an unflinchingly honest place to start.

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In Angie Thomas‘s debut novel, Starr Carter bursts on to the YA scene with both heart-
wrecking and heartwarming sincerity. This author is definitely one to watch.
♥ Review: The hype around this book has been unquestionable and, admittedly, that
made me both eager to get my hands on it and terrified to read it. I mean, what if I was
to be the one person that didn‘t love it as much as others? (That seems silly now
because of how truly mesmerizing THUG was in the most heartbreakingly realistic way.)
However, with the relevancy of its summary in regards to the unjust predicaments POC
currently face in the US, I knew this one was a must-read, so I was ready to set my
fears aside and dive in. That said, I had an altogether more personal, ulterior motive for
wanting to read this book. […]

2. The New York Times reviews Melissa Albert’s The Hazel Wood:

Alice Crewe (a last name she‘s chosen for herself) is a fairy tale legacy: the
granddaughter of Althea Proserpine, author of a collection of dark-as-night fairy tales
called ―Tales From the Hinterland.‖ The book has a cult following, and though Alice has
never met her grandmother, she‘s learned a little about her through internet research.
She hasn‘t read the stories, because her mother, Ella Proserpine, forbids it.
Alice and Ella have moved from place to place in an attempt to avoid the ―bad luck‖ that
seems to follow them. Weird things have happened. As a child, Alice was kidnapped by
a man who took her on a road trip to find her grandmother; he was stopped by the
police before they did so. When at 17 she sees that man again, unchanged despite the
years, Alice panics. Then Ella goes missing, and Alice turns to Ellery Finch, a
schoolmate who‘s an Althea Proserpine superfan, for help in tracking down her mother.
Not only has Finch read every fairy tale in the collection, but handily, he remembers
them, sharing them with Alice as they journey to the mysterious Hazel Wood, the estate
of her now-dead grandmother, where they hope to find Ella.
―The Hazel Wood‖ starts out strange and gets stranger, in the best way possible. (The
fairy stories Finch relays, which Albert includes as their own chapters, are as creepy
and evocative as you‘d hope.) Albert seamlessly combines contemporary realism with
fantasy, blurring the edges in a way that highlights that place where stories and real life
convene, where magic contains truth and the world as it appears is false, where just
about anything can happen, particularly in the pages of a very good book. It‘s a
captivating debut. […]

3. James reviews Margaret Wise Brown’s Goodnight, Moon on Goodreads:

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown is one of the books that followers of my blog
voted as a must-read for our Children's Book August 2018 Readathon. Come check it
out and join the next few weeks!

This picture book was such a delight. I hadn't remembered reading it when I was a child,
but it might have been read to me... either way, it was like a whole new experience! It's
always so difficult to convince a child to fall asleep at night. I don't have kids, but I do
have a 5-month-old puppy who whines for 5 minutes every night when he goes in his
cage/crate (hopefully he'll be fully housebroken soon so he can roam around when he
wants). I can only imagine! I babysat a lot as a teenager and I have tons of younger
cousins, nieces, and nephews, so I've been through it before, too. This was a believable
experience, and it really helps show kids how to relax and just let go when it's time to
sleep.
The bunny's are adorable. The rhymes are exquisite. I found it pretty fun, but possibly a
little dated given many of those things aren't normal routines anymore. But the lessons
to take from it are still powerful. Loved it! I want to sample some more books by this fine
author and her illustrators.

4. Publishers Weekly reviews Elizabeth Lilly’s Geraldine:

This funny, thoroughly accomplished debut opens with two words: ―I‘m moving.‖ They‘re
spoken by the title character while she swoons across her family‘s ottoman, and
because Geraldine is a giraffe, her full-on melancholy mode is quite a spectacle. But
while Geraldine may be a drama queen (even her mother says so), it won‘t take readers

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long to warm up to her. The move takes Geraldine from Giraffe City, where everyone is
like her, to a new school, where everyone else is human. Suddenly, the former extrovert
becomes ―That Giraffe Girl,‖ and all she wants to do is hide, which is pretty much
impossible. ―Even my voice tries to hide,‖ she says, in the book‘s most poignant
moment. ―It‘s gotten quiet and whispery.‖ Then she meets Cassie, who, though human,
is also an outlier (―I‘m that girl who wears glasses and likes MATH and always
organizes her food‖), and things begin to look up.
Lilly‘s watercolor-and-ink drawings are as vividly comic and emotionally astute as her
writing; just when readers think there are no more ways for Geraldine to contort her long
neck, this highly promising talent comes up with something new.

Examples of genre fiction book reviews

1. Karlyn P reviews Nora Roberts’ Dark Witch, a paranormal romance novel,
on Goodreads:

4 stars. Great world-building, weak romance, but still worth the read.
I hesitate to describe this book as a 'romance' novel simply because the book spent little
time actually exploring the romance between Iona and Boyle. Sure, there IS a romance
in this novel. Sprinkled throughout the book are a few scenes where Iona and Boyle
meet, chat, wink at each, flirt some more, sleep together, have a misunderstanding,
make up, and then profess their undying love. Very formulaic stuff, and all woven
around the more important parts of this book.

The meat of this book is far more focused on the story of the Dark witch and her
magically-gifted descendants living in Ireland. Despite being weak on the romance, I
really enjoyed it. I think the book is probably better for it, because the romance itself
was pretty lackluster stuff.

I absolutely plan to stick with this series as I enjoyed the world building, loved the
Ireland setting, and was intrigued by all of the secondary characters. However, If you
read Nora Roberts strictly for the romance scenes, this one might disappoint. But if you
enjoy a solid background story with some dark magic and prophesies, you might enjoy it
as much as I did.
I listened to this one on audio, and felt the narration was excellent.

2. Emily May reviews R.F. Kuang’s The Poppy Wars, an epic fantasy novel, on
Goodreads:

―But I warn you, little warrior. The price of power is pain.‖

Holy hell, what did I just read??
 A fantasy military school
 A rich world based on modern Chinese history
 Shamans and gods
 Detailed characterization leading to unforgettable characters
 Adorable, opium-smoking mentors

That's a basic list, but this book is all of that and SO MUCH MORE. I know 100% that
The Poppy War will be one of my best reads of 2018.

Isn't it just so great when you find one of those books that completely drags you in,
makes you fall in love with the characters, and demands that you sit on the edge of your
seat for every horrific, nail-biting moment of it? This is one of those books for me. And I
must issue a serious content warning: this book explores some very dark themes.
Proceed with caution (or not at all) if you are particularly sensitive to scenes of war, drug
use and addiction, genocide, racism, sexism, ableism, self-harm, torture, and rape (off-
page but extremely horrific).

Because, despite the fairly innocuous first 200 pages, the title speaks the truth: this is a
book about war. All of its horrors and atrocities. It is not sugar-coated, and it is often

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graphic. The "poppy" aspect refers to opium, which is a big part of this book. It is a
fantasy, but the book draws inspiration from the Second Sino-Japanese War and the
Rape of Nanking.

3. Crime Fiction Lover reviews Jessica Barry’s Freefall, a crime novel:

In some crime novels, the wrongdoing hits you between the eyes from page one. With
others it‘s a more subtle process, and that‘s OK too. So where does Freefall fit into the
sliding scale?
In truth, it‘s not clear. This is a novel with a thrilling concept at its core. A woman
survives plane crash, and then runs for her life. However, it is the subtleties at play that
will draw you in like a spider beckoning to an unwitting fly.

Like the heroine in Sharon Bolton‘s Dead Woman Walking, Allison is lucky to be alive.
She was the only passenger in a private plane, belonging to her fiancé, Ben, who was
piloting the expensive aircraft, when it came down in woodlands in the Colorado
Rockies. Ally is also the only survivor, but rather than sitting back and waiting for
rescue, she is soon pulling together items that may help her survive a little longer – first
aid kit, energy bars, warm clothes, trainers – before fleeing the scene. If you‘re hearing
the faint sound of alarm bells ringing, get used to it. There‘s much, much more to learn
about Ally before this tale is over.

4. Kirkus Reviews reviews Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One, a science-fiction

novel:

Video-game players embrace the quest of a lifetime in a virtual world; screenwriter

Cline‘s first novel is old wine in new bottles.
The real world, in 2045, is the usual dystopian horror story. So who can blame Wade,
our narrator, if he spends most of his time in a virtual world? The 18-year-old, orphaned
at 11, has no friends in his vertical trailer park in Oklahoma City, while the OASIS has
captivating bells and whistles, and it‘s free. Its creator, the legendary billionaire James
Halliday, left a curious will. He had devised an elaborate online game, a hunt for a
hidden Easter egg. The finder would inherit his estate. Old-fashioned riddles lead to
three keys and three gates. Wade, or rather his avatar Parzival, is the first gunter (egg-
hunter) to win the Copper Key, first of three.

Halliday was obsessed with the pop culture of the 1980s, primarily the arcade games,
so the novel is as much retro as futurist. Parzival‘s great strength is that he has
absorbed all Halliday‘s obsessions; he knows by heart three essential movies, crossing
the line from geek to freak. His most formidable competitors are the Sixers, contract
gunters working for the evil conglomerate IOI, whose goal is to acquire the OASIS.
Cline‘s narrative is straightforward but loaded with exposition. It takes a while to reach a
scene that crackles with excitement: the meeting between Parzival (now world famous
as the lead contender) and Sorrento, the head of IOI. The latter tries to recruit Parzival;
when he fails, he issues and executes a death threat. Wade‘s trailer is demolished, his
relatives killed; luckily Wade was not at home. Too bad this is the dramatic high point.
Parzival threads his way between more ‘80s games and movies to gain the other keys;
it‘s clever but not exciting. Even a romance with another avatar and the ultimate ―epic
throwdown‖ fail to stir the blood.

Too much puzzle-solving, not enough suspense.

Book review examples for non-fiction books

Nonfiction books are generally written to inform readers about a certain topic. As such,
the focus of a nonfiction book review will be on the clarity and effectiveness of this
communication. In carrying this out, a book review may analyze the author’s source

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materials and assess the thesis in order to determine whether or not the book meets
expectations.

1. The Washington Post reviews David Grann’s Killers of the Flower Moon:

The arc of David Grann‘s career reminds one of a software whiz-kid or a latest-thing
talk-show host — certainly not an investigative reporter, even if he is one of the best in
the business. The newly released movie of his first book, ―The Lost City of Z,‖ is
generating all kinds of Oscar talk, and now comes the release of his second book,
―Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI,‖ the film rights
to which have already been sold for $5 million in what one industry journal called the
―biggest and wildest book rights auction in memory.‖
Grann deserves the attention. He‘s canny about the stories he chases, he‘s willing to go
anywhere to chase them, and he‘s a maestro in his ability to parcel out information at
just the right clip: a hint here, a shading of meaning there, a smartly paced buildup of
multiple possibilities followed by an inevitable reversal of readerly expectations or, in
some cases, by a thrilling and dislocating pull of the entire narrative rug.
All of these strengths are on display in ―Killers of the Flower Moon.‖ Around the turn of
the 20th century, oil was discovered underneath Osage lands in the Oklahoma Territory,
lands that were soon to become part of the state of Oklahoma. Through foresight and
legal maneuvering, the Osage found a way to permanently attach that oil to themselves
and shield it from the prying hands of white interlopers; this mechanism was known as
―headrights,‖ which forbade the outright sale of oil rights and granted each full member
of the tribe — and, supposedly, no one else — a share in the proceeds from any lease
arrangement. For a while, the fail-safes did their job, and the Osage got rich —
diamond-ring and chauffeured-car and imported-French-fashion rich — following which
quite a large group of white men started to work like devils to separate the Osage from
their money. And soon enough, and predictably enough, this work involved murder.
Here in Jazz Age America‘s most isolated of locales, dozens or even hundreds of
Osage in possession of great fortunes — and of the potential for even greater fortunes
in the future — were dispatched by poison, by gunshot and by dynamite. […]

2. Stacked Books reviews Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers:

I‘ve heard a lot of great things about Malcolm Gladwell‘s writing. Friends and co-workers
tell me that his subjects are interesting and his writing style is easy to follow without
talking down to the reader. I wasn‘t disappointed with Outliers. In it, Gladwell tackles the
subject of success – how people obtain it and what contributes to extraordinary success
as opposed to everyday success.

The thesis – that our success depends much more on circumstances out of our control
than any effort we put forth – isn‘t exactly revolutionary. Most of us know it to be true.
However, I don‘t think I‘m lying when I say that most of us also believe that we if we just
try that much harder and develop our talent that much further, it will be enough to
become wildly successful, despite bad or just mediocre beginnings. Not so, says
Gladwell.

Most of the evidence Gladwell gives us is anecdotal, which is my favorite kind to read. I
can‘t really speak to how scientifically valid it is, but it sure makes for engrossing
listening. For example, did you know that successful hockey players are almost all born
in January, February, or March? Kids born during these months are older than the
others kids when they start playing in the youth leagues, which means they‘re already
better at the game (because they‘re bigger). Thus, they get more play time, which
means their skill increases at a faster rate, and it compounds as time goes by. Within a
few years, they‘re much, much better than the kids born just a few months later in the
year. Basically, these kids‘ birthdates are a huge factor in their success as adults – and
it‘s nothing they can do anything about. If anyone could make hockey interesting to a
Texan who only grudgingly admits the sport even exists, it‘s Gladwell. […]

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3. Quill and Quire reviews Rick Prashaw’s Soar, Adam, Soar:

Ten years ago, I read a book called Almost Perfect. The young-adult novel by Brian
Katcher won some awards and was held up as a powerful, nuanced portrayal of a
young trans person. But the reality did not live up to the book‘s billing. Instead, it turned
out to be a one-dimensional and highly fetishized portrait of a trans person‘s life, one
that was nevertheless repeatedly dubbed ―realistic‖ and ―affecting‖ by non-transgender
readers possessing only a vague, mass-market understanding of trans experiences.
In the intervening decade, trans narratives have emerged further into the literary
spotlight, but those authored by trans people ourselves – and by trans men in particular
– have seemed to fall under the shadow of cisgender sensationalized imaginings. Two
current Canadian releases – Soar, Adam, Soar and This One Looks Like a Boy –
provide a pointed object lesson into why trans-authored work about transgender
experiences remains critical.

To be fair, Soar, Adam, Soar isn‘t just a story about a trans man. It‘s also a story about
epilepsy, the medical establishment, and coming of age as seen through a grieving
father‘s eyes. Adam, Prashaw‘s trans son, died unexpectedly at age 22. Woven through
the elder Prashaw‘s narrative are excerpts from Adam‘s social media posts, giving us
glimpses into the young man‘s interior life as he traverses his late teens and early 20s.
[…]

4. Book Geeks reviews Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love:

WRITING STYLE: 3.5/5

SUBJECT: 4/5
CANDIDNESS: 4.5/5
RELEVANCE: 3.5/5
ENTERTAINMENT QUOTIENT: 3.5/5
―Eat Pray Love‖ is so popular that it is almost impossible to not read it. Having felt
ashamed many times on my not having read this book, I quietly ordered the book
(before I saw the movie) from amazon.in and sat down to read it. I don‘t remember what
I expected it to be – maybe more like a chick lit thing but it turned out quite different.
The book is a real story and is a short journal from the time when its writer went
travelling to three different countries in pursuit of three different things – Italy (Pleasure),
India (Spirituality), Bali (Balance) and this is what corresponds to the book‘s name –
EAT (in Italy), PRAY (in India) and LOVE (in Bali, Indonesia). These are also the three
Is – ITALY, INDIA, INDONESIA.

Though she had everything a middle-aged American woman can aspire for – MONEY,
CAREER, FRIENDS, HUSBAND; Elizabeth was not happy in her life, she wasn‘t happy
in her marriage. Having suffered a terrible divorce and terrible breakup soon after,
Elizabeth was shattered. She didn‘t know where to go and what to do – all she knew
was that she wanted to run away. So she set out on a weird adventure – she will go to
three countries in a year and see if she can find out what she was looking for in life. This
book is about that life changing journey that she takes for one whole year. […]

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Chapter 02

“Memo Writing”
Memorandums, or memos for short, are used in place of formal letters for
internal communication within an organization. These may be used in the
workplace to present information, to provide directions or reminders, or to
propose an idea. Memorandums are shared to inform readers about new
information and have applications for different communities and businesses.

There are two types of Memorandum

 Informational Memorandum
This type of memo conveys information. It provides the reason of memo
and also explains the importance of this memo. It answers all Wh questions
i.e. when, how, where, why. We can use this type of memorandum for
conveying information about meetings, seminars and changes in policies.
 Instructional Memorandum
This type of memorandum conveys instructions. It conveys relevant
reasons for conveying instructions. Suggestions are welcomed here.
Problems and their solutions are explained in this type of memo.

Before you put anything on paper, consider the following first:

 Audience:- Knowing your audience will not only allow you to identify who
to address it to, but also determine the tone of the document you will be
writing.
 Purpose:- The purpose of the memo will also affect how you write the
document. Providing a list of instructions will require a more formal and
professional tone, while an announcement regarding a company outing or
party may be written in a festive manner.
Memo formats may differ depending on the workplace. Most, however,
have the following parts:

Label:- Some offices require for this document to bear the label
“MEMORANDUM” or “MEMO” at the top of the page so that your readers
will immediately know what type of document it is. However, not all
workplaces have this rule. Do make it a point to study the standard memo
format followed in your office so you can adjust accordingly.
Heading:- The memo heading contains the following details:
To:- This is where you write down the recipients of the memo. Addressees
may be colleagues (do write their full names and job titles) or units or
departments within the office.

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From:- Write down your name and job title

Subject:- Indicate the reason for the memo
Date:- Note the complete date
Body:- Use this section to provide the pertinent details regarding the issue
at hand. Try to be as specific and concise as possible.
Conclusion:- The conclusion is usually just 1-2 sentences long and indicates
what action you are expecting from the recipient of the memo.
Tips to be effective at memo writing

 Memos should be SMART – Specific, Measurable, Attainable,

Relevant, and Time-Bound. Be clear not only about what you want to
say, but what you expect your reader to do.
 Don’t use informal language. Memos, by their nature, need to be
written in a professional manner. As such, do avoid colloquial
language.
 Be succinct. As mentioned earlier, memos should go straight to the
point. Avoid flowery language and adding unnecessary details so that
your readers will know exactly what you’re trying to say.
 Present the main point within the opening paragraph. Make it easier
for your reader to understand what the memo is about by stating the
gist of it within the first paragraph. Salutations are not necessary in
memos.
 Break down the memo. If your memo is long, consider breaking it
down into smaller chunks to make it easier for your readers to
understand what you want to say. Consider using subheadings to
break down sections of your memo. If, you want to raise several
points in your memo, you use bullet points to make it easier for your
readers to understand each specific issue that you will bring up.
 Don’t use emotionally-charged words or language. Never use
emotive words, even when writing about issues such as a team
member’s poor performance at work. Doing so will make your report
seem subjective. Maintain professionalism by outlining the details
using a detached but polite tone. For instance, instead of saying that
a colleague shows “unprofessionalism”, you can instead provide
concrete examples of his/her conduct to justify your memo.
 Proofread. Before you release the memo, make sure that you
proofread it to see if there are any factual, grammatical, or spelling
errors in what you wrote. You may also want to review it to see if
there is a way for you to simplify it further to make it more easily
understood by your audience.

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How to Write a Memo

 Write a heading.
 Write an introduction.
 Provide background on the issue
 Outline action items and timeline.
 Include a closing statement.

1. Write a heading:-

No matter what kind of memo you’re writing, you’ll need to include a heading.
This section should include who the memo is for (whether an individual or
department), the date, who the memo is from, and a subject line. Your subject
line should be, short, attention-grabbing, and give readers a general idea of what
the memo is about.

2. Write an introduction:-

Your introduction should summarize the purpose of your memo in two to three
sentences. It should highlight the issue or problem and the solution you decided
to move forward with.

3. Provide background on the issue:-

In this section, explain the reasoning behind the memo. For example, it could be
changes in the budget, a company restructuring, or a new rollout of procedures.
This explanation should provide justification for the changes being implemented.

4. Outline action items and timeline (Optional):-

Depending on the purpose of your memo, you may have action items for
employees to complete or provide a timeline of when changes will take place. For
example, they may need to complete a task or provide information by a certain
deadline. This section should include the following:

 When employees can expect changes to go into effect

 What changes have already been made and what to expect in
the future
 Deadlines they need to adhere to
 If no action is needed on the employee’s behalf, you can leave
this section out.

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5. Include a closing statement:-

Your closing statement will include any information you’d like to reinforce. Are
there any specific contacts readers should reach out to for questions? If so,
include them here.

Sample

Heading (MEMORANDUM)

To: (Receiver’s name without Mr., Ms., Dr. Etc.)

From: (Sender’s name with designation)

Date: (when it was sent, d/m/y)

Subject: (it should explain the reason briefly; it is mostly explained in a single line)

___________________________________________________________________

 Explain your purpose briefly without heading………

 Explain the summary of memo………
 Explain recommendation or suggestion….

Format of Memorandum with example

MEMORANDUM

To: Accounts Department

From: Ayesha Khan, CEO

Date: 6 March, 2023

Subject: E-mail policy.

___________________________________________________________________

The purpose of this memo is to inform about the company’s E-mail policy for
using email on company’s computer or laptop.

 Please remember that email ID that you have been assigned to access
emails is company’s asset and is to be used for company related activities.
 Remember that company reserves its lawful rights to review the messages
sent or received through its equipment or its server.
 Company’s systems should not be used for non-business related activities
or for personal use.
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 Use of internet facility for non-business activities or for personal use is

strictly prohibited.

The purpose of these guidelines is to ensure that information systems that we

have invested in are used in efficient and productive way so that company can
provide best services to its clients.

Feel free to contact me in case of any query.

Rana Muhammad Umair Jameel

Email: [email protected]
0321-4844816

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