A book critic, also known as a literary critic, is a paid writer who analyzes and critiques books. Book critics are similar to book reviewers in that they work for newspapers and magazines; however, book critics provide more in-depth analysis than book reviewers. An established book critic will be given a new book to review, often for free, and will analyze it and write an article about his or her thoughts on the book’s accomplishments and flaws. Book critics are typically voracious readers who want to turn their passion for a craft into a profession.
A college education is typically required to work as a book critic. A bachelor’s degree in English with a focus on literature and writing is common. Many aspiring book critics work as interns at newspapers or college literary magazines during their college years, and then begin writing book reviews for those publications. After graduation, book critics who have been writing about books for a longer period of time often find it easier to find work, or at least freelance work.
Often, a book critic starts out as a freelancer, writing reviews for local newspapers or magazines. The book critic may seek more stable employment with a publication once he or she has built up a portfolio of published clips. Weekly or monthly, book critics may publish new articles.
When a book critic writes a review of a new book, he or she usually tries to analyze it from a literary perspective. This could entail delving into the plot, characters, themes, symbolism, voice, and style of a book, as well as the book’s enjoyment and entertainment value. Contrary to popular belief, book critics do not simply dissect authors’ work and offer critical commentary; rather, they try to point out areas of the book where the writer succeeded and did well, as well as areas where the writing may have fallen short.
In addition to their literary analysis, book critics may express their own opinions. Book criticism is a highly subjective field, and one reviewer’s opinion may differ dramatically from another’s. Book reviews are not intended to be the final word on a piece of writing, but rather a different way of thinking about and viewing the book. However, book critics should strive to be as objective as possible.