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Book Reviews

Indexes and Databases | Electronic Journals at LSU | Web-Based Sources | Paper Sources

Indexes and Databases (Resources Restricted to LSU Faculty, Staff, & Students, or on-campus connection)

Academic Search Complete: Limit search by clicking Book Review under the section Document Type.
Book Collection: Nonfiction: Book Collection: Nonfiction is a rich research database for school and public libraries, and includes general interest, high interest, leveled full text articles on civics, social studies, science, careers, health, sports, adventure, hobbies, technology, biographies and much more.
Book Review Index: Searches in this database will be conducted by a librarian or library staff at no charge to the patron. If you wish to have a search conducted in this database, please consult the Middleton Library Reference Desk.
JSTOR: To select reviews you must conduct an advance search by clicking on the link called Advanced Search. Then simply click on Review under the section called Limit To.
Lexis-Nexis: Academic: Looking at the Lexis-Nexis page select the tab Sources found in the upper left part of the screen. On this new page click in the circle before the word Industry that is listed under Browse Sources. Under the section Trail: Section that now appears, click on Entertainment & Art. From there scroll down and select Book Reviews. If you wish to narrow the search further by location or publication you may do so at the top of the page. If not simply click on the red box that has appeared saying OK-Continue. From this search you may enter the title of the book, the topic, or the author's name. Results also contain best sellers list records for the book.
Literature Reference Center: To find book reviews click on Reviews under Document Types.
MLA International Bibliography (Modern Language Association): Searches in this index should be conducted by searching for title of publication.
Web of Science: To find book reviews select the Advanced Search at the top of the page. Under the section Restrict results by any or all of the options below click on Book Review before searching. Includes Science Citation Index, Social Sciences Citation Index, and Arts & Humanities Citation Index, which can be searched together or separately.

Electronic Journals at LSU

The following is a list of journal availble through various Indexes and Databases. This is by no means a complete list of electronic journals that provide book reviews. Click here for a list of electronic journals sorted by subject. Please remember that there may be an embargo on current issues. This means that the library may be limited legally from access to the journal for a period of time. The amount of time will be mentioned with the listing of the journal.

American Book Review

Guide to current books of literary interest.

This is available through LSU Library's ejournals. Enter the title American Book Review, from there you may select a database you would like to search through.

ASA Review of Books

Presented by the African Studies Association.

This is available through LSU Library's ejournals. Enter the title ASA Review of Books, from there you may select a database you would like to search through.

Booklist

"Booklist is a 100-year-old journal, published by the American Library Association, whose core mission is to provide public and school librarians with reviews that help them decide what to buy. In recent years, Booklist has also become a valuable tool that helps librarians make reading recommendations."

This is available through LSU Library's ejournals. Enter the title Booklist, from there you may select a database you would like to search through.

Caribbean Review of Books- CRB

Includes reviews of new and recent books about the Caribbean or written by Caribbean authors.

This is available through LSU Library's ejournals. Enter the title Caribbean Review of Books, from there you may select a database you would like to search through.

Civil War Book Review

From the United States Civil War Center at LSU, Civil War Center.

This is available through LSU Library's ejournals. Enter the title Civil War Book Review, from there you may select a database you would like to search through.

Criticas

"An English Speaker's Guide to the lastest Spanish Language titles." Provides comprehensive worldwide coverage of the Spanish-language publishing market. Includes reviews for adult & children's books, interviews with popular authors, profiles of Spanish-language programs, & coverage of Spanish-language audios, videos.

This is available through LSU Library's ejournals. Enter the title Criticas, from there you may select a database you would like to search through.

Domes

Devoted to the review of materials concerning Middle Eastern Topics. Encompasses Islam, the Arab countries, Israel, & those countries traditionally referred to as the Near East, including Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, & Turkey.

This is available through LSU Library's ejournals. Enter the title Domes, from there you may select a database you would like to search through.

Education Review

Education Review- A Journal of Book Reviews. Covers the following categories: book reviews, essay reviews (English, Spanish,and Portuguese), and brief reviews.

This is available through LSU Library's ejournals. Enter the title Education Review, from there you may select a database you would like to search through.

Journal of Political Ecology- JPE

JPE is a peer reviewed journal begun in 1994 that welcomes submissions in English, French and Spanish from a broad range of disciplines and hopes to encourage research into the linkages between political economy and human environmental impacts. It is provided free and supported by the Political Ecology Society (PESO).

This is available through LSU Library's ejournals. Enter the title Journal of Political Ecology, from there you may select a database you would like to search through.

Kirkus Reviews

Publishes reviews for fiction, mysteries, sci-fi, translations, nonfiction, & children's books.

This is available through LSU Library's ejournals. Enter the title Kirkus Reviews, from there you may select a database you would like to search through.

Magill Book Reviews

Provide summaries of classic literature as well as current best sellers with 500 new reviews added each year. Magill Book Reviews are unique to EBSCO products and not available as a printed collection.

This is available through LSU Library's ejournals. Enter the title Magill Book Reviews, from there you may select a database you would like to search through.

The New York Times Book Review

From The New York Times newspaper, a collection of book reviews previously printed or found in current editions.

This is available through LSU Library's ejournals. Enter the title The New York Times Book Review, from there you may select a database you would like to search through.

Philosophical Books

Features scholarly reviews to assist both librarians and individuals in the choice of professional works of philosophy.

This is available through LSU Library's ejournals. Enter the title Philosophical Books, from there you may select a database you would like to search through.

Review of Biblical Literature

Publishes reviews of books in the field of biblical studies.

This is available through LSU Library's ejournals. Enter the title Review of Biblical Literature, from there you may select a database you would like to search through.

Reviews in American History

Reviews in American History provides an effective means for scholars and students of American history to stay up to date in their discipline. Each issue presents in-depth reviews of over thirty of the newest books in American history-reviews that are far superior to those found in other scholarly journals. Retrospective essays examining landmark works by major historians are also regularly featured. The journal covers all areas of American history including economics, military history, women in history, law, political history and philosophy, religion, social history, intellectual history, and cultural history.

This is available through LSU Library's ejournals. Enter the title Reviews in American History, from there you may select a database you would like to search through.

Reviews in Anthropology

Devoted to lengthy, in-depth review commentary on recently published books.

This is available through LSU Library's ejournals. Enter the title Reviews in Anthropology, from there you may select a database you would like to search through.

Reviews in Religion and Theology- RRT

Peer reviewed coverage of reviews of contemporary developments and publishing in religion and theology, including reviews of the latest research in a wide variety of fields, from biblical study to study of the world's religions.

This is available through LSU Library's ejournals. Enter the title Reviews in Religion and Theology, from there you may select a database you would like to search through.

Scitech Book News

Reviews of new high-level books in all fields of science, technology, engineering, agriculture, and medicine. Encompasses graduate level texts, serious scholarly treatises, and professional references.

This is available through LSU Library's ejournals. Enter the title Scitech Book News, from there you may select a database you would like to search through.

The Women's Review of Books

Book reviews for and about women presented in a wide range of feminist perspectives.

This is available through LSU Library's ejournals. Enter the title The Women's Review of Books, from there you may select a database you would like to search through.

World Literature Today

From the University of Oklahoma. Articles, essays and criticism on recent belles lettres in all the major and many of the minor languages of the world, short articles on contemporary writers and literary movements.

This is available through LSU Library's ejournals. Enter the title World Literature Today, from there you may select a database you would like to search through.

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Web-Based Sources

Book Hive: A searchable collection for brief reviews of hundreds of children's books, also searchable by category. Books may be searched by author, title, illustrator, reading level, reading interest, or page length. The librarians at the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, North Carolina write the reviews and operate the website.
Booknews: New Books in Science Technology and Medicine: Provides short review of books, no longer than a paragraph, on 20 difference scientific and medical areas of study.
Booknotes on CSPAN: "Booknotes.org is the permanent online archive for C-SPAN's award-winning author interview program, Booknotes.C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb interviewed contemporary non-fiction authors for one hour, discussing their books, their research, and their lives." From 1989 to 2004- containing 800 interviews.
BookReporter.com: "Where readers and writers click." Provides interviews with authors and the book review for that particular book, and provides various spotlights- Award Winners, Books into Movies, Don't Miss, Features, Historical Fiction, New and Notable in Paperback, On the Edge of Your Seat: Suspence/Thriller Author Spotlight, One to Watch, Reviews, and much more. An excellent source to find books to read for pleasure as well as reviews.
BookReview.com: "It is the goal of the collective energy behind BookReview.com to expose the general public to reviews of books that may, at times, be overlooked due to lack of marketing, odd subjects, unknown authors or saturation of the market. We pledge to offer unbiased, book reviews from a variety of publishers on a multitude of subjects and genres."
Book TV on C-SPAN2: Offering interviews and discussions with authors of Non-fiction books. Includes upcoming TV airings, information about the program and the author. During searches for past programs it gives the options of providing a video that is viewable from the website.
BooksOnline.co.uk: "BooksOnline.co.uk provides easy access to 1000's of bestselling books online and other popular book titles, including audio books and ebooks. Browse by category to see other current bestsellers by subject and author links." Book reviews from the United Kingdom newspaper Telegraph, since August 1996.
BookSpot: A wonderful source for book reviews, awards and more. Arranges book reviews into the following categories: famous critics, genre, newspapers, magazines, and online.
BusinessWeek: Provides the editor's rating and states the good, the bad, and the bottom line about each book. Also available from LSU Library's ejournal. Enter the title Business Week, from there you may select a database you would like to search through.
The Claremont Review of Books: "The Claremont Review of Books offers bold arguments for a reinvigorated conservatism, which draws upon the timeless principles of the American Founding and applies them to the moral and political problems we face today. By engaging policy at the level of ideas, the CRB aims to reawaken in American politics a statesmanship and citizenship worthy of our noblest political traditions."
The Complete Review: "A selectively comprehensive, objectively opinionated survey of books old and new, trying to meet all your book review, preview, and information needs". Provides a complete review and may also include quotes from various reviews as well as links to those reviews (not conducted by The Complete Review).
Flamingnet: "YA books reviewed by YA reviewers: Your source for reviews and recommendations on past, present, and future preteen, teen, and young adult books." Books are searchable by keyword, category, book title, author, or Reviewer (initials or individual identification letters).
Metapsychology Online Review: With 27 top search topics, this collection should not be overlooked. The following are the topics to search from: Addiction & Alcoholism; Anxiety & Panic; Art and Photography; Audio Books; Childhood Disorders; Children and Teens; Client Reviews; Depression; Ethics; Fiction; General Topics; Genetics and Evolution; Grief, Loss, Death & Dying; Medications & Psychiatry; Memoirs and Biographies; Mental Health; Movies & DVDs; Personality Disorders; Philosophy; Psychoanalysis; Psychology; Psychotherapy; Relationships; Religion; Self-Help; Sexuality; Wellness and Complementary Medicine.
The New York Times Book Review: From the very reputable The New York Times newspaper. Also available from LSU Library's e-journal. The online website is more up-to-date and may be easier to search from for more current items.
R.R. Bowker's BookWire: "BookWire offers reviews of titles you won't find anywhere else! We specialize in unique titles with topics ranging from alternative medicine treatments to fictional murder mysteries. Use the links below to browse and search our extensive database of over 600 reviews from January 2004 to the present."
ReviewsOfBooks.com: "Your one stop for finding multiple professional reviews of recently released books." Provides several reviews from newspapers and online review websites. Includes: Boston Globe, Chicago-Sun Times, New York Times, Washington Post, and many more.
Paper Sources: Dates and location of books will vary. Listings under Library has reflects what was in the library at the time of update. Newer editions may be available unless stated that the subscription was cancelled.
Book Review Digest, H.W. Wilson Company.: Call Number: Z1219 .C96; Library has: 9TH 1913- 95TH 1999/2000 (subscription cancelled).; "Book Review Digest provides excerpts from and citations to reviews of current adult and juvenile fiction and non-fiction. Over 7,000 English-language books are covered by the database each year. Concise, critical evaluations are chosen from 109 leading American, British and Canadian periodicals in the humanities, social and general sciences, as well as library review media."
Book Review Index, Gale Research Company.: Call Number: Z1035 .A1 B6; Library has: v.1(1965)-v.4(1968),v.16(1980)-v.19(1983);1984-2008; This is a printed alernative instead of having a search conducted by a librarian or library staff at the Reference Desk.
Children's Book Review Index, Gale Research Company.: Call Number: Z1037 .A1 C475; Library has: v.1 (1975)-v.33 (2007); "The Children's Book Review Index contains review citations to give your students and researchers access to reviewers' comments and opinions on thousands of books, periodicals, books on tape and electronic media intended and/ or recommended for children through age 10. The volume makes it easy to find a review by author's name, book title or illustrator and fully indexes more than 600 periodicals."
Civil War Book Review, Louisiana State University.: Call Number: E461 .C46; Library has: v.1:no.1(1999:summer)-v.4:no.4(2003:winter).; From the United States Civil War Center at LSU, Civil War Center; Also available from LSU Library's e-journal. (From 1999 to current)
The New York Review of Books, A. W. Ellsworth: Call Number: AP2 .N655-- Note:In Current Periodicals/Newspapers Room until replaced by microform.; Library has: v.1:no.1(1963:Feb.25)- v.54:no.20(2007:Dec.20), v.55:no.1 (2008:Jan. 17) - v.55:no.13 (2008:Aug. 14).
The New York Times Review of Books, A. W. Ellsworth: Call Number:AP2 .N657; Library has: v.50(1945:Jan.)-v.58(1953:June), v.59(1954:Jan.)-v.92(1987:Dec.); This is a printed alternative to the e-journal source.
Rare Book Review, Countrywide Editions: Call Number: Z1007 .A55; Library has: v.31 NO.1-8, 2004; v.33 NO.2-6 2006/07; v.34 NO.1-4, 2007; v.35 NO.2, 2008.; "Launched in 1974, the magazine was originally called Antiquarian Book Monthly Review, but its title was recently changed to Rare Book Review to reflect the fact that it covers printed items of all kinds, with the proviso that they should be rare and sought-after."
Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature, Countrywide Editions: Call Number: AI3 .R48; Library has: v.1 1900/04- v.66 2006/2007 MAR.-FEB. (subscription cancelled).; Book reviews for volume one are listed under author; however, from volume two to 66 are listed in separate section viewable from the main index.

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Compiled/updated by Sally Adrina Taylor - October 2008