Book review sources
Contents:
Printed indexes in the Library collections
These hard copy publications are a valuable source of book reviews. Book review index is an especially useful title.
Book review index Magill R 028.1016 B7245 1971+
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Magill PER 028.505 B936 1989+
Children's book review index Magill R 028.5016 C536ch 1975+
Children's literature review Magill R 028.505 C536c 1976+
Something about the author Magill R 028.52 S696 1971+
Library Databases
These databases are general sources of book reviews covering a wide range of genres.
Informit databases
These three databases can be searched simultaneously using the Informit platform
APAIS
(Australian Public Affairs Information Service)
This is an Australian database. It is not full text.
APAFT
(Australian Public Affairs Full Text)
This Australian database is a sub-set of APAIS. It contains some full text
for selected journals.
AUSTGUIDE
This Australian bibliographic database includes
book reviews. Coverage is from Jan. 1986.
EbscoHost databases
These four databases can be searched simultaneously using the EbscoHost platform
Academic
Search Elite
ASE contains many book reviews from 1984, including both fiction and nonfiction.
It contains some bibliographic and some full text records
MasterFILE
Elite
MasterFILE Elite is a full-text database covering many book reviews
Newspaper
Source
Newspaper Source has full-text book reviews from various US and international
newspapers, such as New York Times, Christian Science Monitor and Los Angeles
Times. Book reviews from The Australian newspaper are also included.
Other databases
For non-fiction reviews you could also try a database for the subject area. e.g., for psychology book reviews try the database PsycINFO.
Ingenta
Ingenta contains indexes to many book reviews from 1988.
Internet sites
Amazon.com (opens in new window)
Amazon.com contains reviews by the customers who buy the books.
AcqWeb's
Directory of Book Reviews on the Web (opens in new window)
This is a list of sites containing book reviews.
Barnes & Noble (opens in new window)
This US online book shop has links to reviews from journals and newspapers
for many of the titles it sells.
Book
Bytes by Marylaine Block (opens in new window)
A regular reviewer for Library Journal, Marylaine has collected many of her
columns here.
Booklist (opens in new window)
The American Library Association produces Booklist. It includes reviews of
books for adults, children, reference books and electronic reference tools,
and other audiovisual materials. The coverage of reviews is not as extensive
as in the subscription version, which is available online via the Academic
Source Elite database. An online index to all of the reviews published is
available at this site.
BookPage (opens in new window)
A monthly general interest book review, BookPage reviews new fiction, nonfiction,
business, children's, spoken-word audio, and how-to books. BookPage focuses
on bestsellers as well as new discoveries. There is a searchable archive
of past reviews.
BookSpot (opens in new window)
Bookspot offers many lists of book awards, favourite titles and much more.
Bowker's
BookWire (opens in new window)
Home page for Boston
Book Review (opens in new window), Publishers Weekly (opens in new window)
The
Complete Review (opens in new window)
A selectively comprehensive, objectively opinionated survey of books old and
new.
Librarian's
Index to the Internet: Book Reviews (opens in new window)
A comprehensive list of review sites from the Librarian's
Index to the Internet web site.
The
New York Times Book Review (opens in new window)
A searchable collection of reviews (from 1996) from New York Times Book Review.
Notes
from the Windowsill: Children's Book Reviews (opens in new window)
This site also has several special-interest bibliographies about Jewish culture,
gay and lesbian themes, and depictions of multiracial families.
Overbooked (opens in new window)
Formerly known as Book Links, Overbooked specializes in literary and genre
fiction information.
For further information please contact staff at the Library Service Desk at any campus of the University of South Australia.
If you find any links have changed or you have some additions or feedback please contact LBY-EASS-DivLibrarians@unisa.edu.au