Intelligent, interesting book reviews (londonbookreview.com)

Member Name: pan

Product:	londonbookreview.com
Date:	14/07/06 (55 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good reviews, well written, wide range of topics

Disadvantages: No gimmicks

This is a relatively recent web site, but it already has some good content and a nicely minimalist design.

There are of course a lot of book reviews available on the net - sometimes it feels as if every second web page has got a book review on it. So what makes this site stand out from the rest?

Firstly the whole focus of the site is reviews; in other words the reviews aren't just filler, they are the main course (sorry about the mixed metaphors...). This actually shows in the content. The reviews don't feel rushed, and they're not superficial lists of things the reviewer likes or dislikes. There's some depth in what's said, and that actually makes the reviews interesting to read.

The tone of the reviews is serious but not academic. The reviews aren't essay-length, averaging about a page each, so you don't feel like you're reading a book about a book. Oh, and the site has no connection to the magazine called the London Review of Books.

The site is still small but it's well organised, with reviews categorised so they are easy to find. Topics range from popular science to politics to fiction. There's no techie books though - anyone looking for a review of that new Java book should take a wander over to www.techbookreport.com instead.

In all it's a site worth visiting if you're a book-lover or are interested in books.

Summary: Excellent book review site - interesting and well-written