Book Review Guidelines

Nesir: Journal of Literary Studies is an academic, open-access journal that publishes original research articles and book reviews in Turkish and English, issued biannually (April and October) and employing a double-blind peer-review system. The journal accepts submissions in the form of research articles and book reviews.

This document outlines the aims, scope, criteria regarding the work to be reviewed, content principles, and specific information about the review process for book reviews. For general technical requirements such as submission procedures, language, formatting, and citation rules, please refer to the Author Guidelines.

Aims and Scope

In each issue, Nesir publishes book reviews in Turkish or English that critically engage with academic books in the fields of literary theory, literary history, comparative literature, and Turkish literary studies.

Book reviews should be structured in accordance with the following principles:

  • An Analytical Approach: The work under review should not be merely summarized but examined analytically in terms of its core arguments, conceptual framework, place within the literature, and original contribution.
  • Critical Depth: The critique should not simply affirm or dismiss the work; rather, it should include an exposition that focuses on the internal coherence, methodology, and intellectual foundations of the book.
  • Considering Contribution and Limitations Together: The review should provide a conceptual framework that enables reflection on both the strengths and the shortcomings of the work.
  • Opening New Avenues of Thought: The critical text should aim to pose new questions and suggest new possibilities for the field based on the intellectual ground established by the work under review.

Nesir aims to publish reviews that consider contribution and limitation not as opposing poles, but as two interconnected dimensions that can be contemplated together.

Criteria for Books to Be Reviewed

  • Books submitted for review must belong to the fields of literary theory, literary history, comparative literature, or Turkish literary studies.
  • Books submitted for review must have been published within the last four years. New translations or significant new editions of classic academic works may be accepted as exceptions.
  • Monographs with academic depth and edited volumes demonstrating editorial coherence may be considered.
  • Textbooks, popular publications intended for general readership, and fictional works are eligible for review only when approached within a critical theoretical framework.
  • To browse suggested books for review, click here. This list is not exhaustive; alternative suggestions are also welcome.

Author and Conflict of Interest

  • Individuals directly affiliated with the author, translator, editor, or publisher of a book may not submit a review of that book.
  • Authors must declare any potential conflicts of interest.
  • Co-authored review articles are accepted, provided the contributions of each author are clearly stated (e.g., “Both authors contributed equally to all sections of this text.”).

Content Guidelines
A strong book review article is recommended to include the following elements in sequence:

  • Subject and Problem Area: Clearly state the author, title, year of publication, and publisher, and define the primary subject matter, current academic debates, and problem areas addressed by the book.
  • Main Question and Thesis: Explicitly identify the core question the author poses and the thesis or argument proposed as a response, along with the theoretical and conceptual framework in which it is articulated.
  • Development of the Argument and Internal Consistency: Rather than simply summarizing the chapters, analyze how the main thesis is unfolded through successive sub-arguments, how each section relates to the central claim, and to what extent the overall argumentation is coherent.
  • Contributions and Limitations: Objectively assess which key issues the book addresses in depth and with strength, and conversely, which areas remain limited or are omitted. Discuss the author’s core conceptual choices and methodological orientation.
  • Target Audience and Significance in the Field: Clearly indicate which readerships the book is likely to engage with, based on its style and approach, and describe the original contribution it makes to ongoing debates or the new avenues of inquiry it opens.

Language and Style Guidelines

  • Format: Times New Roman, 12 pt, 1.5 line spacing must be used. Page margins should be the standard 2.5 cm.
  • Language: Book reviews can be submitted in Turkish or English. For texts in Turkish, the Turkish Language Association (Türk Dil Kurumu) and Necmiye Alpay’s Türkçe Sorunları Kılavuzu (Metis, 2018) should be taken as reference. For English texts, Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary serves as the primary authority for spelling.
  • Abstract: Book reviews written in Turkish must include an English abstract of approximately 150 words. This abstract will be published on the journal’s website.
  • Length:
    • For single-book reviews: 600–2000 words.
    • For comparative/multiple-book reviews: up to 3000 words.
    • In justified cases, this limit may be extended with the approval of the book review editor.
  • Footnotes: The use of footnotes is preferred, and references must follow the 18th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style. Parenthetical citations are only permitted in reviews evaluating a single book.
  • Other Matters: For additional rules regarding citations, capitalization, dates, and numbers, please refer to the Author Guidelines.

Review Process

  • Book review articles are not subject to peer review.
  • All submitted book reviews are first evaluated by the book review editor; texts deemed suitable for publication proceed with the approval of the editor-in-chief.
  • Reviews are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. Submission deadlines are March 1 for the April issue and September 1 for the October issue.

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