The world of literature abounds with different genres. Broadly speaking, the fiction world is divided into two segments: literary fiction and genre fiction. Literary fiction typically describes the kinds of books that are assigned in high school and college English classes, that are character driven and describe some aspect of the human condition. Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winners tend to come from the literary fiction genre. Genre fiction has a more mainstream, populist appeal. It traditionally comprises genres such as romance, mystery, thriller, horror, fantasy, and children’s books. Some genre writers straddle a line between genre-focused commercial fiction and the traditions of literary fiction. John Updike, for instance, has been noted for his somewhat pulpy novels that still managed to examine humanity. J.R.R. Tolkien developed a worldwide following within the fantasy genre, yet his Lord of the Rings trilogy is famous for its intricate themes.
1. Romance: Romance novels are perhaps the most popular genre in terms of
book sales. Romance novels are sold in grocery store checkout lines, in
monthly shipments from publishers to readers, and online, as well as via
self-publishing services. Readers tend to be loyal to their favorite
authors within the romance genre. Popular romance subgenres include
paranormal romance and historical romance.
2. Mystery: Many popular mystery books draw a large readership, especially
if they’re part of a larger series. Mystery novels start with an exciting
hook, keep readers interested with suspenseful pacing, and end with a
satisfying conclusion that answers all of the reader’s outstanding
questions. Popular mystery subgenres include cozy mysteries, true crime
novels, whodunnits, scientific mysteries, hardboiled detective stories,
and police procedurals.
3. Fantasy and science fiction: Fantasy
books often take place in a time period different from our own. They often
feature magical creatures, from worldly wizards to murderous zombies. Many
sci-fi stories take place in a dystopian past or future. Science fiction
books can have a historical setting, but most are set in the future and
deal with the ramifications of technological and scientific advancement.
Fantasy subgenres include urban fantasy, steampunk, high fantasy, epic
fantasy, dark fantasy, and sword and sorcery. Meanwhile, certain fiction
genres like magical realism blend the pulpy appeal of fantasy with the
challenging techniques found in literary fiction. Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s
One Hundred Years of Solitude is a good example of this crossover.
4. Thrillers and horror: Closely related to mysteries and sometimes
fantasy, thrillers and horror ratchet up the suspense and shock of popular
genre fiction. Authors like David Baldacci and Dan Brown dominate the
bestseller list with their thriller titles, while Stephen King reigns as
the master of contemporary horror.
5. Young adult: Young adult
fiction recasts popular adult genres into books geared toward a teenage
audience. From sci-fi to romance to crime books to fantasy, the best books
in the YA fiction genre include the same strong characters and propulsive
storylines that you’ll find in books for older readers. Often teenage
themes, like coming of age or rebellion, are layered on top of existing
literary tropes. J.K. Rowling has had enormous success in the YA genre
with her Harry Potter series. So has Suzanne Collins with The Hunger
Games. R.L. Stine brings horror fiction to child and teenage audiences
with his Goosebumps and Fear Street series.
6. Children’s fiction:
Children’s fiction is aimed at audiences too young for the young adult
genre. Children’s fiction starts with picture books for non-readers and
pushes onward into short stories for early readers and middle-grade
fiction. Note that a picture book is not the same as a comic book or
graphic novel, both of which are intended for older audiences. The fairy
tale subgenre is also part of children’s fiction.
7. Inspirational,
self-help, and religious books: These nonfiction book genres reach massive
audiences worldwide. Many self-help books concern business success and
wealth acquisition. Most titles in the religious category are self-help
books that incorporate religious doctrine. They offer suggestions for
tackling real-life problems, often from a spiritual perspective.
8. Biography, autobiography, and memoir: These nonfiction books tell the
stories of a person’s life. In the case of autobiography and memoir, the
subject is the author of the book. Biographies are written by someone
other than the subject themselves. These books are comprised of factual
information that is traditionally buttressed by multiple sources. This
makes biographies different from historical fiction, which is set during
well-researched historical time periods but contains original plotlines
that aren’t based on real life.
Fortunately, there are endless review blogs and book review sites that you can peruse. Unfortunately, not every one of them features a wide enough variety to help you. But don’t worry: we’ve got you covered with ten of the best book review sites to satisfy the bookworm in you.
Coded By Fatemeh