It’s been a few months since we delved into Dewey and I thought it might be fun to start another library-themed adventure. So, I hope you’ll join us for Genre Journeys! Each week, we’ll look at a different genre or subgenre and learn a little about what it is, what genres are similar to it, and why people enjoy reading these kinds of stories.
What is Genre?
What is genre? Genre is a grouping in literature based on certain common characteristics of mood, style, and content. For example, horror stories are dark, scary, and feature some sort of horrible threat. Romances are lighthearted, full of emotional drama, and always have a happy ending. And Science Fiction features cool technology that is not seen in our current world. Readers use genre to find books that they will enjoy reading based on these appeals.
In this series, we’ll explore both genre and subgenre. Subgenre refers to a smaller category within the larger genre. So, for example, mysteries are plot-based adventures that focus on solving a crime. Cozy mysteries are also plot-based adventures that focus on solving a crime, but they are also generally bloodless and feature a non-detective protagonist who still has to solve the crime (such as a baker who is framed for poisoning the mayor).
The Great Debate
Sometimes, there is a real debate over whether or not a book fits into a certain genre or where one genre begins and other ends. For example, there are some readers who believe that for a book to be considered Horror, it must feature a supernatural threat. But, there are other readers (myself included) that feel that a serial killer can make a book a horror novel just as well as a giant shark. When at all possible, I’ll try to address these arguments and share my thoughts on them.
What to Expect
Every week, I’ll send out a new genre. These listings will include information about what the genre is/how to identity it, why readers enjoy it, related genres, and some suggested books. I’ll also try to include a little bit of information to help you navigate each genre, like what it means when romance writers talk about “spiciness” or what various subgenres are. This is not meant to be an exhaustive deep-dive, but a fun way to learn about the kind of books your fellow readers enjoy.
Happy Reading!
Thank you for coming on this genre journey with me! I hope you’re ready to read!
