There are various genres of books, just as there are various genres of music. As with music, there are subgenres which have a niche audience that they cater to. Book lovers tend to have specific genres that they prefer reading books from.
Here are some popular book genre categories:
This genre takes people from their normal day-to-day life and put them into a new world of the author’s imagining. A lot of science fiction can be formed around specific scientific or technical knowledge or facts, but many books are also set within an imaginary world that explores concepts and ideas beyond the realm of the real world.
The classic detective story, this genre is typically about murders but mystery books can sometimes be about other crimes. The story follows a kind of puzzle where a crime has been committed and it is up to somebody to solve it, taking the reader along the journey together with the detective, using clues and deductions to solve the case.
This is a genre much like science fiction, but it is set further outside of reality and science, and possibly features elements of magic. This form of writing typically consists of a lot of world-building, such as imaginary worlds and realms.
This is a distinctive writing style that features cowboys and the first settlers to America. It is an extremely specific genre that usually depicts the tough life of pioneers. Stories about outlaws or ranchers seeking to survive the challenging environment of the Old West happen to be common themes here.
This genre deals solely with conjuring fear and terror in its readers. This style may also feature imaginary worlds, but the principle objective of a horror writer is to scare the living daylights out of the reader. Sometimes, the author will use mentally disturbing and terrifying imagery to further instill a dreadful atmosphere.
Like the horror style, this genre puts the reader in a state of suspense, hanging on to the edge of their seats as they wait to see what happens next in the story. Thrillers are written to generate a feeling of urgency and rising action typically related to the main character fighting against an impending disaster.
This genre deals with the story of passion and falling in love. In romance novels, there tends to be external forces that seek to keep the two main characters separated, but in most cases, there is almost always a happy ending to look forward to.
This writing style features time periods that happen to be some decades or centuries ago. There is a plot that is set within the norms and conventions of that specific time period in the the story. This writing style gives the reader the opportunity to visualize a time that is long past. Some writers employ this in an ingenious manner by creatively melding the past with the present by using flashbacks.
This genre of writing revolves around teenagers and the various issues and challenges that they face. In addition, it can often include fantastical or even dystopian elements and other styles of writing that are intended for its younger readership.
Some authors write mainly in a single genre, while some seem to have the ability to cross over into other genres, writing in many different subcategories of fiction. The wonderful thing about the world of books is that there are so many to choose from!
Do you have a favorite book genre? Share in the comments below!