What is a Book Genre?
A book genre is a particular class or type of book. Books can be divided into a broad assortment of genres, and people often use genre as a criterion when selecting a book to read. For the convenience of browsers, it is conventional for bookstores to divide their selections by genre to make it easier for people to find books which will appeal to them, and people often sort their books at home by genre as well. Libraries also divide books by genre, using cataloging systems like the Dewey Decimal System for standardization. Book genre is also often indicated inside the front flap of a book for convenience.
The two broadest genres are fiction and nonfiction. Fiction books involve events and stories which have not happened, although they may be based in reality, and they can include full length books as well as collections of short stories. Nonfiction covers topics which have a basis in fact, ranging from how-to books about home carpentry to history books which analyze past events.
Within each basic division, there are a number of categories, and in some cases, a book may span several genres. Some commonly-used categories of book genre in fiction include: mystery, thriller, suspense, literary fiction, fantasy, and science fiction. Some people also divide children's fiction into a different category, breaking this category down into board books, picture books, young adult novels, and so forth.
Nonfiction can include things like history, art, politics, gardening, science, nature, sociology, biography, travel, and reference, among many others. Nonfiction books can also span multiple genres, as in the case of a book written by a naturalist who travels to research something. The book could be considered a nature book, but also a travel book, since it involves a discussion of travel in a foreign country. Divisions can be found within each subcategory, as well: art, for example, includes art reference books, books about art history, books which showcase particular types of art, and so forth.
For many people, book genre is a very important factor in their decision to purchase a book. A fan of mystery novels, for example, may not enjoy literary fiction very much, while someone who wants to know how to build a shed will not find much of interest in the cook book section at the bookstore. However, people sometimes find that when they push outside of the book genre they are familiar with, they discover topics and authors which they grow to love.
Written by S.E. Smith
