Novels of Literature
Literary novels are a large group of literature typically viewed as having greater intellectual quality than genre fiction, as opposed to other types of invention. These books are less constrained by a formula, and authors have more latitude to experiment with style, investigate the psyche and motives of their characters, and offer social commentary on broader socioeconomic issues and situations. Literary novels are characterized by a certain intellectualism and depth of nature. Their vocabulary is detailed, vivid descriptions, and personalities are one-of-a-kind and enduring in memory. A few examples of well-known literary books are The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen, and A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, set in Japan.
Novels of a Specific Genre
Instead of following a more complicated narrative formula, authors of genre books prefer to depict their characters with broad brushstrokes and less delicacy and complexity than authors of literary fiction. Stories in this style place a strong emphasis on the level above the surface. Readers may pick up a specific type of work and, in general, know what to anticipate from it because of the genre fiction conventions that have been established. The limits of genre fiction are indeed quite porous, and many genre works might easily fall into the same literary novelist’s category as any other literary novel. Furthermore, many genre books belong to more than one genre. The following are some of the key genres and subgenres of the modern reader, listed in alphabetical order.
Coming of Age Story/Bildungsroman
A bildungsroman is a novel about a young person’s emotional, psychological, and spiritual development at a period of significant change in their life. A bildungsroman can be geared at a young audience or an adult audience, depending on the nature and complexity of the story and the author’s intentions for the book. The bildungsroman novels To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain are the most well-known examples.
Children and Adolescents (ages 5 to 19)
Children and young adult books are more of a catchall word than a specific genre, and they are centered on young protagonists who are going through formative experiences. In the plots, young readers will encounter topics and obstacles that are particularly relevant to them. These include friendship, bullying, discrimination, school and academic life, gender roles and conventions, changing bodies, and sexuality, to name a few.
The classic children’s and young adult books Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum are best known for this genre. More lately, some young adult fiction has gained popularity among adult readers. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling and the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins attract large followings from both young and old readers.
Gothic
Death and romance are two of the most important story elements in gothic novels. The supernatural, familial curses, stock characters such as Byronic heroes and innocent maidens, and melancholy locations such as castles or monasteries are all common themes in the plots of these novels. The gothic novels Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux are two of the most well-known works.
Historical
Historical books are set in the past, and the narratives of historical novels are often based on a certain historical event or era. Fictitious versions of real persons may appear in the book. When writing historical fiction, authors frequently perform extensive research into the periods they are writing about to present readers with a vivid recreation of what life was like at the time. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory, and Roots by Alex Haley are the most popular historical novels available.
Horror
Authors of horror books create stories and characters to frighten or disgust the reader. The reports typically include mystical and psychological aspects intended to shock the reader and cause them to reevaluate their previous assumptions about the characters and their circumstances. Stephen King’s novel The Shining, Shirley Jackson’s novel The Haunting of Hill House, and Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula is among the perennial classics in this genre.
Mystery
Mysteries are stories about crimes and the attempts to solve them told through characters. Crime fiction includes a variety of subgenres such as noir, police procedurals, professional and amateur detective fiction, legal thrillers, and cozy mysteries. Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express are just a few examples of contemporary fiction.