The ultimate list of genres to help you pick your next read | Top book genres in 2020

Navigating through a number of genres can be a task in itself. For avid readers, selecting a book can be very challenging. 

With a number of authors writing in different genres, it can be quite difficult knowing what genre will hold your interest.

But not to worry. We're here to help you through different genres, and what they are about.  

Are you a new reader who's finding it overwhelming to select a book from the sea of the one's available? Or a reading enthusiast who just wants to know what each genre is really about so that you can step out of your usual reads and explore other genres? 

Whether it's one of those, or your favorite author just dropped a book in a different genre, this article will guide you through some of the most popular genres in the world of writing, so you don't have to grapple around when it comes to the one's you don't usually read.

Books can broadly be divided into two categories:

fiction and non-fiction.

Fiction consists of imaginative storylines in the form of stories, prose, novels, etc. Fiction further comprises of genres like fantasy, mystery, thriller, mythology, comic, romance, drama, anthology, satire, classic, humor, horror, science fiction, historic fiction, classic, fairy tale, etc.

 

Non- fiction books are based on true events from history or a particular person's life. These include the biography, memoir, self-help books, essay, reference books, etc.

Let's take a closer look at some of the most popular genres out there.

• Fantasy:

This one's my personal favorite. Fantasy is usually based on speculations about the world around us. 

These books are often inspired by myths and folklore across different cultures. The plot is based on witchcraft, monsters, magic, enchanted forests, and all sorts of supernatural creatures.

The fascinating world described in fantasy novels is sadly far from the real world. But that is why these novels provide a much-needed getaway from our busy lives.

Fantasy novels are the best books to whisk you away into a magical universe, where even the sky isn't the limit.  

• Science Fiction:

Commonly referred to as sci-fi, this genre presents you with an interesting storyline with a blend of science and imagination.

Anyone who's interested in science along with adventurous fiction stories won't be able to put down a good sci-fi novel.

And anyway, who doesn't like a story involving robots, rogue scientists and destructive inventions? 

Maybe the author will throw in some aliens, parallel universes, and different time dimensions.

Science fiction novels have interesting storylines wrapped around all these things, as the books explore different aspects of their characters' lives.

You can expect anything from a love story between two souls from different time dimensions or entirely different worlds, or even between robots, like Disney's Wall E, or adventures with the main characters as they strive towards a goal, navigating through to save the world.

 These books provide an interesting ride as you explore innumerable possibilities involving technology. 

• Historical Fiction:

If you're a history nerd, this genre will keep you hooked.

Are you one of those people who love reading about historic events? If yes, this is the perfect genre for you.

I've always been the sort of person who was curious about how life was for people living in those eras and what would it be like living then and there, just like them.

Historic fiction books let you experience exactly that.

 With the characters described in a setting that's from the past, you feel like you're transported to that era. These are just the books for history enthusiasts who want to experience the past in a more intimate way.

These books are also great for those who love to learn about history but prefer modern and more interesting narration in the form of a story plot.

• Mystery: 

These are the books that take you on a roller coaster ride as you read them. With the turn of every page, there's a heart racing, blood pumping twist.

You are literally on the edge of your seat every time you flip to a new page. 

These stories engage your brain in an active experience, almost like a mental workout. 

Mystery books are great to satisfy the inner detective that present in most of us. Usually involving murders and other criminal investigations, mystery books make for gripping, fascinating reads.

• Classic:

Classic literature gives you a glimpse into the evolution of stories. How people evolved and grew as a society, and how authors revolutionized books.

These books help in learning both history and literature of different places and how society functioned as a whole over the years.

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace are some of the most well-known examples of classic literature throughout the world.

Little Women is a classic love story between the protagonist who is a strong independent woman, not a norm in Victorian England, and a well known powerful man.

Whereas War and Peace revolve around the lives of the three main characters in Russia, during its invasion by Napoleon.

Classic books provide for fascinating reads that leave you thinking long after you finish them.

• Biography:

These books help you see things from a different perspective. 

Biographies are real-life stories of people who have had unique or extraordinary experiences in their lifetime.

By reading these books you can gain a life-changing perspective and learn life lessons from other people.

Reading these books can often be motivating since when you get motivated by the struggles of the person who's the life you're reading about.

Biographies make for very interesting reads as it's exhilarating reading about other people's lives. The decisions they make, things they choose, and the people they love and hate.

A lot of people read biographies of their favorite personalities as they want to know more about the lives of the people they so religiously follow. 

Another common reason to read biographies is to gain motivation by reading about the lives of successful people.

No matter the reasons, biographies always make for interesting and authentic stories.

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