Genre spotlight

Genre Spotlight | Contemporary Fiction

I know you’ve all been dying to know what the next genre spotlight was going to be. I’m sure you expected something fun like epic fantasy or science fiction. Maybe next time. Today, I’m here to discuss the importance of contemporary fiction. I know some people consider this genre “too close to home,” but I really enjoy it! So, here goes nothing.

Easy to comprehend.

I enjoy science fiction, but it can go over my head at times (most of the time). I love cracking open a contemporary and flying through it. There are different thoughts that need to go into a contemporary than in a science fiction novel or fantasy. Yes, they can be hard-hitting, but that doesn’t make them harder to understand.

Realistic.

I think that people can relate to contemporary fiction a lot more than any other genre. There’s not typically any paranormal / magical elements. I think this genre is especially important for young adults, the ones who are trying to find their way through life (i.e. where they fit in, their careers, college, etc.) It lets them know that they’re not alone.

Large variety.

There is so much contemporary fiction out there. It has no limits! There are so many unique experiences out there within the sea of billions of people. It also has a variety of different characters (i.e. Multiple ethnicity, LGBTQ+ representation, disability representation.)

Relatable

I’m sure modern contemporary fiction is more relatable than a classic novel from the early 1900s. There are tons of references to the current world we live in. It allows the reader to view the world from a different perspective. I’m sure it can bring someone back down to Earth. It can definitely be humbling.

This is a very broad genre to discuss, so the reasons were vague. Not a ton to say about it, but I still wanted to share the reasons I love it. I hope y’all don’t mind.

– Disclaimer –

I’m not saying that all contemporary novels are amazing. Yes, there are a ton out there that misrepresent the genre, but you just can’t focus on those. I know this genre won’t be for everyone, but I think it’s worth a shot. These are my opinions, so if you hate contemporary, then that is 100% okay.

Genre Spotlight | Romance

What genre should I spotlight next?

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Blogmas Day 6: Genre Spotlight | Romance

Happy BLOGMAS day 6!

If you’re still here, then congratulations. I’m surprised I’m still here honestly. My brand is starting something and not finishing it. It’s only downhill from here. Buckle up.

I spent a very long time criticizing the romance genre, and I rightfully apologize. There is so much to learn and so much fun to have with this genre. There are different branches you can swing on—erotica, contemporary, women’s fiction, paranormal, historical/regency, and the list goes on. Romance is my second favorite genre aside from historical fiction. I will admit that I have not read all the sub genres listed above, but I intend to do a little dabbling as I grow comfortable with the genre.

It exists for enjoyment and entertainment.

There’s nothing wrong with picking up a book that isn’t meant to be studied, tabbed, and critiqued. You can escape from whatever you’re going through and experience some sort of happy ending. If you’re tired and work a full-time job, grab a romance. Do you have kids? Pick up a romance before bed. Do you just want to broaden your reading horizons? Read a romance novel. No extreme thinking involved. Just read them for enjoyment. It’s okay to read a book with a cheesy happy ending!

Diversity. Diversity. Diversity.

Romance doesn’t shy away from all types of ethnicities, sexual orientations, ages (obviously being of age in a romance book is extremely necessary!). Romance books in the last few years have really stepped up their diversity game! You can find anything now. There are still wonderful books without extreme diversity, but I know that diversity is a hot commodity right now. This genre is your oyster!

Celebration of women.

I know this is a very touchy topic, so I won’t dive too far into it. I’m not trying to sway anyone from their beliefs/opinions. This is just in a general sense. I believe any gender should be celebrated—obviously—but it’s nice to get new perspectives from your own gender. In my case, it’s a celebration of women. I think this reason is geared more toward the old lady romance novels. Today’s romance books celebrate everyone. I just wanted to include this anyway.

Open to interpretation.

Do you ever watch a movie and see an actor/actress who doesn’t fit the bill of who you saw in your head? Well, I’m here to tell you that romance novels won’t do that. Yes, they give descriptions but they won’t typically give you every little detail and flaw. You can create that perfect human being. This will also help you use your imagination. It’s often hard to be creative when everyone has already created it e.g. movies.

Learning from their mistakes.

The characters in romance novels tend to be dramatic, therefore decisions are made irrationally. They typically end happily, meaning said problems get solved. You won’t learn from mistakes in every romance novel you read. There are some that you can really take a page from. No pun intended? I think if you’re new to the dating scene, romance novels would be a good place to start. Don’t do exactly as they do though. Gavin did that in The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams, and it didn’t work. Just be observant and understand what’s realistic and what’s not. I don’t think there is much more to explain for this one.

– Disclaimer –

I’m not saying that all romance novels are amazing. Yes, there are a ton out there that misrepresent the genre, but you just can’t focus on those. I know this genre won’t be for everyone, but I think it’s worth a shot. These are my opinions, so if you hate romance, then that is 100% okay.

Genre Spotlight | Historical Fiction

What’s your favorite genre?

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Genre Spotlight | Historical Fiction

I’m sure this has been done a thousand times, but I wanted to start a little series on my blog where I talk about some of my favorite genres to read. I don’t really know how many of these I’ll do, but I thought it would be fun! I hope you enjoy it too.

I never talk about my favorite genres that much, and I figured now is the time. My all-time favorite genre is historical fiction. It always seems to get me out of reading slumps. This post will give you a few reasons why I love it, and why you should at least give it a shot.

There are so many different perspectives that an author can write from.

I can go into most historical fiction novels and expect a new perspective. I can learn about another little percentage of a different era. Think about all the people who aren’t talked about to this day. We could all write a novel about someone different. Isn’t that super cool to think about? Learning about what they did, and how they impacted the future—our grandparents’ generation, our parents’ generation, and our generation. Just take a second and think about that.

If you choose the correct author, you can learn so much from just a single novel.

There are wonderful authors that do their research (e.g. Ken Follett, Philippa Gregory, etc…). I haven’t read from either of them, but I have heard such great things that they are definitely on my list. I have learned a lot from other books not written by those authors. Love and Ruin by Paula McLain taught me a little about the Spanish Civil War. I Googled a lot while reading that novel. There was so much I didn’t even know, and now I do!

I find the dialogue to be more complex and interesting.

There is nothing worse than boring dialogue! That’s all I really have to say about that. Some books can pull off simple dialogue, but it’s pretty rare. That’s all I really have to say about that.

Lives of ordinary people are brought to light.

This is one of my favorite aspects of historical fiction. There are so many characters based on real people from the past. I know that not a lot of people enjoy that, but I definitely do. A few good examples: Love and Ruin by Paula McLain (Martha Gellhorn) and The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd (Sarah Grimke). Love and Ruin is one of my favorite books to date.

I never would have learned about these interesting people of history if it weren’t for my love of historical fiction. I can’t thank the genre enough for that.

Conflicts during that time are different compared to today.

The twenty-first century has its own conflicts, but that past was especially different, and dare I say, more compelling. WWI and WWII were such substantial fragments of history that are perhaps overrated at this point, but I still love reading about it. There is so much to discuss, and so much light to shed on that generation! It’s also fun to see how far we have come, or ways we have fallen backward. I think a lot of it is my urge to learn something new. Books are my favorite way to do that!

– Disclaimer –

I’m not saying that all historical fiction novels are amazing. Yes, there are a ton out there that misrepresent the genre, but you just can’t focus on those. I know this genre won’t be for everyone, but I think it’s worth a shot. These are my opinions, so if you hate historical fiction, then that is 100% okay.

What’s your favorite genre?

If you enjoyed this, then give it a like and follow my blog. Be respectful and happy reading!

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