Is it Fiction or Is It Romance?

This week, we're reading Dark Witch by Nora Roberts.  Roberts is notorious for being a romance writer, and that's where her books can be found.  But there are other authors, who you wouldn't expect, that are just housed in general fiction.

Danielle Steele is a prime example of that.  She's a notorious romance writer.  However, walk into any (corporate and probably independant, though I can't say for sure) bookstore, and you'll find her in the fiction section.

Mary Higgins Clark is another one that is not in a section you would anticipate.  She writes a lot of mystery, but she is kept in general fiction (I know because when I went looking for her, I started in mystery.)

So why are these authors not where we expect them to be?  Well, on big reason, which is more prevelant with Clark, is that her books aren't just mystery.  Oh, sure that's the bulk of the story, but Clark writes a lot of mystery/thrillers with maybe just the slightest hint of romance.  I imagine, Danelle Steele (though I can't say for sure since I've never actually read one of her books) is the same way.  Her books probably have so many different themes going on in them you can't classify them as just romance.

So if you're ever looking for a book and it's not in romance or mystery or sci-fi, try the general fiction section.  There's a good chance it's hanging out there.

Sub-Genres

We've talked about genres on here a ton, but Sub-Genres aren't really something we've touched on (or at least I don't think we have.  I'm not going to lie guys, after three years of this blog, sometimes, I forget what I've talked to you about.)

So why am I bringing it up today?  Well, while we classified our book this week as romance, which the series eventually will turn into, the first book, if it were a stand alone, could really be classified more as urban fantasy.

Kind of weirdly specific, isn't it?  But think about it.  What thoughts are invoked when you think fantasy?  Faeries and witches and a little bit of an old time, old fashioned, old world, sword and shield and magic type of world with horses, right?  In fact, Rhapsody, the fantasy book we reviewed, was exactly like that.

Urban fantasy lets you know it's more modern day.  It's probably going to take place in a city, or a much more modern setting, with technology and cell phones and a girl who lives in the very same world that you do and uses things that you're familiar with... there just happens to be magic there too.

Sub-genres are actually pretty important things.  If I hate horror, but love fiction, I can steer clear of the horror sub-genre in fiction (Stephen King, I'm looking at you.)  Historical Fiction (or romance) are both sub-genres.  They let me know that, fiction or romance, they're going to be taking place during a certain time period.  Usually, you're looking at a Tudor England type setting (especially with Historical Romance), but Outlander is historical fiction and it takes place in Scotland in the 18th century.

Sub-genres are just as important as genres, maybe more so, when deciding what books we like and what we don't like.  However, just keep in mind, book aren't usually organized by their subgenres.  If you walk into a book store and ask where the historical fiction section is, you're probably going to get a weird look from the bookseller.