Genreflecting (Genreflecting Advisory Series)

585 Pages·2005·11.78 MB·English

by  Diana Tixier Herald

m i "
Ij^H
A Guide to Popular
Reading Interests
S IX I II E D I T I ON
Genreflecting
A Guide to Popular Reading Interests SIXTH IDI I ION
Diana Tixier Herald Edited by Wayne A. Wiegand
With hundreds of thousands of hooks being published each year, it is difficult to keep abreast of current
genre fiction and popular reading tastes. This classic guide helps.
B\ defining genres, describing their features and characteristics, and grouping titles h\ genre, suhgenre. and
theme, the hook helps those who work with readers understand distinct patterns in reading habits and hook
selection; and allows users to identiK "rcad-alikcs" and other titles their patrons will enjoy.
In addition, more than 5,000 titles—approximately one-third new to this edition—are classified, focusing on
titles published since the last edition along with perennial classics and henchmark titles. The popular feature
"I) s Picks" identifies new and noteworthy titles in the genre, while features new to this edition include:
• Lists of selected "classic" authors and titles in each of the genres
• Chapters on Christian fiction and emerging genres (women's fiction and "chick lit")
• Sections on "genrehlends" in those areas where they occur (e.g., horror/humor, mystery/romance)
• Three new essa\s h\ genre experts and the foremost proponents ol readers' ad\ isor\ that shed
ALSO AVAILABLE
African American Literature Make Mine a M\slen
\ Guide to Heading Interests A Readers Guide to Mystery and
Detective fiction
Wood. Bedlam, Bullets, and llnd^ruys
\ Reader's Guide to Adventure/Suspense I iction Now Kead litis II
\ Guide to Mainstream Fiction, 1990-2001
Christian Fiction
A Guide to the Genre Now Head This
\ Guide to Mainstream fiction. 1978-199$
FlueM in lanlas\
\ Guide to Reading Interests K<>< k< <l In Romance
\ Guide t»> leen Romance fiction
Hooked on Horror
A Guide to Reading Interests in Horror fiction Romance Fiction
Second Edition \ Guide to the Genre
Jewish Vmeriean Literature Siririh Science Fiction
\ Guide to Heading Interests \ Guide to Reading Interests
Junior Genreflectiog Teen Genreflecting
\ Guide to ( lood He,ids and Series fiction \ ( luide to Reading Interests
for CTiilclien Second Edition
ISBN: 1Ô9158-286-5 ISBN 1 SllSÛ-eôb 5
Libraries Unlimited
88 Post Road West
Wcstport. CI 06881
www.lti.com
Cover [mage: © Geofrrej Clements 9"78 159 1 "58286 1
Genreflecting
Recent Titles in Genreflecting Advisory Series
Diana Tixier Herald, Series Editor
Now Read This II: A Guide to Mainstream Fiction, 1990-2001
Nancy Pearl
Strictly Science Fiction: A Guide to Reading Interests
Diana Tixier Herald and Bonnie Kunzel
Christian Fiction: A Guide to the Genre
John Mort
Hooked on Horror: A Guide to Reading Interests in Horror Fiction, 2d Edition
Anthony J. Fonseca and June Michèle Pulliam
Make Mine a Mystery: A Reader's Guide to Mystery and Detective Fiction
Gary Warren Niebuhr
Teen Genreflecting: A Guide to Reading Interests, Second Edition
Diana Tixier Herald
Blood, Bedlam, Bullets, and Badguys: A Reader's Guide to Adventure/
Suspense Fiction
Michael B. Gannon
Rocked by Romance: A Guide to Teen Romance Fiction
Carolyn Carpan
Jewish American Literature: A Guide to Reading Interests
Rosalind Reisner
African American Literature: A Guide to Reading Interests
Edited by Alma Daw son and Connie Van Fleet
Historical Fiction: A Guide to the Genre
Sarah L. Johnson
Canadian Fiction: A Guide to Reading Interests
Sharron Smith and Maureen O'Connor
Genreflecting
A Guide to Popular Reading Interests
Sixth Edition
Diana Tixier Herald
Edited by Wayne A. Wiegand
Genreflecting Advisory Series
Diana Tixier Herald, Series Editor
U N L I M I T ED
A Member of the Greenwood Publishing Group
Westport, Connecticut • London
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Herald, Diana Tixier.
Genreflecting: a guide to popular reading interests. - 6th ed. / by Diana Tixier Herald ; edited
by Wayne A. Wiegand.
p. cm. - (Genreflecting advisory series)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-59158-224-5 (alk. paper) - ISBN 1-59158-286-5 (pbk.: alk. paper)
1. American fiction - Stories, plots, etc. 2. Popular literature - Stories, plots, etc. 3. English
fiction - Stories, plots, etc. 4. Fiction genres - Bibliography. 5. Fiction - Bibliography. 6.
Reading interests. I. Wiegand, Wayne A., 1946-. II. Title. III. Series.
PS374.P63R67 2006
016.813009~dc22 2005030804
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available.
Copyright © 2006 by Libraries Unlimited
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be
reproduced, by any process or technique, without the
express written consent of the publisher.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2005030804
ISBN: 1-59158-224-5
1-59158-286-5 (pbk.)
First published in 2006
Libraries Unlimited, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
A Member of the Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
www.lu.com
Printed in the United States of America
The paper used in this book complies with the
Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National
Information Standards Organization (Z39.48-1984).
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 21
This book is dedicated to the memory of Betty Rosenberg,
passionate reader, dedicated teacher, and originator of this
guide—an inspiration for all of us.
Betty Rosenberg

Contents
Acknowledgments xix
Part I:
Introduction to Popular Reading Interests
Chapter 1: Introduction: "On the Social Nature of Reading" 3
Wayne A. Wiegand
Reading Together, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, July 1957 3
Modern Examples of the Social Nature of Reading 4
Scholarship on the Social Nature of Reading 6
Reading and Libraries—Then and Now 8
Genre Fiction, Libraries, and the Social Nature of Reading 9
The Library as Place in a Real and Virtual World 9
When We Don't Know About the Social Nature
of Reading and Library as Place 11
Library in the Life of the User 11
Notes 13
Bibliography 13
Chapter 2: A Brief History of Readers' Advisory 15
Melanie A. Kimball
Introduction 15
The Early Years 15
Readers' Advisory, Phase One: Reading with a Purpose 16
Useful Information 17
An Emerging Focus on Fiction 18
The Renaissance of Readers' Advisory: 1980-Present 18
Research in Reading and Readers' Advisory 19
Readers Advisory and LIS Education 19
Conclusion 20
Notes 20
Appendix: A Chronology of Readers' advisory 23
Chapter 3: The Readers' Advisory Interview 25
Catherine Sheldrick Ross
Notes 28
Bibliography 29
vn
viii Contents
Chapter 4: Serving Today's Reader 31
Diana Tixier Herald
The Nature of Genre Fiction 32
Who Is the Common Reader? 33
Libraries and Genre Fiction 33
Readers' Advisory Service 34
Publishing Genre Fiction 36
Gender and Genre Fiction 37
Purpose and Scope of This Guide 37
Organization 38
Scope 38
Entries and Annotations 39
Suggestions for Use 39
Notes 40
Bibliography 40
Part II:
The Genres
Chapter 5: Historical Fiction 43
Essay 43
R. Gordon Kelly
The Allure of the Past 44
Characteristics of Historical Fiction 45
Truth and Historical Fiction 46
History of Historical Fiction 48
Conclusion 50
Notes 50
Bibliography 51
Themes and Types 53
Diana Tixier Herald
Selected Classics 53
Prehistoric 56
Ancient Civilizations 59
Middle Ages 61
The "Royals" 63
Exploration, Renaissance 63
Europe 63
The British Isles 64
The "Royals" 65
Exotic Locales 66
The Americas 68
Colonial/Early Settlement/Revolution 68
Civil War/Reconstruction/New Nation 69
The Twentieth Century 72
Saga Series 72
Epics 76