Different Types of Books: Genres in Fiction and Non-Fiction Books

Explore various Types of Books including some major genres in Fiction and Non-Fiction Books with famous authors and reading suggestions:

There’s nothing as wide and deep as the word “Books”. There are different types of books and so many genres. You might have a favorite genre or few, but are you sure you know all the types of genres in books?

In this article, we are going to take you through two major types of books and all types of books genres that come with them.

So, let’s start by understanding what is a genre.

Understanding The Types of Books

What is a Genre

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This is a term you must have come across not just in books but also in movies, music, and other entertainment forms. So, what is it? The system of the genre was first used in ancient Greek literature as poetry, prose, performances, etc for classification.

Every genre had a distinctive and specific style for tone, content, theme, intensity, and details. For example, the intensity and speech style for tragedy would not be suitable for comedy.

But genre can get confusing as well. Take, for instance, the book “Gulliver’s Travels”. This great work by Jonathan Swift falls under various categories of genres. It is a satire, an adventure, a fantasy, and a classic as well.

Understanding each genre will help you understand how one book can fall under different categories of genre. And you might find other genres interesting as well, some you have never considered before.

Different Types of Books and Genres

Books are broadly classified into two categories- fiction and non-fiction.

A fiction book is one whose content is derived from the imagination. Its theme could be inspired or could borrow a part from real life. Fiction books fall under the umbrella term “novel” and come in many genres.

Non-fiction is the opposite of fiction and is based on true accounts of history, real events, and facts. These have relatively fewer genres as compared to fiction.

Major Genres in Fiction Books

Here are some major fiction genres you will commonly come across.

#1) Classics

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Classics are the most read books and are even taught in schools and colleges. These books belong to a certain time period and they have literary merits. Books like Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Robison Crusoe, etc are just a few examples of classics.

Reading Suggestions: Pride and Prejudice, Lord of the Flies

Authors to look for: Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë

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#2) Tragedy

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The tragedy is a drama book that focuses on the sufferings and tragedies of humans. In these stories, the heroes fall because of their flaws like excessive love, greed, over-ambition, etc. This genre is defined by terrible and sorrowful events that the main character has to face. Romeo & Juliet, Anna Karenina, Hamlet, etc are some of the world’s greatest tragedies ever written.

Reading Suggestions: The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

Authors to look for: William Shakespeare, John Green, Anne Frank

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#3) Sci-Fi

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Sci-Fi or science fiction is an umbrella term for types of books genres that have advanced concepts of science and technology. It usually carries stories of events like time traveling, alternate timelines, space exploration, the end of the world, extraterrestrial life, and cyberpunk.

The Dune Chronicles, Frankenstein, Solaris, etc are some sci-fi books you shouldn’t miss.

Reading Suggestions: The Midnight Library: A Novel, Project Hail Mary

Authors to look for: Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke

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#4) Fantasy

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These are the stories that revolve around magic, witchcraft, supernatural, mythical creatures, etc. Most fiction writers use folklores, theologies, mythologies as inspiration.

You will find elements of epic fantasies, fairy tales, gods and demons, fables, gothic fiction, and so on. Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Dark Tower, etc are some of the much-loved fantasy books.

Reading Suggestions: The Alchemist, Harry Potter

Authors to look for: George R.R. Martin, Patrick Rothfuss, Robin Hobb

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#5) Action and Adventure

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These are the books that keep you on the edge of your seat. The main characters in these types of books find themselves in situations with high stakes and are often put in dangerous situations. There will always be risk-taking, action, and physical danger in such books.

Action and adventure books are often connected with other genres as well, like sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, etc. Harry Potter, Treasure Island, The Count of Monte Christo, are some of the must-read books of this genre.

Reading Suggestions: Beneath a Scarlet Sky: A Novel, The Sentinel: A Jack Reacher Novel

Authors to look for: Miguel de Cervantes, Robert Louis Stevenson, Alexandre Dumas

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#6) Crime & Mystery

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These stories usually revolve around a crime from the moment it is committed to the time it is solved. And when there is no clear idea about who committed the crime, the genre turns to the mystery. It is usually the protagonist of the story who solves the mystery.

The best stories in these types of genres in books often focus on the different views of the societal aspects and morality of the protagonist and antagonist. If you love crime and mystery, you will love books like Gone Girl, Murder on the Orient Express, Sherlock Holmes, etc.

Reading Suggestions: Where the Crawdads Sing, The Silent Patient

Authors to look for: Agatha Christie, Gillian Flynn, Stephen King

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#7) Romance

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Romance stories often depict a loving relationship between two people. It takes into account their dilemma, social struggle, and other issues they face in their relationship and how they make it work. A romantic novel often comes with a happy ending where the hero and heroine of the story live happily ever after, but it is not always so.

Some of the most romantic stories are the world’s greatest tragedies as well, Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare is one such example. Love Story, The Notebook, Pride and Prejudice are some of the romantic stories that you will enjoy.

Reading Suggestions: It Ends with Us,  When We Believed in Mermaids

Authors to look for: Nicholas Sparks, Danielle Steel, Nora Roberts

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#8) Humor and Satire

Humor is a comedy work of fiction where the writer wants to amuse the readers and make them laugh with the narrative. The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, etc are some of the examples of humor.

On the other hand, satire is one of the most profound and complex genres. It presents the shortcomings and vices of a system, society, or individual in the form of dark humor and irony. Lord of the Rings, Animal Farm, Don Quixote, etc are some satire books you can read.

Reading Suggestions: Born a Crime, Animal Farm

Authors to look for: Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, Joseph Heller

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#9) Horror

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Horror is a genre that seeks to provoke fear, terror, shock, and other similar kinds of feelings in readers. They are usually inspired by folklore, mythology, etc. The horror stories are focused on evil, death, after-life, ghosts, demons, etc.

Some of the creative horror stories also carry elements like vampires, witches, werewolves, and other monsters. House of Leaves, It, The Shining, etc are some of the worth reading horror stories.

Reading Suggestions: If It Bleeds, Dracula

Authors to look for: Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Clive Barker

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#10) Comics

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The stories in comic books are represented by sequential and engaging narrative art with images and dialogues. There are various types of comic books like esoteric which are understood by people with only specialized knowledge or skills, manga that is originated from Japan, etc.

There are various sub-genres in comics as well. Initially, comics were considered as one of the types of children’s books. However, today, adult comics have also made a known for themselves. Watchmen, The Sandman, Doom Patrol, etc are some of the most iconic comic books you will ever come across.

Reading Suggestions: Fetch-22, Strange Planet

Authors to look for: Stan Lee, Frank Miller, Alan Moore

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Major Genres in Non-Fiction Books

There are fewer genres in Non-fiction books. Here are some of the major genres you will come across.

#1) Biography and Autobiography

A biography is a detailed, extremely personal, and intimate narration of someone’s life. And when the subject of the biography itself is the writer, it is called an autobiography. These are the stories about failures, achievements, regrets, relationships, and other such accomplishments of an individual.

A Beautiful Mind, The Enigma, Unthinkable are some of the best biographies while Wild, The Diary Of A Young Girl, The Long Hard Road Out Of Hell, etc are some of the most amazing autobiographies you can get your hands on.

Reading Suggestions: Greenlights, This Is Going to Hurt

Authors to look for: Alexander Hamilton, Manfred von Richthofen, Billy Bishop

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#2) Memoirs

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Memoirs are like autobiographies, but it focuses on a certain touchstone, event, or experience of an individual. Just Kids, Men We Reaped, Night, etc are some of the memoirs you should read if you enjoy reading non-fiction.

Reading Suggestions: Just as I Am, The Glass Castle

Authors to look for: George Orwell, Beryl Markham, Jesmyn Ward

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#3) Cookbooks

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These are the books with various recipes from famous chefs, celebrities, and others. It can be just a collection of random recipes or pertaining to a theme like a cuisine, region, or experience of the writer.

Reading Suggestions: Pinch of Nom: 100 Home-Style Recipes for Health and Weight Loss, 10-Day Green Smoothie Cleanse

Authors to look for: Mary Berry, Paul Hollywood, Jessica Seinfeld

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#4) True Stories

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Some writers jot down the true stories of life, history, and crime from around the world. These stories read a lot like fiction but since they have happened already, and it’s not created from imagination, these stories are not included in fiction. The Good People, Empress Orchid, Without a Country, etc are some non-fiction stories of true events.

Reading Suggestions: If You Tell, Spilled Milk

Authors to look for: Meg Waite Clayton, Jesmyn Ward, Emma Cline

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#5) Self Help

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Self-help books help people to improve a part of their life. These books usually carry topics like relationships, physical health, mental health, finances, etc. How to Win Friends and Influence People, Think and Grow Rich, The Power of Now, etc are some self-help books that can help you live a better life.

Reading Suggestions: The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book), Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!

Authors to look for: Steve Harvey, James Allen, Robin Norwood

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q #1) How many types of books are there?

Answer: There are mainly two types of books- fiction and non-fiction. These types are further divided into various genres.

Q #2) Which genre is Harry Potter?

Answer: Harry Potter is Fantasy Fiction because it has a magical world that is separated from the usual world.

Q #3) What defines a mystery novel?

Answer: Mystery novels are usually crime novels of murder, disappearance, etc where the events, the culprits, and sometimes, even the victim is unclear. The events unfold themselves as the reader keeps reading the story.

Q #4) What is a thriller book?

Answer: Thrillers are dark, suspenseful, and engrossing stories that are driven by plots. It generates interest, excitement, and suspense. It can be very exhilarating and can keep you at the edge of your seat throughout.

Q #5) Is thriller and horror the same?

Answer: Horror is usually the story of doom that seems inevitable and predictable. The climax of the story is usually about getting away from evil or stopping it. On the other hand, thriller stories are filled with tension and are not predictable. So, thriller and horror are two different genres.

Conclusion

With so many varieties of books available, you are bound to find something you will love. All genres have different characteristics and one book can belong to two or more categories.

We have mentioned some genres here but there are a lot more to explore. If you are a book lover, you will absolutely enjoy these genres, and if not, you might fall in love with them.