Genreflecting: A Guide to Popular Reading Interests - Genreflecting Advisory Series

Synopsis

This is the classic readers' advisory tool, updated and improved for today's users. Most of the millions of books borrowed from public libraries are popular fiction. This new edition of "Genreflecting" explains not only what library patrons are reading, but why. In the process, it casts reading in a new light that demonstrates how it functions as an essential information service that creates communities in culturally democratic ways. Focusing on what today's readers read, this classic guide introduces current genre fiction and popular reading tastes. By defining genres, describing their features and characteristics, and grouping titles by genre, sub-genre, and theme, the book helps those who work with readers to understand distinct patterns in reading habits and book selection, and it allows users to identify "read-alikes" and other titles their patrons will enjoy. "Genreflecting" has become a standard reference and readers' advisory tool for library practitioners and an insightful text for students of library and information science. Building upon previous editions, this new volume features informative essays on the essence, history, and latest trends of various genres contributed by top scholars and genre experts. New chapters on Christian fiction and emerging genres (women's fiction and "chick lit") have been added. 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 benchmark titles. Other features new to this edition include lists of selected "classic" authors and titles in each of the genres; sections on "genreblends" (e.g., horror/humour, mystery/romance); and three new essays, "The Social Nature of Reading", "The Readers' Advisory Interview", and "A Brief History of Readers' Advisory", which shed further insight into the nature and importance of this field. A standard professional tool for readers'advisors, invaluable collection development guide, and text, this is a must purchase for all libraries.