*In Week 1: Assignment 4, you began following one of the genre links on the right. Write a blog post about your discoveries.*
During Week 1, I decided to venture out of my comfort zone and monitored a site devoted to monitoring books of the mystery genre. I set out to monitor the site "Stop, You're Killing Me"; if I'm being honest, I chose this site solely because of it's cool name! Similar to Early Word, SYKM is a bit overwhelming at first glance. There are so many index options to choose from and loads of information being shared. However, SYKM delivers this information in a more modest fashion. Lacking the flashy design template, but not holding back on the amount of information it provides. What I love about SYKM is that it provides a monthly update of newly published titles. It is also sub-categorizes each title; for example, there's a list for newly released large print mysteries, cozy mysteries, thrillers, etc. This is especially helpful for those customers who have specific reader advisory inquiries.
*Pick 3 subgenres that you are unfamiliar with. List three authors or titles that are associated with or typify each of these 3 subgenres. What are the hallmarks or appeal factors of each of the subgenres?*
Cozy Mysteries: The stories typically take place in a small village or town. The characters are usually unofficial detectives (i.e. retired persons or small business owners) with a knack for solving crime. No violence or brutality is detailed, rather it occurs behind the scenes to maintain the novel's lighthearted tone.
- Ms. Marple series by Agatha Christie
- Agatha Raisin series by M.C. Beaton
- Tea Shop Mystery series by Laura Childs
Historical Fiction: The characters in these stories may be fictional, but the way in which they interact with their environment is reminiscent of the historical era. In some cases these characters interact with actual historical figures of that time. They also respond to situations that are realistic for that time period (i.e. segregation, civil wars, the Holocaust, etc.).
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction: These novels explore how characters respond to a world wide catastrophe. They often start with civilization ending or being endangered in some way. The characters struggle to survive in all the chaos, often contributing to the novel's depressing tone. These stories take place in an imaginative world, yet cause readers to consider their plausibility and question "what if???!".
- The Stand by Stephen King
- Cyber Storm by Matthew Mather
- The Passage by Justin Cronin
*Mashups of subgenres, e.g. steampunk westerns, are becoming increasingly popular. Find two titles, not shown on the flowchart, which could cross over into another subgenre. Describe your rationale.*
Sick Lit is a fairly new term used to describe titles that involve characters who a trying to navigate a traumatic personal situation, which in the case of these titles is terminal illness. In my opinion, these novels are combination of the realistic fiction and romance genres. In each of these stories, the characters are of course fictional, but could easily exist in the real world. They are facing challenges that many readers have either experienced themselves or know of individuals who have faced these challenges. While the characters in these novels are navigating these realistic situations, they are also making interpersonal connections and ultimately finding love with other characters in the book.
Sick Lit Examples:
- The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
- Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
- Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
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