There are three major types of fiction—literary, mainstream and genre fiction. Each type of fiction has its own set of rules and reader expectations. The type of novel determines how it will be marketed and where it will be placed on most bookstore shelves.
Definition of Literary Novels
Literary novels usually have a very serious or weighty theme. These are the books that are read in literature classes and that often win prestigious awards such as the Pulitzer Prize. The literary novel is more theme and character-driven rather than fast action. The literary novel may contain action as part of the plot, but the emphasis is focused on the character's reaction to the event rather than the event itself. For example in Steinbeck’s The Pearl, a serious moral lesson is learned from the event of finding an object of great price.
Literary novels are often selected for book club groups. They can become best-sellers, but are usually targeted for a smaller readership that is interested in the meaning of life and the discovery of universal truths. One literary novel that became a surprise bestseller was Richard Bach’s Jonathan Livingston Seagull. The experience of the seagull reflects universal questions about life and spirituality. Some examples of contemporary literary novels are:
- The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
- The Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
- The Road (Cormac McCarthy)
What Constitutes a Mainstream Novel?
A mainstream novel has a literary theme, but the theme is more likely to have more appeal to the general reading public. Many of Oprah’s choices are mainstream novels. If these books were movies they would be categorized as dramas. These novels do not fall into any specific niche or category, such as romance or mystery. Though they may have elements of mystery or romance, these elements are not the main focus of the book. Women’s mainstream novels are often about family situations such as child abuse or domestic violence. There is only a slight difference between literary and mainstream books, and many of them overlap into literary. Books are considered mainstream if read by a larger, more commercial readership. Some examples of mainstream novels include:
- White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
- The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
- The Prince of Tides (Pat Conroy)
Defining Genre or Category Novels
A genre novel adheres to the rules or conventions of a particular type or category. Readers of these novels have built-in expectations. Mystery readers expect a murder or crime to be solved, romance readers anticipate a love story to be the main focus of the book. Science fiction readers want a story that is set on an alien world or has some element that sets it apart from the ordinary, and western readers expect a shoot ‘em up.
Genre novels are written to sell, and are grouped together so readers can find them. This does not mean they lack literary merit. Many famous authors such as Charles Dickens were commercial writers in their day. Genres exist mainly so readers can easily find what they are looking for. If a novel can be categorized, it is easier to market, and this can be an advantage.
A work that starts out as a genre novel but because of universal appeal gains a much wider audience is said to supersede the genre. Then it becomes marketed as a mainstream as well as a genre novel. These types of novels are often made into film. Some examples of genre books that have superseded their original genre include:
- Twilight (Stephenie Meyer, originally a teen vampire thriller)
- The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown, origninally a mystery-thriller)
- Harry Potter (J. K. Rowling, originally a fantasy)
Knowing the different types of books can be of great help to aspiring authors in deciding where the book they are planning fits in to the overall marketing picture once it becomes published.
Readers may also enjoy From Cozy to Private Eye: Writing and selling the Cross-Genre or Hybrid Novel, The Five Major Categories of Mystery, Defining the Traditional or Cosy Mystery Genre.
Join the Conversation