How to Embrace a New Genre
Reading outside of your favourite genre is a great way to learn something new. We recommend some ways to choose a book outside of your preferred genre and expand your horizons.
Exploring a new genre is a fantastic way to discover a new topic, to get to grips with a period in history, or to find out about a new culture. While some people are genre readers, others prefer to read widely. Of course, there is no right or wrong way to read, but reading outside of your favourite genre is a great way to expand your horizons and learn something new.
Penguin Readers offers a selection of genres to suit every taste. The series is regularly updated with new contemporary fiction, non-fiction and popular classics.
Fiction
Have a look at the three blurbs below from the Penguin Readers range. Can you identify the genre/s and which book would you choose based on reading each one?
- Becky lives with her rich friend, Suze. Suze and her friends have lots of money, and they eat in expensive restaurants. Becky does not have as much money as Suze. Becky knows that she should stop spending money, but she can’t stop shopping.
- The Knight’s Tale is a very old story about two knights, Arcita and Palamon. The two men love the Queen’s sister, Emily. Do they fight for her?
- A geek, a jock, a criminal, a princess. A murder.
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- The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic. Comedy, Romance
- The Knight’s Tale. Adventure
- One Of Us Is Lying. Mystery, Thriller
Non-fiction
Reading non-fiction can be a useful way to keep up with current topics. Viruses and Pandemics and How to Give Up Plastic are books from the Science and Technology genre that are relevant to the world we are living in now. These are useful reads that can help increase knowledge and fill in the gaps to understanding more about topical situations.
Another great book covering an important topic is Climate Change. This book is from the Social Issues genre and it can help educate the next generation about how we need to work together to save our planet.
How can you choose a book outside of your preferred genre?
- Do some research on the book.
- Read the blurb, does it make you want to read the book?
- Look at reviews of a book.
- Ask for recommendations.
- Start a book-sharing group with friends, discuss and recommend a range of books to each other.
- Be open to a range of genres, not just one particular type of book.
