Genre Studies
|
|
Adult Reading Round Table Genre Studies |
Romance is in the Air!
The 2009-2010 ARRT Genre Study
began on February 5, 2009, at the Geneva Public Library.
All ARRT members
are invited to join this two-year study of the Romance Genre.
Meeting every other month, participants are required to read at least one
benchmark
book from each subgenre plus another
similar title taken from a list
supplied. In
each meeting the various characteristics, themes, appeal factors,
and authors are discussed. At the end of the two-year
study, participants will
be well versed in
this popular genre of fiction.
Meeting Dates and Topics
|
Classics Reading List Classics Notes NEW! Contemporary Romance Reading List Contemporary Notes NEW! Historical Romance Reading List NEW! |
For more information contact:
Debbie Walsh
Geneva Public Library
127 James St.
Geneva, IL 60134
(630) 232-0780 ext. 227
dwalsh@geneva.lib.il.us
Please take our
Nonfiction Reading Survey
Click Here to Take the Survey
Nonfiction Genre Study
Beyond Subject Headings: Considering a Book's Appeal (Nonfiction)
Frame/Tone
How is the background detail presented? Does the book offer a scholarly or popular
treatment of the topic?
Are there indexes, footnotes, bibliography, glossaries, maps, illustrations?
Is the setting contemporary or historical, exotic or familiar?
Does the frame/background detail affect the tone or atmosphere?
bittersweet, bleak, comfortable, contemporary, darker (tone), detailed setting,
details of [insert an area of specialized knowledge or skill], edgy, evocative,
evangelistic, exotic, foreboding, gritty, hard-edged, heartwarming, historical details,
humorous, journalistic, literary, lush, magical, melodramatic, menacing, mystical,
nightmare (tone), philosophical, political, popular, psychological, romantic, rural,
scholarly, sensual, small-town, stark, suspenseful, timeless, upbeat, urban
Characterization
Is the focus on characters or events; do individuals play significant roles?
Is the focus on a single person or on several whose lives are intertwined?
Is the reader expected to identify with the people portrayed or observe them?
What is the point of view from which the story is told?
Are there memorable and important secondary characters?
Detailed, distant, dramatic, eccentric, evocative, faithful, familiar, introspective,
intriguing secondary (characters), laudatory, lifelike, multiple points of view, quirky,
realistic, recognizable, sympathetic, vivid, well-developed, well-drawn
Storyline
What is the author's intention in regard to story line? To document a situation/life or
argue a point, for example?
Does the story emphasize people or situations and events?
Is the focus of the story more interior and psychological or exterior and action oriented?
Does the story take place on more than one level?
Is the story told in an exciting or even outrageous style, or is the presentation calm and
objective?
action-oriented, character-centered, cinematic, complex, conclusive, domestic,
episodic, explicitly violent, exposè, family-centered, folksy, gentle, humorous,
inspirational, investigative, issue-oriented, layered, linear, literary, multiple
storylines, mystical, mythic, open-ended, plot-centered, plot twists, racy, rich and
famous, romp, sexually explicit, steamy, strong language, thought-provoking, tragic
Pacing
What is the pattern of the pacing? Does the author pull readers quickly into the story or
spend time providing background details? Is there a introduction to set up action
and heighten curiosity?
Do descriptive details slow the pacing?
Is the author’s approach scholarly or popular?
Is the book densely written? How much white space is there on pages?
Are there short sentences, short paragraphs, and short chapters? Do illustrations and/or
figures break up the text?
Is there a straight-line plot or are there multiple plotlines, flashbacks, or alternating
points of view
breakneck, compelling, deliberate, densely written, easy, engrossing, fast-paced,
leisurely-paced, measured, relaxed, stately, unhurried
Other terms relating to style/language: austere, candid, classic, colorful, complex,
concise, conversational, direct, dramatic, dry, elaborate, extravagant, fervent,
flamboyant, frank, graceful, homespun, jargon, laconic, metaphorical, natural, ornate,
passionate, poetic, polished, prosaic, restrained, seemly, showy, simple, sophisticated,
stark, thoughtful, unaffected, unembellished, unpretentious, unusual
Questions to Consider in Discussing Books
What does the author do best?
What makes the book popular?
What do readers talk about?
Does it emphasize people or events?
Do you fall into the book immediately or learn about what is going on at a more leisurely
pace?
What other authors/titles does the book remind you of? Fiction? Nonfiction?
Who else might enjoy reading this book and why?
This page is
designed and maintained by the Rolling Meadows Library
Please direct questions and comments to:
Mary Constance Back, ARRT Homepage Coordinator
mary.back@rmlib.org
URL
http://www.rolling-meadows.lib.il.us/ARRT/
Copyright © 2000 Rolling Meadows Library
This page was last updated on 06/24/2009.