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What Is Literary Fiction? A Guide For Writers And Readers

September 4, 2023February 24, 2023

Literary fiction is the most intriguing genre of the book world, which is mind-bending for both readers and writers. It is a commercial fiction genre, so readers and writers need to know how it stands out from the rest of the world.

What is literary fiction?

According to avid book readers of all commercial, genre, and literary fiction, the latter is considered one of the classic books that people are made to study at universities, which talk about the different events which occurred on different dates. It involves long prose, metaphors, and slathering symbolism and follows a slow pace narrative. Although some of it is true, there is much more to it.

Literary fiction is a genre of novels that emphasizes theme over plot and considers the importance of style and character.

Characteristics of literary Fiction

Although the definition of literary fiction is true to the books we read today, the ever-changing publishing and the writer’s world keeps altering every year. But, the characters of this genre remain constant, which are as follows:

They are character-driven
These books explore deeper and darker themes of literature
They talk about a political, social, and emotional situation
They potentially have an ambiguous ending and are not always a happily ever after
It is deeply rooted in reality
There are no strict speech marks
They do not hold a strict adherence to the structure

Examples of Literary Fiction books

If you’re still confused about what literary fiction’s genre is for its readers, here are a few solid examples you can read and analyze.

To Kill a mockingbird

The book written by Harper Lee is a simple novel. Due to the simple storyline revolving around Tom Robinson and Atticus allows the writer to explore the deeper emotional meaning of the genre, like racial prejudice, the classic fight between good and evil, loss of innocence, lack of institutional trust, and many more. It touches the emotional nerve of the readers, mainly through the depth of the character and not through the plot twists.

The Color Purple – by Alice Walker

This is yet another emotional masterpiece of an African American girl who faces hardships in the early 1900s. She writes emotional, fact-driven letters to God, explaining her sorrows and miseries and how she manages to navigate her difficult life with a smile. The book mainly explores the areas of religion, violence, suffering, gender roles, self-discovery, and many more.

The Great Gatsby – Scott Fitzgerald

Although written by Scott Fitzgerald, it is narrated by Nick Carrey, who narrates all the incidents of the author’s life, including his love story in his youth with Daisy Buchanan. It mainly explores the theme of the American Dream, love, power, and much more.

The Best-Selling New & Future Releases In Nonfiction

August 10, 2023February 24, 2023

Non-fiction is one of the most loved genres of today’s book world. It provides an escape for the readers and is considered a safe space where people can indulge and enjoy. Here are some best-selling books in non-fiction which is worth a read!

Man and his Symbols by Carl G Jung

If you’re looking for a self-help book, this masterpiece by Jung is a must-read. It talks about the inner workings of the subconscious mind, which unlocks all the meanings of our dreams and artistic impulses. Dreams are a part of human reality, and if you wish to know what they are, how to interpret them, and what is the subconscious answer to all your dreams, you need to own the book and give it a good read. Man and his Symbols offers the most insightful messages on interpreting dreams and how they can affect our lives.

The Ghost at the Feast by Robert Kagan

The book is a part of the Dangerous Nation Trilogy, which talks about the United States in the twentieth century. Americans were considered the beneficiaries during the British war and had responsibilities for maintaining different global orders. This book is for you if you’re interested in knowing about old America and its nature in the first and second world Wars. It provides some insightful information on the happenings in the region and the perils of the withdrawal of America, and the price it had to pay to sustain international responsibilities.

Artificial Hells by Claire Bishop

Claire Bishop has been one of the most ambitious participants in participatory art. In this book, she talks about this form of art takes shape in different centuries and how every era has changed the way people look at this form of art. The book calls for having a less perspective approach to different forms of art and politics and for people to develop bolder forms of criticism and participatory art.

The Matter of Everything by Suzie Sheehy

This book is meant for all the physics lovers fascinated by the journey and the journey of experiments that helps in unlocking the secrets of nature and matter.

Once you read the book, you will have a different approach to the working of the universe and how every single particle in the universe matters in creating the cosmos. It is one of those books that builds the reader’s curiosity as the book progresses.

The Diaries of Franz Kafka by Franz Kafka

Franz Kafka is one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century who reveals her true self through this book, dating from 1909 to 1923. The book contains some accounts of events, literary sketches, letter drafts, dream accounts, and many more of her life experiences and finished stories. If you are interested in learning about her life, this book is for you!

The Best Suspense Books of all Times

July 9, 2023February 24, 2023

Thriller and suspense are one of the most loved book genres, with nail-biting moments that keep you wondering at night. The main reasons for the so much love gained by this genre are the compelling storylines and development of the character’s narratives, which makes it interesting how the story unfolds.

If you’re an avid book reader and love to read different kinds of suspense books, here is a list you cannot miss!

And Then There Were None – Agatha Christie

The book’s main theme is keeping secrets and exploring human nature. The book talks about ten major characters, all known to each other, who meet on an isolated island on the coast of Devon. The story turns interesting when one by one, they start dying, and it is up to the remaining few survivors to figure out the secret behind these murders.

The Silent Patient – Alex Michaelides

If you’re looking for psychological thriller books, this is hands down the best one in the book market. With nerve-chilling facts and a gripping storyline, it will keep the readers up at night and wondering what the ending will be like!

The main character in the book is Theo Faber, who is a famous psychotherapist in the story. He treats Alicia Berenson as a “murder” of her husband, who goes silent after the incident. However, what happened the night of the murder is for readers to find out!

Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn

If you’re looking for a book with a twist and turns on every page of the story, this book is for you! It is a mind-bending masterclass in the psychological suspense genre. It revolves around the main character Nick Dunne, who finds out his wife, is missing when he is on a five-day business trip. So he goes on a mission to find his missing wife along with his wife’s twin sister. However, what happened during those five days is a thriller, and the book explains it from both perspectives, which is worth a read.

The Woman At The Window – A.J Finn

It is one of the most classic and the best thriller novels. The storyline revolves around Anna Fox, who resides alone in a New York City home and often cannot venture outside. She picks up a paintbrush to follow her passion after losing her daughter, who was lost ten years ago. Everything seems normal until she sees something at the window, and she has to take bold steps to prevent murder.

The Girl on the Train – Pula Hawkins

Rachel travels on a train, fantasizing about her married life after her divorce, after she sees a couple through the train window, living happily. However, one day she sees something weird in the house, which changes her perception, and her world spirals out of her control horrifyingly.

The Best Book Podcasts to Listen in 2023

June 8, 2023February 24, 2023

If you love to read, you will understand the struggle of being unable to read while walking, riding, biking, or even cooking. One best solution for your book craving is book podcasts. Podcasts are a growing trend that helps people connect with their true selves by listening to similar stories, life experiences, knowledge, and information. By listening to book podcasts, you can keep in touch with your interest all the time.

Here are a few recommendations for book podcasts in 2023 to get you started.

NPR’s Book of the Day

If you’re constantly working about which book to add to your shelf next, this is the best one yet, which provides 15-minute daily insights on new boos, current trending books, and the life of different authors and their news, keeping you in touch with the book world. You can also explore and learn about different genres, book styles, new authors, and many more.

Debutiful

It is a podcast and a website that is an informational site for avid readers to read about the different books in the market, interviews, their recommendations, and the life updates of your favorite authors. Adam, the host of the show, gives in-depth insights about the author, the book, and what inspired the author to write about it. This is the best podcast if you love reading even the Acknowledgement section of a book.

The Maris Review

What better way to learn and keep in touch with books than from a reader, writer, author, and fan? Maris Kreiman is all of the above, and she is also a natural critic. Her insights are meaningful and provide in-depth information about different genres of books that you might miss you. On her podcast, she not only talks about the storyline of different new and old books but also provides insights and inside information on the author’s life – the stories they like, the movies, the food, the links they have clicked, and many more.

The Book Review

If you need a formal podcast approach, this is the one for you. The New York Times Book Review is one of the famous book-reviewing podcasts on almost all platforms. This is a podcast channel that complements their coverage. Each week, they interview different authors and talk about their book’s storylines and everything else with the host Pamela Paul. They also provide insights into the happenings of the literary world, which is intriguing to know as an avid reader.

Overdue

This is worth a listen if you have been meaning to pick up a few books for your next read. It is hosted by Craig Getting and Andrew Cunningham, who share on a weekly episode what they are reading. They do not shy away from complaining if they do not like the book, and the same goes for encouraging people to follow a particular series of books.

New Fiction Books To Read This Season

May 16, 2023February 24, 2023

Fiction books are like an escape from reality which helps readers dive into the author’s minds and understand the story from their perspective. If you’re a person who loves to step into the world of fantasy and explore new ideas and storylines, then here is a list of the new fiction books you cannot miss out in 2023.

Beck by Sarah May

If you’re driven by women’s power and support the same, Beck is the book for you! It revolves around the character Becky, who struggles to climb her career ladder during the 1990s. It was the era when celebrities were considered God, and we were working for a leading newspaper company. However, for Becky, despite her struggles in excelling, something from her past tends to hold her back and prevent her from taking her dream job. If you wish to know what happened in her past and how the events changed their course, you have to own and read the book now!

Exiles by Jane Harper

If you dread The Dry by Jane Harper, this book follows suit, which talks about a small-town detective named Aaron Falk, a character from The Dry who returns in Exiles. A young mother disappears one night at a fair. However, Aaron finds it intriguing and mostly suspects that it is t not just a regular missing-person case. It has much more to it. The novel has heart-pounding twists, leaving the readers in shock at the end. Once you’re done with the book, you will recommend it to friends and family and discuss it in every book club!

To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara

Hanya Yanagihara is the author of A Little Life. The novel follows a dreamy storyline about love, family, loss, and many others in the 80s setting. A young family member in New York falls in love with charismatic music streams. When AIDS hit Manhattan in 1993, this Hawaiian man tried to hide his family background and disappeared; now, it is up to the woman to discover the mysteries he has been hiding from and about his disappearance. With the author’s literary genuineness, she demonstrates a truly powerful script, weaving three different stories together with deepening themes.

Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King

Ily King is the acclaimed author of Euphoria, who is known for her amazing acclaimed writing of her short stories, giving them a realistic touch. In this novel, a bookseller cannot hide his feelings for his employee. The girl is taken care of by her grandparents and a college couple. If you’re interested in spiced romance with surreal hints, honesty, and love, this is the right book to explore in 2023, which you can pre-order on most book listing websites.

Key Tips To Make A Perfect Book Cover Design

April 10, 2023February 24, 2023

Before people read what’s inside a book, they look at its cover design and texture. It is one of the key factors in attracting customers who are still skeptical of what they wish to read. Readers generally shop with their eyes and often search for familiarity or surprises. Irrespective of the content inside, readers often look for a book they can proudly hold on the subway and catch the eyes of another avid reader. A good book cover design will determine the reader’s interest in the book. However, before you begin to design your book cover, you need to consider the following:

The author and their brand

The cover design must do justice to the author and the book’s tone. If the book is for youngsters, it should have a cover design and theme that will catch their interest.

The genre or the style of the book

Commercial fiction books fall under romance, fantasy, thriller, science-fiction, and fantasy. The cover design styles for these genres were decided decades ago. However, you can always customize it, sticking to certain design standards. For instance, mystical characters and planets represent science fiction, a couple on the cover page implies romance, and so on.

The location of the selling

The place where a book is sold is an underrated concept and greatly impacts the design strategy. For instance, if you are selling books on Amazon or other online platforms, you need to have a slightly better design process with bigger fonts, and so on.

Information to collect

In addition to the points mentioned above, it is also important for you to collect information on the following:

The format refers to the text’s size, color, and font. Formats can also include the book cover format like paperback, casebound, and hardback.
The copy of the book, which includes blurbs, endorsements, front and back copies
Graphics play an important role in deciding the tone of the book. Graphics of company and publisher logos, barcodes, and others which are essential for selling in stores
Budgeting of the design adds up to all the design processes in the front and back cover. It will also include stock images, ISBN identifiers, font licenses, and barcodes.

Step involved in designing a perfect book cover

Once all the information is gathered, it is important to follow a systematic pattern that involves the following steps:

Understanding all the elections of the cover, even the ones connected to the spine
Researching the market for trends and setting prices for what kind of designs are selling
Choosing a design direction to fit into the author’s vision and style
Working and reworking to figure out which design works the best
Choosing the best fonts and graphics
Knowing what the printer will need
Collection valuable feedback

Book Reviews: The Ultimate Guide For Beginners

March 11, 2023February 24, 2023

If you love reading books and are intrigued by reading about different books, then you know the importance of book reviews. Imagine you read a book, and you find it absolutely worthless, and you wish to share your experience with others, then you write a book review for other readers to understand whether or not they wish to read the books.

According to study.com, a book review refers to analyzing the book’s subject matter, context, strengths, and weaknesses. It is also alternatively called a book report or a book critique. When writing a book review, you summarise the book or provide your critical review and point of view after reading it. Irrespective of how other readers perceive it, you need to confidently say your thoughts and opinions, which also adds a personal taste and makes your review stand out from the others. This also means you agree or disagree with the author, but your thoughts should be solely based on what is already written.

Why book reviews are important

One of the primary reasons to write a book review is to enhance the book’s visibility, which enhances the probability of a reader finding your book online. This will especially help new writers to gain exposure. In addition, selling a book is like a business for an author, and increasing their popularity will help enhance their credibility in the literary field.

If you aim to be a book reviewer, you have to keep some things in mind that will help you write the best and most insightful book reviews.

Read

There are millions of books, either on the net or offline. If you need to review a book, you must first know and understand what the book is about! Also, by reading more, you will also be able to write faster and better.

Specialize in a particular genre

It is important to choose your personal favorite. Then, select your genre by picking two or three different types and focus on reading books only from those genres. By narrowing your options, you can stick to the jargon of that particular genre without drifting your focus elsewhere.

Review books for free

If your goal is to become a professional book reviewer, you need to start reviewing books for free! You can use sites like Amazon on Goodreads, which are the top in the bookworm community. It can be as short as five lines of review which can be super helpful for other readers. Once you start wiring a good number of reviews, you can also look for paid options and services which offer capital according to your talent.

Host your reviews

Make a list or a website with different kinds of book reviews. Post your best work there, or create a site dedicated to your book reviews.

Best Thrillers That’ll Keep You Turning The Page

February 6, 2023

If you love the suspense genre and you’re bored of watching suspense movies, reading books are one of the best hobbies you can develop. Mystery thrillers and suspense books are the most-sol genres of the boo work, which can keep readers captivated for hours. It will get your heart pumping and wanting to know what happens next!

We have your back if you’re looking for the best recommendations in the thriller genre!

Long Bright River – Liz Moore

The story revolves around two sisters who reside in a Philadelphia neighborhood and face an opioid crisis. While Micky is a police officer, Kacey lies on the other side of the law, struggling with marijuana addiction. One night Kacey disappears and goes missing for several days, and her sister is hell-bent on finding her, irrespective of the cost. The book is a perfect example of propulsive mystery, providing intimate touches on emotion, family, addiction, and an emotional tie that binds everyone together.

The Other Black Girl – Zakiya Dalila Harris

Nella Rogers is the only black employee at her publishing company. She gets extremely excited when she is joined by another black woman who starts working in a cubical beside her. However, things take a slightly different turn, and the other black woman goes into a competitive spirit. At the same time, someone starts sending Nella threatening notes asking her to leave the company. The book is a personal experience of the author, leaving people excited to turn pages and read the rest of the story. It also digs into the microaggressions which make the workplace and environment toxic.

Grown – Tifanny D Jackson

Enchanted Jones is an aspiring song artist, who falls head over heels in love with Korey Fields, a legendary R&b artist, just when she is about to achieve her career success. Unfortunately, she spirals into a toxic relationship with Fields, who turns out to be possessive and controlling. The nightmare love story continues until she finds him dead and her hands filled with blood. Jones has no memory of the incidents of the previous night, which makes the book all the more interesting. The book, along with thriller suspense, also provides insights into powerful cultural insights, which will get the readers hooked till the end.

Blue Bird, Blue Bird – Attica Locke

The book centers around Darren Mathews, who resides in Texas. The book revolves around rampant racism which prevails in the region. One day Mathews travels to Highway 59 to find a black lawyer and a white woman murdered. This is when the story forces him to confront his racism. Irrespective of who tries to stop him, he is hell-bent on solving the murder mystery of the two. The book was published in 2017 and is still considered one of the most intriguing crime novels.

Best Mystery & Thriller Books For 2022 (New & Anticipated)

January 4, 2023December 31, 2022

Mystery and thriller are one of the juiciest genres, which hook readers to the edge of their seats every time they read a book of that genre. Over the years, this type of book has only improved by making the storyline better by the day.

If you’re an avid fan of the mystery genre, here are the best mystery and thriller books of 2022 that you can read and enjoy

Jackal – Erin E Adams

This book talks about the character Liz and the struggles she faces while visiting her hometown in Pennsylvania. She visits there for her best friend’s wedding, but during that time, the bride’s daughter is missing, which reminds her of the missing black girl in her high school. The storyline takes a serious twist from here and her struggles and mysteries in trying to find the missing girl.

More than you’ll ever know – Katie Gutierrez

It is one of the best true-crime classics, which will set you in the mood to solve the crime by yourself in the real world. It talks about a woman who was secretly married to two men until they found out and shot one of her husbands. The main character here is Cassie Brown, who is willing to tell her audience her murder story of the affair.

The Family Game – Catherine Steadman

If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers, then this is the book for you! The storyline revolves around two newly engaged couples – Edward and Harriet. While Harriet loves the family of the former, it is not for long until someone slips in a cassette, which sets her in the mood to hunt for truth and the deadly game soon begins to creep into the storyline.

Killers of Certain Age – Deanna Raybourn

The three characters – Mary Alice, Billie, and Natalie are about to retire characters who are 60 years old and spent most of their lives working in the museum. They are sent on a retirement vacation when they realize they’re the targets of the museum, and they must turn their backs on their own organization to save their lives and survive in the wild.

The Violin Conspiracy – Brendan Slocumb

The story revolves around the main character Ray McMillan who is determined to become a professional musician and soon realizes that he has a massive amount of heirlooms from his family. Once he achieves it, his stardom begins to take a huge turn, and he becomes nationally and internationally famous. However, this stardom does not last long as someone from the past tries to take away what is rightfully his!

The family remains – Lisa Jewel.

In this Nobel, the main characters are three unconnected people who set out on three different adventures to solve their own mysteries. This book is sometimes considered as a sale to the other bestsellers, the family upstairs. However, both of them can be read as separate thrillers. In this novel, the main characters are three unconnected people who set out on three different adventures to solve their own mysteries. This book is sometimes considered as a sale to the other bestsellers, the family upstairs. However, both of them can be read as separate thrillers.

Ways To Build A Habit Of Reading Books

December 4, 2022December 2, 2022

Reading books can help you learn new things, increase your vocabulary, increase focus and concentration, and improve your memory. Many claims that they would like to make reading a habit but find it difficult to do so owing to time constraints. It’s not too overdue to start reading regularly if that’s something you want to do. You could create a lifelong habit of reading by taking simple recommendations.

Set a target or goal

Setting a goal is a smart way to spur oneself on to read more. You could, for instance, decide to read a specific number of books or pages this year, and then work toward achieving that goal. You must plan reading time for your day if you want to guarantee that you read every day. Reading can be done at any time, including firstly in the morning, over the journey, just before bed, and even at lunch.

Build a reading list

Making a list of the books you want to read is a good place to start. A list of books you ought to read to learn more about a subject or area of study that interests you, for instance, or a shortlist of books or novels you’ve often liked to read but haven’t had the chance to. You have the option of using lists that different individuals have made in addition to making your own. Additionally, there is a ton of various listings available online.

Put down any books that don’t inspire you

One fact about books is that reading them takes the same amount of time whether you enjoy them or not and whether they have a lasting impact on your life. Give the book you purchased a try. Of course. Possibly continue reading if you still think it will be good after all. But don’t go back to it if you’re not interested in doing so. You should be reading that truly improves your outlook, and if you change your mind later, you can always pick up the book you put down again. When you have the opportunity to view the big picture, you’d be astonished at how amazing books are.

Find a reading companion

To assist you to hold yourself accountable for achieving your reading objectives, you can also find a reading buddy. This person could be a close friend, your partner, or a work colleague. With your reading buddy, you can begin reading or perusing the same book and talk about it either as you go along or after you have both finished it.

Locate a reading area

You know that spot where you feel comfortable and there aren’t many outside distractions? Perhaps you should focus on reading your upcoming book without being sidetracked. The fact that it is fresh and requires little to be comfortable is the most intriguing aspect. It might be a spot in your home, a bookstore, or even a square in your community. It is crucial to have a place where you feel secure to begin new readings.