In an interview on the dearauthor.com blog, Lois McMaster Bujold was asked if genre labels were "helpful or hurtful to readers" and she responded "Genre is good as a door but bad as a wall."
In readers' advisory when we use genre designations, we are using genre as a door to let readers into a realm of books they want to read. When genres are described in static or inflexible terms, or spoken of with disdain, they become walls.
Genre designations help publishers sell books, and help readers' advisors guide readers; and in those contexts, they are surely doors. Overly serious English majors and others who have been taught that only literary fiction is worthwhile reading often see genre as a wall.
The blog interviewer went on to ask Ms. Bujold if her works were paranormal romance or fantasy. This question demonstrates how much genre is in the eyes of the reader, rather than in the eyes of the author or publisher. Reading is a creative endeavor, and everyone who reads a book brings his or her own experience and judgments to what is read, so it is easy to see how genre as a door can become very fluid. While romance readers read Bujold's work The Sharing Knife as paranormal romance, fantasy fans (and Bujold herself) see it primarily as fantasy.
Too often, specific genres are disparaged by those who haven't read in those genres. I sometimes smile when I hear people talk about how they dislike, or even hate, one genre or another; and then go on to mention their favorite books, which often obviously fall into those same genres. One young librarian claimed to hate fantasy, but loved Harry Potter. A book group member adamantly claimed that Mary Doria Russell's The Sparrow (which involves travel to a distant planet and interactions with aliens) was NOT science fiction. It just couldn't be, because she didn't like science fiction.
Genres are in the eyes of the beholder. And stories don't necessarily fall neatly into only one genre or another. The Sparrow is not only science fiction; it is also literary fiction. Harry Potter is not only fantasy, it is also a teen coming-of-age tale, an adventure, and a story about school experiences.
When using genre in readers' advisory, it is important to use the RA interview to discern what it is about a genre that your reader likes. One reader may love historical romance for the characters and their relationships, while another may love it for the way a world so different than ours is brought vividly to life. The first reader may also enjoy women's fiction because of the focus on relationships; while to the second reader you might suggest fantasy, where world building plays a major role.
As readers' advisors, we do ourselves and our patrons a disservice when we use genres as walls, and try to pigeonhole readers into a specific genre. When reading, try to see all the different genres that may fit a particular book. This is not a form of uncertainty or fuzzy thinking-it is a form of knowledge you can arm yourself with. Then, when you talk to readers, draw upon your experience to make fresh connections and suggestions. After all, when it comes to our readers, we want to open as many doors as possible.
References
"Who Moved My Cheese? Are Paranormal Romances Due for a Career Change" January 16, 2007. http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2007/01/16/who-moved-my-cheese-whether-paranormal-romances-are-due-for-a-makeover/#loismcmaster
Diana Tixier Herald is an author, readers' advisory consultant, workshop presenter, and speaker. She is also the editor of the critically acclaimed Genreflecting Advisory series. Her books include, Genreflecting, 6th ed. (Libraries Unlimited, 2006), Teen Genreflecting, 2d ed. (Libraries Unlimited, 2003), Strictly Science Fiction (Libraries Unlimited, 2002), and Fluent in Fantasy (Libraries Unlimited, 1999).