Genreflecting

Price: $45.00
ISBN13: 9781591582861
ISBN10: 1591582865
Book code: LU2865
Libraries Unlimited
Paperback | 584 pages
Publication Date: 12/30/2005
Series: Genreflecting Advisory Series

DESCRIPTION

This is the classic readers' advisory tool and text, updated and improved for today's users. Genres and reading trends demystified, more than 5,000 titles classified, with two new chapters on Christian fiction and emerging genres. You'll also find essays by genre experts and the foremost proponents of readers' advisory today.

For the past 150 years America's public libraries have supplied billions of books to billions of people, and most of those books have been (and continue to be) popular fiction. This new edition of Genreflecting explains not only what library patrons are reading, but why. In the process, it casts reading in a new light that demonstrates how it functions as an essential information service that creates communities in culturally democratic ways.

Focusing on what today's readers read, this classic guide introduces you to current genre fiction and popular reading tastes. By defining genres, describing their features and characteristics, and grouping titles by genre, subgenre, and theme, the book helps those who work with readers to understand distinct patterns in reading habits and book selection; and it allows users to identify read-alikes and other titles their patrons will enjoy. Genreflecting has become a standard reference and readers' advisory tool for library practitioners and an insightful text for students of library and information science. Building upon previous editions, this new volume features informative essays on the essence, history, and latest trends of various genres, contributed by top scholars and genre experts and edited by Dr. Wayne Wiegand. New chapters on Christian fiction and emerging genres (women's fiction and chick lit) have been added. In addition, more than 5,000 titles, approximately one-third new to this edition, are classified, focusing on titles published since the last edition along with perennial classics and benchmark titles. The popular feature D's Picks identifies new and noteworthy titles in each genre. Other features new to this edition include lists of selected classic authors and titles in each of the genres, sections on genreblends in those areas where they occur (e.g., horror/humor, mystery/romance), and three new essays. The Social Nature of Reading by Dr. Wiegand, The Readers' Advisory Interview by Dr. Catherine Ross, and A Brief History of Readers' Advisory by Melanie A. Kimball offer further insight into the nature and importance of this field. A standard professional tool for readers' advisors and an invaluable collection development guide and text, this is a must-purchase for all libraries.

Genres demystified: more than 5,000 titles classified by genre, subgenre, and theme.

CONTENTS

Part I: Introduction to Popular Reading Interests;

The Social Nature of Reading, Wayne A. Wiegand;

A Brief History of Readers' Advisory, Melanie A. Kimball;

The Readers' Advisory Interview, Catherine Sheldrick Ross;

Serving Today's Reader, Diana Tixier Herald;

Part II: The Genres;

Historical Fiction; with Essay by R. Gordon Kelly

Westerns; with Essay by Connie Van Fleet

Crime; with Essay by Erin A. Smith

Adventure; with Essay by Diana Tixier Herald

Romance; with Essay by Denise Adkins

Science Fiction; with Essay by JoAnn Palmeri

Fantasy; with Essay by John H. Timmerman

Horror; with Essay by Dale Bailey

Christian Fiction; with Essay by Erin A. Smith

Emerging Genres; with Essay by Diana Tixier Herald

Index