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If you are looking for a specific book, or even just something you\u2019d like to read, it helps to know the various categories that bookstores use for shelving their products.<\/p>\n
Almost every store has three main categories of books in different locations on the sales floor \u2013 Nonfiction<\/strong>, Fiction<\/strong>, and Children\u2019s<\/strong>. You will then find those sections of the bookstore divided into sub-categories, and then within those sub-categories will be more specific micro-categories. Many visitors to a bookstore always head to one part of the store, knowing that the books they usually like to read are in that area. Last time, we journeyed down the various aisles of the Nonfiction<\/a> section. Now, let\u2019s browse <\/strong>through the Fiction<\/strong> shelves.<\/p>\n Fiction<\/strong><\/p>\n Comics and Graphic Novels \u2013 <\/strong>Comic book publishers collect story arcs<\/strong>, long stories which span multiple issues of their (usually) monthly 32 page comics, and publish them in hardcover <\/strong>and paperback<\/strong> editions. Other illustrated novels and memoirs for adult readers will be found here, along with studies of the history and creators of comics. You might want to try Understanding Comics<\/u><\/strong> by Scott McCloud<\/strong>, or the super hero mystery Identity Crisis<\/u>, <\/strong>by Brad Meltzer.<\/strong><\/p>\n Anthologies \u2013 <\/strong>Collections of short fiction or poetry populate this category. Usually, the editor or compiler of the collection has selected the material to highlight a particular year or subject matter. You will also find anthologies in some specific genres<\/strong> at the very beginning of those sections. The Best Short Stories of the Year<\/strong> is always a good choice.<\/p>\n Classics \u2013 <\/strong>Books which have never gone out of print, and have stood the test of time, are here. Look for works by Charles Dickens<\/strong>, Jane Austen<\/strong>, Leo Tolstoy<\/strong>, and Victor Hugo<\/strong>, for example.<\/p>\n Fantasy \u2013 <\/strong>Often paired with Science Fiction<\/strong>, this is where you\u2019ll find tales of fantastical lands, swords and sorcery, and mythical beasts. George R.R. Martin <\/strong>and J.R.R. Tolkien <\/strong>have books here.<\/p>\n General Fiction \u2013 <\/strong>If a novel<\/strong> doesn\u2019t fall into any particular genre<\/strong>, then you\u2019ll find it here. This includes the vast majority of current bestsellers<\/strong>. Popular and respected authors you\u2019ll find here include Michael Chabon, Jodi Picoult, <\/strong>and Salman Rushdie.<\/strong><\/p>\n Historical Fiction \u2013 <\/strong>Books set in the past, often with scholarly details about the time period and settings (and frequently featuring famous historical figures) make up this popular category. Look for books by Hilary Mantel<\/strong>, Robert Graves<\/strong>, and Ken Follett<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Mystery \u2013 <\/strong>Private detectives, police procedurals, and the old-fashioned murder in a small town cozy make up a lot of the types of books in this aisle. You will likely find this category paired with Thrillers.<\/strong> Agatha Christie <\/strong>has been dominating this category for nearly a century. In fact she is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records <\/strong>as the best selling<\/a> \u00a0author of all time! If you\u2019ve never read the Inspector Gamache novels of Louise Penny<\/strong>, set in Canada, you\u2019re in for a treat!<\/p>\n
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