I recently took a moment to revisit my past blog articles, not only to take a leisurely stroll down memory lane, but also to reflect upon what I’ve written. My very first post tackles the subject of what makes a good read. At least two are about my confusion in categorization / genre. So now that it’s been over a year, I’m asking myself: Am I any closer to figuring out the secret recipe of a good read, or the ins and outs of genres?
One thing I am learning is that the genre of the book is a major factor. Yes, if it’s beautifully written I’ll love it anyway, but the books I’m most excited to read have a few common elements – interesting characters, a good romance, and a plot that leaves me breathless, not only for its storyline but also its pacing. I considered specifically the genre I love and read the most – YA Paranormal Romance.
What’s so Cool about YA Paranormal Romance?
YA Paranormal Romance is just fun. You’ve got the whole supernatural element, which is usually introduced in the first novel, or at the very least, the reader is introduced to it. I can’t help but put myself in the character’s shoes when I’m reading paranormal fiction. It’s so much fun to imagine a place I can shapeshift, grant wishes, communicate with the dead, or even be immortal.
The romance element is more like icing on a cake. I mean seriously, the icing is the best part right? But it’s so calorie-laden…it’s a conflict every time. Do I? Don’t I? The cake itself must have some nutritional value, but the icing? Pure sugar. How can that be good for you? The romance tends to carry on as such throughout the book, until finally, the hero/heroine embraces it. Like the icing, it’s perfectly sweet and downright euphoric once you experience it. 🙂
Is all YA Paranormal Romance equal?
For me, no. Why? I favor some sub-genres more than others. I’ve drawn up a list of paranormal specialties, which is evolving as new ideas surface. If I’ve missed a major one, please let me know:
- Ghosts – Spirits, entities, anything that had life and has passed over to the other side
Ever since the movie Halloween, the sheet’s enough to scare me - Mythical Creatures – Greek mythology, genies, mermaids, fairies, angels, etc.
Maybe being a fish wouldn’t be so bad… 
Ahem, my eyes are up here - Zombies – Anything undead
Zombie dudes are so misunderstood - Shapeshifters – Any kind of creature transformation: Vampires, werewolves, wealthy politicians
I’d vote for him, he looks honest to me - Superpowers – Any abnormal ability but the character is still human
Who wouldn’t want to wear cool outfits like these? - Demons/Witches/Wizards – Anything to do with the occult or magic
Admittedly, Cole is prettier in his human form 
If only Glinda had shared her moisturizer… - Fairy Tale – If it involves any of our beloved fairy tale characters from yesteryear
Can’t a girl take a nap in peace?!?
I gravitate towards superpowers, it’s definitely my favorite. I also appreciate books with shapeshifters that aren’t in the list above. Mythical creatures can be fun if it isn’t a whinefest – kind of tired of books that feature a teenage girl that whines about having some kind of awesome power, just because she’s born into it (one of the reasons I don’t like the movie Brave). Ghost and zombie books tend to either have a sad or hopeless tone, which I find exhausting to read. I enjoy fairy tale stories remixed if they’re done right, like the Cinder series. Witches can be fun with all the spells and potions, and without naming names, we all know who our favorite wizard is.
So have I cracked the code?
Maybe not, but I’m one step closer. Reading the genre that I truly find exciting is certainly a good start. Discovering an author that writes that genre AND in a style I love to read is the key.
Embrace the Indies
One of the things I love most about indie fiction is the approachability of the authors. Because they’re managing their own social accounts, I can reach out to them to discuss their books and actually get a response. It makes the whole process much more interesting to learn about the background, hear how they made their plot decisions, and yell at them (sort of) when they kill off one of your favorite characters. You just can’t do that with a bestselling author.
Is the quality of fiction degraded with indie authors? I’d like to say, “Of course not!” but to say that definitively would be a lie. As it is in the world of databasing, the answer is, “It depends.” I wrote an article on AllIndiesWriters called, “The Perils (and Benefits) of Reviewing Indie Fiction” in which I disclose some of the issues I’ve encountered. But honestly, I can say the same thing about mainstream fiction – I’ve read some bestsellers that had me scratching my head. So although it’s sometimes a mining process, it’s definitely worth it. Just because a writer doesn’t have thousands of dollars in marketing behind her, it doesn’t mean she hasn’t written something meaningful and beautiful. 🙂
What do you think? Please comment, I’d love to hear your about your favorite reads and genre/sub-genre!
So which kind of villain do you prefer? I’ve noticed two main types in fiction and movies. What better way to elaborate than with Marvel villains Venom and Carnage. After all, they’re both just men who bonded with an alien symbiote. However, the resulting villains are very different villain types.
Eddie Brock (who always leaps to mind when I think of Venom) is kind of a jerk. As they say in Game of Thrones, “It is known.” But is he enough of a jerk to be a sadistic killer? Not really – which is why it’s more of a gray area with Venom. Is the alien symbiote evil? Without a doubt. But part of the deal is that symbiotic relationship, so no matter how powerful the alien becomes feeding off the anger and fear in the host, some part of the host is still there. For this reason, Spidey has been able to talk Venom down in the past, appealing to the flawed yet still human part that is Eddie Brock.
worst (if not the absolute worst) remakes of all time is Halloween, for the simple fact that it attempts to change the villain type from black and white to gray by humanizing Michael Myers. What I loved most about the original movie is the ending, when Dr. Loomis calls him the “Boogeyman.” The fact that he’s not even called Michael Myers in the credits, but simply “The Shape.” There’s something powerful and terrifying in that. If you can’t outrun him, you’re dead. Not even a knitting needle to the skull will stop this guy—he’s got the power of pure evil to resurrect him from multiple gunshot wounds, granting him that highly sought after Highlander-esque immortality.
