How to slay a genre snob
Do you mostly read books from similar genres? If so, you’re not alone. Most of us prefer what we know we’ll enjoy and are reluctant to foray into unknown territory. But are you in control of that decision? Parallel to our personal preferences, there’s often a much darker companion lurking in the shadows. It nudges our hand and influences our reading picks, yet most of us don’t know it’s there: the genre snob. It is hard to spot and even harder to tame, but getting rid of it will reward you with a treasure trove of fantastic books that the genre snob has been keeping from you.
The genre snob is a curious beast with many heads and unclear origins. Its classic form is an eagerness to separate between ‘real literature’ and genre fiction. No matter how good a book is, if it’s romance, crime, sci-fi, young adult or fantasy, the reading snob sweeps it to the floor and labels it ‘bad’. Like most antiques, it thrived in the past. When we considered literature to be exclusive and elevated, reserved for the enlightened few, the genre snob was living its best life. To fit this worldview, you could dismiss genre fiction as unimportant, vulgar and trashy.
But the monster has grown stronger and multiplied since then. It now prowls wherever there are readers and writers, regardless of their preferred genre. Everywhere you look, genres are pitted against each other. Here, a sci-fi fan scoffs at romance novels. There, a crime reader calls young adult books trash. Readers snarl and bare their teeth, defending their favourite genre at the expense of someone else’s. The creature has even turned its sharp claws against literary fiction; the traditional queen of literature now finds herself dismissed as pointless and pretentious.
You might be a genre snob
Genre snobs run rampant, yet most of us would deny being one ourselves. We actively proclaim that reading broadly is important, and defend our chosen genre fiction to the death. But when a friend raves about a romance book he loved or a sci-fi book that took her breath away, we’re quick to draw a line in the sand. That genre is not for us. We’ll read broadly, but not anything.
This aggressive stance is more harmful than you’d think. Reading makes us more empathetic and better at understanding the complexities of the world we inhabit. The wider we read, the more ideas we’re exposed to, and the more we grow. By listening to our internal genre snobs, we’re robbing ourselves of the chance to read some of the best books ever written.
Identifying your monster
So, how do we spot them? And what can we do? The genre snobs are masters of disguise, but the three main species have tell-tale signs that make them easy to spot with some introspection.
The literary elitist:
Makes you believe genre fiction is less serious and of worse quality than literary fiction. The worst ones make you believe literary fiction is the only ‘real’ literature. May make you say things like, “Popular fiction is entertainment for the masses; literary fiction challenges the mind.”
The sweeping generalisation snob:
Makes you claim you don’t like a genre even though you’ve barely touched it. May make you feel you know you won’t like it based on a few small impressions, stereotypes, or portrayals in mass media. This species often attacks between genres, making readers look down on each other.
The literary populist:
Makes you believe literary fiction is pretentious, ‘high-brow’, boring or pointless. Will convince you that genre fiction is what ‘normal people’ read and that literary fiction is for prickmedainties. The worst kind makes you feel stupid for not ‘getting it’ or says things like, “Those who read literary fiction only do it to seem smart.”
Challenge your misconceptions
Regardless of your personal beast, the best pest control is challenging your misconceptions. Look at the genres you don’t like and ask yourself the question: why? Thinking that each genre is one uniform thing would be a mistake. Genre fiction is rich, varied and nuanced, and has an endless number of subgenres. You will find books that cover every potential interest and attraction, you just need to ask for them. Likewise, literary fiction is not all experimental prose with no punctuation. You’ll find beautiful stories, rich characters and exciting plot twists too.
Armed with the knowledge of what you don’t enjoy, you can ask the communities for tailored recommendations. Try questions like, “I’d like to read more crime fiction, but I don’t like books that are too dark or gory. Any feel-good or cosy mysteries I should read?” or, “I want recommendations for literary fiction, but I space out if nothing happens. Where should I start?”
It’s all about perspective
No matter what side of the genre fence you’re on, you may one day find the fence has moved. Many titles that are now considered classics are undeniably genre fiction. Jane Eyre is a romance novel. Frankenstein is an early science-fiction novel. The Great Gatsby is a decadent crime thriller. The literary canon will probably turn books we now call genre fiction into revered classics. Authors of all genres write beautiful prose and have interesting thoughts.
By placing a narrative on a distant planet, we can examine contemporary issues from the outside. Tired detectives and screaming ghosts make powerful metaphors, and literary fiction can chill your blood or fill your belly with excited butterflies. Genres are just frameworks for storytelling, and different frames offer different perspectives.
Don’t give up on literary fiction
Literary fiction can scare off the bravest soul, but at its core, it’s just another genre. Its novels have enormous variations in tone and theme, and there is a perfect match for everyone. But just like it takes time to understand the conventions of any unfamiliar genre, literary fiction may require some patience.
The defining trait of this genre is its focus on form, language, and ideas. They are all given more emphasis than plot. Instead of having you breathlessly flipping through the pages, the novel will often ask you to slow down and stay with its words. This way of reading takes practice. If you’re used to sweep-you-off-your-feet romances, or space cowboys who shoot down a problem per chapter, diving straight into Ulysses is going to be overwhelming. Ask for recommendations and start with a novel that appeals to you. Your efforts will pay off manifold. Literary fiction is especially good at making us understand ourselves better. If you stick with the task, deeply moving examinations of the human condition, sparkling prose and surprising narratives await.
How to slay your genre snob
The only weapon you need in order to slay your inner genre snob is curiosity. Why do people like this book? What is it about this genre I’m not getting? Which books in this genre deal with themes I love? What thoughts and ideas will I find between these covers?
Seek interesting stories in all genres and allow yourself to change your mind. You’ll be a better person—and a better reader—for it.
“If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.” — Haruki Murakami
Written by M. Amelia Eikli
M. Amelia Eikli is a Norwegian artist, writer, translator and financial literacy advocate. She loves to-do lists, 30-day challenges and a never-ending parade of hobbies. She lives with her wife and over-filled bookshelves in Weston-super-Mare. Her socials are all @ameliabilities
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