What to read if you are exploring a new genre

Reading comfort zones are considered dangerous places if you stay there too long. Not just from the view point of intellectual development and exposure to new ideas but your very enjoyment of reading can be jeopardized. So, before you get a nudge from your reading buddies, or even the Universe because you can no longer be bothered to finish what you read, step out and get new reading picks.

Follow these steps for a revitalised you

First, think of what kind of books you absolutely do not want to read. This is the genre you should be reading and no, we are not advocating sadism. Second, talk to your reader friends and get some book recommendations in these genres. Third, you can get additional satisfaction in taking a stab at a new, unfamiliar genre by participating in May TBRChallenge that exhorts you to try a new book and also talk about it. And if the bigger cosmic plan is to make you a fan of this new genre, you might even win bookish goodies.

Right then, here are our nudges at a few unfamiliar (to you alone, possible) genres and books you can start with.

Fantasy

Speculative fiction with magical elements is how Wikipedia describes this genre and if you are the literary fiction fan, you would hesitate (sometimes, completely dig your heels in and say no) to read a book that has magical mumbo jumbo as the mainstay of the story. Who wants to read about animals that talk or magical realms where the laws of the real (our) world do not apply? Judge not, for fantasy books have infinite potential and you can expect the unexpected to happen anytime. You can turn into a child once again and be in wonder and awe at these fantastical tales.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune has Linus, who is a case worker and is sent to a remote island to judge a foster parent Arthur who is in-charge of dangerous magical youths that include the Antichrist. What follows will question every preconceived thought you have ever had and make you realize that basic human decency triumphs over everything.

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik has 3 female protagonists and the way they’re influenced by 3 different types of father figures. All the women go through a trial and define their worth in a way that makes sense to them. They are not painted from the same brushstroke.

The Mad Sisters of Esi by Tashan Mehta has whales that talk and there is a festival of madness! Creation myths, portals, saving-the-world and magical creatures, explore this vibrant underwater world through magical prose.

Dystopia

The world is coming to an end, or everyone is going to war or there are extra terrestrials controlling us, are some of the themes you can encounter in dystopian books. Before you say ugh, think how hyper active an imagination is needed to write and then read these books. Basically, you are making yourself even dreamier with these.

The Man Who Lost India by Meghna Pant explores something every Indian is afraid of. A war with China and horrifically, complete Chinese dominion, not just politically and economically but also culturally. Imagine us being called Chinawallahs. There is a small town however, that is left unconquered because of Lord Shiva’s blessings and protection. Amidst all this, there is love and poignance, the uncertainity of life and the certainity of death.

All Quiet in Vikaspuri by Sarnath Bannerjee is a graphic novel that explores the very real and perhaps imminent threat of water shortage. Through the lens of a small-town plumber who migrates to Delhi for a livelihood, the novel explores socio political reality of our times.

1984 by George Orwell is a classic, exploring the dangers of totalitarianism. Many of the word coined by the book are in common use today and the culture of surveillance and indoctrination have a chilling relatability.

Romance

Love shove is for ninnies, you think? Nope. Love is a universal emotion and it can take many forms. Alright, if this has you rolling your eyes, let us tell you that reading a romance can be pleasantly surprising because it can be heartwarming and give you new insights into psychology of people.

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert has a fake dating trope (wow) where the chemistry between Dani and Zafir jumps off the page. What is lovely is we get to explore the two of them outside of the romance as well – what makes them tick, the causes they’re passionate about and how the two fit in with each other.

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender in which Felix is a trans boy and he has never been in love. He is a mess but also demands his space and right to exist. There are many romantic sub-plots in this book – right from Felix and his father trying to reforge their relationship to the friendship between him and Ezra to the romance he finds…or does he? This book will remind you that at the end of the day, we’re all humans, looking for love.

The Henna Start-up by Andaleeb Wajid is technically for a 17 year-old but can have you swooning just like you did for Bella and Edward in Twilight. Sigh. Here are some love-ly (pun intended) themes that touch on feminism, minority representation and societal conditioning. There, it is actually a brainy read with a determined female protagonist.

Nonfiction

Stories are what we read because we want to escape into wonderful fictional worlds. We hear you but, but, all non fiction books are not dull, with figures and facts lining the paras. There can be wonderful perspectives, just like you get from characters in fiction stories that undergo hardships and come out transformed. Real people go through these travails too and can have learnings that they write about.

Under the Influence: How to Survive and Thrive Online by Malini Agarwal is a book by the glamorous and has-it-together OG social influencer who tells that what seems perfect on the surface can actually be backed by struggles, mistakes and changing tack over time. It will make you think about how you are in the online space and whether you need to develop a thicker skin and a kinder communication style.

Actually…I Met Them: A Memoir by Gulzar is a rare behind-the-scenes narrative of the people who shaped one of the most creative people of our times. It is personal, deeply moving and inspiring to read of a life fully lived.

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy will teach you a new concept and perhaps change the trajectory of your life. Read this classic that has reached millions of people.

Paranormal

Err, who even reads books that have some weird going-ons that nothing can explain? Or everything mysterious, that defies logic is attributed to something otherworldly? Fear not (or maybe you will be fearful after you read them, but hey we love the thrills of being scared), the paranormal element in books can be very interesting, for it will open your mind to many happenings that cannot be explained by science, or just yet.

The Velvet Hotline by Arsh Verma has an old-fashioned dialer phone set, on the table of a suicide helpline volunteer that rings even when it has no cord. No cord is the norm these days but what if there is a mysterious voice on the other end that knows your past life and present thoughts? It is unsettling for sure and oh, the book also has wit and humour, in the darkest of times.

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins is set in charming English country houses and and also an asylum. It is an exploration of identity and insanity and has eerie encounters.

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James is a ghost story, with hauntings, rambling country estates and governesses instructed to not to communicate with their employer. Also, this book is a classic.

Take the plunge into a new genre with these suggestions. Trust us, you will not regret the experience of reading something new and fresh.