Good Fiction Guide by Jane Rogers (Editor), Mike Harris (Editor), Lee Hermione (Editor)

Product Details

Synopsis

When it comes to reading we are spoiled for choice, and that choice can be a little daunting. That's why this great guide to the world of fiction is every reader's best friend. Packed with accessible introductions to over a thousand must-read authors and over four thousand superb titles, the Good Fiction Guide is a book you'll go back to again and again. Every entry includes suggestions for similar books or authors, helping you to discover great fiction you might not have heard about before. What makes the Good Fiction Guide superior to any other book of its kind is not just the thousands of entries, but the comprehensive overviews of different fiction genres, each written by a best-selling author. At the end of each chapter the author presents his or her own list of their very favorite books of that type. The genres include not just standard classifications such as Thrillers, Humor, and Science Fiction, but also more specialized subjects such as Social Issues, The Sea, and Family Saga. The Guide also includes chapters on the best fiction produced by different countries around the world, including Russia, France, India and the Caribbean. Whatever your preference, from classics to crime, history to humor, short stories to science fiction, the Good Fiction Guide has it all covered. An indispensable guide for reading groups, serious bookworms, and anyone who would like to read more.

Library Journal

Another intriguing addition to Oxford's collection of literary guides, this resource for the general reader offers information contributed by 60 writers, critics, and translators in two formats: 34 four-page subject essays and more than 1000 alphabetically arranged, paragraph-length author entries covering 5000 books. Certainly, it is similar to other Oxford handbooks, such as Margaret Drabble's The Oxford Companion to English Literature (LJ 10/15/00) and Peter Parker's A Reader's Guide to Twentieth-Century Writers (LJ 7/96). This reference, however, is unique in that it encompasses popular and genre fiction for both adults and teens, as well as classics, contemporary literature, and international works translated into English. Because selection is based on reader enjoyment, authors are included only if their books are well known, strong sellers, in print, and recommended by the contributors. The essays explore a wide range of topics, from the science fiction of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Richard Hoban's Riddley Walker, and Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale to a literary/geographical analysis of French writing and the progression of the adventure story from Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. Authors were chosen for their specialized knowledge and thus conclude with their Top 12 recommendations. The informal style and inclusion of personal details about the authors' lives create a livelier, more engaging source than standard companions. Highly recommended for literature collections. Marilyn Rosenthal, Nassau Community Coll. Lib., Garden City, NY Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Biography

Jane Rogers has written several award-winning novels. She teaches part time on the MA in writing at Sheffield Hallam University, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.