For Readers: Blog

Genre-Bending Books

It’s a new year, full of promise. There’s only one problem: how do you choose what to read first? If you’re hearing the siren call of several genres, there’s no need to limit yourself! Try one of these genre-blending books and get the best of multiple genres all at once.

Time travel, romance, and espionage thrills come together in Kaliane Bradley’s The Ministry of Time. This witty and creative tale follows a civil servant tasked with helping recently arrived time travelers adjust to their new surroundings. The unnamed narrator is assigned to an intriguing traveler from a doomed 19th century Arctic expedition, and as their bond deepens, the truth about the government’s dangerous intentions come to the surface. [e-book | print | audiobook]

The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James mixes the classic Western novel with veins of magical realism. Alternating between 1895 and 1964, this story chronicles a bandito’s quest for revenge along the Mexico-Texas border, and a movie star writing a film about his famous outlaw grandfather. When the movie star is sent a mysterious book detailing his family’s bloody history, the two timelines converge with a supernatural touch. This gritty but lyrical read touches on family legacy, fate, and retribution. [e-book | print | audiobook]

All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall is a bleak but stirring work that combines literary and apocalyptic fiction. Thirteen-year-old Nonie shares the story of her family’s settlement on the roof of the Museum of Natural History. When a megastorm destroys their refuge, they take to the floodwaters to find safety and document the collections they left behind. This powerful story is inspired by the efforts of real-life curators to preserve their cultural heritage in the face of war. [e-book | print]

Leigh Bardugo’s historical fantasy The Familiar brings readers the best of both genres, with an atmospheric setting and a tantalizing undercurrent of magic. The Inquisition is in full swing in Madrid, and servant Luzia wisely hides her Jewish heritage and magical skills. When her magic attracts unwelcome attention, she seizes the opportunity to make a better life for herself, or die trying. Suspenseful court intrigue and a brooding romance round out this captivating story. [e-book | print | audiobook]

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll is a unique fusion of historical fiction and true crime, blending fact and fiction as it recounts a tragic string of murders in 1978. Two women from opposite sides of the country are drawn together in their quest to uncover the truth about the horrific deaths of their friends, hoping to bring them peace and justice. Inspired by real events, this haunting story focuses on the voices of the victims, as opposed to sensationalizing the killer. [e-book | print | audiobook]

For something lighter, Eliot Stein’s Custodians of Wonder is an inspiring blend of travel writing, history writing, and memoir. This book takes readers around the world to meet the people responsible for keeping cultural traditions alive. From Incan-era grass bridges in Peru to rare Sardinian pasta, this is a memorable and awe-inspiring look at irreplaceable knowledge that could disappear in the blink of an eye. [e-book | print]

⏤Laura