For the past 150 years America"s public libraries have supplied billions of books to billions of people, and most of those books have been (and continue to be) popular fiction. This new edition of Genreflecting explains not only what library patrons are reading, but why. In the process, it casts reading in a new light that demonstrates how it functions as an essential information service that creates communities in culturally democratic ways. Focusing on what today"s readers read, this classic guide introduces you to current genre fiction and popular reading tastes. By defining genres, describing their features and characteristics, and grouping titles by genre, subgenre, and theme, the book helps those who work with readers to understand distinct patterns in reading habits and book selection; and it allows users to identify "read-alikes" and other titles their patrons will enjoy. Genreflecting has become a standard reference and readers" advisory tool for library practitioners and an...