Before I fell in love
with Paranormal Romance, I had a previous list of genres that I’m still
particularly fond of. When I first started reading, I couldn't get enough of
Historical Fiction. Books like “The Great Gatsby,” “Pride and Prejudice,”
“Little Women,” “Jane Eyre” and “The First Man in Rome,” took me from the
present and positioned me in the past willingly. Historical Fiction entails a
deep connection with the past.
Furthermore, I'm also
deeply drawn to:
- Fantasy
- Humor
- Mythology
- Poetry
- Science Fiction
- Historical Fiction
- Historical Romance
- Short Stories
Washington Irving,
one of my favorite authors, wrote Science Fiction and Fantasy Books. He was
featured in “Future Perfect: American Science Fiction of the Nineteenth
Century.” Irving’s most profound writings are “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and
“Rip Van Winkle.” Before I continue further into other authors, A History of
New York, by Washington Irving, is a profound piece of literature.
Within “A History of
New York,” Washington Irving: shows the history of New York from the beginning
of the world to the end of the Dutch Dynasty, by narrator Diedrich
Knickerbocker. He also discusses Indigenous theories and philosophical
speculations. “Now it is notorious that the savages knew nothing of agriculture
when first discovered by the Europeans, but lived a most vagabond, disorderly,
unrighteous life, rambling from place to place, and prodigally rioting upon the
spontaneous luxuries of nature, without tasking her generosity to yield them anything
more; whereas it has been most unquestionably shown that Heaven intended the
earth should be ploughed, and sown, and manured, and laid out into cities, and
towns, and farms, and country seats, and pleasure grounds, and public gardens,
all which the Indians knew nothing about—therefore, they did not improve the
talents Providence had bestowed on them—therefore they were careless
stewards—therefore, they had no right to the soil—therefore, they deserved to
be exterminated,” A History of New York, Washington Irving.
In terms of poetry,
Walt Whitman is one of the few poets I hold dear to my heart. “All beauty comes
from beautiful blood and a beautiful brain. If the greatnesses are in
conjunction in a man or woman it is enough...the fact will prevail through the
universe...but the gaggery and gilt of a million years will not prevail. Who
troubles himself about his ornaments or fluency is lost. This is what you shall
so: Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to
everyone that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and
labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and
indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or
to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and
with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open
air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told
at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and
your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in
its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes
of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body,” Leaves of Grass, Walt
Whitman.
Moreover, I'm
currently reading Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel, which is a historical piece of
fiction set from 1500 to 1535. Wolf Hall is a fictionalized biography centered
on Thomas Cromwell. Within this outstanding piece of fiction, we witness
Cromwell’s rise of power in the court of Henry VIII. I enjoy reading historical
fiction because of the historical references to important events.
In conclusion,
historical fiction, poetry and science fiction are my top favorite genres.
Fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory. If a soldier is imprisoned by the
enemy, don’t we consider it his duty to escape?. . .If we value the freedom of
mind and soul, if were partisans of liberty, then it’s our plain duty to
escape, and to take as many people with us as we can! - J.R.R. Tolkien
To read A History of
New York, By Washington Irving, visit: www.gutenberg.org.
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