Quiz: which literary genre matches your current curiosity?
Answer simple questions about mood, pace and interests and find where to start your next read.
Short answer: this quiz suggests a starting point for reading according to your mood, your time and your interests at the moment. It is an entertainment guide, with no pretension of defining who you are as a reader, and it names no specific books.
How to use it
Answer thinking about how you are now, not how you usually are. Note the letter of your answers to questions 1, 2 and 4. Question 3 does not add points: it only helps you choose the length of the work, as in the tips below.
Questions
- Today you want to… (a) live in another era; (b) unravel a mystery; (c) be surprised by imaginary worlds; (d) understand people better; (e) learn something new; (f) laugh a little.
- Your ideal reading pace is… (a) calm, with descriptions; (b) fast, page-turning; (c) immersive; (d) emotional and deep; (e) direct and clear; (f) light.
- How much time do you have? (no points) (a) little, in short breaks; (b) at night, in long sessions; (c) whole weekends.
- What attracts you most? (a) historical settings; (b) clues and twists; (c) fantasy or science; (d) human relationships; (e) ideas and facts; (f) humor and columns.
Possible results
- Mostly (a): historical fiction or classics. Settings from other eras, rich language.
- Mostly (b): thrillers and crime. Fast pace, puzzles and tension.
- Mostly (c): fantasy and science fiction. New worlds, the "what if?" as engine.
- Mostly (d): contemporary or literary fiction. Complex characters, emotion and reflection.
- Mostly (e): nonfiction. Essays, popular science, biographies and history.
- Mostly (f): humor, columns and short stories. Light reading in short doses.
Tips for starting
- Choose a work whose length fits your time. Short stories and columns work well for those with little time.
- Read the first pages before deciding. If it has not grabbed you in about fifty pages, it is worth switching.
- Mix genres from time to time to avoid monotony.
- Use libraries, second-hand shops and book clubs to experiment without spending much.
- Listen to audiobooks while commuting, if that helps your routine.
Limits of the quiz
Genres blend, and many works sit between two or more. Your taste changes over time, and it is worth retaking the quiz at another moment. No result obliges you to read something you do not like.
Conclusion
Use the result as an invitation, not a label. The best book is the one you want to keep reading.