You can also look at the character names and their occupations. In realistic fiction, characters may have modern - sounding names and occupations like 'Emma, a software engineer'. In historical fiction, the names might be more traditional for the historical period, and the occupations will be relevant to that time, such as 'William, a blacksmith' in a story set in the Middle Ages. Also, the writing style might give it away. Historical fiction may have a more formal or period - appropriate style compared to the more casual style often found in realistic fiction.
Look at the cover and blurb. If the cover shows modern - day settings like skyscrapers or people in contemporary clothes, and the blurb mentions current - day issues, it's likely realistic fiction. If there are historical elements like old - fashioned costumes or historical buildings on the cover, and the blurb refers to a past time period, it's probably historical fiction.
Check the publication date. Contemporary fiction is more likely to be recently published and reflect the current times. But this isn't a foolproof method as some realistic fiction may also be new. Another way is to skim through the book. If you find a lot of references to things like smartphones, current political issues, or modern - day pop culture, it's probably contemporary fiction. Realistic fiction might have a more timeless feel to it even if it's set in a particular time period.
Look at the cover blurb. If it emphasizes the beauty of the writing, complex characters, and exploration of big ideas, it might be literary fiction. If it talks about a relatable story set in a real - world context, it could be realistic fiction.
Look at the time setting. If it's in the past, it's likely historical fiction; if it's the present, it's probably realistic fiction.
Look at the time period. If it's set in modern times or the very recent past, it's likely realistic fiction. If it's clearly in a past era like the Victorian age, it's probably historical fiction.
You can tell the difference by considering the plausibility of the events. In fiction, the sky's the limit for the plot. But in realistic fiction, the events should be something that could potentially occur in real life. For example, a story about a detective solving a crime using only his wits and normal investigation methods is more likely to be realistic fiction, while a detective solving a crime with the help of a mind - reading crystal would be fiction.
Well, in a bookstore, the literature section may have a mix of things. There could be books on history, philosophy, and also novels. Fiction, though, is more straightforward in that it's mainly novels and short stories. If a book has a 'based on a true story' label, it's on the edge of being literature but might also be considered a fictionalized account within literature. Whereas a book with a completely made - up world and characters is clearly fiction.
Examine the characters. In traditional fiction, characters might have superhuman powers or be from different mythical races. In realistic fiction, they are normal humans with normal human problems. Also, the plot in traditional fiction may have a more predictable pattern based on common archetypes like the hero's journey. Realistic fiction's plot is more about the randomness and complexity of real life. The themes in traditional fiction are often timeless, like good vs evil. Realistic fiction themes are more related to current social and cultural issues.
One way is by looking at the setting. If it's a familiar, contemporary setting like a modern city or a small town, it might be realistic fiction. If it's a made - up world like Middle - earth in 'The Lord of the Rings', it's general fiction. Another factor is the characters' abilities. If they have normal human abilities, it could be realistic fiction. If they can fly without any devices or have superpowers, it's likely general fiction.
Commercial fiction is usually priced more competitively and is often in large print runs. You'll find many copies on the shelves. Literary fiction may be more expensive and have smaller print runs. The marketing also differs. Commercial fiction is heavily promoted with things like book trailers and author signings in big chain stores. Literary fiction may rely more on reviews in literary magazines and word - of - mouth. If you see a book with a movie or TV adaptation tie - in, it's more likely to be commercial fiction as well.
In a bookstore, the placement can give you a clue. Literature is often grouped together in sections like 'Literary Fiction' or 'Classics'. Genre fiction has its own distinct sections like 'Science - Fiction', 'Romance' etc. The writing style also differs. Literature may have more complex prose, while genre fiction is usually more accessible and written to quickly engage the reader within the bounds of its genre. For example, a fantasy genre fiction book will likely start with introducing the magical world right away to draw in fans of that genre.