We all have our favourite genres. Regardless of medium; be it book, film, or music, genre plays a very important part in our relationship with entertainment. Some of us even have favourite authors whose new releases we go out of our way to read as soon as possible. However, why is it that we have these favourite genres, and why do we stick to them with such conviction?

Aside from the benefit that categorising entertainment provides in the process of selecting something that suits our interests, limiting ourselves to particular genres can actually be somewhat inhibiting. Outside of our own favourite genres exists a multitude of writings in different styles and in different "genres", but considering genre alone may prevent us from encountering something wonderfully new, something with a freshness to it that reawakens our passion and changes our feelings.

Finding a particular genre rather joyless may have nothing to do with the genre at all, but merely the authors who you have thus far encountered within it. Taking science fiction as an example, many people cannot tolerate the writing style of Isaac Asimov. Whilst there may be some real delights within his writings it is easy to be put off by the style in which he writes - simplistic and rather tactless. However, if all you have read of science fiction is either poorly written, or lacks ideas of interest, then you are unlikely to feel well towards it.

Yet it is likely that within the genre there will be authors who write in a way which you find highly enjoyable, but who you simply have not discovered yet. Whilst none of us has the time to read book after book in a genre that we do not enjoy just to find an author who we actually like, there are ways around the problem.

The best solution is to talk to other readers. Discussing your literary preferences can open up a whole network of possibilities throughout the entire range of genres that you never could have discovered by yourself. In doing so you may have the chance to make new friends, but above all you will be opening yourself up to endless possibilities and the thrill of new discovery. So, whilst there may be little time, don't let that stop you from enjoying the many great books spread across all genres!