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Finding Popular Reading at TUL

This guide provides information on the library's popular reading materials. If you have any questions or comments, reach out to the Scholarly Engagement Team.

What is Popular Reading?

Popular Reading describes literature that has mass commercial appeal. This group includes novels, poetry, and other works that meant to entertain readers. Browse this library guide to find popular reading materials in our library's collection. Many of the readings included on this guide are available in print and as e-books, so be sure to check our catalog if you would prefer the version not featured here

Searching for Popular Readings

Our library resources are organized and described with Library of Congress Subject Headings and Name Authorities. These headings and names can be used as search terms to help you find readings of interest. For a complete listing of Library of Congress Subject Headings and Name Authorities, visit the following link: Home - LC Linked Data Service: Authorities and Vocabularies | Library of Congress (loc.gov)

The following tab offers term suggestions based on common popular reading themes, genres, and awards. Use these terms and search strategies to find your next popular reading!

Genre Terms to Use

Some terms from the Library of Congress Subject Headings

Romance Romance; Love; Marriage (See Love thematic terms); Popular literature
Mystery, Tension, Suspense, & Horror Horror tales; Mystery; Tension; Suspense; Emotion; Fear; Terror; Panic; Stress; Phobia; Suspense fiction; Crime; Violence; Suspense fiction; Precognition; Popular literature; Revelation
Young Adult Literature Young adult literature; Young adult drama; Young adult fiction; Young adult poetry; Young adults; Popular literature
Poetry Poetry; Couplets; Beat poetry; Hymns; Prose poems; Love poetry; Lyric poetry; Slam poetry; Spoken word; Melody
Drama (Theater) Children's plays; Drama; Theater; Black theater; Feminist theater; Gay theater; Melodrama; Passion-plays; Street theater; Popular literature
Science Fiction Science fiction; time travel; X-files fiction; Cyberpunk fiction; Star Wars Fiction; Star Trek Fiction; Popular literature
Autobiographies and Biographies Autobiographies; Biography; Epitaphs; Memoir; Life; Death; Popular literature
Fantasy Fantasy; Magic; Lore; Speculative fiction; Imagination; Daydream; Popular literature
Short Form Zines; Monologue; Soliloquy; Popular literature
Graphic Novels and Comics Comics; Popular literature; Satire; Humor; Graphic Novel; Graphic; Imagery; Graphic fiction; Nonfiction Graphic novels; Superheroes; Villains

Thematic Terms to Use

Some terms from the Library of Congress Subject Headings

Family Family; Siblings; Love; Mother; Father; Loss; Grief; Care; Ancestry
Love Love; Emotions; Affection; Marriage; Unrequited love; Intimacy; Affection; Romance; Divorce; Life; Spouse; Compatibility; Heartbreak
Survival, Overcoming, and Self Care Survival; Overcoming; Self Care; Love; Grief; Triumph; Destiny; Passion; Free will; Determinism; Well-being; Self-love; Mental care
Money  Money; Finance; Expenses; Exchange; Hardship; Decline; Prosper; Economics
Greed and Malice Greed; Malice; Hardship; Fear; Concern; Privilege; Pain; Sin
Satire and Irony Satire; Irony; Wit; Humor; Parody; Grotesque; Sarcasm; Cynicism

Consider the following example search. I used search strategies and genre/subject terms from the Library of Congress to find Horror readings that feature moments of precognition.

You can also look at the subject terms of a reading to find other subject terms to use in your search. You can also click on subject terms to find other readings with those terms.

 

Search the library catalog using the following popular literary awards:

Nobel Prize in Literature
Pulitzer Prize
National Book Award
Booker Prize (Books published in the UK or Ireland)
Women' Prize for Fiction
The Hugo Ward (Science Fiction)
British Book Award
John Newbery Medal (Children's Literature)

 

Visit the SEARCH STRATEGIES page to learn more about searching for the library's holdings:

 Search Strategies - ENGLISH 1010 - Library Guides at Tulane University

Most popular readings can be found in the English literature and American literature section of the library. Since the library is organized using the Library of Congress call number headings, these readings will have call numbers beginning with PR (English) and PS (American) and are located on the 2nd floor of the library. If you find a book using our online search, you can also use the MAP IT feature to show the book's location. See the example below.

Select Popular Literature by Tulane Faculty

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