a thriller novel/the genre of the novel is a thriller

[bridge78]

How would you use 'genre' in the context of describing which genre a novel is? Can you say 'a thriller novel' OR 'the genre of the novel is a thriller' OR '...?'.

 

[emsr2d2]

If the reader/listener already knows you're talking about a book, just say "It's a thriller".

 

[bridge78]

OK, that's clear. Now what if it is a gothic genre? How would you formulate it then? I guess you cannot say 'it is a gothic'. Could you then say 'it is a gothic novel' or a 'drama novel' or a 'romance novel', etc.?

 

[jutfrank]

Be careful you don't confuse the genre of the text (novel, poem, play, etc.) with the genre of literary fiction.

I guess you cannot say 'it is a gothic'.

Right, you can't say that.

Could you then say 'it is a gothic novel'

Yes, that's okay. It's a short-hand way to say that it's a novel that belongs to the genre of gothic fiction.

or a 'drama novel'

No. Drama can be a specific genre of film, but is normally considered a very general mode of fiction.

or a 'romance novel'

That's okay.

 

[bridge78]

Am afraid I am still confused. When talking about types of genres/describing novels, is it ok to say:
-a thriller novel
-a tragic novel - isn't it a tragedy?
-a romantic novel - or is only a romance novel correct?
-a fiction novel -aren't novela always fiction?
-a scientific fiction novel - isn't is the science fiction novel?
Should each of the words be capitalised?

Another point that confuses me: can you say that 'a novel has themes' or that 'a novel has a first person point of view'? Is the verb to have correct in this context?

 

[teechar]

-a thriller novel

No. Use "a thriller". That already has (e.g, "novel", film, etc.) built into it.

-a tragic novel - isn't it a tragedy?

Right. You can use either "a tragic novel" or "a tragedy".

-a romantic novel

OK.

- or is only a romance novel correct?

OK. You can also use just "romance" instead.

-a fiction novel -aren't novellas always fiction?

Just use "novel" or "novella".

-a scientific fiction novel - isn't is the science fiction novel?
Should each of the words be capitalised?

You can use "science fiction" or "sci-fi".

sci-fi

1. informal for science fiction 2. informal for science fiction 3. short form…

dictionary.cambridge.org

Another point that confuses me: can you say that 'a novel has themes'

Yes, you can.

or that 'a novel has a first person point of view'?

Possibly. Consider also: "It's a first-person narrative".