Our Research Questions

1. Does the rating differ significantly between genres, and if so, which genres tend to receive higher ratings?
2. Can a correlation be established between the publisher and the rating of a book, and is it possible to identify a pattern where certain publishers tend to publish particular genres?
3. How do certain impactful events in society influence reader’s preferences in genre?

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Timeline

Use the arrows or interact with the timeline strip at the bottom to move between events.

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Data Visualizations

Average Book Prices Over Time By Genre

Price plays a crucial role in analyzing the literature industry over time as well as understanding book popularity—it influences a book’s reach and what audience it is accessible to. Studying pricing dynamics surrounding the book market allows us to gain insight into market demand and reader preferences for books. This data visualization, which uses our data on the highest-rated books, is a line graph that exhibits the trends of average book prices over time, and within each genre. On the Y-axis is the average Kindle price of the books in U.S. dollars, and on the X-axis is the first publication date of the book in years. It also separates the prices into respective genre categories, as seen through the colors and the legend on the right-hand side. With this visual, we are able to analyze the trends of certain genre’s prices—throughout the graph, there are many peaks and valleys that can be attributed to high demand, limited supply, competition, or different sales promotions or marketing strategies that alter the listing price of certain books. 

Line graph shows trends of average book prices over time by genre, with different genres being represented by different colors. Hover over different lines to see specific average prices for years.

When picking through different trends, there was a prominent spike in classics literature from 1961 to 1966 that we focused on for this visualization, where the average book price rose from $2.09 to $18.85. This sharp increase likely indicates a high demand for classics books specifically; when demand exceeds supply, prices have a high tendency to rise. The popularity of classics books increased, as did their value. Reflecting on our research question of how certain impactful events in society influence readers’ preferences in genre, this price spike of classics literature of the ’60s aligns with the impactful Civil Rights Movement that went hand in hand with a rising 60s counterculture writing movement. These movements marked a time of great change and both served to address social, political, and cultural issues of society, with the Civil Rights movement specifically targeting racial equality and justice (Billington). The anti-establishment counterculture movement showed a rejection of traditional values and an emphasis on individuality, cultural expression, and emerging political activism and social justice causes. The iconic classic, To Kill a Mockingbird, was published at the peak of the Civil Rights Movement and was a controversial piece at the time as it brought up contemporary issues of prejudice, discrimination, and white supremacy. The author, Harper Lee, wrote it to represent the Civil Rights struggle and racial tensions in the United States while championing social change, showing one influential example of how books aligned with significant historical movements. Not only that, but it shows that even one book’s narrative has the power of making a long-lasting impact on society today. To Kill a Mockingbird is still a well-read classic today, distributed as a requirement in many high schools across the U.S. in order to share this monumental piece of American literature (Levy). Timeless classics literature was a genre that bloomed in the ’60s and was deeply intertwined with the sociopolitical atmosphere. Looking back at our data visualization, the price influxes and drops of the chart likely sync with many different formative movements in human history that have heavily influenced or have been influenced by reader preference and popularity of certain genres—as shown through our example of 60’s classics literature.

Popularity of Top 100 Books Over Time by Genre

The following chart is a stacked bar chart that displays the number of books published per year based on the top 100 books in our dataset. Each bar is split by the genre of the books which totals to the number of books published during that year. The x-axis is chronologically ordered and represents the publish date of the most recent edition of the book, and the y-axis represents the count of the number of books in our dataset that were published by year. Each bar has multiple colors, representing the genres that make up the count of books for that specific year. Some of the patterns that we can see in the stacked bar chart include the prevalence of republished classics throughout the entirety of the data visualization, an increase in the count of books overall in the early 2000s time period, and an increase in the number of fiction and fantasy genre books in the early 2000s. The year 2006 had the highest number of books published out of the top 100 books with a count of 12.

Stacked bar chart displays count of books by genre by year. Hover over bars to see the count of specific genres in that time period. Filter by genre in the top right to highlight specific genres.

In examining the visualization, a trend can be seen with the prevalence of fiction books. The majority of the books in the visualization that are categorized as fiction were published in the early 2000s time frame. The visualization, along with the research paper, “Genre Categorization and Its Effect on Preference For Fiction Books” by Ronald Piters and Mia Stokmans can explain the trend of an increase in fiction books that is seen in the data visualization. The article speaks on the relationship of how a consumer would categorize a book based on its cover, stating that in a situation in which one doesn’t know the genre of a book, they would most commonly categorize the book as being a part of the fiction genre. The study also suggests that the preference for a hypothesized book genre based on the cover affects the overall rating and preference for that book, meaning that readers who most commonly perceive books as fiction would be more inclined to find books that are of the same genre. This is related to the data visualization in that consumers could seek out fiction books due to personal notions for a preference for fiction books, thus increasing the popularity of fiction books as a whole. The article and data visualization also both highlight an important trend related to the internet. A specific increase in the early 2000s can be explained by the increase in accessible ways to find new books with the rise of the internet and book review websites such as GoodReads. This also allows book consumers to communicate with one another, allowing for popular books and genres to maintain and spread their notability within a wide demographic. This shows significance overall as it demonstrates the power of the internet and its influences which can be seen when examining the top genres over the time period of the top 100 books rated on the GoodReads website. 

Authors with Highest Best Books Ever (BBE) Score

This bar chart displays the authors with the highest Best Book Ever (BBE) scores, providing a visual representation of their impact and popularity within the dataset. Upon analyzing the chart, we found that the top three authors with the highest BBE scores are all women. This discovery sheds light on the significant presence and influence of women authors in the literary landscape. The success and recognition achieved by authors such as J.K. Rowling, Suzanne Collins, and Harper Lee underscore the remarkable contributions of women to the world of literature. It prompts us to explore further the narratives they have crafted and the broader social issues they address within their works. It highlights the power of women’s voices in shaping cultural and political discourse and challenging societal norms. These authors, through their narratives, have intrigued readers worldwide and created spaces for dialogue around themes such as resilience, social justice, and empowerment. Their works provide a platform to discuss gender dynamics, the struggles faced by marginalized groups, and the quest for equality and social change. Examining the success of these women authors also prompts us to reflect on the barriers and challenges faced by women in the literary world and beyond. It raises questions about gender disparities in publishing, the amplification of women’s voices, and the need for greater representation of diverse perspectives in literature. 

This is an interactive dashboard. Explore the data by clicking on the squares in the bottom graph. Once clicked, the top section will display the genre of the author’s most popular book corresponding to your selection.

The popularity of these women authors and their respective genres can be attributed to the ways in which societal events have influenced reading preferences and shaped the literary landscape. By examining the societal events that occurred during the time periods in which these books were published, we can understand the contextual factors that contributed to their success. For example, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series gained immense popularity during the late 1990s and early 2000s, a time marked by significant societal events. The series’ first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, was published in 1997, amidst a backdrop of global cultural shifts. The rise of the internet and technological advancements allowed for the widespread dissemination of information and the emergence of online communities. This played a crucial role in the rapid spread of the Harry Potter fandom, as readers connected and shared their enthusiasm for the series online. Additionally, the series provided a form of escapism and comfort during a period of geopolitical instability and economic uncertainty, offering readers a magical world to immerse themselves. Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games trilogy, which began with the publication of The Hunger Games in 2008, resonated strongly with readers during a time when social and political unrest were prevalent. The series explored themes of authoritarianism, inequality, and resistance, reflecting the growing concerns over government surveillance, income inequality, and political corruption. The dystopian setting of the novels struck a chord with readers who were grappling with their own anxieties about the state of the world. The themes of societal divisions and the struggle for justice and equality depicted in the books mirrored the public discourse surrounding social movements and calls for change. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, published in 1960, addressed racial prejudice and injustice in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. The novel provided a powerful critique of racism and highlighted the need for empathy and understanding. It resonated with readers who were witnessing the ongoing fight for civil rights and racial equality. Lee’s book not only captured the zeitgeist of the time but also became a seminal work that contributed to discussions and awareness surrounding racial issues.

The popularity of these women authors can also be seen as a response to the demand for diverse perspectives and stories that challenge established norms and offer fresh insights. The inclusion of female protagonists who defy stereotypes and navigate complex social landscapes resonated with readers seeking representation and empowerment. The success of these women authors, in part, reflects a growing recognition of the need for diverse voices in literature and the desire for narratives that address societal issues from unique perspectives.

Publications vs. Their Highest Best Books Ever (BBE) Score

The stacked bar chart below called “Count of Genres by Publisher” visualizes the number of books a publication has in the top 100 list as well as how many of each genre they have. This visualization reveals that the publishing group Penguin has the most books on the list, with a total count of 12. All of these books happen to be classics, with big names such as Jane Eyre, Lord of the Flies, and Of Mice and Men. Additionally, some of the most popular genres between all of the publishers include Classics, Fiction, Fantasy, and Young Adult. The second bar chart is called “Highest Best Books Ever Score by Publisher.” On the other hand, it visualizes the highest Best Books Ever (BBE) score that each publication received. Despite Penguin having the most published novels in the top 100 list, Scholastic Inc. only has 5 books within the list. Yet, they hold the top spot for the highest score by a significant amount in comparison to Penguin’s highest BBE score. The novel that holds this spot is Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games. This prompts questions of whether a book’s publishing company itself or the type of narratives written within the books contribute to a novel’s popularity.

Hover over the stacked bar chart to see the number of each genre a publisher has in the top 100 list, and highlight specific genres through the top right. Hover over the regular bar chart to see the exact BBE score each publisher has.

Penguin and Scholastic can be compared by putting their top book on the list side by side, which are The Hunger Games and Jane Eyre. According to Frazer Merritt in “A Jungian Interpretation of The Hunger Games,” the novel reflects many truths about America and its priorities, particularly during the time of the Bush administration. The lead character Katniss represents what society needs most: for people to seek change and revolution. On the other hand, Jane Eyre touches on fighting gender prejudice and the desire for equality between men and women. Both of these novels were written with a message that their authors deemed critical for people to know during the time of publication. Despite both novels being from different periods in time, they hold much significance in terms of their themes that reflect society. Ultimately, The Hunger Games is placed above Jane Eyre. The combination of alluding to modern-day problems and appealing to the youth of today is what makes The Hunger Games so popular, and this factor likely gives it an advantage over Jane Eyre and other classics that Penguin has published, showing how people prefer more modern books. In addition to The Hunger Games holding the top spot in the dataset, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, which was also published by Scholastic, holds the #2 spot. However, this does not change the fact that there are a larger number of Penguin novels than Scholastic in the top 100 list. As both publications seem to have novels that connect to societal problems, the classics that Penguin has published have been around for a longer amount of time than the modern books of Scholastic. Even though Penguin’s novels may be just as well-known, newer novels have a higher degree of relevancy in comparison to classics, prompting more people to read them. Overall, these visualizations seem to indicate that modern and newly published novels with popular and relevant genres can gain much more traction today than classics, especially from an audience of teens and young adults. This can be seen through the types of novels Scholastic chooses to publish, and the following popularity that they gain.

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Popularity by Geolocation of Book Setting

This is a map showing the locations of the settings in these books. Each book has a setting: where the story takes place. If the book has a setting that takes place in a real location in our world, we have plotted that point to where the book took place based on the top 100 books dataset. The circle is bigger based on the Best Books Ever (BBE) score of said book, so the bigger circles are more popular books whereas the smaller ones are less popular. This is interesting because it shows where there are more books taking place and also shows visually how popular books are based on where they take place in. Keep in mind that fiction books that take place in areas that don’t exist aren’t visually represented on the map, unfortunately. However, after viewing this map, I have some questions: why aren’t there bubbles in a lot of different countries, and how can that affect how we consume literature?

Use the sidebar to use map, click + to zoom in and click the arrows to move around in map and click home button to reset map.

Books are magical. Something about sitting at a cafe, reading a book, escaping reality, and emerging yourself in a mystical story. Books are different for everyone; someone could be reading a book to escape reality, and another person could be learning a new subject and learning about it through a book. For school, students are forced to read books that range from classics to historical fiction to autobiographies. We tend to read a lot of varying genres. However, have you ever stopped to understand where these books are coming from and what they’re trying to convey? 

In a TED Talk by Novelist Chimamanda Adichie, she explains the dangers of a single story, “It is impossible to engage properly with a place or a person without engaging with all of the stories of that place and that person” (Chimamanda Adichie). Throughout her talk, she puts an emphasis on the topic of how most novels, the media and news, and Hollywood have a Eurocentric lens on the world. When they depict other parts of the world seen as “developing,” they have a perspective of an outsider and depict these places with stories of violence, despair, etc. The main point she is making is how Western media is told with a Western take. Most times, the ideas that can be taken from the stories relayed from Western Media is that these places are usually war-stricken developing nations that are underdeveloped, and civilization is skewed to fit the specific narrative. The problem is that these countries aren’t getting the other perspective that shows the beauty of these nations through the lens of authors that have different sides of the same story. It’s important to understand that there is more to these stories than just the single perspective in which the author may know little about these cultures. The Novelist Chimamanda Adichie reminds us to demand for more representation through books, media, and Hollywood because it is not only important to hear from all sides of the story, but to also emphasize the importance of diverse storytelling as culturally important to archive history from the perspective that isn’t western or eurocentric, and for other cultures to have a voice too. She also explains how when she grew up, there weren’t any children’s books from her culture, but moreso of Western culture. For example, there were books that talked about eating apples, but in Africa where she was from, apples aren’t grown naturally. As little as that, representation is important and little kids learning how to read across the world deserve to see themselves in books and to see representation in media that showcases their culture.

Thinking back to this map, it’s important to look at who is creating these books as we move on and read more. Are these books telling a single story about a specific area, and what else can we do to learn from more than one perspective of a story?

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