One word I like, which I learned while working at a library, is the word bildungsroman. According to the Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms, it means “a kind of novel that follows the development of the hero or heroine from childhood or adolescence into adulthood, through a troubled quest for identity. The term ‘formation novel’ comes from Germany.” I found this word while I was looking for books to read, and the word bildungsroman often showed up in the subject heading. When I first saw the word I had no idea what it meant, so I looked it up.
The reason I saw this word so often while looking for books, I found, is because many novels I have really loved fit this description. Interestingly enough, this word was recently a clue on Jeopardy!, my favorite show, and I was happy that I knew the answer.
Following is a list of many of the books I have loved which fit the category of bildungsroman. Hopefully you will like some of them too.
