What's the difference between a novel and a regular book?

Question

Is Harry Potter a novel or a series.

Answer 1

A book is a more general category. A novel is a specific type of book. A novel is fiction--make believe. A book can be either fiction or non-fiction.

Harry Potter Books are novels--they are fiction.

Answer 2

A novel is defined as "invented prose narrative that is usually long and complex, and deals with human experience through a usually connected series of events."

There are at least 10 or more definitions of "book"--a long, written or printed, literary composition; something that yields knowledge or understanding ("you know everything about her because her face is an open book"); something reserved (as in "booking a party of 40 at the restaurant"); making a bet or taking bets (a "bookie"); traveling fast ("he was really booking when he passed me"), etc.

I'm one of the few who have not read Harry Potter, but I would say it could be either one. I'm not positive, but I think the author started out to tell about this boy's years at a boarding school, and as time and events occurred, he discovered it was a school for wizards. With each sequel (thus a series), he learns more and more and how to use his newfound powers. So, each complex turn of events makes it a "series of novels.".


PS:To UrbanRaider--I beg to differ with you. I have read plenty of novels in my lifetime, and they are not all boring and were not all classics. Nor did they take years to read. Novels can be either fiction or nonfiction, by the way. Stephen King, John Grisham, Tom Clancy, Dean Koontz, etc. all write novels.

Answer 3

Series of novels...

or a novel in parts.

btw, love the HP books!

Answer 4

Watching tv is simpler but I enjoy reading literature more

Answer 5

while reading a book, you're stimulating the human brain. You transform your life reading and literacy skills and you along the way, are more literate. Despite having today's modern tools, you should be able to read still.
While you're watching t.v. can be good fun, it is not doing anything to the human brain.

Answer 6

Yes, novels are usually epic in proportion compared to just a book.

They are also usually much longer in pages, very boring, and can take years to read. Hell, haven't met a person who has actually finished reading a novel.

Novels are highly regarded as "classics" but are seldomly read!

The kind of book that just looks good on your bookcase.
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