Basically, I'm trying writing a list (guide, something or another) that will help people branch out into different genres. I love all genres (well did anyway,) and I want everyone to enjoy a large variety of series.

A few questions:
What is your favourite genre*?
What are qualities do you like about that genre?
Which series do you feel best exemplifies that genre (not necessarily best)?
What do you feel are some good series to get from genre A to B? Answer as many times as you want. Please provide a reason why, one word (e.g. humour) would suffice.

* I do not "believe" in gender-specific genres but you may put one down if you so choose. Though I don't mind subgenres like harem so I guess I'm a bit narrow minded in trying not to be. Must get people to stop reading harem...

All help is appreciated.

Well, theres not one genre that I favour but I have to say most of my reads are Romance oriented. I also like supernatural (very broadly put), mystery, Josei and action-adventure and comedy.

About romance, ...isnt it quite self explanatory? I like two people getting together and living happily ever after ...yeah, that fairy tale bug never left me and I never did grow out of it...I bet I will like it even when I am 90.

Best exemplifies romance? There are a few imperfect ones- my faves arent actually epitomes of romance in a way that I want but I guess a bit so...I think it would be Nana though it has given me a lot of pain too... I find Kodocha more soothing but it isnt exactly romance-romance.

Some mixed genres of my likings are Eternal Sabbath- lots of sci-fi-the presentation is what I like otherwise it would have been horrendous, some romance and a bit of mystery, Hyakki Yakou shou has some mystery, the exact type of supernatural-ness I prefer and almost zero romance but not quite nil, Nana is a josei-romance that I love and so is Clover. Jun'ai Tokkou Taichou is the comedy-romance I lurve...I can go on and on so lets stop this here..

PS:- A HUGE THUMBS UP from me on discouraging harems, I hate them too...though reverse harem is fine with me

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my favourite genre would have to be romance. i like it when two people fall in love. the series which exemplifies that would be kare first love. shows all the ups and down when you're in love, but also the good times and let you recollect on why you were together in the first place. that's why i think this manga demonstrates that.

If you're looking for something that's a transition, I wouldn't ask for series that 'best exemplify." These series are likely to be a bit too... passionate for new readers to the genre. For instance, if I wanted to get someone into Shoujo from a shounen or normal romance, I'd probably suggest a series like Fushigi Yuugi or Angel Sanctuary. Likewise, from Comedy to Seinen I wouldn't want to suggest Monster just because it's a ridiculously good Seinen, it's far too serious of a manga for someone who was previously only reading comedy.

i would say naruto because it shows how the characters have developed.

Comedy to seinen? Uhh last time I checked Lucky Star and Azumanga Daioh were comedy/seinen. I think you just mean more serious and dark stuff rather than lighthearted

As for transition series:

Shonen to shojo
Ouran High School Host club (shonen-shojo) has a lot of comedy and the romance isnt as intense (this is what got me into shojo)
Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge (shonen-shojo) same reason as Ouran
Card Captor Sakura cuz only a heartless bastard can hate magical girls

Shojo to shonen
Hard one for me because I didn't start out reading shojo, but I guess good transition series would be Shakugan No Shana (even tho Shakugan is seinen).
Maybe Ai Yori Aoshi
Basically any kind of shonen/seinen that has some romance, a bit of ecchi and action but not too much of each.

Shonen to seinen
Grow older or more mature (lol)

Shojo to josei
See above

Hentai/yaoi/yuri etc
Puberty