Comments on: My Sordid Relationship with Romance Novels

By: Colleen

Colleen — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 13:44:29 +0000

I have to say that I was never a true romance snob.

No, it was worse. I was a closet romance reader. I’d let on that I was above that kind of drivel and would only read it for a bit of fluff between my ‘real’ reading. Funny, though, there never was all that much ‘real’ reading. Unless maybe romantic suspense counts?

In any case, my friends, being good friends, have yet to call me out on it.

The only time it has come up recently is when joining a writing community online. Ack! What will other writers think?

Colleen’s last blog post..How To Get Enough Money To Start a Farm

By: Jennifer Roland

Jennifer Roland — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 18:55:32 +0000

Thanks so much for pointing me to this post. I kept saying, "yes! yes! yes!" under my breath as I was reading. To me, romance novels were what my mom read. I read a few when I was young, but I preferred F/SF. A friend turned me on to J.R. Ward's books, and I am now hooked on paranormal romance. I'm branching out a little to other romance, but paranormals are my great love. Jennifer Roland’s last blog post..Writing Roundup, April 17

By: Sandy

Sandy — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:04:00 +0000

Wow…I really loved this post. I could identify all the way through. Still a little embarrassed, but that’s okay. Then I saw 19 comments. You really hit a sweet spot with people.

Sandy’s last blog post..Writing Quote

By: mfmakichen

mfmakichen — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:53:48 +0000

Elle,
Oh, thanks for sharing this. It reminded me of an old show called Family Ties. The parents were pacifist, green, anti-corporation types, while their son Alex was a Regeanite. I’m amazed that you kept reading romance in spite of the teasing.

I agree with you. The stories that work the best for me are about true partnerships between men and woman. I know the term feminist can stir up controversy sometimes, but I’m proud to be one and gland you are too!

By: RhondaL

RhondaL — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:53:13 +0000

I liked reading Victoria Holt when I was a young teen. What’s funny is that my mother thought that those were trash and that I shouldn’t make a habit of reading them. But she was happy with me reading Alastair Maclean and Mario Puzo instead. Go figure.

RhondaL’s last blog post..Dear Mayor Menino, A Proposal

By: Elle Amery

Elle Amery — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:21:48 +0000

I read Shanna, by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, one long summer night in high school, and was hooked on romances ever since. I come from a long line of readers and feminists. The classics, history, and intellectual “true” literature were the only genres in my house. Romance was considered to perpetuate the stereotype of the submissive female – not allowed in my home! I finally gave up hiding my “trashy” (my mom’s word – not mine!) “bodice-rippers” (my dad’s favorite term – not mine!), but had to suffer endless teasing by my dad if he caught me with a novel bearing a cover of two people in a compromising position. I never did like the romances where the women submitted to the men, but, much to my parent’s disbelief, that isn’t what all romances are about. Give me a smart, kick-ass woman paired with a smart, kick-ass man, and I’m all over that book!

Great post – and glad to know another feminist who reads romance!

By: mfmakichen

mfmakichen — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:54:51 +0000

Mel,
I love the part about your friends who swear they don’t read romance. How very wise of you not to burst their bubble. Actually, I think for consumers it can be confusing. For instance, I know at my local B&N Sandra Brown is shelved in the straight fiction section–so why would anyone think it was romantic suspense.

The thing that actually gets to me is that if romance, in any form, cross genre etc., was a male dominated industry, would the attitude towards it be different. I think the answer is yes.

Always good to have another MFer share their perspective, so thanks.

By: Mel Francis

Mel Francis — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:39:07 +0000

MF, I think a lot of women have followed the same path as you have. I started reading Kathleen Woodiwiss very early on, I think I was probably 12 or 13. I fell in love with historical novels and didn't stop reading them. However, in college, I became embarrassed by the covers so I would do my best to hide them. I never stopped reading though and now, I embrace the covers good, bad, or cheesy! (admittedly they've gotten somewhat better over the years) I have friends who swear up and down they don't read romance but then they name their fave authors as JoAnn Ross, Brenda Novak, Barbara Delinsky, Linda Howard. I just smile and let them think whatever they want... Mel Francis’s last blog post..another busy day

By: mfmakichen

mfmakichen — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:13:18 +0000

Bill,
Always good to get your perspective. Usually after your comments I just want to say, “What he said!” Thanks.

By: mfmakichen

mfmakichen — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:11:43 +0000

Hi Liza,
Wow, I’m really sorry if I offended you. That was not my intention. My hope was to show more how misguided and judgmental I’d been–which I think I was. My use of the word sordid was actually meant to be funny not offensive. I think a lot of people judge romance books without really knowing what they’re talking about. I put myself in that category. That’s why I recommended the book Beyond Heaving Bosoms because I think it address a lot of this.

Also, for the record: I don’t have an Amazon affiliate account so I’m not making any money from this blog. I just link to books I mention in case people are interested. I think I linked one book to Amazon in this post but the rest are to Barnes and Noble.

Thanks for taking the time to comment!