When it comes to entertainment, I’ve always preferred the more down to earth forms of music, films and books. I work hard enough in my daily life, I don’t want to interpret symbolism, in my entertainment. Call me pedestrian. It’s okay, these days I own it. When it comes to movies, I like comedies, when it comes to music, my taste are broad, but my goto format is Country. When it comes to books, I like romance.
I’ve always loved to read. I was the kid in under the slide on the playground with my nose stuck in a book. It was a wonderful way to escape and experience other people’s lives. I can honestly say if the TV disappeared tomorrow I’d be fine, but if books went away? I’d shrivel up and die. Not all the books I read are romance titles, but the majority of them are. All too often in the real world there is no happily ever after. It’s nice to have a place where it’s guaranteed.
I’m actually a late comer to romance. There was a time when I though all romance books were full of bodice ripping and face fanning and “oh mah word”. I was wrong. There are some that way but at their core, romance novels are the stories of people facing struggles and conquering them. Contemporary romances make up the largest part of romance books I read. Today’s heroine is not a mouse waiting for prince charming waiting to sweep her off her feet. Today’s romantic heroine is strong, she’s faced her share of struggles and has the scars to prove it. Don’t we all? Today’s heroine is flawed, but she knows what she wants and works towards getting it. Like most of us, she knows life doesn’t hand you happiness on a silver platter.
My current favorite authors are Lauren Dane, Shannon Stacey, Stephanie, Tyler, Maya Banks and Megan Hart, just to name a few. Do you read romance? Who are your favorite authors? Never read a romance? why not?
I wrote what amounts to a romance novel for men. No actual sex, but a protagonist my readers become friends with, a seductive story of a real guy who is strong and independent but not bulletproof. I’m not sure I’ve seen this as a category; there is some action and adventure, but it is more about his awakening to lost emotions.
Robert, sounds great. Women are the primary target audience for the romance genre, but that is not a strict rule. I wish I could find the source, but I was surprised to learn that women are even the main purchases of m/m romances. Good luck with your book.
I probably read more romance books when I was a teenager and early twenties – either classics like Pride & Prejudice, Gone with the Wind or what I termed “junk” novels like The Thorn Birds (where I got my first daughter’s name Meg from). (Very unfair of me to call it a junk novel and so that is a tongue-in-cheek statement because honestly, I enjoy “junk” as much as “real” literature!) Over the years, I’ve picked up one or two romance novels but they rarely appealed to me (The Notebook did nada for me).
I so rarely venture into the romance section. Had to go to Goodreads to look up the top 100 before I could respond to this post because I couldn’t think up anything off the top of my head. There were two on the list I read and absolutely adored – The Bridges of Madison County and Like Water for Chocolate. Close seconds were Outlander and Montana Sky.
But, I’m narrow and should expand myself because there are some gems in the genre – even for those like me who can’t stand the sappy stuff. And eventually, I’ll probably need to write a little romance in my book and then what? Nothing to draw on?
You are reminding me of my shortcomings with this post.
Wendy gave such a rave review of The Princess Bride that I actually put that on my MUST READ list and I expect to tackle that one by the end of summer or beginning of fall.
Biting the bullet!
Laura, I finished The Princess Bride not too long ago and it was an enjoyable read. I’m in the middle of one now that I really don’t like. It is the cliché romance and IMHO not well written. I want to finish it to insure I have the whole picture and see what I can learn.
I’ve been a snob about romance novels, but then thought they were all still about the “tears-off-her-clothes and they embrace hotly” sort of stuff. Throw in The Bridges of Madison County and Like Water for Chocolate and, yeah, I’m a certain kind of romance reader. Does that count?
Of course it counts. Romance is a broad genre!
Romance Writers of America has really opened my eyes to what writing romance is about. They aren’t all Victorian bodice rippers like you said, and even though I knew that, i still carried around this idea that romance was all focused on just the romance; that the characters were shallow and there wasn’t depth to the stories. Obvs not true. Susan Elizabeth Phillips writes great characters with amazing depth and does not go for conventional story lines. And yet, still romance and still great endings (I like mine a little bittersweet).
I tend to write “romantic elements” with a larger story about something else. Still romance! the romance is really what pulls me in many times, so I finally realized I should embrace this.
I’ve never been a big romance reader…though there are a few classics I enjoy – The Far Pavilions, being a favorite!
I do. I like Sarah Addison Allen, Erica James, ohh lots others.
I can’t say I’ve ever read a romance novel. Although now with my Kindle I could probably discretely read one on the train without feeling like everyone’s pointing and laughing at the bloke with his head in a Mills & Boon!
Having said that, I once had a writing instructor say that writing romances is the easiest way to get published and the best way to write them is to read them. In a past life he was a chief oil rig engineer, often seen shamelessly walking around the rig carrying a paperback with a buffed semi-naked man and beautiful young lady on the cover. Well, if he can do it…
I read romance more than any other genre. My favorite authors are Katie McAlister and Karen Marie Moning. I read many of the subgenres of romance including the bodice rippers, and inspirational romance.
I discovered an inspirational author–DiAnn Mills. After reading one of her books I ordered several others from the library. It’s a nice way to unwind after you’ve read something deep.
I surprised myself when the first book I wrote was a romantic suspense novel. When I told people, they’d say things like, “I didn’t know men wrote romances.” Then I wrote another book, which was also a romantic suspense novel.
I think men can write romantic suspense novels if they have close women friends and discuss important issues about building and maintaining relationships.
Here’s a link to my “A Streak Across the Sky” novella about a couple who meet at a beach one summer and vow to return the next summer and continue the relationship. But one has a condition — no contact over the winter. No emails, letters, or phone calls.
A Streak Across the Sky
Jack
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[...] seemed to be the genre that fit me best. Not all that surprising considering it is most of what I read these [...]