There is a bit of chatter going on in the writing world. I guess it started with this poll that had been put up by one of the news sites.
It was all about if you read romance novels or not. They decided to use the word bodice which is something that should not be reflecting of what all romance novels are.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25195786/
The last results were
Do you read romance novels? * 7849 responses
Yes, yes, yes! Bodice-rippers are my ultimate escape.43%
No way. I don't touch those books.33%
Sometimes, while on vacation or at the beach.24%
(Make sure to go and vote if you haven't cast your vote)
It got people talking about the world of romance novels and what the view of romance novels is in today's society.
I don't remember the first time I read a romance novel but I know it was a long time ago. Romance novels are not what they use to be. A lot of things have changed with the times.
There is variety in the genres and the topics when it comes to romance books. You can read about pirates, sexy cops, vampires, ware wolves and so much more. Plus it's not just the men who are the hero's, woman have taken up a big step and become the main character/ heroine in today's romance novels. They have just as much power as the men do. They can do what the men can do.
When I first started to write and told people what I wrote I was surprised about the reaction that I got from some. I got the smirk and a laugh because I was writing romance.
Did I say something wrong?
What's wrong with writing romance?
Nothing......but people still have a warped view of what a romance novel is. I guess it's because of how it has been portrayed in society and media.
In this day and age why are there still people who are ashamed to admit that they read romance novels? They hide their books and cover them up. I have even seen special covers being sold for books to cover the book cover up so nobody can see what you are reading....
There is noting wrong with reading a great romance, and I'm not saying that because I write erotica and romance.
Doesn't it say something about the romance book when the majority of sales are romance novels.
I don't get it.......why make such a big deal about it....
Grab a romance novel and enjoy it....let it transport you to a different time and place, a new world that takes you away from now....Get lost in the beauty that is romance.
Seeing people read is a bonus considering the last numbers that came out showed that the number of readers of books in general was low.
I think that romance books are amazing and if you have never picked up a romance novel you should, give it a chance..You might discover that you are missing out on something wonderful. You might discover that you like what you read...
Show your love of romance books.....
So now I ask you all, what did you think about this poll that was put up?
15 comments:
It's interesting how they chose to use bodice rippers instead of romance. A bodice ripper is a subgenre of romance and doesn't put romance as a whole in the correct light.
I sent MSNBC an email about how derogatory the term it. I read romance. I read it long before I ever really thought to write it. I normally don't care who sees my covers, but there are some covers that could inspire some very uncomfortable questions from children. If I am going to be some where that a child would see them I either put it in a cover or read something else.
I don't care for the term bodice ripper. To me it implies something that is almost dirty and should be hidden.
that one word makes a big difference and it was a poor choice to describe what romance novels are...
i am glad to see that the romance novel loving community is stickin up for what they love
I don't see the term Bodice Rippers as derogatory at all. It's a sellin gimmick, like calling western movies "oaters" or historical movies as "sword and sandal" movies. I don't mind a good bodice ripper but I much prefer a Breechers Ripper as Elisa Rolle calls M/M fiction!!! It makes me want to write one, but so far all my books half half naked hula men in malo cloths....mmmm...gives me some ideas though!
AJ
Myself, I think there's three reasons why romances are looked down upon.
First there's a hold over from Victorian times. Love and its close relative, passion, are still regarded as bad things. Not the sort of thing 'proper' people do. 'Proper' people are sober and restrained, not prey to the 'madness' that love and passion bring.
Second, and closely related, is the fact that our society regards 'Reason' as the most important human trait. Often it's regarded as the only important human trait. Romance, based on love and passion, is 'unreasonable' and therefore those who indulge in it are lesser people.
Last is the idea that 'anybody can write a romance' so romances are not 'proper literature'. Romances are regarded as too shallow and silly to be taken seriously. It's horse hockey, of course. The same skills are needed to write a romance as War and Peace. And who says everything has to be deep? Sometimes you want to leave your hip waders at home.
I'll continue writing romances. And SF and horror and all the other stuff I write. If some one has a problem with it that's their problem.
Like AJ, I also embrace the term bodice ripper. In fact my first novel was intentionally written in the vein of the classic 70's bodice ripper. (In a few scenes quite literally so, as evidenced by my heroine complaining that her man had ruined three perfectly good bodices and needed to calm down!) I agree, however, that bodice rippers are a subgenre that do not represent the genre as a whole, and that there is much variety to be enjoyed today in romance (particulary in e-pub).
Now I may garner some wrath here but I do think that the predictable formula romance perpetuated by the mainstream houses are what lends the genre a bad name and lack of credibility. It's why I actually don't read too much category romance on my own time, and it's why my own take on romance includes cross-genre elements influenced by non-romance sources. With that being said, I have to concede that formula category romance is the topselling genre, handsdown, and so whether I personally read it or not, it does sell, and millions of readers worldwide must be onto *something*. I also have to credit authors who have the discipline and skill to write to formula and can make a story work within set parameters while keeping it fresh.
As I continue to stand here with a wishy-washy foot in each camp -- Romance, erotica, horror, fantasy, and comics have all been tagged as redheaded bastard stepchildren of literature by the snooty "literati" camp over the years. Whenever I get the "You write erotic romance? Why don't you write *real* fiction" comments, I dare them to write a foursome while keeping both the logistics and their pronouns straight. While I refer to my own work as "smut" with tongue planted firmly in cheek, I will also be the first to defend said smut in saying: Smut ain't so easy to write, and more folks are reading it than will ever publicly admit to it!
This is a great blog, Savannah. I went and voted yesterday and I hope all that read this will vote as well.
Kissa
I'll bet some of the 33% in the survey poll you listed as not reading romance books are closet readers. Probably don't want to admit they enjoy them.
Mary Suzanne
I have to wonder if the term "bodice ripper" was used on purpose to make people shy away from the fact that they probably do/and or have read romance novels. Romance has so many sub-genres it's impossible to ask such a question and garner a reliable result. Some readers prefer sweet inspirational romances; others hot and spicy erotica. Wether you've admitted reading an historical, or a suspense, if it's penned by a romance author, it's a romance. And they are one HOT commodity! Always will be, i believe. Society is simply causing people to feel uncomfortable admitting it, and i'm unsure why? All genre-romances have a universal theme--LOVE. The emotions embodied by such a term aren't going anywhere. The day the human race stops falling in love, is the day society will cease buying romance novels. But there are personal tastes, and wether or not a reader likes her story in another world, another time, or with humor or fear, the reality of it is, they make us feel good. And i for one, embrace the right to feel good.
Fabulous blog, Savannah - haven't voted yet, but definitely will. I'm on the "wish they hadn't used bodice ripper" side - I think lots of peeps will say "no" to that who do in fact read and enjoy a wide range of other romances.
On the other hand, here's a thought: Since hubby and I aren't writing historicals, we're technically not producing bodice rippers, but more than one item of clothing is occasionally ripped in the heat of passion on our pages, and lots of buttons go flying. Hmm.
Adriana
http://www.adrianakraft.com
Meh, they were being buttheads about that question. I'm blogging about it too, cuz it pissed me off so bad.
I've read romance for years and years. Is it the only genre I read? Heck no. I read all sorts of stuff, but, romance will always be my favorite. I don't need to read about the state of the human condition and how awful things are. I already know that. We all do. We live it every day. Romance, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Erotica........all of the genres make me feel happy and give me a break from the real world.
Reading romance keeps me sane and it's a hell of a lot more cost effective than a therapist! LOL
Great Blog!!
I brought this topic up with someone I know who is always putting down romance novels and her reply was.
"Romance novels raise false expectations that no real man could live up to."
But then again I also happen to know that she's a closet reader:)
But then again I also happen to know that she's a closet reader:)
Yes, "putting them down" even as she's *picking them up*! LOL Quite a few of those readers out there. ;)
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