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| Words from the Pros | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 30 2009, 11:42 AM (790 Views) | |
| messyhead | Jun 30 2009, 11:42 AM Post #1 |
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I'm not a big romance novel reader, but I am reading an article about Nora Roberts, who, as far as I can tell is the reigning queen of romance novels. She says sex is essential in her books, because "otherwise it's like eating a rice cake instead of a cupcake". As you probably all know, there are lots of formal requirements for romance novels, which change according to which publishing house they come from. Some houses don't allow co-habitation without marriage. Some don't allow swearing, or swearing substitutes like "gosh" or "darn". And of course the golden formula is, as described by some gals who wrote a how-to-write-a-romance-novel book, "Boy gets girl, s**t happens [their words] boy gets girl. |
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| OJFan | Jun 30 2009, 11:49 AM Post #2 |
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Well, let's face it - those romance novels are really sex novels. I loved reading Pride and Prejudice, and while hardly a romance novel, I liked the elements of romance involved, and there was no sex at all. I don't really read romance novels either, though admittedly in my younger days I read a few. Some WERE really tame - though I don't remember ANY waiting until they were married - but some had really rough language - and the lovemaking didn't always seem tender and..loving. THAT isn't romantic to me. Some of them overdid it with the symbolism too. But can you be in love with someone - REALLY in love - and NOT be romantic? I don't mean the trappings of romance - but who isn't a sucker for a sunset walk on the beach/lake/river or a cozy fire in a mountain cabin - or am I really a bigger sap than I thought? |
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| messyhead | Jun 30 2009, 12:10 PM Post #3 |
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Heavens no! You're just a GIRL! You can't help yourself. I can't either.... But not all romance novels are the same - some have no sex, some have a lot. Oh yeah, and another thing - readers considered a rape in the story only slightly more offensive than an unhappy ending! |
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| OJFan | Jun 30 2009, 12:28 PM Post #4 |
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You know - I DO think I remember reading a few in high school with no sex - I would have been to embarrassed to read a sexy one I find those rape ones - or the near rape ones SOOO offensive - I just stop reading. Because I don't know the characters, I guess that's why I don't like them.
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| Lola | Jun 30 2009, 01:33 PM Post #5 |
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I haven't read one of those in years. They seemed pretty tame then. Do some really have rape in them? I'd stop reading as well. |
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| messyhead | Jun 30 2009, 01:38 PM Post #6 |
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I really don't know. I'm sure they don't make a habit of it. The article piqued my curiosity. Next time I'm in the second hand store I'm going to take a look. |
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| messyhead | Jun 30 2009, 02:20 PM Post #7 |
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And actually, the point is not so much that rape is used in romance fiction, but rather that readers are SO offended by unhappy endings they regard it almost as bad as rape. |
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| Lola | Jun 30 2009, 04:23 PM Post #8 |
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Yes, I can see your point. It does seem shocking that they would rate an unhappy ending as nearly as bad as a rape. However I think that a 'happy ending' is expected, almost certain, in that type of book. The readers probably feel deceived if that isn't the outcome. It depends how they asked the question too. If asked 'On a scale of 1 -10 how bad do you think ____ is? ' Then you could get a similar score for both. That's not saying they are equivalent or people are making the comparison. |
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| OJFan | Jun 30 2009, 09:54 PM Post #9 |
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I don't remember any of the ones I read having an unhappy ending - but there is NO meat in there at all. Okay, bad choice of words. There is no substance in there - I never found them heartwarming, but flat. However, it's been YEARS since I read one - probably back in college at least - so maybe my tastes have just changed. I like ones with Oscar and Jaime because I care about the characters. |
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| bionic4ever | Jun 30 2009, 09:56 PM Post #10 |
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I TALK TOO MUCH! LOL!
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I'm still stuck back on 'no meat'!
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| OJFan | Jun 30 2009, 10:03 PM Post #11 |
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Now I was hoping you'd have coffee nearby - I put that in JUST for you! |
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| bionic4ever | Jun 30 2009, 10:17 PM Post #12 |
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I TALK TOO MUCH! LOL!
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Getting wise in my old age. I put the soda down first.
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| Lola | Jul 1 2009, 07:09 AM Post #13 |
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True! It's the equivalent of fast food. It's uniform, quick to read but it's nothing special and it leaves you with an empty feeling soon afterwards. |
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| OJFan | Jul 1 2009, 07:20 AM Post #14 |
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Yes - I totally agree. I can remember MANY fanfiction stores, but can't recall a single romance novel - but that was over 20 years ago. I really like some of the fanfiction stories - they are quite moving, and leave you with something more - a different perspective or insight to think about. |
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| messyhead | Jul 1 2009, 07:29 AM Post #15 |
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Another funny thing Nora Roberts said was that people are always asking her if she has a really great sex life, because of all the sex in her books. She said "I find that to be a strange question. Do you think anyone ever asked Agatha Christie if she was homicidal?" You're right Lola, it is fast food. Mind you, what do I know? I've never read one! |
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8:36 AM Jul 11
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I find those rape ones - or the near rape ones SOOO offensive - I just stop reading. Because I don't know the characters, I guess that's why I don't like them.





8:36 AM Jul 11