An awesome librarian (is there another kind?) forwarded me a link to this article from the Reference & User Services Quarterly (THAT IS THE SEXIEST NAME OVER OMG *PANT*) article from “The Alert Collector,” which offers five librarians’ suggestions on building a romance genre collection: Core Collections in Genre Studies: Romance Fiction 101. (Also, the sexiest title ever, and thank you Mr.
MS. Wyatt (my apologies) for not writing something that referenced heaving bodices or man-titty).
From the article:
The RUSA Collection Development and Evaluation Section (CODES) voted to create a new juried list highlighting the best in genre literature. The Reading List, as the new list will be called, honors the single best title in eight genre categories: romance, mystery, science fiction, fantasy, horror, historical fiction, women’s fiction, and the adrenaline genre group consisting of thriller, suspense, and adventure.
I will start composing sonnets to the awesomeness of this decision in a moment, but first, I want to say, HELL YES and FUCK YEAH. I personally loved the genre fiction section – which totaled three shelves – at the library at my college, and only allowed myself to take one book per week, even if I finished it in one night. Otherwise, I’d get no other reading accomplished.
So to the RUSA, with your sexy, sassy name: MMMMMMWAH. Great idea. And to accomplish this task, they gathered five librarians to profile a subgenre of romance: contemporary, historical, suspense, paranormal, and Regency.
And to Ms. Wyatt (I think you wrote this part) I’d like to nominate you for the I-Just-Invented-It Award for Asskickingly Non-Condescending Description of Romance and buy you the beverage of your choice:
Romance novels are built around the relationship between hero and heroine and the conflicts within that relationship. They are ultimately positive and optimistic novels that involve the reader on an emotional level. Fans of this genre love the snappy dialogue, well-crafted scenes, connection between the characters, and details of the character’s lifestyles.
WORD UP TO YOU MA’AM. One note though to Dudesse of Excellence. Ms. Wyatt: You list some great web sites as references, but what about us and Dear Author?! DUDE! Epic fail!
Now, minor hissyfit notwithstanding, let us moving on. Here are the selections recommended for building a balanced romance novel bookshelf representing each of the aforementioned subgenres – with my commentary and assorted linkage.
Kristin Ramsdell, of the California State University East Bay library and winner of the 1996 RWA Librarian of the Year award, recommended the following Regencies:
A Garden Folly
Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand 
The Rake’s Rainbow
A Debt to Delia
Lady Alex’s Gamble
As Ramsdell notes in her introduction, all of these Regencies are out of print – so, what Regency romances that are still in print would you recommend for the essential genre- representative library bookshelf?
Georgine Olson, who works at the North Star Borough Public Library in Fairbanks, Alaska, recommended the following historical romances:
Forbidden Magic
The Wild Child
The Lightkeeper
The Duke And I
Scandalous Lovers
What would you add to an historical romance Must Have shelf?
Neal Wyatt, editor of the Alert Collector, recommends the following contemporary romances:
Bet Me
See Jane Score
Blame It On Cupid
Natural Born Charmer
Born in Fire
Obvious question alert – what others would you recommend?
Retired librarian Joyce Saricks won the 2000 RWA Librarian of the Year award, and recommended the following romantic suspense novels:
The Unsung Hero
Chill Factor
Heartbreaker
Always Time to Die
My Brother Michael
Hey! What about …?
Lynne Welch works at the Herrick Memorial Library in Wellington, Ohio, and was the 2004 RWA Librarian of the Year. She writes, “[p]aranormal is the umbrella under which speculative fiction merges with romance, both as integral to the plot as is the HEA” (124) (Word. Up.) She recommends the following novels for a paranormal romance collection:
Dark Prince (The Carpathians Series, Book 1)
White Lies
Heart Mate
Gabriel’s Ghost
Cinderman
What would you add? This will turn into the biggest, most diverse GS vs. STA column ever, but I’m very curious what you’d put on the “Romance 101” shelf at a library, given the budget and discerning taste to assemble it.
I’m hesitant to say this, because I know she occasionally reads this site, but…Lauren Willig’s Secret of the Pink Carnation was very nearly a wall-banger for me. The story is fine. It’s just that she would throw in these “period details,” and they would be WRONG. I found that extremely difficult to deal with. (Example—a character mentally comparing himself to Keats, who, when the book was set, was all of, like, 10.)
And thanks, Laura. (Laura Vivanco? I never know what to do with two-named people without seeming crazy formal or pretentious or rude.)
I see the difference. I think it’s a little bit artificial, but that’s just me.
Any list that includes the highly underrated Jennifer Greene has my vote.
But there are a number of books on that list (
Bet Me?—frankly, Jenny Crusie started going downhill when she quit writing category) that I don’t agree with, and a great many that are missing (most of which have been mentioned in the comments).
Still, the quote is absolutely the best thing I’ve read all week. And anything that convinces my fellow librarians that Romance belongs in libraries is a Very Good Thing.
I’m a librarian/romance reader and I, too have a “core” I always want to have on hand. I try to get as many of the others mentioned as well!
And, if anybody’s interested, RUSA (my favorite ALA division) has these kinds of definitions and stuff for other genre too!
[quote/]I totally agree that there should be a few Georgette Heyer books on the list! For the historicals, I suggest Across a Moonlit Sea by Marsha Canham, The Devil to Pay by Liz Carlyle, The Suitor by Sandy Hingston and Beyond Sunrise by Candice Proctor.
I totally agree that THE SUITOR by Sandy Hingston is a great book; definitely one of my favorites. But here is my list of books that are missing from the list:
Historical: ummm, yes, Lisa Kleypas definitely has to be on the list.
Contemporary: one of my favorites of all time is DRIVE ME WILD by Julie Ortolon
Romantic Suspense: I know she’s not shelved in the romance section, but Elizabeth Peters is really my all-time favorite. Mary Stewart is a great, choice, though—I’ve read THE IVY TREE at least twenty-five times since I was eight.
Paranormal Romance: Again, I know she’s a YA author, but L. J. Smith, L. J. Smith, a thousand times L. J. Smith! And where is Sherrilyn Kenyon??? I do agree with DARK PRINCE, though; that book is classic.
We shelve all of our formats together: trade pb, hardcover and mass market. Space is an issue in nearly every one of our branches.
And I’m so very embarrassed that I didn’t remember Diana Gabaldon for historicals.
I LOVE Julia Quinn’s books, but you might also want to consider Judith McNaught, Brenda Joyce, Jude Devereaux or Catherine Coulter for historicals too.
For paranormal, Lori Handeland, Yasmin Galenorn and Cheyenne McCray.
For contemporary, loved Bet Me and the whole Born In series, but would add Suzanne Brockman and Cherry Adair (of course those are both more action/adventure/romantic suspense, but still fabulous reads!)
Great to know so many well-informed librarians are doing this advisory. Libraries are a huge market and once they start actually cataloguing romance, they she how big the circulation is.
I LOVE Julia Quinn’s books, but you might also want to consider Judith McNaught, Brenda Joyce, Jude Devereaux or Catherine Coulter for historicals too.
For paranormal, Lori Handeland, Yasmin Galenorn and Cheyenne McCray.
For contemporary, loved Bet Me and the whole Born In series, but would add Suzanne Brockman and Cherry Adair (of course those are both more action/adventure/romantic suspense, but still fabulous reads!)
As many of the best-selling authors are on standing order at the library where I work, authors such as Nora are a given that we’ll have the titles.
The ones I leave the person who does the ordering are the authors some may not have readily heard of (usually gleaned from this very site). I make sure we get the newest titles for the following:
Lisa Kleypas
Nalini Singh
JR Ward
Karen Marie Moning
Shana Abe
Julia Quinn
that’s just a few. If I find an author I love, I see the library gets her books if they are in print.
As for YA romances? Stephenie Meyer. ‘Nuff said.
What about Mary Janice Davidson? Lynsay Sands also for paranormal romance. Have to add to the list Lisa Kleypas for historical romance. Birthright, not my fave of NR, would recommend Blue Smoke instead. Also jumping on the SEP ship with NBC, and instead suggest MMIYC. Also would add Suzanne Enoch’s Sam Jellico series for contemporary romance.
In my day life, I’m a librarian and have been lucky enough to get to know both Neal and Joyce (though I’m pretty darn sure they don’t know about *this* persona of mine). A lot of people have already mentioned authors I’d add to the existing lists, but here are a few more for me:
Historical:
Jo Goodman – I *loved* her Compass Club series.
Paranormal:
Lynn Kurland – I lurve me some sexy, sexy books (otherwise I wouldn’t write what I write), but Lynn imposed as strict PG-13 rating on her writing after her first few books. I honestly do not notice that she closes the door! She so sweeps me into the story that I just enjoy the ride she takes me on. Head’s up to you librarians looking for a non-inspirational, “sweet” and meaty story author!
There are a few more, but I need to get to bed 😉
You really do have to read Cinderman! It’s hysterically contrived and yet you really do believe in the h/H and that they have fallen in love, superpowers and all. You start out all WTF?!? And end up really rooting for them. I read it as part of the ebundle of her out-of-print series novels that also included a WAY creepy version of Beauty &TB.
I would definitely add all Amanda Quick novels to Historical, and Kathless Woodiwiss’s Shanna as well. It’s the first romance book I remember reading, and one of the few at the time that didn’t have the standard “Hero rapes the heroine to show her how much he lurves her!” scene, for which I was profoundly grateful. (::cough, cough::Rosemary Rogers::cough, cough.::)
For Paranormal, Maggie Shayne’s vampire series, starting with the ones in Silhouette Shadows, P.C. Cast’s Goddess series, and her Partholon books. I don’t necessarily consider Lilith Saintcrow’s Dante Valentine series to be romance, rather dystopian futuristic fantasy, but some people consider it a romance. I also like Catherine Asaro’s Misted Cliffs/Lost continent series. I’d second the comment about Lynn Viehl. And Angela Knight. And Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse series. (can you tell I do a lot of reading in Paranormal Romance?)
But I would never consider Mary Janice Davidson ever again. It just seems that all her heroines have an unhealthy obsession with shoes and fashion worthy of the love child of Carrie from Sex and the City crossed with Imelda Marcos. It makes them seem much, much too alike to me. The only heroine of hers I don’t remember fitting into this mold is the heroine of a short story fit into the Queen Betsy world whose title I no longer even remember!
Oh my god, I can’t believe other people love the Windflower! That was the first ever romance I fell in love with, and I lent it to a friend and never managed to find a copy since. Just, wow.
So happy now 🙂 Good list, too.
As I was reading this, my first thought was “Where is Georgette Heyer in all this?!?!?”. I see that a number of you have already spoken. Yes, all her books have been reprinted (including her crime novels) – I bought them all whilst I was living in London in ‘06. It would be a tough choice to pick just one..
Would you believe that at this very moment I am reading ‘Romancing Mr Bridgerton’? I <3 Colin!!
I also agree with any Mary Stewart – they were a staple for me going through high school
NkB I completely second you on the LJ Smith. I thought the Nightworld series was really well written and I am STILL waiting for the release of Strange Fate.
I am a little surprised that no one has mentioned Midnight Bayou by Ms. Roberts as a staple in the Romantic Suspense section. I heart that book so much and Declan is teh mad sexy!
snarkhunter,
You know, I didn’t catch that at all. But I did read them rather quickly. With that said though, I was totally engrossed in the characters and storyline, which is why my post is really enthusiastic.
Due to your mentionable about historical inaccuracy, I should amend my prior post to note that they exist. 😉
snarkhunter & Randi,
Crap! I can’t believe I missed a glaring Keats error like that, especially since I knew he died at 25 in 1821…which means he was 7 when Pink Carnation begins. Oy.
Maybe he was a very precocious literary mind at 7? He totally could have started Endymion by then. Possibly.
I’m with Randi—I ran through these books quickly because they’re like crack :). She’s got snappy dialogue, a great storyline, a non-wallpapery historical setting (even if some of it is inaccurate), and O-M-G Colin Selwick, who brings to mind my other favorite Colin—Firth.
There were, as I recall, three such errors, and all three of them just drove me batty. The Keats one was not quite the worst—the worst was the Edmund Kean error, but there was also a Wordsworth thing, and I was really quite annoyed.
But it was a fun book. And I don’t want detract from that. I just hate it when otherwise very well researched novels get really easy details like that screwed up. (And I’m not even that much of a stickler for historical “accuracy.”)
OK-that mostly explains why I didn’t catch the historical inaccuracy. They were all poets. Me, not a poetry fan (excepting Coleridge’s Kubla Khan deal-but see, even then I don’t even remember the name of the poem, and I couldn’t tell ya when he was born and when he died). Now, if Lauren had her ladies in hoop skirts during The Empire period, THEN I would have caught something. Or if Poe or HG Wells had been included. But poets-my brain is full of empty on that topic.
word: space79-that’s how much I don’t know about poets and poetry.
Well, Kean was an actor. She had some line about how some character should be acting with Kean in Covent Garden. But Kean didn’t go on stage in London until a decade after the book was set.
19C Brit poetry is my field, so these things leaped off the page at me. It’s not like I sat there trying to pick apart her research. :/
And thanks, Laura. (Laura Vivanco? I never know what to do with two-named people without seeming crazy formal or pretentious or rude.)
There’s more than one Laura who comments here, so it helps to avoid confusion if I post with my surname. If it’s any help, my name sometimes get shortened to Laura V (but elsewhere someone who likes roman numerals asked where the other four Lauras were, and I’m still not sure if his question was intended as a joke or not).
I know I’m being repetitious but the point bears repetition: the Regency list needs to include a Heyer. I don’t think that there is any other writer of Regency novels whose books are so frequently re-read, handed from Mother to Daughter and endorsed by literary luminaries such as Margaret Drabble and Stephen Fry.
As mentioned further up the thread, Heyer has not been omitted by the librarians.
Before giving the list of 5 traditional regency romances there’s an introduction to this subgenre in which it is stated that:
It is impossible to define the traditional Regency with only five books; however, readers looking to familiarize themselves with this elegant subgenre should consider the historical (but not mystery or contemporary) works of Georgette Heyer, the standard-setting author of the modern Regency, as well as the following more recent authors and titles, as a starting place.
I heartily agree with everyone who suggested Nora Roberts’ Chesapeake Bay series, particularly Sea Swept (my one quibble with the series is that the teenage kid’s age changes somewhat randomly from one book to the next). I really appreciate Roberts’ supporting characters, who are well-developed and with lives and agendas of their own – so many romance novels feature a hero and heroine against a backdrop of carboard cut-outs.
I’d recommend one of Elizabeth Peter’s Vicky Bliss books for romntic suspense, probably Trojan Gold, where John is finally tricked into revealing his love for Vicky. Vicky, Schmidt, and John are all appealing quirky characters, and the museum/antiquities mystery plots are always fun.
I also agree with the several suggestions of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander for the historical category. Her setting and historical detail are wonderfully detailed, and the entire thing reads like a sweeping epic, plus there’s the refreshing (for historicals) change of a more experienced heroine introducing a virginal man to sex, rather than the other way around.
Patricia Veryan’s Golden Chronicles are also a historical must-have. Lovely, swashbuckling romantic adventure set just after Bonnie Prince Charlie’s rebellion, around the same time as Outlander (though she’s not quite as good on historical details as Gabaldon, she makes up for it with lots of swordfighting and hairsbreadth escapes).
I have to confess I’m surprised to see Amanda Quick suggested so often, though. Many of her books feel very “cookie-cutter” to me, and her depictions of Regency England often fail to convince me; they feel more like Hollywood window dressing, just there so that the hero and heroine can have historical costumes and ride in a carriage.
OH! Wow. Hmm. With traditional Regencies no longer being published, it’s hard to think of those that ought to go in the list.
For Historical Romance, I’d recommend something by Lisa Kleypas—Flowers from the Storm is still my favorite, but honestly, I think any of hers would do.
And Madeline Hunter—THE CHARMER is the one I was looking for—the heroine is an heiress to one of the most powerful duchies in England, and the hero is a lesser aristocrat who is sent to retrieve her from the debaucheries of Paris. It has political intrigue, complicated characters and true love winning out in the end. I LOVED this book.
Paranormal romance is tough. There’s a LOT of Romantic fantasy/paranormal stuff out there, but a lot of it really isn’t “true” romance. Robin Owens’ books are, of course—hers and Linnea Sinclair’s are some of the best.
ATLANTIS RISING by Alyssa Day is a good one.
But that’s enough for now…
verification word: feel63
Since I’m coming down with a cold, that’s pretty accurate…
G
While I agree that Christine Feehan’s books become formulaic after the initial few books, I am in love with her Drake Sisters novels.
Regarding the Willig books, they are THIS CLOSE to wallbangers for me, not so much because of the many anachronisms, but because the writing feels forced and unnatural and just doesn’t flow. Obviously, many people disagree with me about that. The contemporary storyline interests me enough to keep trying, but reading the historical parts (which account for about ninety percent of each book, probably more) is like doing penance. I spent the last hundred pages of the first book groaning out loud, no exaggeration. The last two were not so bad, but I’ve now given myself permission to skim. (No, I say to myself, skimming is not cheating. Now, hush.)
As for the list, I’d like to see YA romances included, maybe Beauty by Robin McKinley and The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery, to start.
Laurie,
Try Rabbit Heart by Colleen Hitchcock for stilted forced writing. I can read about a paragraph a day because the writing is, not terrible, but young. Like someone who knows the fundamentals of writing, but has very little experience actually doing it. The dialogue is excruciating and the flow is stop and go.
I won’t argue with you about Willig, as I already mentioned that I love the flow of her books. But it’s always interesting to get another’s viewpoint.
ps. I don’t mean to say try Rabbit Heart because it’s terrible and I want you to try to read something that is going to make your eyes cross (like smelling something terrible and passing it around the family), but rather as an example of what I think forced writing is.