In the most current episode of Pop Culture Happy Hour during a discussion of Suicide Squad, Glen Weldon starts talking about heroism (something he’s devoted a considerable amount of time writing about) and says the following, which pretty much set my hair and my brain on fire: We’re embracing the antihero. We have been for decades – especially in tv but also in books and movies. We tell ourselves we embrace the antihero because we think it’s more sophisticated. We … Continue reading Real Quick – Why Reading Romance is Brave and Powerful→
I saw this sentiment echoed in a few places, and it certainly applied to me: I did not expect to be emotional last night watching the last evening of the Democratic National Convention. My husband is a complete politics nerd – he worked for the DNC in 1996 in Chicago, arranging housing for all the delegates, so his knowledge of convention miscellany is unrivaled. (I was an intern at that same convention for the LA Times, … Continue reading Chelsea Clinton, Books, and Happiness→
NB: Welcome to Flashback Friday! During FBF, we’ll be resurrecting older posts and reviews that are relevant to things we’ve published on the site this week. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Seeing as how Amanda reviewed Hyperbole & a Half this week, which covers a blogger’s battle with depression, we wanted to revive her previous post about finding the right book at the right time. This post was originally published November 5, 2014. Last Wednesday, in … Continue reading Depression & Amy Poehler→
We like to recap and talk about shows that we think romance readers might like, and that we want to help attain a wider audience. Last year we recapped The Librarians episode by episode, and it’s back this year for season 2 on TNT in the US. (Yay!) We’re not recapping it since we’ve got other shows on the schedule – but I would feel terrible if y’all missed out on seeing the Seriously Smoking Hot Bad Guy. Now, … Continue reading SYSBW: Hot Villain Alert on The Librarians, Season 2→
Reading slumps suck, and I know because I’m in one currently. When you’re a reader, books become part of your daily life and reading part of your routine. When you can’t get a book to capture your attention and are thrown out of that routine, it can feel awful. Right now I suspect my slump is due to the fact that this is a very busy time of year for me professionally and also because … Continue reading How to Handle a Reading Slump→
Recently Amanda commented internally that she used to read a ton of historicals, but that she hadn’t reached for or even considered one for awhile. This got me thinking about genres that I used to adore and read like I was starving and had an unlimited supply of those chocolate covered fruit snacks from Brookside. Figuring out what I used to read isn’t difficult; I’m packing up most of my possessions and donating at least … Continue reading Burnt Out vs. Moving On: Subgenres We Don’t Read As Much Anymore→
Today, I’m a guest on an episode of Pop Culture Happy Hour, which is among the best of the NPR podcasts. My inner 13 year old barely kept herself together, I was so excited. But I figured since perhaps some PCHH listeners are romance fans, or curious about romance, or curious about what we do around here, I’d introduce the site a bit. So: Hi! I’m Sarah, and welcome to the Hot Pink Palace of Bitchery, … Continue reading Greetings, PCHH Folks!→
Well, bookshelves. Who can possibly have just one? I have recently moved (well, recently, like six months ago, but I lived in my last place for six years before that, so recently is relative) and as such I have had my hands on every book I own- twice. It’s a lot of books, and one of the requirements for a new place was enough places to put up my bookshelves… and roommates who would understand … Continue reading A Tour of Redheadedgirl’s Bookshelf→
Being honest about what we think of romances (and movies, and covers, and man titty, and Jeremy Renner gifs) is our intent here. I want the comments to be a safe space for you to talk about personal and challenging subjects – subjects that romance deals with frequently, such as sexuality, emotions, assault, overcoming obstacles, vulnerability and happiness. I don’t take myself seriously at all, but I take the community at Smart Bitches very seriously. So … Continue reading Nothing But Squee: Is it Spam? How Do You React?→
Next week I will be a guest of the Surrey International Writers' Conference in British Columbia, Canada, and one of the workshops I've giving is on reviews. Specifically, it's called, Reviews: How to Get Reviewed, and How to Put a Review in your Rearview Mirror. I'm a blogger and reviewer who regularly gives negative review to books, and I'm also an author of two books, both of which have received positive and negative reviews. I … Continue reading The Choices of Kathleen Hale→
IT'S TIIIIIME! Time for The Most Expensive Thread where each month we talk about what we're reading and then we all buy a pile of books. Ready? Whatcha reading? Me, I just finished Chalice by Robin McKinley ( A | BN | K ). After I mentioned that I was reading The Blue Sword in last week's podcast with Ilona Andrews, all the lovely fantasy romance readers who know much more than I do about this genre came … Continue reading Whatcha Reading? September Edition→
