First: Zoe Archer wrote this thoughtful entry about romance and feminism: Romance novels depict the emotional lives of women and men. The books aren’t merely the heroine’s journey toward love, but the hero’s journey, as well. Men’s emotions aren’t dismissed or suppressed. Men aren’t belittled for having feelings. Often, it’s the hero’s growing level of comfort and familiarity with emotion that forms one of the central elements to a romance novel. And this openness and … Continue reading Links and OH MY GOSH Sales →
by SB Sarah · Apr 21, 2011 at 12:11 am ·
Comments Off on Jennifer Egan, Why’d You Do That?
I noticed yesterday that Jennifer Egan won the Pulitzer, and I thought, “Oh, a female author won this year? That’s rather awesome. ” Then came this link to despairing Egan fan Jamie Beckman’s dismay at a Wall Street Journal interview with Egan in which she says: Over the past year, there’s been a debate about female and male writers and how they come off in the press. Franzen made clear that “Freedom” was going to … Continue reading Jennifer Egan, Why’d You Do That? →
I received this email and know you are going to have an absolute fiesta of recommendations. We’ve talked about YA books, including this post from 2005** about YA books that Candy loved. We’ve talked YA romance before, too, but since there is SO much to choose from, what would you recommend for a 13 year old reader who is becoming interested in romance? I’ve been a big reader since I was a little girl so … Continue reading The Young Romance Reader: Book Recommendations Please! →
The registration for RWA 2011 in New York is open, and despite three browsers and twenty minutes of errors, I registered – woo! While I was filling out the hotel information, it occurred to me that I’ve heard in the past that many RWA members are somewhat intimidated by New York City, by Manhattan, by the costs and the geography and the expensiveness and the general confusion of being in a city of 9 million … Continue reading RWA National in NYC →
I wanted to like this book. I like epistolary novels, and I really like epistolary novels involving technology. I liked Meg Cabot’s “The Boy Next Door,” which is largely told via email, even with the weird part where the villain is running down the stairs and the heroine is on her laptop in the stairwell typing that the villain is running down the stairs. OMG… pick your laptop up and run, girl! I also have … Continue reading Goodnight Tweetheart by Teresa Medeiros →
This year at RWA Nationals I did something a little different. I scheduled lunches and meetings with only one or two people, because one thing I find exhausting about RWA is that I have 1/10th of a conversation with about 300 people for five days, and at the end my brain hurts and I can’t remember anything. So while I didn’t run around and do the interview equivalent of high-fiving 500+ people, I did have … Continue reading RWA: The Big Wrap Up →
Behold: three very different but very interesting bits of book promotion that have made their way to my inbox or mailbox. First: Nora Roberts’ alter ego JD Robb is releasing her 30th book in the Eve/Roarke series. And check out the promotional bundle that appeared with a copy of the book: evidence bags! Each bag contains key evidence from one of the prior books, and there are 29 sets in all. Included is a memo … Continue reading Different Flavors of Interactive and Intriguing Promotion →
So Meg Cabot posted a rant today about mandatory reading lists, and how much she hated them, entitled “How To Foster a Hatred of Reading,” in response to a NY Times article entitled “The Future of Reading.” I think part of Cabot’s argument is sound—if you want to foster a love of reading in kids, forcing them to read isn’t the greatest idea. Kids aren’t exactly enamored with things that look like work, and mandatory … Continue reading How to foster a love of reading and literary analysis →
I have never been shy of stating how much I loathe the term “chick lit.” Hate it. I like some of the books that term describes – and like Jane I have a massive fangirl crush on Meg Cabot. It’s preposterous, this crush. I have a serious thing… well, no, it’s probably graduated to a thaaaang for Rob Wilkins, the hero of her 1-800-Where-R-U series. Seriously one of the best heroes I’ve read in awhile. … Continue reading Chick Lit Has the Power →
Trying to devise a slate of categories is hard work when the genre you’re attempting to award and highlight the best of is as diverse as romance. Or YA. But the Young Adult Library Services Association has come up with four very very cool categories to divide and examine the YA books for their Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults category: Dead, Dying and the Undead: Death can be an adventure, but not everyone lives to … Continue reading YALSA Award Slate: Coolest Categories Ever →
Bitchery reader Jocelynne sent me the following request for assistance from our well-read readership: I’ve noticed in the past that when someone needs a recommendation you all are pretty good about providing some very fine recomendations. I’ve also noticed that you have a vast knowledge of and fine appreciaton for YA novels. Now here’s the thing, I have a sister, a half sister really, and at 16 she is almost young enough to be my … Continue reading Help a Bitch Out: YA in the Cabot Style →
