As I mentioned earlier, my recent email exchange with Robinjn following her re-examination of LaVyrle Spencer’s Years got me thinking generally about age differences in romance, and how reactions can vary depending on sub-genre, character, and conflict. In historical romances, the age difference is often expected, or at the least not worth noticing as a potential conflict. In many historicals, the women are younger and possibly virginal, and likely looking or staunchly not looking for … Continue reading Age Difference Part II: Historical vs. Paranormal→
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 23, 2011 at 5:08 pm ·
Comments Off on She Gave Up Romances for Lent
Lent, the period of time between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday, is marked by many with acts of penance, fasting, and prayer. Sometimes, the fasting is of a particularly type of food. I know a few people who give up chocolate or wine or alcohol altogether for Lent. Emily did something different: Hello ladies of the Bitchery! I need your help. I am desperate for some book recommendations. I gave up romance novels for lent, … Continue reading She Gave Up Romances for Lent→
Unquestionably powerful librarian Nancy Pearl (I mean, dude, she has her own Action Figure!) has a new article up at NPR of her recommendations for carry-on books that make traveling and waiting a marvelous escape. Says Pearl, “You want a book — either fiction or nonfiction — that’s complex enough to smother your annoyance when the guy in the row ahead reclines his seat into your lap, but not so intellectually challenging that it demands … Continue reading Go Ahead, Win Some Heyer!→
Thank you to December Quinn and Victoria Dahl who both forwarded me links, each with eerily similar subject lines that said, “OMG DID YOU SEE THIS?” In a great steaming pile of “Huh?” the books that led me to read romance, the books I both love and skewer with abandon, the books (or book) I read last August and reviewed because really, while they reinforced everything I hated about being a teenager, they were a … Continue reading Sweet Valley High, v. 2008→
Back, motherfuckers! I’m kind of bereft of words at the moment, because holy crapdamn I’ve done a lot of talking in the past three days, but here’s a sort of Highlight Reel from the conference experience, in no particular order because I’m too goddamn tired to be coherent: 1. We got to attend Nora Roberts’ pre-RITA reception, which was awesome wacky funtimes. Ruth Ryan Langan thought I was 20 years old, which was balm to … Continue reading More RITA photos, and a quick recap→
Ah, the Romance! Not set in the US or in the United Kingdom? You have the hankering for the man-tittied perfection that is the Fabio, a perfect Italian stud hero? The Bitchery is here to help you out: Elliquinn recommends: Mr. Impossible, by Loretta Chase (Egypt) Early books from Kresley Cole, set on ships “in and around various…locations such as polynesia.” Judith Ivory writing as Judy Cuevas. There are some out-of-print titles set entirely in … Continue reading International Luuuurve®, baby, Yeah!→
1. What hero/heroes are on your “list” (like the celebrity list, if they turned up on your doorstep, your significant other would have to step aside for a few hours)? 2. What heroine would you want to be trapped in an elevator with? (Or hero!) 3. What author would you have over for tea? 4. If a romance heroine was based on your personality, what type of novel would it be, and what would her … Continue reading Romancing the Meme→
