Jan > Status Update

Disagree with a lot of that article, like the 'men need to be taught to love,' but then, Mills & Boons is speaking to a certain audience. I did like the bit about male readers of romance.

I cant read it because of a media block at work- (but I can get on here for some reason, go figure) but as far as the above statement ''men need to be taught to love,' well yeah, your type of romanticized love (and by your I mean some other person's not yours specifically). But I would argue that not all women need or want that type of love- even those that read romance. What kind of love are we talking about??

Gnu: I think that comment spoke more about the Mills and Boon romance of yore, than about actual beliefs that this is the reality. And there's still a lot of romance written with Heroes that refuse to love thanks to something from their past, and indeed learn the merits of love throughout the book.

And yeah, that part about the romance reading Grandfather was great.

Zeek: the article is about Romance Novels in general, Mills and Boons from the 30s to the 80s in specific and then more in general. It's a bit all over the place, but there's some wonderful stuff there.

I'll try and grab it later tonight! thanks

Uh.

Romance novels are feminist documents.


Whut.

PS:

Rarely do "serious" writers on women's issues stoop so low as to address such homely questions, agonizing though they remain to women even now....Yes I want to have a career, but I still like jewelry and pretty dresses!



Whut.

Oh fuck it, here's a list:

- Here is a literature entirely without pretense; its authors are guileless, since they needn't conform to any external ideal of literary performance.

- These writers have no authorial brakes at all, and their irrepressibility is enchanting all by itself.

- I have often wondered whether romance novels mightn't generally serve the same purpose for women that pornography does for so many men.

- Difficulties will multiply. And almost always, as the tension builds, the heroine is beset with doubts about her own competence, attractiveness and worth.

That's just how I feel! the reader cries inwardly.

- "Serious" or literary fiction is supposed to be that way because it's meant to be like Dostoevsky, leaving no stone unturned in the human psyche, shocking us, showing us things we'd never understood or even thought about ourselves before.

- Most "literary" novels, in fact, take not one single risk, offend no taboo, and leave every sacred cow grazing undisturbed in the placid fields of their conventionality.


Whut.
Whut.
Whut.

That was unbelievable, and for every cover listed, I've read all those authors, if not those specifc books.

So, I've got a noose if anyone knows where "Maria" lives. I may need help though, cause she sounds like she'd be built like a man. LOL

Oh and by the way, there are quite a few male Mills & Boon authors, one of the most prominent is Emma Darcy. Which was a husband & wife team, but sadly the wife passed away and he continues writing them himself and has done for quite a few years. You'd never know the difference.

My thoughts exactly, Moss. The author sounds like she came out of a Mills n Boon novel. "*doe eyes* They just need to learn how to love."

*snort* I read 1st paragraph- skimmed the the next two and quit. whatevs.

You guys :)
I didn't agree with everything either, but as far as explaining to men the appeal of romance novels, I still think it does a decent job.

Sandra, I didn't know that of Emma Darcy, thanks for the tidbit!

;)

Jan wrote: "as far as explaining to men the appeal of romance novels, I still think it does a decent job."

Men who live ... on Pluto?

I pity the poor sap who reads this and then tries to relate to his partner's romance reading habits. Can you imagine the conversation?

Oh honey, if there's anything The Italian Billionaire's Secretary Mistress taught me, it's that you CAN realise all your hopes and dreams while still wearing a butt plug. Just don't feel incompetent, unattractive or worthless about it, okay? I love you, my brave little feminist."

sorry, i'm behind the curve on this one, i just read this post, I appreciate that you found this through Dear Author, because I love the DBSA podcast. I'm not familiar with the Mills & Boon books, because 99.9% of the time I'm reading stuff published after 2000, but I like anything that is trying to promote romance reading