Romance novels are none of the above. It's all a bunch of gross out fantasies that no right minded woman would have. And the men in these novels do not exist in real life!

Yes I do! Just ask my wife!

That is to say, Yes, I do exist!

I can't believe it's not butte-I mean I can't believe that you would think I don't exist in real life!

By ScottN on Tuesday, September 26, 2000 - 02:26 am:
Yes I do! Just ask my wife!

By ScottN on Tuesday, September 26, 2000 - 02:27 am:
That is to say, Yes, I do exist!


Thanks, Scott! We got the point the first time. (I would loooooove to hear what Mrs. N would have to say about your comments!)

I don't know, Anon, I personally hate romance novels, but I imagine some women read them for the same reasons that some men watch idiotic action films. Or porn, for that matter. The men in romance novels are no less realistic than the women in porn flicks.

Wow, last posting a year and a half ago...hot topic going on here! Well, here's my contribution:

I hate to break the stereotype by saying this, but I once knew a guy who read romance novels. Maybe he liked the cover illustrations and wanted to see if the actual books lived up to them.

At any rate, I think his interest waned fairly quickly.

Ladies,

ScottN is taken, baby. William "Barry White" Berry is can fulfill all your dreams even though you are awake. As for Fabio, well, lets just say grass doesn't grow on a busy street. (Once you go "balding" you never go back because he has to run his fingers through your hair!)


This post is ""

In my opinion, romance novels are nothing more than an excuse for the author to get her Mary Sue impulses out of her system. Think about it: The men are all caricatures and mostly boring, a lot of attention is focused on the physical appearance and character traits of the female protagonist, the entire book revolves around her, and everyone is highly concerned with her well-being and happiness. Many fictional genres do not focus on female heros (at least not until the feminist "girl power" revolution of the '90s), and therefore for years the only way for female authors to create a character was in the romance genre. A lot of alledgedly original fiction is in actuality a Mary Sue in disguise, and I even created an essay on this phenomena.

For a wonderful send-up of the "romance" genre, try reading DIE FOR LOVE, by Elizabeth Peters.

On the other hand, if you want to read a REALLY romantic book, try THE DEVIL'S LAUGHTER, by Frank Yerby, if you can find a copy. It has some of the most passionate scenes I've ever read, which is remarkable considering that he always stopped at the bedroom door. Incidently, you'll learn a lot about the French Revolution in the process.

At the library where I work, we were laughing one day about all the "bodice rippers" that pass through. My friend picked up a book, opened it at random, and started giggling. The scene had two people who were "splendidly naked."
"Splendidly naked" has since become one of our catch phrases, guaranteed to get a laugh.

Women read romance novels because regular porn is male centered.

From what I understand, Elizabeth Peters is considered mystery.
When I was a teenager in the eighties, it seemed to me that romance novels were just two dimensional love fests, and women losing their virginity to hunky rebellious bad boys. I was even encouraged to borrow some friend's romance novels, and even though I was able to read thru them, it was just that, what I just said about it. I didn't take to it, me being a female and all.
No, I ended up reading science fiction, cause it took me into a new world, it had wonderful characterization of both genders, and it did something that I found romance novels of that time didn't do. It made very strong, intelligent, and three dimensional female characters. I wanted to read novels like that, not where female characters had to hold back and be ignorant and wait until the bad boy jumped her, and she felt that saved her for the good life. Good grief! I don't think so.
Like I said, that was years ago. Working in a bookstore, I have noticed that romances have changed. Yea, sure, there are still your 'trashy' romances, but there are some very good authors out there that really go deep into the characters, changed the female stereotype, and really gave the description into the lovescenes a little more taste. I haven't read Nora Roberts, but I understand she is really good, and she is a big seller. I have read a Jennifer Crusie novel, and let me tell you, on top of keeping me tuned into the story, and with good characters, it made me laugh outloud numerous times. I think romance has come a long way, and I think that is why women today still read them. Though I am told by older female romance readers that I won't be able to control my desire for them, when I get older. I shall see.