OMG, why do so many women like romance novels?

The first book in 50 Shades is nothing but sex (never read the others), take that away and there is nothing left. I know other people have said there is some kind of story there, Ana wanting to get through to Christian, whatever, but I didn't see it. I thought James wrote good sex scenes, much as the story was about submission and domination, only a little of that was bothersome in the sex scenes. I don't find inflicting pain to be the least bit erotic, but the book wasn't saturated with masochism.

I finished "Devil's Bride". The sex scenes continued to bore me, the mystery was mildly interesting, and I found the stereotype of the supposedly strong independent woman who was actually the opposite, insulting.

Clearly these two books are completely different romance genre novels. I'm by no means judging the genre by either of them. I may try another one, but I hold to my initial reaction, I find it easy to accept there is a female audience for James' kinky sex scenes and depressing there is such a huge female audience for romance novels that put women in such bad light as Devil's Bride did.

 

Oh GOSH yes! The long fingers, oh goodness me the long fingers - they were disgusting!! I think at one point James even wrote "long-nailed" or something too - I don't remember now, but I ended up with the picture of a man with super long nails about to poke at Ana's thighs.... *shudder*

And don't forget his feet! How he removes his socks individually

I know some find long fingers sexy, but it just does *not* work in books. Makes me think of Salad Fingers. Salad fingers anyone?

 

This is from a review on Amazon so I can't vouch for the count:

But honestly, I think Devil's Bride beats the count on "raised one eyebrow" and "lifted her chin".

 

hehehehe that review is hilarious thanks for sharing! Now all I can picture is the characters' eyebrows bouncing up and down repeatedly for no reason - like here! And yes, the eye rolling - ooooh the eye rolling!!!! It got rather embarrassing when it became obvious what James' own fetishes were loool. As for Devil's Bride, I'm impressed you managed to finish it!

 

No, I'm saying that there are different levels of quality within each genre, but that some people do not necessarily separate the two. Some books do not rely on good writing but on qualities such as shock value, or fad-based characteristics that are only temporarily relevant. Because of that, you couldn't really call them well-written no matter what genre they were in. There have certainly been exceptional romances written (Wuthering Heights, for ex.), but those books were so well written and the characters so well-developed that they did not need to rely on formula, which is what I think everyone is complaining about here.

Either way, I think there is a place for both depending on what you're looking for. And yes---if somebody else doesn't like them, they certainly don't need to read them.

 

@aikoaiko
I always thought the difference between erotica and porn was that the former has a plot When there's loads of sex involved, one usually gets frustrated with the plot and wants to move onto the "good stuff."

I heard some people were intrigued by whatever mystery there was in the 50 Shades and actually skipped the godawful sex scenes. Clearly @GingerCoffee isn't one of these readers, though.

@Mckk : Salad Fingers xD That was THE best comparison I've read so far, based on what I've learned about Christian Grey's fingers. I bet he is just as creepy too as SF. And speaks in a similar voice. Could we get that voice actor read the 50 Shades audio book?

 

oooh that would be absolutely EPIC! xD You know I have a friend who can put on a rather creepy and raspy voice...

Reminds me of the time when I read in one of those "men's rights groups" where this guy was harping on about how "my seed is gold" (his words, not mine) and someone went and actually recorded a Saruman-esque reading. It was the BEST.

 

I enjoy love stories with happy endings. But, I tend to search for them in other genres. The problem, then, is I don't know if the couple I'm rooting for will even get together. I have read romance novels and enjoyed them, but they get tedious after a while. (I admit, i do like the sex scenes.)

The book I'm writing is a love story, but I don't think it would qualify as a romance novel.

 

Majority of what I read is Urban Fantasy. I do admire the romance between characters and moments where there is tension between the MC and his/her love interests. It is one of those situations where I do wish that I was the female MC or the love interest. The romance turns into a fantasy

 

I do wish I didn't hear the "but this is romance!" comment as an explanation to:
1) bad dialogue
2) bad plot
3) bad action scenes

Ok, just because it's romance/chick-lit you can get away with that?

*crawls back to her burrow to read Extreme Hard Target*

 

I have an opinion on everything. Since no one is here with me this morning to listen to any of my opinions, I will say what I think about Romance novels, the people who read them (and I think it is established that the readers are females), and the people who are successfully selling them.

Girls grow up with "princess" notions and role models with "fairy tale" lives. The stories are Disney simple and when the girls grow into women, they still want to read a simple romance but with characters closer to their own ages.

Despite the reality that there is no such thing as a perfection, women cling to the fantasy. The simple romance is an escape from the reality of their own love lives. The euphoria of "true romance" is perceived by the reader through the words on the page.

Mary Stewart, the author mentioned above, is an icon. She has a huge fan base and is emulated by many. A personal friend of mine, author Penina Keen Spinka, writes in the style of Mary Stewart. I recommend Penina's "Picturemaker" and "Dreamweaver" and her third in the trilogy when it is published, which will be soon. These are not your everyday stories and they are not fairy tale romances. There is love and sex and all the other elements of human existence. And, therein lies the reason for removal of the simple romance novel from the realm of great writing.

 

Having a fantasy is not the problem I see here. It's the components of some of the fantasies. And it's opinion so I can't say women are wrong for some of the things in their fantasies I find particularly distasteful, it is however, disappointing to me.

In the "Devil's Bride" the male is not only domineering, the woman is constantly portrayed with token resistance we are supposed to read as independence and strength. But it doesn't feel the least bit independent or strong, it feels like a sham. He's been to bed with lots of women so he's going to teach her, the virgin of course, and she eats it up. That's a horrid fantasy. I couldn't stop thinking of the STDs he'd be giving her.

She conquers him when he falls so madly in love he has no reason to cheat in the future. It's more unrealistic than a vampire with sparkly skin.

I love living in the fantasy of a book, but who fantasizes about a man who orders you around? Obviously lots of women and I find that sad.

 

Again I'd really recommend Erica Dakin's fantasy romances. She's super adamant about not making her heroine the bitch of a mean dude and hates 50 Shades with a passion.
I also love Juliette Benzoni, but I've heard the English translations of her Marianne novels are really bad. They're pretty old books (from the '70s I think) and hard to find, but the modern Anastasias and Bellas could really learn a lesson or two from Marianne who fences, shoots, horseback rides, and if her lover acts like a dick, he can go play with his hand.

 

Okay ladies of reputable taste, how important is romance in a novel, other than romance novels, of course? If I can think of one facet of a novel I fear writing, it is the romantic elements. Probably reflects my true personality.

 

Totally depends on the story. I'm not one to read all the same kinds of novels. A good romance can be great but there are many incredible stories where either there is no romance or, it's a minor background issue like with a married couple as main characters but their love is not the focus of the story.

 

Like @GingerCoffee said, it all depends on the story and characters in question.

In the past I haven’t really included any romance at all in most of my writing. (As an aside, looking over some of my old stories and when I wrote them I just realized that it started cropping up more in my work since I became engaged. I must have the warm-and-fuzzies on the brain. ) Anyway, in the short story I’m working on right now (I say short but the dang thing keeps growing) romance doesn’t make an appearance until nearing the end. Even then, it’s only meant to be a small part fitting into the overall theme I’m trying to convey.

Like anything else you write, if you think romance is going to enhance the story in some way or contribute to character development then definitely include it. If not, and if excluding it won’t be out of place, then there is no harm in glossing over it or cutting it entirely from what you are writing. You just have to look at the piece as a whole and decide how much or how little romance you think is appropriate to the story being told.

 

I enjoy them as long as it makes sense and doesn't appear shoved in. But, I do love a good love story when done well.

 

I'm not of reputable taste, but I can say that I've read approximately 7 romance novels in my life, but I do still value romantic elements in other genres. It has to come off natural, like how romantic encounters happen in real life for me to like it. I've noticed that when there's a mixed-gender cast of singles, it's very difficult to keep your characters from ending up fucking each other at some point. It's like watching Big Brother, at some point some of them start coupling and having awkward sex under the sheets. So in this sense it's quite important 'cause it adds to the level of realism and I like my fiction pretty realistic.
One athing I do dislike, however, and that's bickering and arguing and love triangle drama. Bitchiness puts me off.
I value Love above everything else, but for some reason I'm not that drawn to romance novels. I guess the lack of warts just make them a little boring to me, apart from a few exceptions.

 

I like reading romantic novels. How phatetic it may be, there is some wish fulfillment element to it, but also a curiosity what writer may do with the whole thing. There are so many badly-written and cliched romances flying around that it's always enjoable to read something good and original.

I may sound poltically incorrect here, but I don't really thing there is something bad in fantasies, as long as you remember that's not how really things works. I'm personally a sucker for „kidnapped bride” scenerio, even if I know I would never agree for such a thing in real life and there is nothing romantic in stripping a young woman of her choice and taking her away against her will.

It depends on how big part of a plot romance is suppose to be. If the book is about saving the world, but the main character is more concerned with which girl he should pick the there is something wrong here. If romance is well intergated into the plot and actually helps with the character development instead of getting in the way, then why not.

 

Romance is fine, even everlasting best ever love and sex. My objections are with the roles portrayed that are supposed to be women's fantasies. Taming of a rude domineering bastard by a faux 'independent women' is not a fantasy I find realistic or, an unrealistic but desirable fantasy.

Vampire passion and destined for each other is a fine fantasy, I just wished Meyer had given Bella a little more one could actually value besides magical attraction.

Tragic love is fine, Wuthering Heights is one of my favorite romance novels.

Background love is fine. The Hunger Games did not focus on the rivalry or final 'lived happily ever after as a couple' ending.

Love and passion are great story elements. Fantasy love is good, why do we read books if we only want them to reflect reality?

"Devil's Bride" was not my idea of fantasy romance. Obviously it was for many other women given the popularity of the author and the series.

 

I like what you've said except the kidnapped bride isn't my thing. It's fine that it is yours however.

 

Can't books reflect reality, though? I would read about someone overcoming something that I never had to - such as a drug addiction or death of a child. These things happen in real life. If a love story was centered around a realistic setting, I don't think it would necessarily be boring.

 

GingerCoffee - I think it all depends on the writing. You are right that these kind of books will never be completly realistic, but it can be made plausible psychologically. I am currently reading a very good novel in which a girl is kidnapped by a guy who correctly assumes her mother will never let her get married. The author puts a lot of effort into slowly building their relationship and while the girl does fall in love with the guy, she still makes it clear she wants out and that their relationship can't progress unless they are on more equel footing. It probably helps that the guy isn't of a „dominating rude bute” kind you descibed.


Renee J – I totally agree with you. This kind of romance can be interesting particularly because it show characters overcome real life obstolates instead of fanasy ones. It's also makes it easier to relate to the character since it's something that could happen to the reader as well (or may happen in the future). But some books simply aren't meant to be realistic. They are fanasy/wish fulfillment. It doesn't mean they can't be well-written.

 

Of course books can reflect reality. If they were limited to reality that would be boring and maybe some people are just into fantasy and fiction so to that individual reality is not their genre.

 

I like to read romance novels when I feel like reading something lighter, something that doesn't require much thinking. I like happy, romantic ends, when the hero/heroine gets the one he/she loves. Romantic novels are a way to escape, as almost every novel, the normal dull life.