Okay. I totally do NOT want to seem like a hypocrite here. I do know that all genre writing is equally snubbed by ‘literary’ minds. HOWEVER, I have something against tired plotlines and predictable dialogue of historical romances, better known as ‘boddice rippers.’
I’ve never actually read any because I know exactly how they all go. Exactly like Pride and Prejudice, except that she gets the man in the end. +gags+ Jane Austen has credibility because she CREATED the genre. Everything else just sort of…….copied the success. And it doesn’t help that romance novels are formulaic and INCREDIBLY predictable no matter what sub-genre they are. Even the comedic romances, which are usually better than the ’serious’ ones have a formula they follow.
And whatever happened to the normally proportioned human being? Where is it in this genre? Nowhere. I’ve yet to see a normal-looking person in a romance novel. They are all raving beauties or tall, dark and handsome. It makes me sick. And what if you don’t LIKE them tall, dark and handsome? What if the reader prefers short, bald and ugly? There have to be some! I’d LOVE to read a book about an ugly main character. Actually, I have. It’s called Sir Apropos of Nothing. A FANTASY novel. And one I also recommend, and will detail later on. And, honestly, I can’t think of a single romance novel that’s recommended reading on ANY reading list. They have to make up their own awards just so they’re not totally ignored.
AND! If regular romance wasn’t bad enough, now there’s ‘inspirational romance’ wich is a Christian sub-genre. So basically, the two don’t have sex until AFTER they’re married. +rolls eyes+ Puh-lease. If I wanted to read about two people getting to know each other, I’d read something that had an actual PLOT too. Oi.
Okay. I think I’ve gotten this off my chest now. I’ll go find out some things about Sir Apropos now. ^_^
