So I was just looking at Facebook, where I read a complaint about some romance novel that seems to have everyone up in arms. Apparently this book is poorly written but is addictive. It also must be very steamy.
Well I, for one, don't have a problem with steamy, but if it's poorly written it doesn't matter how steamy it is.
I tend to read a lot of romance novels, and usually they keep me interested for the few days I have to read them. Mostly, they aren't horrible, but sometimes they can be a bit ridiculous. But sometimes I need To read, ridiculous or not.
This book series that had several people disgusted was featured at my local independently owned book store last week. I took a couple of seconds and read the cover to see if I wanted to read them. Basically, they cost more than I wanted to pay, so I put them back down. I can't spend $50 on a set of books I might not enjoy, or I might read in a matter of days. I read very fast. That's why I read paperbacks. They are cheap and I can read them quickly.
Then I have to mention the steamy factor of most books I read. First of all, you have to understand that I was the girl who had a book in her face since I was probably 9. Sure I'd love to claim 7 or 8, but I'd be lying. But once I began to read, well I didn't stop. I loved science fiction and fantasy. I've read many book series by some great writers, but these days I don't have the time for the intricate plots or trying to decifer maps of made up lands. Now I need escapism, and most romance novels give me that in abundance. As far as the steamy parts, just last night I skipped several pages because the steamy parts made me bored out of my mind.
So really, I read romance novels for the romance, not the steam. Usually the steam takes the steam out of the adventure created by the author. I like the thought of it, but the words used to describe the actual steam are completely lost on me. Just as a woman is more alluring when she is partially covered compared to being completely exposed, I am more intrigued with the thought of steam than the actual steamy scene written in most romance novels. All I need is the chance to create the scene in my head, and I'm more hooked than I would ever be by over description of an activity.
I still don't know who Rand falls for after 8 or 9 books of The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan, but those books have stayed with me for over 10 years. Unfortunately Robert Jordan began to write too much about characters who were not as important as Rand and I quit reading. And he passed away before he finished so I'm scared I will never be satisfied with how the series has ended. But my point is, there was a lot of romance involved, but the steamy parts were left to one's imagination. The story of adventure was the reason the books were written.
I finished a romance series called The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning at the beginning of the year. 5 wonderfully exciting books about an American girl who discovers she's Irish and has the ability to see fairies. But these aren't those little people we think of, oh no, these are The Gentry. The real fairies who ruled Ireland. The Tu'ath De Dannan. And these guys don't have magic wands. This is pure fun and adventure in a romance series. And, I'm just saying', the fact that she alludes to a relationship for 4 1/2 books makes this one awesome ride. Even guys enjoy these books! These aren't whiney teenaged vampires, oh no. This is a thrilling series for adults! And because I'm done for the night, I won't even touch on my belief that just because it's magic or has fairies doesn't make it for children...Harry Potter isn't a children's book, and Tolkien was never for children.....but I digress. Happy reading!
Well I, for one, don't have a problem with steamy, but if it's poorly written it doesn't matter how steamy it is.
I tend to read a lot of romance novels, and usually they keep me interested for the few days I have to read them. Mostly, they aren't horrible, but sometimes they can be a bit ridiculous. But sometimes I need To read, ridiculous or not.
This book series that had several people disgusted was featured at my local independently owned book store last week. I took a couple of seconds and read the cover to see if I wanted to read them. Basically, they cost more than I wanted to pay, so I put them back down. I can't spend $50 on a set of books I might not enjoy, or I might read in a matter of days. I read very fast. That's why I read paperbacks. They are cheap and I can read them quickly.
Then I have to mention the steamy factor of most books I read. First of all, you have to understand that I was the girl who had a book in her face since I was probably 9. Sure I'd love to claim 7 or 8, but I'd be lying. But once I began to read, well I didn't stop. I loved science fiction and fantasy. I've read many book series by some great writers, but these days I don't have the time for the intricate plots or trying to decifer maps of made up lands. Now I need escapism, and most romance novels give me that in abundance. As far as the steamy parts, just last night I skipped several pages because the steamy parts made me bored out of my mind.
So really, I read romance novels for the romance, not the steam. Usually the steam takes the steam out of the adventure created by the author. I like the thought of it, but the words used to describe the actual steam are completely lost on me. Just as a woman is more alluring when she is partially covered compared to being completely exposed, I am more intrigued with the thought of steam than the actual steamy scene written in most romance novels. All I need is the chance to create the scene in my head, and I'm more hooked than I would ever be by over description of an activity.
I still don't know who Rand falls for after 8 or 9 books of The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan, but those books have stayed with me for over 10 years. Unfortunately Robert Jordan began to write too much about characters who were not as important as Rand and I quit reading. And he passed away before he finished so I'm scared I will never be satisfied with how the series has ended. But my point is, there was a lot of romance involved, but the steamy parts were left to one's imagination. The story of adventure was the reason the books were written.
I finished a romance series called The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning at the beginning of the year. 5 wonderfully exciting books about an American girl who discovers she's Irish and has the ability to see fairies. But these aren't those little people we think of, oh no, these are The Gentry. The real fairies who ruled Ireland. The Tu'ath De Dannan. And these guys don't have magic wands. This is pure fun and adventure in a romance series. And, I'm just saying', the fact that she alludes to a relationship for 4 1/2 books makes this one awesome ride. Even guys enjoy these books! These aren't whiney teenaged vampires, oh no. This is a thrilling series for adults! And because I'm done for the night, I won't even touch on my belief that just because it's magic or has fairies doesn't make it for children...Harry Potter isn't a children's book, and Tolkien was never for children.....but I digress. Happy reading!
I'm on the iPod tonight. I'll fix the errors in the morning when I have the computer on. And one last thing, my stories don't have steamy in lude detail. They are funny and entertaining. If you are worried you will be reading "romance" stories, then maybe you've never read Medieval romance. The steamy was never needed, but the romance was fabulous! Let's save the steamy for castle Anthrax......poor Galahad!
ReplyDelete