Author: Sarah Wendell & Candy Tan
Publication: Touchstone; Original edition (April 14, 2009)
Description: The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name...
We do it in the dark. Under the sheets. With a penlight. We wear sunglasses and a baseball hat at the bookstore. We have a "special place" where we store them. Let's face it: Not many folks are willing to publicly admit they love romance novels. Meanwhile, romance continues to be the bestselling fiction genre. Ever. So what's with all the shame?
Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan—the creators of the wildly popular blog Smart Bitches, Trashy Books—have no shame! They look at the good, the bad, and the ugly in the world of romance novels and tackle the hard issues and questions:
-The heroine's irresistible Magic Hoo Hoo and the hero's untamable Wang of Mighty Lovin'
-Sexual trends. Simultaneous orgasms. Hymens. And is anal really the new oral?
-Romance novel cover requirements: man titty, camel toe, flowers, long hair, animals, and the O-face
-Are romance novels really candy-coated porn or vehicles by which we understand our sexual and gender politics?
With insider advice for writing romances, fun games to discover your inner Viking warrior, and interviews with famous romance authors, Beyond Heaving Bosoms shows that while some romance novels are silly—maybe even tawdry—they can also be intelligent, savvy, feminist, and fabulous, just like their readers!
My Thoughts: BEYOND HEAVING BOSOMS was an entertaining look at the history and current place of romance novels in American Literature. Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan wrote the book as an outgrowth of their website - Smart Bitches, Trashy Books.
I enjoyed their irreverent reflections on the genre that so many people read. I was not really surprised that a number of the books they discuss are on my Keeper shelves or on my TBR pile even though I don't read as many "romances" as I used to read.
However, with the wide range of genres within romance, I do read a lot of romantic suspense, paranormal romances and urban fantasy which all have a place withing the spectrum of romance. I was sort of surprised that "romance" was such an inclusive genre.
I was intrigued by the authors' frank discussion of rape in romance novels. I have noticed that things I thought were acceptable when I first read some books in the 80s and 90s have become unacceptable to me now. I recently set a book by an author I usually enjoy aside because of the "forced seduction" scenes. This was a book I wanted to reread but it doesn't work for me now.
I liked their discussion of plagiarism and what happened when they called an author out on it. I enjoyed the various quotes by Nora Roberts sprinkled throughout the book too.
The book gave me a lot to think about and clarified some opinions that I had already formulated for myself about the genre. It was an interesting reading experience.
Favorite Quote:
Favorite Quote:
If you're reading this book for serious writing advice, don't listen to us. Listen to Nora: "As a rule of thumb, I'd say one cliche per story -- and then be damn sure you can make it work. But if you're going to try to write the virginal amnesiac twin disguised as a boy mistaken for the mother (or father depending on how well the disguise works) of a secret baby, honey, you better have some serious skills. Or seek therapy."I bought this one April 15, 2009. You can buy your copy here.
I read that blog back when I was doing more reader's advisory and reader's advisory training at the library. I didn't realize they had a book. I don't often admit to reading romances; I think because so many people think that means only Harlequin romances.
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