When bitches are bored at work, what else do we do but talk about what we love and hate about romance novels?
Candy: Hey, have you read Uncommon Vows? That’s one of my favoritest books by Mary Jo Putney, ever. I’m not usually into heroes who are religious (me being a Godless heathen and all), but Putney pulls it off real well. And it makes me cry and cry. If you don’t like books that make you sob like a little bitch, though, you might want to skip it.
Sarah: I’m OK with religious heroes but not with books that derive their plots from Christian values. I mean, I am aware a majority of the folks who make up the protagonist pool for these novels are from the Christian majority belonging to the Church of England. But I am also aware that outward discussion of faith was not entirely appropriate social conversation, and certainly wasn’t the driving force behind a couple’s romance. Further, I’m not Christian, so I don’t identify with that value set and the language employed within it as part of my leisure reading. I started one romance that was some fantasy set in 1993 with arranged marriages between two kingdoms and the opening chapter was some diary entry about Your Will and Your Plan and I was like, You are going Back where You Came From because I will not Read You. Yuck.
And to think I found your site through plagarism..., but anywho, I loved Uncommon Vows. In part because the religion made such sense within context (period, characterization, etc.)
LaVyrle Spencer wrote one about a pre-Vatican II nun who reenters secular life and marries a local widower. Her religious superiors and spiritual advisors are basically okay with this and still consider her a good Catholic--it’s the local townspeople and her own family who freak out.
Andrew Greeley also writes romances with God in them (as well as romances with God). Patience of a Saint is a really good one in which God does what some people have demanded of Her, making a rather boozy and dishonest reporter into the best human being he can possibly be in a heartbeat--and he almost loses his wife and kids as a result.
Holy crow, I didn’t realize I had clicked “last” instead of “next.” Please to ignore necropost.
Jenny Islander
Some of us readers PREFER these types of books. Don’t make generalizations.
A website that reviews romance novels from a couple of smart bitches who will always give it to you straight. No bullshit. No gushing--unless the author really deserves it. To find out more, read all about us or check out our minty-fresh and funkadelic FAQ section.
I remember reading these!! You read her side of the story (in first person) then you flipped the book over and read his side (again, first person). After reading the whole book you got the complete picture of what happened.…
Well, gee—
My copy of the three-armed lady isn’t new, but is in very good shape for its age… and signed to boot. The connecting story, Candle in the Window, is also signed. Perhaps I should move them…
This is actually a very interesting post.
I can’t say I’ve seen a lot of clever viral marketing campaigns launched by authors. There were the authors wearing swan hats and manga costumes at RWA. Those created a bit…
Hokay, I simply don’t believe that Chuck’s writing made anyone pass out at a reading. Throw up, maybe, especially if the reading was after-hours at a sleazy bar. But pass out, no.
Here’s my plan for a viral…
A netwok of 8-12 people? Doesn’t help if they’re preschoolers, I’ll bet!
spaminator--quite34--try quite 3 and 4, and you’ve got my social circle!
said on...
Jenny Islander said on...
01.16.08 at 02:33 PM |