 | 7 Dec 09 |
I’ve debated for a few days on blogging about this, but what the heck. It’s not like I’m known for holding back my opinions.
Alan Elsner wrote an article about reading a bunch of romance novels, and his ultimate opinion of the genre:
But I simply don’t find these books romantic.
Okay, that’s fine. It’s what he believes, and frankly I don’t really care. Some people like romance novels, others don’t.
Some people like mysteries, others don’t.
Some people like horror…
See where I’m going with this? I have even heard that some people don’t care for chocolate. While I find that baffling and strange, I don’t take offense.
I wouldn’t take offense to Mr. Elsner’s opinion if he had stuck with:
But I simply don’t find these books romantic.
I would probably be interested in the article to learn what his idea of romance was, however I would not be upset that it didn’t match my idea of romance. But no, he has to take a nasty swipe are romance readers:
I have nothing against such escapist fiction in principle. And I guess that women have as much right to enjoy pornography packaged to their liking as men.
Okay, now I am pissed off. This is an inflammatory comment, meant to induce outrage and to insult women who read romance. It is intended to belittle their choices as unworthy and embarrassing.
You see, we know that it is mostly women who read romance novels. And I infer from Mr. Elsner’s article that women are not making good choices based on comments like:
The true disservice that the “romance” genre does is that it sucks all the oxygen out of the room. It sets up expectations and lays down rules of what “romance” should be and what great sex is like.
Oh, well, yeah, let’s not set up expectations like that! Seriously folks, let’s stop telling women that:
–They deserve a man who will love and respect them.
–Who will consider their sexual needs and desires as well as his own.
–And make them feel lovable even with disabilities or baggage or whatever issues they may have.
I could go on and on. Women get IDEAS from these books, you know?
Mr. Elsner, I am an example of the Ugly Duckling Romance Novel. That’s the plot line where the woman feels unattractive, unworthy and possibly unlovable. The attractive man comes along, and she blossoms into a strong woman who feels attractive, worthy and entirely lovable.
Please notice that my actual looks are not relevant. This is all about feelings, very much like this comment you made in discussing how “Pride and Prejudice” is a true romance:
The real romance takes place in their heads as they change and grow and shape themselves for each other.
I began to change and grow in my head as my relationship developed with this man. I then married him, and over the years grew into a very strong, confident woman. Strong enough to raise three successful sons with my husband and go after my tightly held, secret dream of writing books, with my beloved husband’s full support.
And why did I give this love that has shaped my life so profoundly a chance?
It all started with a romance novel my older, married sister gave me when I was fourteen years old. It opened a world to me wherein a girl can dream, then grow into a woman who fulfills those dreams.
What saddens me is that Mr. Elsner views an entire genre of powerful, uplifting, hopeful books as porn.
Award winning author, Jennifer Lyon, always wanted to be a witch. Since her witch-powers never materialized, she went onto Plan B and now she creates magic in her books. In her new series, the author of the acclaimed Samantha Shaw Mystery Series (written as Jennifer Apodaca) introduces the Witch Hunters, legendary men who must overcome a curse to team up with witches and fight evil.
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Great post Jennifer. I am a guy and I really enjoy romantic suspense; just as much a I enjoy suspense, crime fiction, and mysteries.
The man who wrote the article doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Many books are not explicitly labelled “ROMANCE” yet they feature plots filled with courting, sex, dates. One need only look to Patricia Cornwell, James Patterson or even Jonathan Kellerman to see that. Would the reviewer call those books ‘porn’? No.
People love to hate popular books. That’s why some hate crime fiction and romance. Whilst some crime fiction aficionados refuse to read anything with romance in it; most of the time spiting themselves. Because: A) most of the books they are reading have some ‘softcore’ romance elements, and B) the likes of Allison Brennan – for example – feature some of the most sizzling thriller plots out there.
by tgodinho December 7th, 2009 at 1:50 amtgodinho , thanks for your comments, it’s always great to get a guy’s perspective! And you really are correct about liking to hate popular fiction. Romance does top the mass market sales and that really bothers some people.
Allison does a great job of blending high octane suspense with romance!
by Jennifer Lyon December 7th, 2009 at 8:07 amPeople like that just make me … mad. I’m late to the world of romance reading, but he’s Just. So. Wrong.
Maybe Doc Turtle ought to give him a good talking to.
by Terry Odell December 7th, 2009 at 5:12 amTerry, Doc Turtle? LOLOL!
I honestly don’t have a problem if he doesn’t enjoy or relate to romance novels. It’s slamming those who do enjoy them that makes me see red.
Plus I know he just wrote it that way to ge a reaction, and what do I do? React. It’s like feeding the trolls…Bad Jen
by Jennifer Lyon December 7th, 2009 at 8:10 amDoc Turtle rocks! I love his chapter by chapter reviews on SBTB. He makes being a math professor tres sexxey!
by Silver James December 7th, 2009 at 8:33 amThis is a lovely response to a very ugly article. Thank you for posting!
by Louisa Edwards December 7th, 2009 at 5:42 amLouisa, thank you. I appreciate that!
by Jennifer Lyon December 7th, 2009 at 8:10 amThank you so much for this post! I’m so glad (not!) that a man thinks he can assess and speak for what a “woman” takes away from a book she reads.
by Debra Webb December 7th, 2009 at 5:48 amDeb, I know! Do you think he even realized how condescending he sounded?
by Jennifer Lyon December 7th, 2009 at 8:11 amFeh. Just another writer with no better article ideas than to talk trash about romance novels. It probably upped his readership quite a bit, so goal accomplished. Bah.
I wonder how many books were in the ‘stack’ he picked up, though, and which ones they were. Maybe he was just unlucky enough to pick a stack of bad ones – or maybe he picked them based on a preconceived notion of what the genre was so he could write the article he already had in mind. Either way, shame on him for painting the whole genre based on a limited sample.
What are they teaching in Journalism schools lately? Hmphf.
by B.E. Sanderson December 7th, 2009 at 6:30 amB.E., I think they are teaching how to incite a reaction, as opposed to fair evaluation
You made some interesting points. It would seem he did have preconceived notions or expectations of romance as a genre. An if today’s romance novel’s do not feel romantic to him, that is fine. But don’t attack others who like sexier writing with more action filled plots.
As you said, I’m sure it did up his readership.
by Jennifer Lyon December 7th, 2009 at 8:16 amJen – You were so polite, while I wanted to rip his head off. What an obnoxious, arrogant jerk. Heaven forbid we get ideas now. What he really better worry about is the women in his life reading murder mysteries. Just sayin’.
by HollyD December 7th, 2009 at 7:00 amHollyD, LOL! I’m willing to send those women some murder mysteries
I was trying for reasonable, but polite works too! He did really tick me off. That line about porn was meant to incite and I feel for it. But it really makes me angry when he goes after romance readers.
by Jennifer Lyon December 7th, 2009 at 8:18 amHolly, that cracked me up. Very good point.
by Toni McGee Causey December 7th, 2009 at 12:24 pmThe only thing he didn’tt say is that we’re a bunch of lazy housewives sitting around eating chocolate bonbons all day and getting off on our romantic porn. Fie on him! Oh yes. I’ve had to argue that position way too many times to be good for my blood pressure.
HollyD is right. If he has any REAL women in his life, he’d better be watching over his shoulder. Just sayin’…
by Silver James December 7th, 2009 at 8:37 amSilver, too true! He may have been trying imply we are all lazy uneducated housewives who clearly haven’t read and analyzed the true (classic) romances such as Pride and Prejudice. But it’s hard to tell when I am only a mere woman trying to grasp the meaning behind a MAN’S essay
That porn comment was so degrading and inflammatory.
HollyD made me laugh for sure!
by Jennifer Lyon December 7th, 2009 at 10:11 amJen, your response is extremely well-done. Classy, high-ground, perfect response to a complete idiot.
(tgodinho–thanks for the compliment!
)
by Allison Brennan December 7th, 2009 at 9:15 amThank you, Allison!
by Jennifer Lyon December 7th, 2009 at 10:12 amI agree with Allison — very well done response. *Much* better than I would have done, because I would have wondered why, perhaps, Mr. Elsen felt so threatened by romance books which describe what women like regarding romance and sex and relationships. Seems to me to be just a notch or two defensive, and that clearly illustrates his own issues.
by Toni McGee Causey December 7th, 2009 at 10:16 amToni, I agree with you. I just thought I’d pull out some of my college English skills and respond in a more professional manner.
Plus his words speak loud and clear, so why state the obvious
by Jennifer Lyon December 7th, 2009 at 12:19 pmJennifer, I agree with everything you said. He’s entitled to his opinion, but not to bash everyone who loves the genre he can’t relate to. I’ve heard some men who have tried to read romance say that it makes them feel inadequate. I wonder if that’s the case here…
by Shayla Black December 7th, 2009 at 10:00 am“I’ve heard some men who have tried to read romance say that it makes them feel inadequate. I wonder if that’s the case here…”
I thought the same thing 
by Allison Brennan December 7th, 2009 at 10:24 amDitto.
by Toni McGee Causey December 7th, 2009 at 12:23 pmShayla, it sure crossed my mind! LOL! Isn’t it amazing that if he can’t relate to it, it must not have any value.
Very sad.
by Jennifer Lyon December 7th, 2009 at 12:21 pmJen, thanks so much for taking this one on, and so eloquently. I couldn’t blog about it, because I couldn’t put coherent thoughts together due to blindness from seeing red. His gross sweeping generalizations just sent me over the edge. Everything about this article was offenisive and wrong, and I was deeply disappointed that Huffington Post ran with it. I understand Sarah at Smart Bitches has been offered the opportunity to respond, so stay tuned.
by Roxanne St. Claire December 7th, 2009 at 10:26 amRocki, oh thanks for the heads up about Sarah at Smart Bitches responding. I’ll watch for it.
He was being purposely outrageous and inflammatory which is why I tried to ignore it. But I just couldn’t let it go, so I tried to respond with some dignity. I refuse to allow him to dictate or define MY reading choices or the choices of our romance fans.
by Jennifer Lyon December 7th, 2009 at 12:25 pmLots of men do feel threatened by romance novels. They see covers with buff men, hear about the scenes of sex for hours, and really worry they can’t compete with a fictional character. Those men should know if you love us, do little things for us, and remain totally faithful we don’t care how long you last in bed, or how buff you are after 20 or 30 years of marriage.
by Jill James December 7th, 2009 at 11:13 amJill, you’re so right! Adult men do know that, by the way. It’s the immature and insecure boys who are threatened
by Jennifer Lyon December 7th, 2009 at 12:27 pmYay! Thank you, thank you, Jen!! I have been banging my head against the wall for months trying to come up with the perfect name for the village idiot in my next porn romance. Now, thanks to you, I have found it! Alan Elsner.
I LOVE this blog!
by Karin Tabke December 7th, 2009 at 5:14 pmKarin, your comment is priceless! LOLOL!
by Jennifer Lyon December 7th, 2009 at 6:50 pm