SENSUOUS WOMEN AND ADVENTUROUS MEN
Quivering bosoms
. . .pouty lips. . . luscious hips. .
. the stirrings of desire and the undeniable passion that follows are the
hallmarks of the romantic novel. Many women don't just like romance books,
they love them. The provocative pens of women romance writers feed a woman's
fantasies, and write of things a woman holds dear: love, communication,
family, and the idea of a soulmate.
Often, the heroine is a very strong character who gets things done. The emotional experiences that lie within the book may be tinged with spirituality or aim at sexual fulfillment, but the desired element is marriage. In the romance writing genre there are two hardfast rules: the story must have a happy ending, and no adultery. There are even levels of steaminess, from the tamest seen in the Christian-oriented novel to the most titillating. (The curious should look for Harlequin's Temptation imprint!)
You can find romantic tales of scandal and deception, dark deeds, suspense, murder, as well as historical novels and period romances with a distinct romantic aura from another time. There are specific romance novel genres to satisfy any number of reading tastes.
In this issue we have the privilege of having a guest reviewer, a woman who is not only one of the friendly faces at our library's front desk, but an aspiring romance author in her own right. Dorothy Emry, with her very discriminating taste, chooses her books carefully. There are books, she said, where the writing, just on a technical level, is appalling (even some of those authors appear on the best seller lists!). There are many writers who have thrown in the mandatory sex scenes with as much thought and logic as pouring chocolate sauce over Chicken Kiev. As a result, Dorothy stays on the fringes of romance. Enjoy a good read as she reviews some of her favorites:
1. Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte. This is classic literature and a classic romance. There is a man, a woman, a dark secret that keeps them apart, and no doubt they are meant to be together.
2. Black Silk, by Judy Cuevas. An historical romance that is well written, adult, and quite a bit steamier than Jane Eyre although the time setting isn't that far removed. This book gives the answer to the question: if every one acted so prudishly in Victorian England, what really went on behind closed doors?
3. The Uninvited, by Dorothy Macardie. I've read this book over and over again. There is a movie version with Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey, but the book is even better with more characters, more plot, and a wonderful setting. The Fitzgeralds, brother and sister, fall in love with Cliff End, an old house on the Devonshire coast. They both want to get away from London, the house is for sale, and they can afford the unusually low price, so they use all their savings to buy it. Naturally, it's haunted. They're committed now, especially the brother, who has fallen in love with a girl named Stella whose mother died tragically at Cliff End. The house seems to reach out for Stella with a sinister intent. The three of them decide to uncover the mystery of the house and put the spirits to rest before Cliff End claims another victim.
4. Twice a Hero by Susan Krinard. This fantasy romance hinges on intrigue, adventure, and time travel. MacKenzie Rose Sinclair has promised to put an end to the family curse. She must return half of a mysterious pendant to the Maya ruins where it was found, the site where her great-great-great grandfather may have murdered his partner, Liam O'Shea. Once there, she finds a skeleton and the other half of the pendant. What she doesn't know is that uniting the two pieces will trigger an extraordinary event. She suddenly finds herself back in the year 1884 and thrown into the arms of a living, super chauvinistic Liam. Besides setting things right in the past and trying to return to her own time, "Mac" also has to contend with the limiting role of a female in Victorian society.
5. Born in Fire, Born in Ice, and Born in Shame, all by Nora Roberts. Yes, I'm sneaking in three books from one of my favorite authors with the justification that it is a trilogy. They're all set in Ireland which is one of the reasons I've fallen in love with the books: County Clare is a very nice place to visit, even on paper. The series takes us through the lives and loves of the Concannon sisters, with Roberts skillfully weaving not only the characters but a mystery plot throughout the trilogy.
The first, Born in Fire, is about fiery Maggie Concannon, a glassmaker, who is trying to establish herself in Dublin's art world. The gallery owner falls in love with more than her artwork.
The second, Born in Ice, (my favorite) is Briana's story. During the off-season for her bed-and-breakfast, life heats up when a mystery writer comes to find some peace and quiet while finishing his new manuscript. While he's there, Briana finds a mystery of her own: some old letters which point to a family secret.
The third novel, Born in Shame, leads us deeper into that mystery with the story of Shannon Bodine, a graphic artist from New York. Reluctantly following her late mother's dying wish, Shannon travels to County Clare, discovering the sisters she never knew existed and the love of her life.
6. Dragonflight, by Anne McCaffrey. Dell publishes this under the label "Science Fiction Classic" and thats certainly correct, but there is no escaping that it is also one of the most unusual and steamy romance epics ever written. This is the first in McCaffrey's "Dragonriders of Pern" series. It is set far in the future on another planet so it won't suit everyone's taste.
The world of Pern is more medieval than anything else, but with the twist of involving actual fire-spouting dragons bred to protect the planet from the deadly aerial-borne parasite known as "Threads. The heart of the story, as in all good fiction, concerns human relationships. Lessa, the heroine, has survived the massacre of her family by a ruthless warlord. Hiding herself, she has been waiting for the right moment to exact revenge and reclaim her birthright, but it brings more peril than she imagined. She finds herself chosen as Werywoman of Pern. Now she must learn to rule dragons and men. And, in order to save her planet from Thread, she must also unravel a centuries-old mystery. At the same time, she must also contend with Flar, the Weryleader who brought her to power and the man she is required to take as her mate.
The one category in romance fiction I haven't covered is Regency Romance. Personally, I want heroines who are strong-willed and action oriented - hard to find in Regency England. If this is your cup of tea, there are a lot to choose from and good hunting to you. However, I suspect that the best in this category are still those written by a lady of the time named Jane Austen.
My pick list isn't in any way a typical romance selection, but perhaps it will spark an interest in the genre and these selections illustrate the range of its storylines. If you find my tastes too offbeat, the best advice I can give is to head for the romance section in the local bookstore or peruse our own library's large collection and start reading the copy on the back covers. Ignore the cover art, if possible. (That old adage about "never judging a book by its cover" well, this is where it truly applies.) I'm sure there is something on those shelves that will catch your fancy and touch your heart. If not, try again next month when a hundred or so new titles will be out. Or, when in doubt, any Nora Roberts book will do!
There is always time for a new romance. Come into the library
and check one out.
-- Joan Larsen and Dorothy Emry
"I hope you have my weekly supply ready: a mystery, a romance,
and a cat book."
(Overheard in a public library in rural England.)
"With his mouth holding her captive, he carried her away into
a glorious secret kingdom of their own
where there was no pride - only a fiery, uncontrolled
ecstatic love."
Barbara Cartland, The Proud Princess
Be suspicious of women, they are given to the reading of frivolous
romances"
The Old Librarians Almanac
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in
possession of a good fortune
must be in want of a wife."
Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again." Daphne
Du Maurier, Rebecca
"Man's love is of a man's life a thing apart, 'Tis a woman's
whole existence." Lord Byron, Don Juan
Ask a reference librarian to show you reference guide-books. Genreflecting: A Guide to Reading Interests in Genre Fiction, by Diana Tixier, is a good one. Romance Fiction: A Guide to the Genre, by Kristin Ramsdell, is also worth exploring. You may be able to borrow this one through InterLibrary Loan or the reference librarian will direct you to a nearby library that has it. The current editions of both of these titles are non-circulating.
The Internet offers lots of information too. Websites of particular authors abound, and online booksellers offer synopses, reviews, author interviews, first chapters, and readers comments. Barnes and Noble is especially good with authors biographies and best-seller lists. The New York Times Book Review is online weekly and with its search engine you can find in-depth reviews for some of the best in the genre. But before you buy anything, remember the Friends of the Librarys Used Book Sale, coming up October 22-24, has hundreds to choose from at 25 & 50 cents each! -- Elaine Brownlee
