WhitneyTrashy Romance Novels Make Good Reads
March 11th 2009 14:38
Although, I've never really met a women who avidly read romance novels, I myself have pondered the idea. I have always enjoyed the romance sub-plots in my favorite mysteries, thrillers, and action books, so why not have an entire novel with a little romance? Ha...
Now, not all books that contain a romance can be considered a romance novel, not even if the romance is a big portion of the storyline. A romance novel, according to the Romance Writers of America, must have a central love story and an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending.
Although, today's most popular romance writer, Nora Roberts, may be your favorite author, you will probably still find enjoyment with the first true roman novels written by Rosemary Rogers, Amii Lorin, Jude Deveraux, and several other earlier romance authors that your mother, grandmother, and possibly great-grandmother found herself lying on the sofa reading.
As for the earliest romance novels, you'll find that Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded by Samuel Richardson (1740), and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin (1813) were probably the first original romances.
There are many different sub-genres of romance novels that you may find yourself more prone to. The common sub-genres include the following.
* Contemporary romance: The largest romance sub-genre that is set after WWI
* Historical romance: Set before WWI, to include the Regency Romance novels that are set in the English Regency or early 19th century
* Romantic suspense: Involves a mystery for the protagonists to solve; typically the heroin is the victim of a crime or attempted crime and works with a hero
* Paranormal romance: Blends real elements with fantasy or science fiction. You may see elements of urban fantasy such as vampires, demons, werewolves, as well as humans with psychic abilities, witches, ghosts, time-travel, extraterrestrial romances, and futuristic romance.
* Science Fiction Romance: Is marked with futuristic romance, such as space travel and such. Jayne Ann Krentz's book, Sweet Starfire (1986) is a great example of a science fiction romance that occurred in another galaxy.
* Fantasy Romance: Is also known as Romantic Fantasy; it's a sub-genre of fantasy fiction, and involves fantasy elements, such as elves, fairies, etc.
* Time-Travel Romances: Is the classic "fish out of water" story, where the heroine travels through time to meet her hero.
* Inspirational romance: Combines Christian themes with the development of a romantic relationship.
* Multicultural romance: Features a hero and/or heroine who have an interracial relationship, typically involving one character of African-American decent, although there are series that include Asian or Hispanic characters.
* Erotic Romance: Is sometimes referred to as Romantica, contains very strong sexual content with frank language and more sex scenes that focus on sex rather than traditional love scenes. Erotic romance may include odd and unusual positions, locations, and acts, which is why it is commonly confused with pornography. The difference between the two, is that erotic romance novels focus on the well-developed characters and a plot which happens to involve sex.
Currently romance books sell billions each year. Women and men of all ages will read romance novels. You'll actually find that about 1% of readers are under the age of 13 and 42% of readers have Bachelor's degrees. And, statistically about 22% of readers are male.
So, if you pick up a romance novel, don't be ashamed, as you'll be one of millions who read them. It's actually averaged that the average romance reader will spend about $40 a month on romance books, so you're $5.00 to test the waters, is definitely nothing to fret about.
Now, not all books that contain a romance can be considered a romance novel, not even if the romance is a big portion of the storyline. A romance novel, according to the Romance Writers of America, must have a central love story and an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending.
A Central Love Story: In a romance novel, the main plot centers around two individuals falling in love and struggling to make the relationship work. A writer can include as many subplots as he/she wants as long as the relationship conflict is the main focus of the story.
An Emotionally-Satisfying and Optimistic Ending: Romance novels are based on the idea of an innate emotional justice—the notion that good people in the world are rewarded and evil people are punished. In a romance, the lovers who risk and struggle for each other and their relationship are rewarded with emotional justice and unconditional love.
An Emotionally-Satisfying and Optimistic Ending: Romance novels are based on the idea of an innate emotional justice—the notion that good people in the world are rewarded and evil people are punished. In a romance, the lovers who risk and struggle for each other and their relationship are rewarded with emotional justice and unconditional love.
Although, today's most popular romance writer, Nora Roberts, may be your favorite author, you will probably still find enjoyment with the first true roman novels written by Rosemary Rogers, Amii Lorin, Jude Deveraux, and several other earlier romance authors that your mother, grandmother, and possibly great-grandmother found herself lying on the sofa reading.
As for the earliest romance novels, you'll find that Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded by Samuel Richardson (1740), and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin (1813) were probably the first original romances.
There are many different sub-genres of romance novels that you may find yourself more prone to. The common sub-genres include the following.
* Contemporary romance: The largest romance sub-genre that is set after WWI
* Historical romance: Set before WWI, to include the Regency Romance novels that are set in the English Regency or early 19th century
* Romantic suspense: Involves a mystery for the protagonists to solve; typically the heroin is the victim of a crime or attempted crime and works with a hero
* Paranormal romance: Blends real elements with fantasy or science fiction. You may see elements of urban fantasy such as vampires, demons, werewolves, as well as humans with psychic abilities, witches, ghosts, time-travel, extraterrestrial romances, and futuristic romance.
* Science Fiction Romance: Is marked with futuristic romance, such as space travel and such. Jayne Ann Krentz's book, Sweet Starfire (1986) is a great example of a science fiction romance that occurred in another galaxy.
* Fantasy Romance: Is also known as Romantic Fantasy; it's a sub-genre of fantasy fiction, and involves fantasy elements, such as elves, fairies, etc.
* Time-Travel Romances: Is the classic "fish out of water" story, where the heroine travels through time to meet her hero.
* Inspirational romance: Combines Christian themes with the development of a romantic relationship.
* Multicultural romance: Features a hero and/or heroine who have an interracial relationship, typically involving one character of African-American decent, although there are series that include Asian or Hispanic characters.
* Erotic Romance: Is sometimes referred to as Romantica, contains very strong sexual content with frank language and more sex scenes that focus on sex rather than traditional love scenes. Erotic romance may include odd and unusual positions, locations, and acts, which is why it is commonly confused with pornography. The difference between the two, is that erotic romance novels focus on the well-developed characters and a plot which happens to involve sex.
Currently romance books sell billions each year. Women and men of all ages will read romance novels. You'll actually find that about 1% of readers are under the age of 13 and 42% of readers have Bachelor's degrees. And, statistically about 22% of readers are male.
So, if you pick up a romance novel, don't be ashamed, as you'll be one of millions who read them. It's actually averaged that the average romance reader will spend about $40 a month on romance books, so you're $5.00 to test the waters, is definitely nothing to fret about.
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