Comments on: REVIEW: Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches’ Guide to Romance Novels by Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan

By: votermom

votermom — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:42:46 +0000

Just read this — funniest book I’ve read in ages, yet very engrossing & enlightening.

By: Jana Oliver

Jana Oliver — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:32:15 +0000

The flowchart sold it. I ordered two copies from B&N. A buddy of mine writes romance and I know she’ll love it for her birthday.

Well done, Bitches!

Jana

By: BOOK REVIEW: Beyond Heaving Bosoms by Sarah Wendell and Candy Tam « Tour’s Books Blog

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:16:15 +0000

[...] My Grade: A- (this is the same grade from Dear Author. To read their review click here.) [...]

By: Cathy

Cathy — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:11:30 +0000

Just finished with the Heaving Bosoms, and have to agree that it was definitely an A book. I really enjoyed the discussion of romance over the last 30 years, and how the genre changed to mirror changing social attitudes – that was really insightful, and something I was mostly unaware of, having only started reading romance in the last 10 or so years. I also loved the choose your own adventure at the end, especially the paranormal section – so funny and snarky, yet so reflective of many books out there!

By: Joan/SarahF

Joan/SarahF — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:03:48 +0000

@M E 2: It's totally not like that. The bulk of the book is Sarah and Candy's analysis of romance in general. They tend to use historicals as examples, but not all the time, and that's certainly not the focus of the book. The focus is a insightful, funny, reader-driven analysis of the genre as a whole. And did I mention funny?

By: M E 2

M E 2 — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:30:49 +0000

Ugghhh ….. now I am torn. I am not a huge fan (anymore) of historicals and I’d rather poke someones eye(s) out than read a paranormal (largely because I don’t care for them and minutely because of the over-saturation of the market with them)

By: Camille

Camille — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 02:24:03 +0000

I really, badly want a copy of this piece of genius writing but can anybody tell me where I can get my hands on it in Australia without having to order it online? I don’t think the bookstores are selling it, shame on them.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 02:00:12 +0000

In truth, I was so going to check this book out because I LOVE me the Smart Bitches.
And now knowing they’ve interviewed John DeSalvo?!! Holy hell it’s on!

I play a game in the romance aisles of bookstores where I count the DeSalvo covers/stepbacks and try to get over 20. A few years ago it was a LOT, but now he’s being outsourced by Nathan Kamp. It started by the realization that he was on 80% of my books and I had never noticed til Smart Bitches did a DeSalvo Covers Gone Wild edition.

::has weird crack! hobby of DeSalvo::

By: she reads

she reads — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:30:19 +0000

That said, it’s still fantastically funny, incredibly insightful, and a damned good time.

@Joan/SarahF – I agree, and the more time away from my reading of it, the more I keep thinking about some parts and passages that BEG to be re-read. Would I have love, love, loved it more had it been more balanced with contemp. and other sub-genres and more ‘we suggest’ or ‘this kicks ass’. Of course that remains.

Who knows – perhaps a bosoms #2?

By: Kate Diamond

Kate Diamond — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:23:51 +0000

I will definitely be buying this book, as soon as I recover from the pain of my taxes!

Thanks for the review.

By: DeeCee

DeeCee — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:02:33 +0000

I rather liked the Smart Bitch’s Law 1…verily thou art a douche bag!

By: Cassia

Cassia — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:41:49 +0000

*cries* This book isn’t out in Korea yet, and I’m not using Amazon to buy anything.

*__* It’s supposed to be out here at the end of the month, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

By: Moth

Moth — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:35:47 +0000

I already spent my money this week on frivolities like, you know, food, BUT I’m so happy my library has this so I can read it!

By: Joan/SarahF

Joan/SarahF — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:44:57 +0000

@she reads: Very good point! I was reading it with the academic view of past history and criticism and for that it’s fantastic. The classifications of heroes and heroines has discussion of current books, but if you’re looking for “If You Like X-Author, Then You’ll Like Y-Author,” you’re not really going to find it. And I didn’t notice the historical slant, but yes, it’s there. With a lot of paranormal thrown in, true, but still.

That said, it’s still fantastically funny, incredibly insightful, and a damned good time.

By: kirsten saell

kirsten saell — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:26:42 +0000

I went to buy this from the Sony ebookstore, and it’s US only! Grrrr….

Canada gets cornholed once again.

By: My Sordid Relationship with Romance Novels

My Sordid Relationship with Romance Novels — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:19:58 +0000

[...] published, Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches’ Guide to Romance Novels. A reviewer on Dear Author had this to say about the book, “It will convince your readers to shout out loud from the [...]

By: MWest

MWest — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:08:41 +0000

Excellent! Very glad this is out. And at a bookstore near me…

By: Barb Ferrer

Barb Ferrer — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 22:39:14 +0000

I made the grave error of reading this after I’d gone through surgery. I told Sarah my doctor would have been Quite Put Out if I’d busted stitches from the laughing.

By: she reads

she reads — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 22:03:03 +0000

I agree that it is smart, funny, VERY well researched, and totally in depth on the topics covered. There is not anything stupid about this book.

That said, I found myself frustrated by it at times (why must so much be aimed at historical reading? I LOATHE 98% of historical novels!!) and I wished for more specifics for ‘guide’, a little less on the old skool and rape talk. I assumed some more listing of ‘these specific books kick ass + here’s why’ would be taking place to help readers educate themselves in ways of excellent reading. Some books mentioned, not nearly enough for me.

Overall- a definite great thing to have on my bookshelf, and definitely POSITIVE for romance as a whole.

By: SonomaLass

SonomaLass — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:37:36 +0000

I nom-nom-nommed this book as soon as I could (right after that pile of essays I had to grade). I’m in re-read mode now. I absolutely love the combination of academic and snarky approaches; the blend of the two really works for me. It accurately reflects the way I feel about romance as a field of endeavor — love it, and love to pick it apart, both analytically and for sheer WTFery.

Now I want to write an academic paper using this approach. Cross-dressing actresses in the 19th century cry out for the one-two punch of serious and snarky.