Back to the Books
So it’s back-to-school time. I remember those days with gratitude that I’m no longer scheduled for regular papers and exams, but also a wistful pining for all the amazing things that remain to be discovered and learned. And all the books to be read, discussed, debated, thought about, compared, dissected, and discussed some more. Engaging with books this way is what drew me to the Romance community, as well, because for so many of us reading seems to be an inherently social activity. I still remember some of those epic book discussions on AAR and other places, where multiple conversations would be going on simultaneously, and they’d lead to all sorts of unexpected places. I don’t know if I’ve ever loved the genre as much as I did when we were regularly having those discussions.
Of late there seems to be a collective turning away from books in the Romance community, despite the fact that a shared love of books, first and foremost, brought us all together. Not that there aren’t important and interesting discussions going on, but maybe the balance is a bit off. I know I’ve been hesitant to talk about books I’m afraid will ignite any number of fraught debates, and I’ve heard many others say pretty much the same thing. Instead of looking forward to all those unexpected directions, it’s like everyone’s a little anxious about stepping too far out of some invisible box.
Then, a few weeks ago, something ironic happened. A book that generated some of the most passionate responses — passionately angry, hurt, disgusted, and horrified — Romance has seen in quite a while burst into our shared discussion spaces, sparking debate about whether it should even be read, let alone discussed. But at Dear Author, Janine and Sunita’s joint reading provoked an incredibly rich, insightful, and important discussion of the book and its myriad problems. And for all of the awful, hurtful things this book raised for people, the discussion we had around it reminded me how powerful talking about books can be. Powerful in intellectual, emotional, and real-life ways. Powerful because it can make us see things differently, understand different perspectives more deeply, gain compassion for different life experiences and points of view, and deliver insight into our own values and perceptions. I know this sounds corny, but I absolutely believe that thoughtful engagement with books can help us to appreciate and enjoy books in new and deeper ways.
So following that discussion, I asked Jane if we could try a little experiment and use this op-ed space to focus on books — on looking at specific characters, scenes, images, tropes, ways of reading, and ideas related to books and reading. Because I really miss doing that in a way that’s not about evaluating whether a book is good or bad, or judging it as worthy or unworthy — but just talking about what we see when we read and how that makes us feel. Right now I’m working on a post about Twilight and how certain tropes from that series have been adapted in other books (like Transcendence). I’m also contemplating a piece about the use of culture and religion in Faith Hunter’s Skinwalker series. And I’d love to take a closer look at different examples of the hero’s redemption arc we see so very often in the genre.
None of this precludes posts on other topics, although for a while I’m going to try to focus my own posts on the books themselves. Or maybe you have a post you’re dying to write about the proper use of titles in historical Romance. Or the symbolism of Scottish castles. Or whatever. I just figured I’d give you all fair warning, and ask if there are any books or characters or tropes you’d like to see discussed here.
Oh, looking forward to Jane Yellowrock piece! I always thought that one of more intriguing aspects of her character is the fact she is Cherokee raised in catholic orphanage. Her Native American heritage and catholic upbringing makes an interesting mash of beliefs.
I’m really looking to your post on the redemption arc.
Besides those you’ve already mentioned, here are other tropes I’d love to see discussed:
Marriage in trouble
Marriage of convenience
Friends to lovers
Enemies to lovers
Class difference
Triangles
Recovery from trauma
Misunderstandings
Secrets
Alpha heroes
Alpha heroines
Jaded rakes
Female rakes
Spies and Assassins
Reunited lovers
Widow / widower
Amnesia
Secret baby
Mistaken identity
Twins switching places
Fated mates
Starcrossed lovers
Werewolves / changelings
Epistolary romances
Characters who are sex workers
Unrequited love
Pretend couples (fake engagements etc.)
Okay, this is probably too much. But just about any trope out there would be interesting to read about.
I’d love to hear more talking about books. I’m looking ahead with interest.
I think my idea is too weird, but here goes. Has there ever been any discussion around the handling of menstruation in Romance? I’ve read a fair number of romances over the years, and the only example I can think of is the infamous tampon scene in FSoG. Why is this universal monthly experience never mentioned? I’ve been thinking about this lately because of how it affects my romance/sex life with my husband. Since I turned 40, my cycle has changed so that a period can last up to two weeks, start to finish, and my husband will not touch me sexually during this time. But in romance books, the women are never starting, in the middle of, or at the end of their period, so it’s all sex, all the time. Actually, I can think of a trope where menstruation is dealt with, and it’s the oh-no-I’m-late-I-must-be-pregnant storyline. But apart from that?
I think I read that Fifty Shades scene differently than a lot of people. Instead of being grossed out, I marvelled that the hero was so matter-of-fact, blasé, and the heroine still desirable. That I read that scene more than once probably says more about me than anything, but is there anyone else out there who would be interested to see how menstruation could be handled in a romantic relationship?
Wow, this sounds great! Can’t wait to see where it goes– I’ve often found some of my favorite reads from discussions like these. Thanks!
@Eliza: The only thing that comes to my mind is a scene from Dedication by Janet Mullany, a historical romance from about ten years ago. The book was later revised so I don’t know if this scene is still in the current version. The scene was one in which the hero visits the heroine’s home and she and all the other women there –servants and maybe relatives– are all on the rag at the same time. They’re washing the cloths they use and I think there was mention of cramps too.
I, too, would be interested in the Jane Yellowrock analysis/discussion. That series is right at the top of my favorites. It’s rich, complex, and continues to get stronger with each book. (BTW, Hunter’s Rogue Mage series also had strong Christian/Catholic themes. It’s too bad it ended so abruptly.)
You know, I was thinking the other day that I miss the opinion pieces and discussions that took place during the 2-week moratorium on reviews awhile back, so I think your idea is a great one.
@Eliza: I seem to remember a scene from Robin Schone’s Awaken, My Love, but can’t recall the specifics now. Since it was a sort of time-travel-y, body-switching book, there was a fair amount of discussion about personal hygiene, toilet arrangements, birth control, etc. during the late Victorian era. I loved this book back in the day but, sadly, when I reread it when it was released on Kindle, it didn’t hold up at all.
I’m looking forward to this.
Would you talk about m/m too? I’m quite interested in what is done in M/M romance which is never touched in M/F romance, and why.
I love Janine’s list.
Re The Book – Kelly at Instalove has just done another post about it – a book nerd version.
@Eliza: It’s not just romance where this topic is invisible. I still remember how charmed I was by a brief matter-of-fact discussion in Tamora Pierce’s “Alanna” YA series — a classic chick-in-pants Mary Sue epic fantasy — about how she handled menstruation while disguised. (Also a great for a reference to birth control, and for the terrific plot point that SPOILER SPOILER her first love [and lover] was *not* her final true love and partner and everyone was *fine* with this END SPOILER).
But that’s about the only fantasy or paranormal I can think of in which the topic arises. I was really bugged by the lack in THE HUNGER GAMES books; with all the other earthy, corporal details the narrative wallows in, I kept wondering “but what do the female tributes do if their period starts?”
@Lille and @Susan: I have to say that the series really surprised me (pleasantly) in its persistent progression to greater and greater complexity and nuance re. Jane’s character and her beliefs. It’s also interesting just to see religion be so overt in a series without being inspirational or even dogmatic. That Jane has had to rethink her own conditioned dogmatism has been fascinating to watch, too. Although I also think it’s important to think about the way the books employ Cherokee cultural elements and to take a closer look at how, why, and in what way the text makes use of those elements.
@Janine: Hey, if you’d like to write any of those pieces, please let me know. ;D
Re. the taboo of menstruation, I also remember a scene from Schone’s book – but I can’t remember exactly what it was. And I vividly remember the scene from Dedication, because that level of earthiness was a bit unusual in a trad Regency. Of course, think about how much non-erotic Romance fails to discuss birth control! Maybe some of it is the fantasy element but some is definitely the stubborn taboo around female sexuality and biology.
@Des Livres: I don’t feel I know enough about m/m as a whole to do substantive analysis, but I will put it on the wish list, in the event that we can either get a great guest piece or another DA blogger might want to write something.
Janet, I’m looking forward to reading your writing on where ever your spirit takes you.
I’ve just been having a few wonders while reading m/m – whether certain things are done in m/m which are not done in m/f romance (and if not why not), or whether I simply have not come across that subcategory of m/f romance.
@Eliza:
One scene that sticks in my memory from decades ago is a young woman whose body had “betrayed her” by her menstrual cycle starting unexpectedly while she was traveling or something. This was a historical (I want to say recent history, like last 150 years, but I might be misremembering) book, but despite how vivid the scene remains, I can never remember the book or the author.