I do not, however, read Romance.
Though sometimes, making that distinction is a bit like splitting hairs.
Most of my favourite series (not ALL mind you, but most) have sex scenes. Most of my favourite series have several sex scenes.
What classifies something as romance? Is it the sex? Is it the amount of sex? Is it the element of romance? And what in the hell is paranormal romance? How is it different from urban fantasy? Is it the publishing house that makes the distinction?
I think sometimes the distinction between urban fantasy and romance lies in the realism of the sex scenes. Romance – the female character is a virgin. Despite her virginal nature, she apparently has detailed lessons in the art of the blow job from her slutty friends. She has sex once and it unleashes the inner sex kitten that was always hidden inside her. Roar, she engages in sexual activity during inappropriate moments. Urban Fantasy – two people have sex during appropriate moments. But this isn’t a hard and fast rule. I’ve read “urban fantasy” books that have just as much gratuitous sex as any good romance book.
The point is, despite my love for urban fantasy, it’s hard proudly brandishing my book of the day while I am on the bus. Especially when the cover looks like this:
Because ultimately, people will conclude that I am reading a cheesy romance novel! And I want to stand up on my seat and yell “It’s urban fantasy! It’s not romance! It just has a really bad cover! REALLY!” So instead, I do the read of shame. I hunch my back, I keep the cover bent just so – now nobody can see the cover. It works even better if I can place the book on top of my bag. Inevitably this causes excruciating neck pain, but it saves reading face. No one knows that I am not reading Nabokov. I’ve always felt a little bit ashamed that I, Miss Nihilist – English Major, spends her waking hours reading books titled The Devil You Know. Because as much as I enjoyed this book, could her pants be giving her more of a wedgie on that cover?!!! However, I’m not at the point where I am reading books like Oh My Goth. Please never let me get to that point.
Recently I read an article about the pop culture phenomenon that is the Twilight series. The Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer is another shame read. The characters offend my feminist sensibilities, the vampire is super creepy, and the main protagonist is annoying as hell. But yet, I will be part of that crowd that flocks to the stores on August 2 to buy the final book in the series (go figure). The author of the article was kind enough to provide a cheesy quote from the latest book, and then wrote this about potential naysayers:
“Before you make fun of this, I want you to seriously consider whether you’re interested in denigrating people who spend their leisure time actually reading books rather than watching America’s got Talent.”
AND BOOM. Miss Nihilist felt good about herself again.
And why? Because she forgot the cardinal rule: quality over quantity except after C...! Reading is always a learning experience in itself, it doesn’t matter what you read, as long as you read. And god knows, I read.
1 comment:
I can guarantee you read more then anyone I have ever met. And a book cove ris just that, a cover, people should not judge it by the cover. Romanace, UF, anyother. they other people should go and read them and judge for themselves.
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