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Connie Cox | Defending My Reading Choices
How many times have you had to defend your reading preferences? If you read
mysteries, science fiction, or even thrillers, Iโll bet youโve rarely had to
explain their appeal to a doubting audience. But if you read romance, thatโs a
whole different proposition.
Why do I read romance? Because the women never settle. They expect--and get
total respect from the men in their lives. They expectโand get unconditional
love. Thatโs it. They expectโand get the mate who is perfect for them. Thatโs
the whole answer in a nutshell.
I could go on and on about the heroineโs preference of blue eyes over brown, of
brawn over brains and even of the heroโs need to protect versus the heroinesโ
need for independence. But thatโs all lagniappe. Each reader has her own ideas
about how much is enough of these traits. But no woman wants to settle for
second best or good enough. And in romance novels, she never does.
In honor of the romance novel, Iโm running a contest on my Harlequin fan site.
One person will win a full dozen of my favorite Harlequin Presents novels.
Harlequin Presents is the most popular romance series in the world. Kewl, huh?
Check it out.
Connie Cox
Connie Cox teaches novel writing at her local community college. Her debut
novel TAKING FLIGHT, published by Avalon Romance, is a 2007 Golden Heart
finalist and a 2008 Romantic Times Reviewersโ Choice finalist in Best Small
Press Romance. TAKING FLIGHT may be ordered from Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble
or ask your local librarian to order a copy. You can find Connie on Twitter or
Facebook or on her website
Comments
12 comments posted.
Re: Connie Cox | Defending My Reading Choices
I read lots of different authors and genres, but every now and then, I mention one that someone will say, "Oh, I'd never read that!" Good grief. If you don't try something new, how do you know you wouldn't like it?
(LuAnn Morgan 12:32pm May 15, 2009)
Many people still consider this 'light reading' as opposed to something else. I have read some thicker books that don't have half the story that you all write.
(Karin Tillotson 12:36pm May 15, 2009)
I always have to defend my choices, I don't want to read the classics currently or the noveau hot nonfiction. I want to escape and be entertained.
(Vikki Parman 1:56pm May 15, 2009)
I've quit defending my choice of the romance genre. In my mind, ALL genres have romance of some sort in them, (check the Bible...)and a majority of today's Harlequin authors will probably be A-List best sellers. Do the names Delinsky, Roberts, Howard, Evanovich, and on and on sound familiar? They all started with Harlequin/Silhouette/LoveSwept, etc. Fantastic talents one and all!
(Betty Cox 2:08pm May 15, 2009)
I agree second best never sits quite right. Reading just about every genre, I especially enjoy stories peopled with characters who have a few flaws and get by with determination and belief in their own capablility.
(Alyson Widen 2:57pm May 15, 2009)
Who wants 2nd best?! I love suspense, but my favorite is romanitc suspense!
(Kelli Jo Calvert 4:11pm May 15, 2009)
Ever since I started reading romances over 50 years ago, I've had to "defend" my choices, especially for "light, meaningless" reading. I struggled through "meaningful" classics like Madame Bovary, tried to read Alice in Wonderland as a child and stopped reading most of their like unless I was forced to read them for university courses. Not all of the classics are hard to get through or not enjoyable and I still enjoy the occasional one. But certainly, to forget problems or otherwise enjoy a different world, give me a good historical romance, or even novel, or romantic suspense.
(Sigrun Schulz 6:03pm May 15, 2009)
Since I read everything except horror
and erotica, I'm always defending my
choices to someone. the different
genres are not for everyone. There
isn't anything wrong with them, they
just appeal to different tastes. It all
depends what kind of a mood I'm in
as to what book I'll decide to read.
(Patricia Barraclough 1:13am May 16, 2009)
I teach fiction writing at a local community college and it's amazing how many writers understand the need for human relationships in their stories, but are aghast if you identify them as belonging to the romance genre. Very sad as relationships are what makes the world work.
(Connie Cox 7:53am May 16, 2009)
I get a lot of ribbing about reading romance books at work. I just ignore it! I like what I like and am very specific within that genre - contemps - no vamp, paranormal and the like.
(Pat Lieberman 1:38pm May 16, 2009)
I definitely have always had to defend my reading choices. But I had to read tragic, morose, but "intellectual" classics in college. I guess a prerequisite for a classic must mean that something horrible happens to the characters and that you end up depressed after reading it! No thanks. I enjoy my happy endings!
(Mari M. 6:57pm May 17, 2009)
I like reading romances because they have happy endings! there is enough tragedy in the world, I want to read something to make me happy! To heck with what everyone says.
(Martha Lawson 10:31pm May 19, 2009)
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