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Romance Month (February Reading)
Mar. 6th, 2007 10:18 pmOnly two books, and both - by an extremely flexible definition - romances. In revenge compensation, I intend to spend March reading The Vagina Monologues and popular science nonfiction.
Outlander (Diana Gabaldon): ( I think I hated this book in plot-spoiling detail. ) Also, everyone else hates it, all for different reasons, so just this once, I'll go with the majority opinion.
My One True Romance goes something like this: Person A and Person B must solve a problem. Resolving the McGuffin brings them closer together. Plot, smartass banter and comedy ensue. Ultimately, the problem is solved, and A+B form a lasting romantic partnership with smartass banter, comedy, and possibly cohabitation. Steamy sex scenes or fade to black on the smooches both acceptable. I know exactly the emotional charge I want here.
It occurs to me, at least four years after the fact, that Gaudy Night may have set or reinforced some of my romantic preferences, and also that I may have done myself a grave disservice when I said, "Lord Peter novels? Well, everyone gushes over Gaudy Night, I'll start there!"
Another example of my One True Romance:
SAX RUSSELL: After 2 1/2 novels of fighting with each other, I am not in love with Ann. We're friends. Really. Friends who are both lab rat die-hards, except for the part where she doesn't want Mars terraformed and I'm one of the stars of the terraforming effort. Denial is a river in Egypt!
ANN CLAYBOURNE: Sax? Evil. Really. Evil terraformer. I hate his guts. I am not in denial of any mutual spark!
Sax: Hey, remember Antarctica?
BOTH: Aw, f-
AND THEY LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
Please note this is a secondary (or tertiary) thread in a 900-plus page epic about colonizing Mars.
Having read a modern romance, I dug into my "to read" pile and found something a little more related to the literary concept of romance.
The King of Elfland's Daughter (Lord Dunsany): The peace of the vale of Erl is slowly undone after the Parliament of Erl asks for a magic lord.
( I had two major reactions, to the plot and the prose. Both are pretty spoiler heavy. )
I feel like I should try to broaden my reading horizons, but bad books are a real turnoff. If you can, reccomend me one (1) romance, one nonfiction book, and/or one mystery.
Outlander (Diana Gabaldon): ( I think I hated this book in plot-spoiling detail. ) Also, everyone else hates it, all for different reasons, so just this once, I'll go with the majority opinion.
My One True Romance goes something like this: Person A and Person B must solve a problem. Resolving the McGuffin brings them closer together. Plot, smartass banter and comedy ensue. Ultimately, the problem is solved, and A+B form a lasting romantic partnership with smartass banter, comedy, and possibly cohabitation. Steamy sex scenes or fade to black on the smooches both acceptable. I know exactly the emotional charge I want here.
It occurs to me, at least four years after the fact, that Gaudy Night may have set or reinforced some of my romantic preferences, and also that I may have done myself a grave disservice when I said, "Lord Peter novels? Well, everyone gushes over Gaudy Night, I'll start there!"
Another example of my One True Romance:
SAX RUSSELL: After 2 1/2 novels of fighting with each other, I am not in love with Ann. We're friends. Really. Friends who are both lab rat die-hards, except for the part where she doesn't want Mars terraformed and I'm one of the stars of the terraforming effort. Denial is a river in Egypt!
ANN CLAYBOURNE: Sax? Evil. Really. Evil terraformer. I hate his guts. I am not in denial of any mutual spark!
Sax: Hey, remember Antarctica?
BOTH: Aw, f-
AND THEY LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
Please note this is a secondary (or tertiary) thread in a 900-plus page epic about colonizing Mars.
Having read a modern romance, I dug into my "to read" pile and found something a little more related to the literary concept of romance.
The King of Elfland's Daughter (Lord Dunsany): The peace of the vale of Erl is slowly undone after the Parliament of Erl asks for a magic lord.
( I had two major reactions, to the plot and the prose. Both are pretty spoiler heavy. )
I feel like I should try to broaden my reading horizons, but bad books are a real turnoff. If you can, reccomend me one (1) romance, one nonfiction book, and/or one mystery.
