Sometime it's not necessary to give a complex explanation if not the love of books

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Just yesterday I was interviewed again, and again the question was: how did you end up reading Gay Romance? and again I searched for a good answer, other than the simple, I like them. But sincerely there isn't, and then, other before me better explained it.

So, before leaving for my Christmas lunch with family, I will leave you with the word of one of those person, you can easily put a "gay" in front of "romance", and it explain perfectly what I feel:

DANGEROUS MEN AND ADVENTUROUS WOMEN

ROMANCE WRITERS ON THE APPEAL OF THE ROMANCE

Jayne Ann Krentz – Introduction

Few people realize how much courage it takes for a woman to open a romance novel on an airplane. She knows what everyone around her will think about both her and her choice of reading material. When it comes to romance novels, society has always felt free to sit in judgment not only on the literature but on the reader herself.

The verdict is always the same. Society does not approve of the reading of romance novels. It labels the books as trash and the readers as unintelligent, uneducated, unsophisticated, or neurotic.

The fact that so many women persist in reading and enjoying romance novels in the face of generations of relentless hostility says something profound not only about women's courage but about the appeal of the books.

No one who reads or writes romance expects to be able to teach critics to appreciate the novels. As any romance reader or writer will tell you, a reader either enjoys the novels or she does not. If she does, no further explanations of the appeal of the books are necessary.

The same is true of the other genres. A reader who does not intuitively respond to horror or science fiction novels cannot be persuaded by logic or argument to enjoy either genre. The difference is that the person who does not like to read horror or science fiction is unlikely to criticize the genres or chastise and condemn the readers who do love them but simply shrugs and accepts the fact that the stories hold no personal appeal.

Amazon: Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women: Romance Writers on the Appeal of the Romance (New Cultural Studies Series)

Comments

[tc-blue.livejournal.com]

Merry Christmas, Elisa, and I hope the New Year brings everything you could hope for, for you and your family!

I've read some Jayne Ann Krentz and it was very cool to read her thoughts. Thanks! :)

~Tis *who hopes your lunch went great!*

[aileenfan.livejournal.com]

I don't think I could give better answer to the question other than I like these stories either:) I was a M/F romance fan when I was a teenager and I love M/M now, in my 30s. I like when there is a love story in a book or a film even if it's not labelled "romance" in the first place:)

Merry Christmas, Elisa!!! Hope you were a good girl and Santa brought you many presents;)

[120cassie.livejournal.com]

Merry Christmas..have a lovely day..

Hugs
Julie

[semioticwarrior.livejournal.com]

>The difference is that the person who does not like to read horror or science fiction is unlikely to criticize the genres or chastise and condemn the readers who do love them but simply shrugs and accepts the fact that the stories hold no personal appeal.

I wouldn't say that. I think that unfortunately, many people stereotype science fiction readers as geeks (and not in a good way) and horror readers as juvenile.

But it is a good point about stereotyping romance readers.

Thanks for the article.

Merry Christmas, Elisa!

[shadownyc.livejournal.com]

Happy Holidays to you and yours and thank you for sharing your joy of beautiful art, books, and men!

[mistry89.livejournal.com]

It has always amused (and irritated) me that so many people find reasons to put down other people's reading habits - even to the point of declaring reading anything "a complete waste of time". That I have always read things that fall into sub-genre groupings seems normal after all these years!
Oh - and I have Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women, too. :)

Merry Christmas, Elisa and thank you for the treasures you unwrap for us.

[ryan-field.livejournal.com]

Great Post. I love when you write posts like this.