Ladies, do you read romantic novels?

[cafe]

I prefer other genres, but I will read clean ones if I'm desperate for reading material. I can't really tolerate the bodice-ripper stuff because it half cracks me up, half grosses me out. I was working my way through the Sookie Stackhouse novels, but I can't stomach her anymore. Too much of the stuff I don't like about romance novels. I do like Austin and the Brontes, though. Fantasy and Mystery are my faves.

 

[Lux]

I'm not a fan of modern romance novels. I love classic romance for the most part. I really enjoy reading Jane Austen in particular. I wouldn't be opposed to reading a modern romance novel if it were recommended by someone whose lit. taste I respected. Although, it would probably be hard for me to read something along the lines of Danielle Steel, regardless of who recommended it. So, I suppose my answer is, before I'll read modern romance I have a couple of stipulations that must be met first. .

 

[Bri]

I don't read romantic novels. Any 'benefit' (joy from the happy ending?) I'd receive from them is basically voided by the length of time it takes to receive it. It's much faster to watch a romantic movie.

I'm more inclined to read fantasy/scifi novels because they're more of an exercise in imaginative exploration, and that's beneficial every time I pick up the book, not just at the ending.

 

[Queen Kat]

No. My love life is crappy enough as it is right now. I don't need reminders like romantic novels and romcoms.

 

[SillySapienne]

Yes.

Been reading them since 9th grade.

I love novels that have a romantic bent/story line.

 

[violaine]

No. I steer clear of anything that is likely to hold up an idealized/dramatic version of love. I become dissatisfied irl if I immerse myself in that world. I very much enjoy Romanticism though but I'm careful not to lose myself to those high ideals/passions either.

In a similar vein, I no longer listen to the kind of music that inspires longing either.

 

[Tiltyred]

I despise them.

 

[BlueSprout]

I'll cop to the fact that I've never had good taste. I used to read them all the time in my early teens. But I used them as literary porn, frankly, and never took them seriously. I would get a chapter in, roll my eyes at the dialog, wince at the historical inaccuracies (if it was a literal bodice ripper) and then skip right to the graphic pages. The pearl clutching, ineffectual anger and eventual surrender of the heroines always pissed me off in a very special way. The fact that the writing was crap was but a nuisance in comparison.

 

[tastes_like_purple]

only if it has some sex and a bit of horror thrown in to the mix ;D

 

[human101]

im a male but what are the good romantic novels lol

 

[Thalassa]

only if it has some sex and a bit of horror thrown in to the mix ;D

Yeah, that's why I like 18th-19th century Gothic Romanticism.

I also like the "scary" fairy tales...

 

[ergophobe]

It's just a classier version of porn, right?

Screw classy.

Gimme fantasy and Si-Fi

Funny, that's exactly the analogy I had in mind. It's the difference between good porn and bad porn. Porn, in general, is a guilty pleasure like romance novels but different types do it for different people. Bad porn is laughable while good porn hits the spot (no pun intended. Oh well, actually yes, intended).

Within romance novels, those that pay NO attention to plot, location or characters are just not satisfying as Q or SkyisBlue described. The better ones would provide something other than the throbbing embers...

I like my romance hidden or interspersed in another genre...sci fi, literary fiction, essays whatever but yes, I definitely like some squishiness in my novels.