Many people dismiss contemporary romance authors as light-weight hacks, churning out unoriginal novels that conform to a prescribed format and sell to bored housewives.
These variations on the 'boy meets girl' theme have been around seemingly forever, or at least since the novel became a popular format. They have been disparagingly called 'bodice rippers', and the movies made from them dismissed as 'chick flicks'. It is a fact, however, that the best of this type of book and film gross millions, which makes the criticism sound a lot like sour grapes.
There is nothing wrong with the theme. It started with Adam and Eve in the Garden, Adam's rhapsody upon awaking to find his soul and body mate is beautiful. Romeo and Juliet is really just a boy-meets-girl tale full of difficulties and presented in glorious verse. The recent blockbuster vampire movies are based on books with a clever twist on the same old idea of a beautiful girl and a boy who is infatuated - or rather desperately in love for all eternity.
It isn't essentially myth and fiction, of course. History tells us that men have desired women above fortune and reason throughout the centuries. Think of the magnificent and terrifying King Henry VII, who fell for girl after girl and never flinched from murder, law-breaking, excommunication, or immorality.
So maybe a crazy king is a bad example. The fall of Troy comes to mind, as another example of a ruler risking all for a gorgeous gal. King David almost blew it all for Bathsheba. Sampson pretty much did lose everything because of his weakness for Delilah, although he did get his moment of glory at the end. All the wisdom in the world couldn't keep King Solomon out of trouble with the ladies.
There may be hack writers in the industry, but many renowned authors have dabbled in this genre - if they haven't actually made it their own. (Remember Jane Austin.) Today many romance novels top the best seller lists, and eager readers wait with money in hand to get the next release from their favorite writers. You might be surprised at how many of these books have been written by classically-trained scholars.
If one of the qualifications for a classic is to endure, the genre can hold its own there, too. Jane Austen still could be called contemporary, even though her last novel was published in 1817. 'Jane Eyre' is almost as ubiquitous as 'Pride and Prejudice', as is 'Wuhering Heights'. Who knows which of today's novels will see its popularity endure past its own generation?
It is true that there is little fundamental originality in many of the romantic novels. However, just when you think that nothing else can be done with this genre, you get a surprise. Contemporary romance authors may not just get your attention and your money; they may become enshrined in your heart and your memory as well. Go ahead and try a romance novel. You just might like it.
These variations on the 'boy meets girl' theme have been around seemingly forever, or at least since the novel became a popular format. They have been disparagingly called 'bodice rippers', and the movies made from them dismissed as 'chick flicks'. It is a fact, however, that the best of this type of book and film gross millions, which makes the criticism sound a lot like sour grapes.
There is nothing wrong with the theme. It started with Adam and Eve in the Garden, Adam's rhapsody upon awaking to find his soul and body mate is beautiful. Romeo and Juliet is really just a boy-meets-girl tale full of difficulties and presented in glorious verse. The recent blockbuster vampire movies are based on books with a clever twist on the same old idea of a beautiful girl and a boy who is infatuated - or rather desperately in love for all eternity.
It isn't essentially myth and fiction, of course. History tells us that men have desired women above fortune and reason throughout the centuries. Think of the magnificent and terrifying King Henry VII, who fell for girl after girl and never flinched from murder, law-breaking, excommunication, or immorality.
So maybe a crazy king is a bad example. The fall of Troy comes to mind, as another example of a ruler risking all for a gorgeous gal. King David almost blew it all for Bathsheba. Sampson pretty much did lose everything because of his weakness for Delilah, although he did get his moment of glory at the end. All the wisdom in the world couldn't keep King Solomon out of trouble with the ladies.
There may be hack writers in the industry, but many renowned authors have dabbled in this genre - if they haven't actually made it their own. (Remember Jane Austin.) Today many romance novels top the best seller lists, and eager readers wait with money in hand to get the next release from their favorite writers. You might be surprised at how many of these books have been written by classically-trained scholars.
If one of the qualifications for a classic is to endure, the genre can hold its own there, too. Jane Austen still could be called contemporary, even though her last novel was published in 1817. 'Jane Eyre' is almost as ubiquitous as 'Pride and Prejudice', as is 'Wuhering Heights'. Who knows which of today's novels will see its popularity endure past its own generation?
It is true that there is little fundamental originality in many of the romantic novels. However, just when you think that nothing else can be done with this genre, you get a surprise. Contemporary romance authors may not just get your attention and your money; they may become enshrined in your heart and your memory as well. Go ahead and try a romance novel. You just might like it.
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