First, why did I start reading them? I was the youngest of four kids. My eldest sister was 8 years my senior and then it went down to 4 years with my other sister, also throw in my brother. I won't say that I really liked reading as a kid, but I did, and then I found that all the books I read only took a few hours, where it would take friends days. So, like any logical kid, I asked my siblings for something to read. From them I got sci-fi, some non-fiction, fantasy, and romance. So, I like all those types of books now. :)
One of my friends basically only reads romance novels (no, I won't call you out here lol) and she reads them all. It makes no difference to her. We will book swap every so often, but she now knows not to bother giving me current day/modern romance novels. I think I am a rare person in this, as most people don't care.
I think the reason I don't like them is, well, they are realistic enough to make the possibility of it sting. lol Historical romances always happen the same way, either they are both nobility, or one of them is, or someone is rich. There is some work and drive, but otherwise, its pretty dresses, dances, dinners, and romance. That stuff doesn't happen anymore. Well, not really.
Modern romances go with the day to day and then that added story line of 'yes, in today's world or craziness and work, you can have a romance story.' No, I not a skeptic, but seeing it in a 'this could happen to you' makes some of the aspects of my life not so happy to deal with. Again, with the historical, I have no illusions that those situations will happen to me. (One could wish, but reality is what it is.)
Beyond that, thy also don't have the background of society and rules and pretty dresses and chivalrous men. I like escaping into books, and if you are going to do that, might as well go as deep as you can.
Yup, that's today's post. lol What about you? Preference? Ever read them? Read them but end up skipping long parts of chapters like I do? lol :)
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I read the modern day romances & find myself in a funk for a day or two after finishing the book. I catch myself thinking, "I wish my story could be that romantic." You're right- they are more believable than the historic romance novels, and I think that's why I compare them to my life. Maybe I'll have to try out some of the kind you read.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about you, but I try to skip long parts of chapters, but I always find myself needing to go back and read it anyway...just in case I missed something :)
I have plenty or can suggest some good ones if you choose to. :)
ReplyDeletelol I do the same thing with the skipping. Or I 'skim really quick', because yeah, what if they say something important! Like the first 'I love you.' Its amazing the amount of internal dialog that goes on in their heads during these moments.
LOL to this post. A lot. I love it.
ReplyDeleteI was reading romance novels at 12 years old with the fellow girl scouts when we were having a garage sale. Our moms didn't seem to mind :)
I started reading romance novels in Jr. High. Like you, I read the 'age appropriate' books far too quickly. Romance novels were always at my house because my mom reads them so it was easy to just pick one up. It was several months before she caught on that I was reading them. Now we share. :)
ReplyDeleteI love cheesy romance novels. My mom is like you in the fact that she will only read historical romances. Her favorite author is Kathleen Woodewiss (sp?) and that was one of the first books I read when I was like 9 or 10.
ReplyDeleteInteresting tidbit of trivia: I was named after the heroine in "Ashes in the Wind"
I think if you haven't read any of Heather Graham's books (One Wore Grey, One Wore Blue, and One Rode West) you should. Its set during the Civil War. Two brothers and a sister. Shows the beginning of the war, middle and aftermath. Its cool history with a good story. :) Just saying.
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