As a M&B addict, I'm really looking forward to their centenary year. It promises to be a year full of wonderful books and I can't wait to get my hands on all the special releases which M&B will be publishing (especially the short stories with the 1980s covers!)
As their centenary approaches, the media spotlight has inadvertently started to shine upon the company and lo and behold the critics have already started to sharpen their claws and have begun to take up valuable space in newspapers proclaiming that these book promote patriarchy and are an insult to women everywhere as they depict women in abusive relationships with men who are rapists and abusers.
Julie Bindel's article in the Guardian had me shaking my head in frustration. Here's a journalist who based her argument on a 20 or so books she read 15 years ago. Yes, that's right 15 years ago, when the lines hadn't been split in the UK and when they were just known as Mills and Boon not Modern or Romance. Ms. Bindel then read the blurbs of three books and proclaimed that these books are forumlaic and mysgonistic. And to add insult to injury, she concluded her article with a quote by Andrea Dworkin who stated that M&Bs are 'rape with meaningful books'.
I just couldn't believe that the Guardian editor published this shoddily researched article! For one thing, Ms. Bindel has only ever read 20 books 15 years ago!! When M&B publish about thirty books per month! Secondly, she didn't even read a single chapter of a recently published book. Oh no, instead she just read three blurbs and concluded that she was right all along. Oh, please!
Thank goodness that the Guardian had the foresight to publish Daisy Cummings (fab M&B author Abby Green)'s insightful article about the company!
I still do not understand why on earth the critics think that M&Bs are such a threat to women and society. M&Bs readers know that they are not going to met a sheikh, a greek tycoon or a Regency rake, but they just enjoy reading compelling stories about two people falling in love.
Ms. Bindel admitted that she loves Martina Cole - a writer who puts her heroines through rape, prison and murder, but who in the end not only manage to emerge victorious, but they also walk into the sunset with the men of their dreams!
Monday, December 17, 2007
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Another attempt at Catching Up...
I'm full of admiration for people who blog daily. As you can probably see from my pathetic attempts at blogging, even once a month is sometimes beyond me!
October and November have not been the easiest of months this year. A dear friend of mine had to have an operation and all my appliances from my car to my washing machine decided to give up the ghost. Now, looking back, I realize that have an appliance not working is a rather trivial matter, but with one thing coming on top of the other, I wasn't at my best this past month. But luckily, good news has come my way at last with my husband getting a promotion and with my son's graduation round the corner.
October and November has also been a time of reflection for me. The death of romance pioneer Anne Weale was a huge shock to me. I cut my reading teeth on Anne's books and her blogs, although controversial, always made for great reading. She was a woman whose intelligence and knowledge shone through every sentence she wrote so her loss will be deeply felt. With Mills and Boon's centenary coming up, I hope that M&B will publish some special releases as a tribute to the wonderful writers such as Weale, Charlotte Lamb, Betty Neels, Anne Hampson and Mary Burchell, who have helped make the company the success it is today.
October and November have not been the easiest of months this year. A dear friend of mine had to have an operation and all my appliances from my car to my washing machine decided to give up the ghost. Now, looking back, I realize that have an appliance not working is a rather trivial matter, but with one thing coming on top of the other, I wasn't at my best this past month. But luckily, good news has come my way at last with my husband getting a promotion and with my son's graduation round the corner.
October and November has also been a time of reflection for me. The death of romance pioneer Anne Weale was a huge shock to me. I cut my reading teeth on Anne's books and her blogs, although controversial, always made for great reading. She was a woman whose intelligence and knowledge shone through every sentence she wrote so her loss will be deeply felt. With Mills and Boon's centenary coming up, I hope that M&B will publish some special releases as a tribute to the wonderful writers such as Weale, Charlotte Lamb, Betty Neels, Anne Hampson and Mary Burchell, who have helped make the company the success it is today.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Guilty Pleasures - A Rant
Having spent the past two weeks up to my eyeballs in balloons, vol au vents and seating plans as I organized a surprise birthday party for my best friend, it was a relief to get back to normal and to have some time to sit down and have a good read and catch up with what's happening in blog land. I read with delight the details of the AMBA lunch on several M&B writers blogs, but my delight soon turned to trepidation when I read that BBC Radio 4 were going to be transmit a programme about the history of M&B on Thursday entitled Guilty Pleasures - and my trepidation increased when I read the press release which, to be blunt, was a pile of rubbish.
For one thing, I've been reading M&B for decades and have never felt any guilt or remorse that I was reading them especially as unlike the harshest critics of Mills and Boons, I do actually read across the board and enjoy a wide variety of genres. Secondly, why should I feel guilty because I enjoy reading books about two people who are doing the most natural thing in the world - falling in love? Critics laud crime novels full of gory details and peppered with bloody corpses and macabre killings so why should they turn up their noses at romance?
Celia Brayfield, in an article which appeared in last Saturday's Daily Express, said that M&B are aimed at the lowest comment denominator and that "women with two neurons who rub together wouldn't be able to read these books unless they had the flu". Hmm, I think that Ms. Brayfield could learn a thing or two from M&B writers about telling an entertaining and engaging story, especially if all her books are like the ghastly Heartswap which I borrowed from the library a few years back and which I promptly returned as I couldn't get past page 50!
The programme's press release claims that the books are conservative thus implying that they never go beyond the bedroom door which I am sure will be news to the Blaze writers as well as to the writers of all the other lines. Clearly, research wasn't high on the producers' priority and one wonders whether other genres would be awarded this same kind of pejorative laissez faire.
I can't understand why the media cannot just accept the fact that women all over the world of all creeds and cultures read these books for the simple reason that they enjoy reading these wonderful stories of passion and romance. We feel no shame for liking these books nor should we. We don't judge or criticize other people's reading choices and it's a shame that others do not afford us that same privilege.
Mills and Boon launched the career of some of the world's biggest selling authors - Rosamunde Pilcher, Nora Roberts, Sally Beauman, Linda Howard, Stephanie Laurens and Jayne Ann Krentz not to mention that it's home to writers who have achieved success writing for both M&B and other houses such as Penny Jordan, Anne Herries and Helen Brooks as well as being the home of million selling writers such as Kate Walker, Lynne Graham, Carole Mortimer, Sara Craven and many, many more.
As Mills and Boon gear up to celebrate their centenary all I can say is let the idiots criticise and keep on producing these wonderful, wonderful books which we just cannot get enough of!
For one thing, I've been reading M&B for decades and have never felt any guilt or remorse that I was reading them especially as unlike the harshest critics of Mills and Boons, I do actually read across the board and enjoy a wide variety of genres. Secondly, why should I feel guilty because I enjoy reading books about two people who are doing the most natural thing in the world - falling in love? Critics laud crime novels full of gory details and peppered with bloody corpses and macabre killings so why should they turn up their noses at romance?
Celia Brayfield, in an article which appeared in last Saturday's Daily Express, said that M&B are aimed at the lowest comment denominator and that "women with two neurons who rub together wouldn't be able to read these books unless they had the flu". Hmm, I think that Ms. Brayfield could learn a thing or two from M&B writers about telling an entertaining and engaging story, especially if all her books are like the ghastly Heartswap which I borrowed from the library a few years back and which I promptly returned as I couldn't get past page 50!
The programme's press release claims that the books are conservative thus implying that they never go beyond the bedroom door which I am sure will be news to the Blaze writers as well as to the writers of all the other lines. Clearly, research wasn't high on the producers' priority and one wonders whether other genres would be awarded this same kind of pejorative laissez faire.
I can't understand why the media cannot just accept the fact that women all over the world of all creeds and cultures read these books for the simple reason that they enjoy reading these wonderful stories of passion and romance. We feel no shame for liking these books nor should we. We don't judge or criticize other people's reading choices and it's a shame that others do not afford us that same privilege.
Mills and Boon launched the career of some of the world's biggest selling authors - Rosamunde Pilcher, Nora Roberts, Sally Beauman, Linda Howard, Stephanie Laurens and Jayne Ann Krentz not to mention that it's home to writers who have achieved success writing for both M&B and other houses such as Penny Jordan, Anne Herries and Helen Brooks as well as being the home of million selling writers such as Kate Walker, Lynne Graham, Carole Mortimer, Sara Craven and many, many more.
As Mills and Boon gear up to celebrate their centenary all I can say is let the idiots criticise and keep on producing these wonderful, wonderful books which we just cannot get enough of!
Friday, September 7, 2007
Mary Stewart
Don't you just love libraries? Despite have a reading pile comprising of a ton of books at home, I always look forward to my regular trips to the library where I enjoy spending hours browsing through the shelves,remembering gems which I love and finding new writers to add to my ever increasing collection at home.
Today, despite telling myself on my way there that I was not going to borrow any books, I dropped off my huge pile and went for a quick browse and spotted a book which I just had to borrow - Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart. I don't know why I picked it off the shelves having read it some years ago, but as soon as I read the first page I was enraptured.
Not much happened in the first few pages, but I was simply hooked. Mary Stewart's prose is so rich, so lyrical and so utterly enchanting that it just sweeps you away.
I just cannot wait to read more of this wonderful book and to enjoy the magic that is Mary Stewart!
Today, despite telling myself on my way there that I was not going to borrow any books, I dropped off my huge pile and went for a quick browse and spotted a book which I just had to borrow - Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart. I don't know why I picked it off the shelves having read it some years ago, but as soon as I read the first page I was enraptured.
Not much happened in the first few pages, but I was simply hooked. Mary Stewart's prose is so rich, so lyrical and so utterly enchanting that it just sweeps you away.
I just cannot wait to read more of this wonderful book and to enjoy the magic that is Mary Stewart!
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Category Romance: An Appreciation
I love category romance. I've been reading M&B romances ever since I was a school girl and the books have been with me through thick and thin. I can't remember the first M&B I ever picked up, but back in the day the books weren't split into lines like they are know, but all simply published as Mills and Boon romances and although writers have come and gone, covers changed and made more colourful and lines may have evolved, my enjoyment of these books hasn't diminished and nothing gives me greater pleasure than going to town in the first or second week of every month to pick up my books from my favourite bookseller and then going home and settling in for a good read. I'm also lucky in that as a reviewer of category romance, I get books by my favourite writers popping through the letterbox and there's been many a time when the postman delivers a review copy early in the morning, that I forget about the dirty cups in the sink or the pile of ironing and just put my feet up and indulge in the last romance by one of my favourites.
Although critics are quick to scoff and dismiss category romances, I just love reading them. I love the passion, the drama and the intensity of Modern/Presents, the variety, the humour and the emotion of Romance and the adrenaline, passion and humanity of Medical. And as a historical romance junkie who cut her reading teeth on Austen and Heyer, I just love being transported to the past and the M&B Historical writers deserve to be applauded for writing romances that are not just wonderfully passionate but also evocative and richly textured with historical details as opposed to many of today's historical romances published by others which could be set in the present day so scant is the research. Of course, then there are the books being published with Silhouette and there are many wonderful writers being published under the many lines such as favourites like Susan Mallery, Leanne Banks and Diana Palmer.
In my opinion, some of the best writers of romance writing today are writing category romances and people who disparage them clearly do not know what they are missing!
Although critics are quick to scoff and dismiss category romances, I just love reading them. I love the passion, the drama and the intensity of Modern/Presents, the variety, the humour and the emotion of Romance and the adrenaline, passion and humanity of Medical. And as a historical romance junkie who cut her reading teeth on Austen and Heyer, I just love being transported to the past and the M&B Historical writers deserve to be applauded for writing romances that are not just wonderfully passionate but also evocative and richly textured with historical details as opposed to many of today's historical romances published by others which could be set in the present day so scant is the research. Of course, then there are the books being published with Silhouette and there are many wonderful writers being published under the many lines such as favourites like Susan Mallery, Leanne Banks and Diana Palmer.
In my opinion, some of the best writers of romance writing today are writing category romances and people who disparage them clearly do not know what they are missing!
Shame on Me
I can't believe that it's been two months since my last blog post! Blame it on too much sun, too many wonderful books on my reading pile or else my own laziness, but I promise to start making at least weekly posts to this blog, so apologies to anyone who may have dropped in over the course of the past two months to find that I haven't been posting.
A lot of things have happened over the past few weeks such as those awful floods in England. My heart goes out to all those people who have lost their homes because of these floods. You are all in my thoughts and prayers and I do hope that things will be better for you soon.
Speaking of the floods, did anyone read that news report about a female journalist who was goosed during a live broadcast? I have to say that I was shocked and rather disgusted that a man still thinks it is acceptable behaviour to do such a thing - especially during such a sombre time!
A lot of things have happened over the past few weeks such as those awful floods in England. My heart goes out to all those people who have lost their homes because of these floods. You are all in my thoughts and prayers and I do hope that things will be better for you soon.
Speaking of the floods, did anyone read that news report about a female journalist who was goosed during a live broadcast? I have to say that I was shocked and rather disgusted that a man still thinks it is acceptable behaviour to do such a thing - especially during such a sombre time!
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Great Literature
Is it June already? It seems like only yesterday I was running around the shops buying Christmas presents and here I am today in June with the sun streaming through my windows on a blazing hot summer's day!
I haven't had much time to blog this past month so apologies to those who may have dropped in hoping to find a new post, but once the real world gets a hold on you, sometimes it does not seem to want to let you go. But I still have managed to fit in a couple of books and to read a couple of blogs and one recent blog I read on the Guardian website gave me pause for thought.
The article was about the wonderful Daphne Du Maurier, the writer whose wonderful novels like Rebecca, The House on the Strand and Frenchman's Creek, still have the power to enchant and captivate women everywhere with their masterful blend of suspense, drama and intensity. The article entitled "Let's not get carried away by Daphne Du Maurier" was written by a Professor of English who stated that Daphne du Maurier, although capable of tapping into our most profound fears, was not much of a writer. Words like "breathy prose", that much hated word by critics "romantic" and the word which I loathe and despise when applied to books "formula" pepper John Mullan's article and it's perfectly clear that for Prof Mullan, writers of popular fiction like Du Maurier are not worthy of being celebrated, admired or studied by academics because it's commerical and not literary fiction.
The definition of great literature has always puzzled me. I've always read voraciously and my bookshelves heave with M&Bs, historical romances, classics, thrillers, biographies and even literary novels. I've always read because I derive pleasure out of reading and the kind of criticism which Prof Mullan seems to be spouting totally derides readers and writers of popular fiction for once again he is suggesting that we should all be ashamed when reading popular novels because they are substandard when compared to more literary fiction because shock horror they give pleasure to readers all over the world.
I love popular fiction and if I live to be a hundred I'll still love it. Popular fiction has been my constant companion for most of my life and it has the ability to make me laugh and cry, to escape as well as to educate and entertain me (And if you don't believe me, ask yourself how many of us own our knowledge of history to Jean Plaidy and Georgette Heyer). Now, that is the definition of greatness.
I haven't had much time to blog this past month so apologies to those who may have dropped in hoping to find a new post, but once the real world gets a hold on you, sometimes it does not seem to want to let you go. But I still have managed to fit in a couple of books and to read a couple of blogs and one recent blog I read on the Guardian website gave me pause for thought.
The article was about the wonderful Daphne Du Maurier, the writer whose wonderful novels like Rebecca, The House on the Strand and Frenchman's Creek, still have the power to enchant and captivate women everywhere with their masterful blend of suspense, drama and intensity. The article entitled "Let's not get carried away by Daphne Du Maurier" was written by a Professor of English who stated that Daphne du Maurier, although capable of tapping into our most profound fears, was not much of a writer. Words like "breathy prose", that much hated word by critics "romantic" and the word which I loathe and despise when applied to books "formula" pepper John Mullan's article and it's perfectly clear that for Prof Mullan, writers of popular fiction like Du Maurier are not worthy of being celebrated, admired or studied by academics because it's commerical and not literary fiction.
The definition of great literature has always puzzled me. I've always read voraciously and my bookshelves heave with M&Bs, historical romances, classics, thrillers, biographies and even literary novels. I've always read because I derive pleasure out of reading and the kind of criticism which Prof Mullan seems to be spouting totally derides readers and writers of popular fiction for once again he is suggesting that we should all be ashamed when reading popular novels because they are substandard when compared to more literary fiction because shock horror they give pleasure to readers all over the world.
I love popular fiction and if I live to be a hundred I'll still love it. Popular fiction has been my constant companion for most of my life and it has the ability to make me laugh and cry, to escape as well as to educate and entertain me (And if you don't believe me, ask yourself how many of us own our knowledge of history to Jean Plaidy and Georgette Heyer). Now, that is the definition of greatness.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Congratulations!
Last friday, the Romantic Novel of the Year award and the Romance Prize were announced (If you want to read all the gossip, check out Michelle Styles' excellent blog!) and the winners for the Romance Prize was Nell Dixon, whose first novel, Marrying Max, was published by The People's Friend Story Collection. Huge congratulations, Nell! I am keeping my fingers crossed that you soon become part of the M&B family!
The Romantic Novel of the Year award was won by Rosie Thomas and her novel Iris and Ruby. I have to say that even though I had no clue as to who would win the Romance Prize (especially as I love all the writers shortlisted!), I had a pretty good inkling that Rosie Thomas would win this award as her novel, about a grandmother recounting her adventures in wartime Cairo to her granddaughter seems like a novel which would appeal to all ages and Rosie's novels are critically acclaimed by the press- not to mention the fact that she's a Sunday Times best-seller.
I've not read either books, but will get Nell's book once it's released as an ebook and I must give Rosie Thomas a try!
Congratulations to the two winners and to all the other writers on the shortlist!
The Romantic Novel of the Year award was won by Rosie Thomas and her novel Iris and Ruby. I have to say that even though I had no clue as to who would win the Romance Prize (especially as I love all the writers shortlisted!), I had a pretty good inkling that Rosie Thomas would win this award as her novel, about a grandmother recounting her adventures in wartime Cairo to her granddaughter seems like a novel which would appeal to all ages and Rosie's novels are critically acclaimed by the press- not to mention the fact that she's a Sunday Times best-seller.
I've not read either books, but will get Nell's book once it's released as an ebook and I must give Rosie Thomas a try!
Congratulations to the two winners and to all the other writers on the shortlist!
Friday, April 20, 2007
Catching up Again
I've been neglecting this blog again, but it's really not my fault. Now, that the pc troubles have eased, I've had a house full of the most demanding builders to contend with. Luckily, their work is done and after spending almost a week cleaning up the mess they left me with, I can relax and more importantly read! It's taken me a week to get through a particular book when usually I read three to four books in that same space.
I've been visiting blog land and romance message board in the meantime and a scandal brewed because of a particular book which asked that age old question - Is it rape or forced seduction?
The book in question is Anna Campbell's Claiming the Courtesan and even though I've not read I'm intrigued as it seems that opinions on this particular novel are divided - some people hate it whilst others love it.
Now, as I said, I've not read it so I can't comment on the content, but what I will say is that it's great that a writer and a publishing house took a chance and run a risk. Secondly, whenever I visit a messageboard, it seems that readers are moaning that the historical romance has grown stagnant and that every single book features the same characters in the same situations which we've read a million times before, so surely even if we don't like something, we should at least applaud someone who's tried to do something different?
I've been visiting blog land and romance message board in the meantime and a scandal brewed because of a particular book which asked that age old question - Is it rape or forced seduction?
The book in question is Anna Campbell's Claiming the Courtesan and even though I've not read I'm intrigued as it seems that opinions on this particular novel are divided - some people hate it whilst others love it.
Now, as I said, I've not read it so I can't comment on the content, but what I will say is that it's great that a writer and a publishing house took a chance and run a risk. Secondly, whenever I visit a messageboard, it seems that readers are moaning that the historical romance has grown stagnant and that every single book features the same characters in the same situations which we've read a million times before, so surely even if we don't like something, we should at least applaud someone who's tried to do something different?
Friday, April 6, 2007
Pointing the Finger
I've neglected this blog this past week what with another computer meltdown as well as with the traditional preparations for Easter. It's traditional here in Malta to bake traditional Easter pastries which I cover with chocolate to be eaten on Easter sunday so I've been knee deep in flour these past few days. I've still managed to find time for reading and have read some wonderful category romances including my first Blaze, Coming Undone by Stephanie Tyler which I really enjoyed it; a wonderful Harlequin Romance by Trish Wylie, Rescued: Mother to Be and a Harlequin Historical by the wonderful Anne Herries, Forbidden Lady. I'm finishing off an excellent Medical by Kate Hardy and have a Barbara Dunlop Desire awaiting me so I've lots of great books to enjoy.
I've been following a very interesting debate over on Anne Weale's blog about the romanticizing of certain situations such as one night stands and resulting pregnancies with particular reference to Julie Cohen's fabulous Modern Extra, Married in A Rush. Now, I have a huge admiration for Anne Weale's books. She was one of my favourite romance writers back in the day when she wrote regularly for M&B and her long novels for Worldwide were wonderful. However, I disagree with her stance that Julie was being irresponsible when she wrote this book and the point she made that her editor should have expressed misgivings as teenagers might read these books. For one thing, M&Bs are aimed at adults and thus feature adult characters interacting with one another in an adult world. I think teenagers are intelligent enough to realise that novels are in fact fictional and thus have no bearing on the real world any more than a show like The OC or Buffy, for example.
If we adopt Ms. Weale's reasoning, then we'll ban our teens from reading Pride and Prejudice because Lydia elopes with Wickham and stop them from reading Great Expectations because Pip helps out the criminal and so forth.
In my opinion, the only responsibility a romantic novelist has is to deliver an entertaining story which her readers will not want to put down. It's up to the parents and to the teachers to educate children about sex and to show them right from wrong.
I hope you all have a wonderful Easter and a great weekend!
I've been following a very interesting debate over on Anne Weale's blog about the romanticizing of certain situations such as one night stands and resulting pregnancies with particular reference to Julie Cohen's fabulous Modern Extra, Married in A Rush. Now, I have a huge admiration for Anne Weale's books. She was one of my favourite romance writers back in the day when she wrote regularly for M&B and her long novels for Worldwide were wonderful. However, I disagree with her stance that Julie was being irresponsible when she wrote this book and the point she made that her editor should have expressed misgivings as teenagers might read these books. For one thing, M&Bs are aimed at adults and thus feature adult characters interacting with one another in an adult world. I think teenagers are intelligent enough to realise that novels are in fact fictional and thus have no bearing on the real world any more than a show like The OC or Buffy, for example.
If we adopt Ms. Weale's reasoning, then we'll ban our teens from reading Pride and Prejudice because Lydia elopes with Wickham and stop them from reading Great Expectations because Pip helps out the criminal and so forth.
In my opinion, the only responsibility a romantic novelist has is to deliver an entertaining story which her readers will not want to put down. It's up to the parents and to the teachers to educate children about sex and to show them right from wrong.
I hope you all have a wonderful Easter and a great weekend!
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Catching Up & The RITAs
Finally! After almost a week of computer malfunctions where it took me an age to access a website and when all my e-mails went awry, all seems back to normal on the PC front. Lots of exciting things have happened since I've been online. The RITA Nominations have been announced and I'm thrilled to see favourite category writers such as Marion Lennox, Barbara Hannay and Fiona Harper shortlisted. I love Barbara's Outback novels and Marion Lennox is a huge favourite of mine - and I'm thrilled that one of the titles shortlisted - The Surgeon's Family Miracle - is a Medical Romance! I love reading Medicals and it's fabulous that this great line is getting such great recognition - especially as it's not available in US shops. Fiona Harper has quickly become a favourite of mine even though she's only written two books so far. I've had the good fortune of reviewing her novels for Cataromance and I awarded them both 5 Stars because her books are funny, charming, romantic and original as well. Fiona finalled twice for Best First Book and Best Traditional Romance and has already won both the CataRomance award and the RNA new writers award so I'm so pleased for her! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for all of these writers and in my book, you're all winners! I've made a point to read a Jackie Braun book as I've not read any of hers yet. I believe she's been shortlisted before and as I love the Romance line, I'm sure I'll love hers! I'm pleased to see a novel from the new Modern Extra line nominated by Barbara Dunlop. I haven't read this book, I love reading Modern Extras (This month, I read Kate Hardy's In the Gardener's Bed and it was terrific!)so I'm sure it's an excellent read!
I've read some of the other writers shortlisted for other awards. I'm hoping that the excellent Susan Mallery wins for Irresistible, which is shortlised for Best Contemporary Single Title Romance. Susan writes for Silhouette and Single Titles for both Pocket and HQN and she's wonderful. I'm also pleased to see Mary Jo Putney nominated for Long Historical and I can't wait to find out just who is going to win the Best Short Historical RITA as it seems that the biggest names in historical romance are nominated! I'm not familiar with Betina Krahn, Anne Stuart, Laura Lee Gurkhe or Lorraine Heath, but I love Christina Dodd's quirky characters, Eloisa James' intelligent historical romances and Lisa Kleypas's sensuous historicals (which remind me of M&B Presents) so I look forward to seeing who wins that award.
I'm afraid I'm not familiar with some of the writers nominated in other categories except for JD Robb, Julia Quinn and Elizabeth Boyle (And I'm still baffled as to why her Regency is shorlisted for paranormal!), but I wish them all the best of luck!
I've read some of the other writers shortlisted for other awards. I'm hoping that the excellent Susan Mallery wins for Irresistible, which is shortlised for Best Contemporary Single Title Romance. Susan writes for Silhouette and Single Titles for both Pocket and HQN and she's wonderful. I'm also pleased to see Mary Jo Putney nominated for Long Historical and I can't wait to find out just who is going to win the Best Short Historical RITA as it seems that the biggest names in historical romance are nominated! I'm not familiar with Betina Krahn, Anne Stuart, Laura Lee Gurkhe or Lorraine Heath, but I love Christina Dodd's quirky characters, Eloisa James' intelligent historical romances and Lisa Kleypas's sensuous historicals (which remind me of M&B Presents) so I look forward to seeing who wins that award.
I'm afraid I'm not familiar with some of the writers nominated in other categories except for JD Robb, Julia Quinn and Elizabeth Boyle (And I'm still baffled as to why her Regency is shorlisted for paranormal!), but I wish them all the best of luck!
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Hot Buttons
Voracious romance readers often encounter a book which pushes their buttons. Some reader loathe royalty books, secret baby plots or books which feature adultery - and let us not get started on the forced seduction tales which incur many a reader's wrath. Now, I know that reading is a subjective activity and that we've all had different life experiences which mould our character and which may make us intolerant of some subjects, but personally speaking for me the only books which annoy me are the ones which I think are shoddily plotted with one dimensional characters which fail to come alive on the page and books which fail to elicit a single emotion from me barring one of annoyance.
I'm often annoyed by readers who state that they will only read books if the heroines are virgins or by writers who write in a similiar style to a particular author which I think is such a narrow approach to reading as these readers are missing out on some fabulous reads.
One of my all time favourites books is Going the Distance by Christina Jones, who also happens to be one of my all time favourite writers. Now, in this book, Maddy falls in love with a married man (a divinely gorgeous man called Drew)who happens to be married to Caroline. Now if you've not read this book, most of you will probably say that it's a very unromantic set up. Well, let me tell you, GTD is one of the most romantic and funniest books I've ever read and Christina is such a talented writer who handles the subject matter so well that I'd defy you not to fall in love with both Maddy and Drew and I'm positive that throughout the book you'll be cheering them on towards their happy ending.
Having a narrow approach to romance reading means that ultimately the reader will lose out on reading some great reads. I mean most women would balk at the idea that the hero of a romance novel dresses up in women's clothes - but does that stop us from fancying Mr. Rochester?
I'm often annoyed by readers who state that they will only read books if the heroines are virgins or by writers who write in a similiar style to a particular author which I think is such a narrow approach to reading as these readers are missing out on some fabulous reads.
One of my all time favourites books is Going the Distance by Christina Jones, who also happens to be one of my all time favourite writers. Now, in this book, Maddy falls in love with a married man (a divinely gorgeous man called Drew)who happens to be married to Caroline. Now if you've not read this book, most of you will probably say that it's a very unromantic set up. Well, let me tell you, GTD is one of the most romantic and funniest books I've ever read and Christina is such a talented writer who handles the subject matter so well that I'd defy you not to fall in love with both Maddy and Drew and I'm positive that throughout the book you'll be cheering them on towards their happy ending.
Having a narrow approach to romance reading means that ultimately the reader will lose out on reading some great reads. I mean most women would balk at the idea that the hero of a romance novel dresses up in women's clothes - but does that stop us from fancying Mr. Rochester?
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Pride & Poppycock
I love Jane Austen's books. I loved her novels long before her novels became synonmous with Colin Firth glaring fiercely in tight breeches as he jumped into the river. As a Regency fanatic, I love the way she evokes the mores of her society, the spirited heroines, the gorgeous heroes, the social commentary and the wonderful humour which never fails to make me chuckle.
I'm just as aware that her novels are not everyone's cup of tea. Some find her insipid, others find her too shallow and superificial and others just don't like her. And that's fine. I'm a firm believer in different strokes for different folks and as I said before, it'd be a pretty dull world if we all liked the same things.
To not like someone's book is fair enough, but to blame her for the fact that women writers aren't being taken seriously as Celia Brayfield claimed in last Monday's Times, is just ludicrious. The fact that Jane Austen was writing was considered to be 'unladylike' and one can only imagine what her relations would have said if she wrote about politics and wars. Jane Austen could only write what she knew and I think that she did quite a good job, actually.
I can't help wondering whether this was a cynical marketing ploy on Ms. Brayfield's part to generate publicity for her own novels. You can say what you like about Jane Austen's writing, but it's hardly her fault that she became an industry. It's not her fault if her books are so well-loved and so universally adored that TV execs keep commisioning mini-series based on her books.
Perhaps, the most worrying part of that article is a comment a reader left where she said that she wishes Hollywood would leave Austen's books well alone as they're unhealthy for our daughters. Well, what Jane Austen taught me as a young girl was to be strong, intelligent and resourceful and to never just settle, but to always seek to marry your true love - that's a pretty good philosophy, don't you think?
I'm just as aware that her novels are not everyone's cup of tea. Some find her insipid, others find her too shallow and superificial and others just don't like her. And that's fine. I'm a firm believer in different strokes for different folks and as I said before, it'd be a pretty dull world if we all liked the same things.
To not like someone's book is fair enough, but to blame her for the fact that women writers aren't being taken seriously as Celia Brayfield claimed in last Monday's Times, is just ludicrious. The fact that Jane Austen was writing was considered to be 'unladylike' and one can only imagine what her relations would have said if she wrote about politics and wars. Jane Austen could only write what she knew and I think that she did quite a good job, actually.
I can't help wondering whether this was a cynical marketing ploy on Ms. Brayfield's part to generate publicity for her own novels. You can say what you like about Jane Austen's writing, but it's hardly her fault that she became an industry. It's not her fault if her books are so well-loved and so universally adored that TV execs keep commisioning mini-series based on her books.
Perhaps, the most worrying part of that article is a comment a reader left where she said that she wishes Hollywood would leave Austen's books well alone as they're unhealthy for our daughters. Well, what Jane Austen taught me as a young girl was to be strong, intelligent and resourceful and to never just settle, but to always seek to marry your true love - that's a pretty good philosophy, don't you think?
Friday, March 9, 2007
A Busy Week
First of all, I'd like to thank the wonderful Kate Walker for mentioning this blog on her own blog as well as for dropping by, Anne McAllister, Michelle Styles, Lee Hyat, Margaret McDonagh and Lidia for leaving comments and welcoming me to blogland. I'm so sorry I've not been able to reply sooner, but it's been a week from hell with a family crisis to start off my week and a million and one things to do afterwards!
Whenever I had a spare minute, I'd see what was happening in blogland and needless to say, this week I was shocked, appalled and aghast by what was happening over on the I Love Presents blog. Apparently, a bunch of readers thought it amusing to stir things up and ruin for other genuine fans what I'm sure is going to be a favourite blog for many readers by making asinine comments about books which they haven't read and by attacking personally writers whom they've never met.
Now, I'm well aware that we are all different people with different beliefs, morals and opinions and that we've all got our likes and dislikes. We won't all like the same books nor will we all like the same authors - and thank God for that as wouldn't it be pretty boring if we all did? I don't object to a reader who has read a book from cover to cover and made constructive criticisms about said book, but what I do object to is readers who haven't read a book making stinging remarks about it when they haven't got a clue whatsoever. Everyone's entitled to express their opinion, true, but there's a world of difference between expressing one opinion and being nasty and bitchy about it and sadly, it seems that there are some readers who opt for the latter.
I've never written a book myself, but I do know that novel writing requires patience, skill, passion and intelligence so it makes my blood boil when I see readers cowardly insulting authors' books on a public messageboard or readers'forum whilst they are hiding behind an anonymous screen name. What's even more galling to me is when readers make assumptions about writers. I once read a post by a reader who said that as Sadie Author had written a couple of books about adultery then she must be an adulteress! The same poster called another author immoral because she included a spanking scene in her book! Aren't we supposed to be enlightened and intelligent women who can tell the difference between fact and fiction? I mean look at Ruth Rendell or Minette Walters, in their books they have characters tortured and viciously abused and then brutally murdered - so do they have bodies cluttering up their attics? Of course not! Do Science Fiction writers have spaceships in their garages next to their cars? No, they are just imaginative and intelligent; qualities which some readers are in desperate need of, I think!
Have a lovely weekend!
Whenever I had a spare minute, I'd see what was happening in blogland and needless to say, this week I was shocked, appalled and aghast by what was happening over on the I Love Presents blog. Apparently, a bunch of readers thought it amusing to stir things up and ruin for other genuine fans what I'm sure is going to be a favourite blog for many readers by making asinine comments about books which they haven't read and by attacking personally writers whom they've never met.
Now, I'm well aware that we are all different people with different beliefs, morals and opinions and that we've all got our likes and dislikes. We won't all like the same books nor will we all like the same authors - and thank God for that as wouldn't it be pretty boring if we all did? I don't object to a reader who has read a book from cover to cover and made constructive criticisms about said book, but what I do object to is readers who haven't read a book making stinging remarks about it when they haven't got a clue whatsoever. Everyone's entitled to express their opinion, true, but there's a world of difference between expressing one opinion and being nasty and bitchy about it and sadly, it seems that there are some readers who opt for the latter.
I've never written a book myself, but I do know that novel writing requires patience, skill, passion and intelligence so it makes my blood boil when I see readers cowardly insulting authors' books on a public messageboard or readers'forum whilst they are hiding behind an anonymous screen name. What's even more galling to me is when readers make assumptions about writers. I once read a post by a reader who said that as Sadie Author had written a couple of books about adultery then she must be an adulteress! The same poster called another author immoral because she included a spanking scene in her book! Aren't we supposed to be enlightened and intelligent women who can tell the difference between fact and fiction? I mean look at Ruth Rendell or Minette Walters, in their books they have characters tortured and viciously abused and then brutally murdered - so do they have bodies cluttering up their attics? Of course not! Do Science Fiction writers have spaceships in their garages next to their cars? No, they are just imaginative and intelligent; qualities which some readers are in desperate need of, I think!
Have a lovely weekend!
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Author Branding
The wonderful Barbara Hannay had a thought provoking post about Author Branding a few weeks ago which really got me thinking. The word 'brand' in itself suggest a semblance, a similiarity and a regularity which I think is at odds with the books which say, M&B writers like Barbara or Liz Fieling write.
True, you've writers like Betty Neels, probably one of M&B's bigger successes, who was famous for her gentle tales of Danish doctors, but then you've got the other famous M&B writer Penny Jordan, who in the last 12 months alone has written books featuring Sheikhs, Greeks and English aristocrats. In mainstream, you've only got to look at Nora Roberts or Jayne Ann Krentz who write a huge variety of tales ranging from paranormal to romantic suspense to historical to family saga. So, does an author have to be a "brand" to be successful? I can't help but think that the answer is NO! Writing books about say, Greek doctors, might immediately make readers think as soon as they spot your name on the book shelf, "Oh, there's Sadie author, the Greek doctor writer!", but it won't achieve the success of Penny, Nora, Liz, Barbara or countless others because as a reader, I don't care if I'm reading a book set on the moon, what I want is an engaging story which will move me and with these authors I always get this.
Have a lovely week!
True, you've writers like Betty Neels, probably one of M&B's bigger successes, who was famous for her gentle tales of Danish doctors, but then you've got the other famous M&B writer Penny Jordan, who in the last 12 months alone has written books featuring Sheikhs, Greeks and English aristocrats. In mainstream, you've only got to look at Nora Roberts or Jayne Ann Krentz who write a huge variety of tales ranging from paranormal to romantic suspense to historical to family saga. So, does an author have to be a "brand" to be successful? I can't help but think that the answer is NO! Writing books about say, Greek doctors, might immediately make readers think as soon as they spot your name on the book shelf, "Oh, there's Sadie author, the Greek doctor writer!", but it won't achieve the success of Penny, Nora, Liz, Barbara or countless others because as a reader, I don't care if I'm reading a book set on the moon, what I want is an engaging story which will move me and with these authors I always get this.
Have a lovely week!
Monday, February 19, 2007
When Real Life knocks on your door...
I've been neglecting this blog for these past few weeks due to a bad cold and life in general not giving me a chance to breathe, but in the meantime lots of very exciting things have been happening.
The RNA have announced their shortlist for the Romantic Novel of the Year and although I'm disappointed that some of my favourites didn't make the cut (Jane Jackson, Nora Roberts, Katie Fforde and Lesley Pearse), I'm pleased that on the whole this year's shortlist perfectly illustrates how vast the genre is.
The shortlist includes two sagas - Katie Flynn's Beyond the Blue Hills and Judith Lennox's A Step in the Dark (Not such a big fan of Ms Flynn, but I had read Ms. Lennox's Middlemere and really enjoyed it. I can't wait to read this book!)
Chick lit is represented by the wonderful Carole Matthews with Welcome to the real World and by male writer Matt Dunn, although I think it's fair to say that his novel,
The Ex Boyfriend's Handbook is more lad lit.
Finally, women's fiction is represented by Elizabeth McGregor's Learning by Heart (I'm not familiar with her writing although reviewers on Amazon certainly seem to love her) and Rosie Thomas' Iris and Ruby.
It will be interesting finding out the results as both the Category and Main Prize shortlists are particularly strong this year. Best of luck to all the nominees!
Meanwhile, you can hear an interview about the RNA Romantic Novel of the Year award on the BBC Radio Cambridgeshire website. If you visit the transita blog at transita.blogspot.com, you'll find all the details. I must say, I did find the presenter to be slightly dismissive of the genre (heaving bosoms? Please!), but Jan Jones's infectious enthusiasm for the genre certainly made up for what I thought was the media's typical ignorance on the genre.
I hope to blog soon and in the meantime, I wish all my blog readers a lovely week!
The RNA have announced their shortlist for the Romantic Novel of the Year and although I'm disappointed that some of my favourites didn't make the cut (Jane Jackson, Nora Roberts, Katie Fforde and Lesley Pearse), I'm pleased that on the whole this year's shortlist perfectly illustrates how vast the genre is.
The shortlist includes two sagas - Katie Flynn's Beyond the Blue Hills and Judith Lennox's A Step in the Dark (Not such a big fan of Ms Flynn, but I had read Ms. Lennox's Middlemere and really enjoyed it. I can't wait to read this book!)
Chick lit is represented by the wonderful Carole Matthews with Welcome to the real World and by male writer Matt Dunn, although I think it's fair to say that his novel,
The Ex Boyfriend's Handbook is more lad lit.
Finally, women's fiction is represented by Elizabeth McGregor's Learning by Heart (I'm not familiar with her writing although reviewers on Amazon certainly seem to love her) and Rosie Thomas' Iris and Ruby.
It will be interesting finding out the results as both the Category and Main Prize shortlists are particularly strong this year. Best of luck to all the nominees!
Meanwhile, you can hear an interview about the RNA Romantic Novel of the Year award on the BBC Radio Cambridgeshire website. If you visit the transita blog at transita.blogspot.com, you'll find all the details. I must say, I did find the presenter to be slightly dismissive of the genre (heaving bosoms? Please!), but Jan Jones's infectious enthusiasm for the genre certainly made up for what I thought was the media's typical ignorance on the genre.
I hope to blog soon and in the meantime, I wish all my blog readers a lovely week!
Saturday, February 3, 2007
RNA Category Romance Prize
The RNA Category Romance Prize short list was announced last week and although I am slightly disappointed that there are no Medical Romance or Modern Romance Extra short listed, I'm pleased on the whole that many of my favourites are nominated.
The nominees are:
Anne Herries - An Improper Companion
Nicola Cornick - Lord Greville's Captive
Michelle Styles - The Gladiator's Honour
Catherine George - The Millionaire's Runaway Bride
Jessica Hart - Her Ready Made Family
Natasha Oakley - Accepting the Boss's Proposal
Nell Dixon - Marrying Max
I'm pleased to see three historical romances shortlisted by three talented writers. Set in three different eras, these books perfectly demonstrate the storytelling prowess these writers have as well as the wide range of stories and the variety of settings to be found within the line. Anne's Gothic romance was absolutely splending, Michelle Styles' debut Gladiator tale was just fantastic and the always excellent Nicola Cornick wrote one of her best titles when she wrote Lord Greville's Captive.
Catherine George is one of my favourite Modern Romance writers. Her books, often set in rural England, are fantastic page-turner with gorgeous Alpha heroes and fiesty heroines. As a big fan of rural settings, I like how she brings to life these small communities particularly the village of Pennington.
Warmth, wit and charm are three qualities which I associate with previous winner Jessica Hart and I am delighted that she's shortlisted again with Her Ready Made Family.
Natasha Oakley made her M&B debut a few years back and I just fell in love with her books. Whether she's writing a hilarious tale or a heart-tuggingly emotional story, you can rest assured that you'll enjoy everything that has got her name on the front cover.
I've not read the Nell Dixon novel shortlisted, but I was lucky enough to win a pdf of her ebook Things to Do and I really enjoyed her book and loved her writing voice so I'm pleased that she got shortlisted. It's great the the People's Friend Story Collection titles are getting some recognition too. I love the My Weekly and People's Friend Story Collections as they are wonderul sweet romances, both historical and contemporary, which always delight.
All these writers are winners in my book and I am keeping my fingers crossed for all of them. Category romance is just wonderful and I'm pleased that it's getting all this lovely recogniton.
The nominees are:
Anne Herries - An Improper Companion
Nicola Cornick - Lord Greville's Captive
Michelle Styles - The Gladiator's Honour
Catherine George - The Millionaire's Runaway Bride
Jessica Hart - Her Ready Made Family
Natasha Oakley - Accepting the Boss's Proposal
Nell Dixon - Marrying Max
I'm pleased to see three historical romances shortlisted by three talented writers. Set in three different eras, these books perfectly demonstrate the storytelling prowess these writers have as well as the wide range of stories and the variety of settings to be found within the line. Anne's Gothic romance was absolutely splending, Michelle Styles' debut Gladiator tale was just fantastic and the always excellent Nicola Cornick wrote one of her best titles when she wrote Lord Greville's Captive.
Catherine George is one of my favourite Modern Romance writers. Her books, often set in rural England, are fantastic page-turner with gorgeous Alpha heroes and fiesty heroines. As a big fan of rural settings, I like how she brings to life these small communities particularly the village of Pennington.
Warmth, wit and charm are three qualities which I associate with previous winner Jessica Hart and I am delighted that she's shortlisted again with Her Ready Made Family.
Natasha Oakley made her M&B debut a few years back and I just fell in love with her books. Whether she's writing a hilarious tale or a heart-tuggingly emotional story, you can rest assured that you'll enjoy everything that has got her name on the front cover.
I've not read the Nell Dixon novel shortlisted, but I was lucky enough to win a pdf of her ebook Things to Do and I really enjoyed her book and loved her writing voice so I'm pleased that she got shortlisted. It's great the the People's Friend Story Collection titles are getting some recognition too. I love the My Weekly and People's Friend Story Collections as they are wonderul sweet romances, both historical and contemporary, which always delight.
All these writers are winners in my book and I am keeping my fingers crossed for all of them. Category romance is just wonderful and I'm pleased that it's getting all this lovely recogniton.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Romantic Novel of the Year Award Longlist
It's Awards season and this week the Romantic Novelists' Association has just posted the longlist for this year's nominated books for their prestigious Romantic Novel of the Year Award. I have to say that I'm very pleased with this year's choices. I don't know what the shortlisted titles will be yet, but bravo for choosing titles that represent all sub genres of romance in the UK so well.
Some of my favourites are on that list including the always delightful Katie Fforde, Lesley Pearse whose epic romances never fail to keep me engrossed from beginning to end, Elizabeth Chadwick, whose Medievals are wonderful, the fantastic chick lit writer Carole Matthews, Judith Lennox who writes heartwarming and heart tuggingly poignant wartime sagas and Jane Jackson, whose books I had the good fortune to review for Single Titles website. Also, I'm delighted that Nora Roberts is on the long list too! Nora is a fantastic writer. She's hugely prolific, but she's a writer I can count on to deliver an unputdownable story. I hope that that she gets shortlisted and gets the huge audience in the UK which she deserves.
I had also read two other writers shortlisted - Katie Flynn and Sarah Challis. Unfortunately, I didn't like the saga I'd read by Ms. Flynn (although to be fair I've only ever read one so maybe the others are wonderful and I'm missing out on a great author!) and Sarah Challis' book I read wasn't a favourite, I have to say. But best of luck to them!
Intriguing to see a male writer in the list and Rosie Thomas, whose book Sun at Midnight I'm itching to start. She's longlisted for Iris and Ruby, a book which looks really good.
I'm now waiting patiently to see which books get nominated for the final award and hoping that the RNA will publish the shortlist for the category romance of the year too. In the meantine, I feel a visit to the bookshop coming on, as I try to read all the authors in the list I've not read yet which means more books to be added to my already huge reading pile!
Have a good weekend!
Some of my favourites are on that list including the always delightful Katie Fforde, Lesley Pearse whose epic romances never fail to keep me engrossed from beginning to end, Elizabeth Chadwick, whose Medievals are wonderful, the fantastic chick lit writer Carole Matthews, Judith Lennox who writes heartwarming and heart tuggingly poignant wartime sagas and Jane Jackson, whose books I had the good fortune to review for Single Titles website. Also, I'm delighted that Nora Roberts is on the long list too! Nora is a fantastic writer. She's hugely prolific, but she's a writer I can count on to deliver an unputdownable story. I hope that that she gets shortlisted and gets the huge audience in the UK which she deserves.
I had also read two other writers shortlisted - Katie Flynn and Sarah Challis. Unfortunately, I didn't like the saga I'd read by Ms. Flynn (although to be fair I've only ever read one so maybe the others are wonderful and I'm missing out on a great author!) and Sarah Challis' book I read wasn't a favourite, I have to say. But best of luck to them!
Intriguing to see a male writer in the list and Rosie Thomas, whose book Sun at Midnight I'm itching to start. She's longlisted for Iris and Ruby, a book which looks really good.
I'm now waiting patiently to see which books get nominated for the final award and hoping that the RNA will publish the shortlist for the category romance of the year too. In the meantine, I feel a visit to the bookshop coming on, as I try to read all the authors in the list I've not read yet which means more books to be added to my already huge reading pile!
Have a good weekend!
Monday, January 15, 2007
Testing
Hello!
My name is Julie and I enjoy reading other people's blogs so much, that I thought why not have one of my own. I'm a wife and mother who review romantic novels in her spare time and who enjoys reading (obviously!), listening to the radio, the theatre, movies, cooking, socializing and history.
I'll be using this blog to write down my thoughts about life and what I am reading, watching or listening to!
My name is Julie and I enjoy reading other people's blogs so much, that I thought why not have one of my own. I'm a wife and mother who review romantic novels in her spare time and who enjoys reading (obviously!), listening to the radio, the theatre, movies, cooking, socializing and history.
I'll be using this blog to write down my thoughts about life and what I am reading, watching or listening to!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)