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.
Of course, this is the theme that animates Romeo and Juliet. Adam's rhapsody on first encountering Eve is the first utterance of a man is helpless before the wonder that is woman. On a more recent note, the blockbuster vampire books and movies are the same-old same-old with a new, clever twist.
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.
Speaking of kings, remember the fall of Troy when Helen was the prize. King David went blindly ahead in his desire to possess Bathsheba, and he of all people should have known better. His son Solomon was the wisest man on earth and look what the ladies did for him - or did him for. Sampson and Delilah give us another example from the Bible, and the builder of the Taj Mahal one from history.
There is nothing wrong with the writing, either. Many books are churned out with little imagination and less plot development, but then others have so much appeal that they top the New York Times Best Selling List, and fans eagerly await the next book from their favorite author. Many a light and entertaining read was written by a scholar who sacrificed nothing of his or her classical education when bringing imaginary heroines and heroes together.
No one can say that this sort of literature won't endure, either. Just look at 'Jane Eyre' and 'Pride and Prejudice', which probably will never go out of fashion. Who knows which of the books coming out this year will achieve the same recognition and status.
There's not a lot of plot deviation in this genre. The genius of past and contemporary romance authors is in the details. The heroines are beautiful and fascinating, with more than a pretty face to keep the man they attract. The heroes are either fabulously wealthy and mysterious or unjustly downtrodden with a troubled but mysterious history. Their interaction and conflict, along with the details of their lives, make the stories that enchants readers of all ages.
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.
Of course, this is the theme that animates Romeo and Juliet. Adam's rhapsody on first encountering Eve is the first utterance of a man is helpless before the wonder that is woman. On a more recent note, the blockbuster vampire books and movies are the same-old same-old with a new, clever twist.
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.
Speaking of kings, remember the fall of Troy when Helen was the prize. King David went blindly ahead in his desire to possess Bathsheba, and he of all people should have known better. His son Solomon was the wisest man on earth and look what the ladies did for him - or did him for. Sampson and Delilah give us another example from the Bible, and the builder of the Taj Mahal one from history.
There is nothing wrong with the writing, either. Many books are churned out with little imagination and less plot development, but then others have so much appeal that they top the New York Times Best Selling List, and fans eagerly await the next book from their favorite author. Many a light and entertaining read was written by a scholar who sacrificed nothing of his or her classical education when bringing imaginary heroines and heroes together.
No one can say that this sort of literature won't endure, either. Just look at 'Jane Eyre' and 'Pride and Prejudice', which probably will never go out of fashion. Who knows which of the books coming out this year will achieve the same recognition and status.
There's not a lot of plot deviation in this genre. The genius of past and contemporary romance authors is in the details. The heroines are beautiful and fascinating, with more than a pretty face to keep the man they attract. The heroes are either fabulously wealthy and mysterious or unjustly downtrodden with a troubled but mysterious history. Their interaction and conflict, along with the details of their lives, make the stories that enchants readers of all ages.
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