You may be among those who profess to despise the work of contemporary romance authors. If you read one on the sly now and then, you needn't be ashamed. Millions of others are reading these novels, although most of them do it openly. The demand for this kind of escapist reading doesn't seem to decline.
There is nothing new about this taste for 'boy meets girl' stories. From the first, dramatic novels of exotic places, abduction, seduction, and eternal love have been despised and devoured. Once called 'bodice-rippers' and now condemned as soft porn, these books are the stuff that fantasies and movies are made of. 'Chick flicks' are as successful as the books they are based on.
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.
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.
There is nothing new about this taste for 'boy meets girl' stories. From the first, dramatic novels of exotic places, abduction, seduction, and eternal love have been despised and devoured. Once called 'bodice-rippers' and now condemned as soft porn, these books are the stuff that fantasies and movies are made of. 'Chick flicks' are as successful as the books they are based on.
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.
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.
About the Author:
If you would like to read more from contemporary romance authors click this link to www.laceydancerauthor.com. For the latest works from author Lacey Dancer, visit her home page at http://www.laceydancerauthor.com today.
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