Cavendish Library Blog

When I go to library conventions and talk with other libraries about what they put on the shelves, many (but not all) look down their noses at me when I tell them I purchase romance novels for my shelves.  Not necessarily best selling romance like Nora Roberts and Jayne Ann Krentz, but paperback novels with women with low cut dresses in the arms of men in low cut shirts.

I get shocked looks and questions about whether they circulate.  The answer is “Yes.”  Then I ask the other librarians: “Do you read them?”  Many refuse to make eye contact with me at this point or say “I’m too busy reading other books.”  Or “I have to keep up with my library reading.”  Frankly there is a lot of reading that a librarian has to do.  I don’t mean pleasure reading either.  I myself am at the verge of completing a long and grueling class that had me reading a textbook that was so big it could double as a nightstand, but I still took some time out to read trashy romance novels from time to time. Usually in the bathtub.

Why do people read them? Let’s look at a typical plot.  Once upon a time there was a beautiful girl, who lived with a mean parent or sister or aunt or was just abused by someone.  She meets a man who is rich, heroic, has some troubles of his own and isn’t looking to fall in love.  They meet. They can’t stand each other (usually) but their bodies know better (usually) they fall in lust, overcome a big problem together, fall in love and get married (Not necessarily in that order) and live happily ever after.  Think of it as a grown up fairy tale.

There are different variations on the theme.  Sometimes there are vampires or werewolves involved (I love those!).  Sometimes the male is somehow saved by the female, but he often saves her back.  They are contemporary with strong female characters.  They are historical with fiesty characters. There is time travel, history (some better researched than others) and sometimes embarrassingly bad writing and far too detailed descriptions of things better left to the privacy of ones imagination featuring a lot of heaving, panting and throbbing.

OK given all of that, why do I read them, and why should you? Trashy romance novels are escape pure and simple.  There’s usually not a lot of redeeming literary values, but sometimes writing stars develop from the genre.  Life is short.  Times are getting tough.  We all need a break.  Romance novels are not fattening, expensive or immoral.  Taking time for yourself is important.  Fill up the bathtub, barricade the door to keep your children from coming in (I would like to dig a pit fall trap to get privacy in the tub) and take a trashy novel in with you.  It’s a luxury you can afford.

If your library doesn’t carry a line of trashy romance novels, I can suggest going to your local used book store.  You can pick up books for less than half the cover price, then trade them in when you are done.  Or keep them. I have several of my favorites stacked three deep on bookcases in my house. Better yet, donate them to your local library.  I bet you’ll be surprised how many people read them.

While browsing the internet one day, I came across a website called “Jump the Shark”.  It’s a website dedicated to television shows that experience a sharp decline in quality or change fundementally from their origins.  Usually it denotes a drop in quality.  The term is based on an episode of Happy Days where Fonzie, leather jacket and all, jumps a shark on waterskies.  I skimmed through the website looking up favorites from my favorite TV shows past and present and saw where readers can vote as to whether or not a show has “Jumped” and why.  As I was chuckling over Ted McGinley being the jump the shark angel of death, I was wondering: Can book series jump the shark?

I think so.

I have been a happy reader of Christine Feehan’s books for more than ten years.  Her “Dark” series, with the vampire-like Carpathians who must find the one woman who would bring light to their darkness has always appealed to me.  After all, who wouldn’t love the idea of a man who is a) willing to do anything for your happiness b) extremely wealthy c) can give you eternal life and beauty d) can still let you taste chocolate ?  Sounds good to me.

In that vein (no pun intended) I enjoyed several books, became an active fan, did online jigsaw puzzles and generally waited with baited breath for the next book to come out.  Then came the book “Dark Celebration”.  The story itself was only fair, a bunch of Carpathians get together for the holidays.  What caused the sharks to circle was the presence of the Carpathian language.  Before this book, the language was mentioned, the healing chants were mentioned and all was beautiful and mysterious.  Now a proto-Hungarian language and spirtuality was included along with broken English translations.  Yuck. Super shark!  I understand Feehan’s decision to make some changes to the books and make the plot line more complex and have story arcs within the overall story line, but these are paranormal romances, not great literature.  When she deicded to create a language and include a dictionary in the book, she started taking it and her books too seriously.  Shark time!

Have I read the books that came out after “Dark Celebration”?  Of course.  Are they as good?  They’re still worth reading, but they lack the freshness of the earlier books.  I will no doubt continuing buying them for myself as long as they keep coming out.  Shark bait doesn’t mean it’s not worthwhile.