In high school I had an English teacher who I enjoyed chatting with. She loved romance novels (of the Harlequin variety), and I would tease her about how I thought they were crap. She issued me a challenge: over the summer, read a few, come back in the fall, and let her know what I thought. My mother liked dealing with consignment shops, and once received a small box of those kinds of romance books. I asked her if I could borrow it before she brought it to the store. I read the first one: not bad. Boy meets girl, they can’t stand each other, circumstances throw them together & they fall in love. I read the 2nd one…different names, locations & specific circumstances…but basically the same thing. 3rd…4th…read about 1/2-dozen…all the same thing. In the fall I approached the teacher, handed her my list of titles (my idea; she didn’t ask me to) and told her that they were STILL crap!
I greatly dislike getting to the end of a book (or movie for that matter) and the ending is not ….an ending. Unless there’s a sequel already in the works I want a dang ending!
I read a novel several years back that started with completely implausible plot lines. I got about 80% through the book before my sense of disbelief completely kicked in and I stopped reading it.
I have several kinds of reading habits. I like Barbara Cartland Romance novels. They are crap, but at least are set against a real historical background (at least the series I read – she has many). They take me about 1.5 hrs. to get through, so a nice light read. Different story line, exactly the same plot. I also like Anne McCaffrey – almost every thing she has written – I like the way she develops a society and shows how it changes over time (i.e. Dragonriders series). Elizabeth Moon’s Deed of Paksenarrion series – at least the first 3 – which are NOT a light read, but I have read over and over again. It reads like a Dungeons and Dragons campaign. Marion Zimmer Bradley is also good at developing a society and shows its changes over a VERY long time (i.e. Darkover series). I also like some Heinlein “juvenile” stuff. Short reads, but still makes your mind work – even if he doesn’t think women should work because it means they “ignore their kids.” This was the 50s and 60s. LOL
There was a series of books I was very fond of — well-written, very detailed, very entertaining fantasy. Granted, there were a few far-fetched plot developments, but I was able to forgive them. But the sixth book in the series was awful — a boring plot that went absolutely nowhere, and the few plot points from the previous novel that could have generated interest were dreadfully mishandled. I still like the first five books, but I try to pretend the sixth doesn’t exist.
My husband and I are 18th reenactors. He had started reading the Outlander books – and would discuss the books with other guys in our reenacting unit. I presumed that these were heavy historical books. He found one on tape and decided to listen to it in the car while we went on trip. It was a bodice ripper!! All these guys were reading romance books set in the 18th century! I could not believe it. (The version in the TV series is rather cleaned up from the books.)
I find the movies and TV shows on Hallmark these recent years are all romances with the same plots repeated – Plot 1 – boy or girl left home town, comes home gets back together with old flame or someone they had wanted as a flame. Plot 2 – the local company is being taken over by a nasty large company and the employee sent to gut the local company falls in love with child (generally guy comes and falls in love with daughter) of the man who founded the company and they end up saving the company from being taken over by the evil big company. They are certainly not the quality of the old Hallmark Hall of Fame movies – such as their version of “Lion in Winter” (we watch it every year while putting up the tree after watching the original O’Toole/Hepburn version – it is a wonderful Christmas story) or the “Sarah Plain and Tall” movies. Nor is the stable of unknown actors the equivalent of the actors they had in these older movies.
My biggest problem is that when see a “who done it” I always figure it out and generally rather quickly. When we saw “Knives Out” I figured out who done it, before it was even done! (No, I don’t tell husband, but I will make a note in my cell phone sometimes to show him later that really did know.)
My book reading has turned to almost all non-fiction history books.
I’ve noticed when I go to a book sale and I go to lots of book sales, they usually have boxes of Harlequin books in boxes wit free on the box…I pass on them anyway. I like a book with some excitement and adventure.
in.amongst over 3 years ago
For the record – romance is dead, in letter! But hopefully not in spirit.
Farside99 over 3 years ago
OK, Jimbo, your job here is to grab her and kiss her passionately! Fix the ending for her!
littlejohn Premium Member over 3 years ago
Time for some hot-chocolate and a new book. Or at least a night time herbal tea.
Geophyzz over 3 years ago
It must have been written by Hallmark.
Wren Fahel over 3 years ago
In high school I had an English teacher who I enjoyed chatting with. She loved romance novels (of the Harlequin variety), and I would tease her about how I thought they were crap. She issued me a challenge: over the summer, read a few, come back in the fall, and let her know what I thought. My mother liked dealing with consignment shops, and once received a small box of those kinds of romance books. I asked her if I could borrow it before she brought it to the store. I read the first one: not bad. Boy meets girl, they can’t stand each other, circumstances throw them together & they fall in love. I read the 2nd one…different names, locations & specific circumstances…but basically the same thing. 3rd…4th…read about 1/2-dozen…all the same thing. In the fall I approached the teacher, handed her my list of titles (my idea; she didn’t ask me to) and told her that they were STILL crap!
1953Baby over 3 years ago
You could say that about half the fiction published these days.
Grace Premium Member over 3 years ago
I greatly dislike getting to the end of a book (or movie for that matter) and the ending is not ….an ending. Unless there’s a sequel already in the works I want a dang ending!
stairsteppublishing over 3 years ago
Light reading, puts me to sleep.
tygrkhat40 over 3 years ago
I read a novel several years back that started with completely implausible plot lines. I got about 80% through the book before my sense of disbelief completely kicked in and I stopped reading it.
PoodleGroomer over 3 years ago
Time to switch to Louis L’Amour.
rpmurray over 3 years ago
Rose has got to stop reading those Rose is Rose collections.
contralto2b over 3 years ago
I have several kinds of reading habits. I like Barbara Cartland Romance novels. They are crap, but at least are set against a real historical background (at least the series I read – she has many). They take me about 1.5 hrs. to get through, so a nice light read. Different story line, exactly the same plot. I also like Anne McCaffrey – almost every thing she has written – I like the way she develops a society and shows how it changes over time (i.e. Dragonriders series). Elizabeth Moon’s Deed of Paksenarrion series – at least the first 3 – which are NOT a light read, but I have read over and over again. It reads like a Dungeons and Dragons campaign. Marion Zimmer Bradley is also good at developing a society and shows its changes over a VERY long time (i.e. Darkover series). I also like some Heinlein “juvenile” stuff. Short reads, but still makes your mind work – even if he doesn’t think women should work because it means they “ignore their kids.” This was the 50s and 60s. LOL
paullp Premium Member over 3 years ago
There was a series of books I was very fond of — well-written, very detailed, very entertaining fantasy. Granted, there were a few far-fetched plot developments, but I was able to forgive them. But the sixth book in the series was awful — a boring plot that went absolutely nowhere, and the few plot points from the previous novel that could have generated interest were dreadfully mishandled. I still like the first five books, but I try to pretend the sixth doesn’t exist.
mafastore over 3 years ago
My husband and I are 18th reenactors. He had started reading the Outlander books – and would discuss the books with other guys in our reenacting unit. I presumed that these were heavy historical books. He found one on tape and decided to listen to it in the car while we went on trip. It was a bodice ripper!! All these guys were reading romance books set in the 18th century! I could not believe it. (The version in the TV series is rather cleaned up from the books.)
I find the movies and TV shows on Hallmark these recent years are all romances with the same plots repeated – Plot 1 – boy or girl left home town, comes home gets back together with old flame or someone they had wanted as a flame. Plot 2 – the local company is being taken over by a nasty large company and the employee sent to gut the local company falls in love with child (generally guy comes and falls in love with daughter) of the man who founded the company and they end up saving the company from being taken over by the evil big company. They are certainly not the quality of the old Hallmark Hall of Fame movies – such as their version of “Lion in Winter” (we watch it every year while putting up the tree after watching the original O’Toole/Hepburn version – it is a wonderful Christmas story) or the “Sarah Plain and Tall” movies. Nor is the stable of unknown actors the equivalent of the actors they had in these older movies.
My biggest problem is that when see a “who done it” I always figure it out and generally rather quickly. When we saw “Knives Out” I figured out who done it, before it was even done! (No, I don’t tell husband, but I will make a note in my cell phone sometimes to show him later that really did know.)
My book reading has turned to almost all non-fiction history books.
shapmandoo about 2 years ago
I’ve noticed when I go to a book sale and I go to lots of book sales, they usually have boxes of Harlequin books in boxes wit free on the box…I pass on them anyway. I like a book with some excitement and adventure.