Posts Tagged ‘romance’
1
Write on Wednesday: Romance Masterclass
1
This week’s Write on Wednesday (hosted by the delightful Gill from Ink Paper Pen) has a guest writing task master – Allison Tait from Life in a Pink Fibro. You can find all the details of her challenge here and it isn’t too late to sign up if you want to join in the fun.
This week, we need to write for 5 minutes using the first line of Stephanie Laurens’ The Untamed Bride as our prompt. We are supposed to be aiming for something romance-ish, but since I don’t generally write fiction, I’m not sure where I’ll end up. I do read romance novels and even attempted to write one myself once. Unfortunately, the dismal results of that writing venture are why I generally stick to non-fiction now. Who knows? Maybe this Write on Wednesday will unleash my dormant romancing writing skills. Or not. Let’s find out, shall we?
‘I can’t stress how important it is that we behead this fiend.’
Melanie gazed at the office memo she was typing and quickly deleted the last line. The new CEO had shown no evidence of a sense of humour since his arrival one month ago and she doubted he would appreciate her suggestion for how the staff deal with his new list of office reforms and innovations.
‘Miss Baxter.’
Melanie froze at the sound of her name in the deep, resonant tones of her new boss. She looked up from her desk to find him standing in the doorway of his office. He was frowning at her and she tried to reassure herself that this was no different to the frown he had worn for most of the past month, rather than a sign of his disapproval at being called a fiend.
‘Yes, Mr Sullivan?’
‘I’d like to see you in my office please, Miss Baxter. I have some issues I wish to discuss.’ He turned and returned to his office without looking back to see whether she was following.
Melanie grabbed a notebook and pen and tried to slow her frantically racing heart. ‘I am calm, competent and an asset to this company’ she repeated like a mantra as she made her way towards his office.
Analysis
I wish this was the ‘how many times can you use the word ‘office’ in a coherent piece of prose’ challenge, because if it was I would be able to feel rightfully proud of my efforts. In addition to the six in the text above, I deleted two during a quick edit. I think that’s impressive. Did you notice that I’d set my piece in an office?
Adjectives and adverbs are obviously overrated. I think that this is the real reason I don’t write fiction. I am simply not a visual person and honestly, whether Melanie has short red bouncy curls or long lustrous black flowing locks doesn’t interest me in the slightest. I’ll look at the picture on the cover and that’s how I’ll picture her. I’m always far more interested in the dialogue than the descriptions anyway.
Which brings me to dialogue. Hmmm. Yes. Moving on.
Five minutes isn’t long to develop a story or indicate a genre, so I am absolving myself of all responsibility for the generic and wishy-washy tone of what I have written. If I had another 5 minutes of writing you can guarantee that I could have worked in references to her heaving bosom, his throbbing manhood and a thrilling electric sensation when their hands inadvertently touch, placing my writing firmly in the badly written clichés corner of the romance genre.
Well, that’s it from me. Make sure you visit this week’s Write on Wednesday post at Ink Paper Pen and follow the links to read the efforts of the other participants. I’m amazed each week at just how talented some writers are and I’m enjoying the diversity of the responses to the weekly writing exercise challenges.
1
Reading Romances
1What do you read when you’re looking for mental down time? Maybe you avoid books entirely when you feel like your brain is full, but since I’m a compulsive reader that isn’t an option for me. I have to be reading something or I start to get the shakes.
Since I have been rather serious here since the beginning of the year with all my planning and de-cluttering and goal-setting, I thought I would take some time out to talk about the books I read when I’m trying to clear some headspace and have a bit of a mental break from either life in general or if I have been reading several books with heavier themes.
My friend Meredith (Oh, The Thinks you can Think) likes to indulge in celebrity gossip magazines as a way of refreshing her mental palate. Me? I read romance novels. They’re quick and easy, I don’t have to think about what I’m reading and there is a certain predictability that is kind of reassuring for those times when life or other reading pursuits are leaving me feeling drained.
I’m not going to wax lyrical here about the trashy romance novel and its debateable virtues. Instead, I’m wondering whether a phenomenon that occurs at my library is local quirk or a widespread romance novel reader trend.
Just inside the front cover of the library romance books, you can find marks like these:
These initials, stars and markers have been left behind by previous readers like breadcrumbs in the forest, marking their trail so that they can recognise a path they have already travelled. My favourite reader is the one who circles page 49. I picked up five books at random as light relief for over the Christmas holidays and she has been there before me in each and every one.
If you are a romance reader, do you have your own symbol that you add to books so that you can avoid borrowing the same book twice? Should I find my own little marker? If so, what should it be? Maybe I could try to race Ms Page 49 to the new releases and put a star around the number on that page before she gets there. Hmmm.
I have to say, it goes against the grain to write in a library book, but I’m feeling a little left out that I’m not leaving my imprint to be noted by the next reader to come along. Now I’m feeling less like Hansel and Gretel and more like a dog out on a walk, so maybe I should just skip that idea entirely.
As a final aside, I was greatly amused by this comment in the front page of one of the books. The cover illustration showed a man in a suit with a young blonde in business attire, presumably seated in a limousine (I mean really, isn’t that how we all travel to business meetings?). Unfortunately, this reader was a little upset that there was no young blonde in either of the stories in the book. I think she might be taking things just a little bit too seriously. What do you think?
1
Secret Reading Indulgences
1Rebecca at Lost in Books recently posted about book snobbery – believing that certain genres and types of book are superior to others in some way.
Her post got me thinking. I’m as guilty of literary elitism as the next person. There are books that make me roll my eyes and other genres that I routinely overlook on visits to the local library or bookshop.
Despite these rather misplaced feelings of intellectual superiority, I do have a guilty little reading secret. When life gets too busy or I feel like I’m about to head into mental overload, I have been known to pick up a… trashy romance novel.
That’s right. My name is Susan and I read Thrills and Swoon romances.
I’m talking tacky bodice rippers here. One hour reads full of overworked plot contrivances and predictable characters. To be completely honest, I read them because I can temporarily disengage my brain when I read them and because they make me laugh.
I don’t tend to confess my romance novel indulgence in public. It seems far too trivial a genre to boast about, but Rebecca has inspired me to confess my book snobbery and come out of the paperback romance closet.
Do you have a secret reading pleasure? Maybe you’re a nuclear physicist who enjoys the occasional picture book, or a brain surgeon who has a stash of comic books hidden away in the closet. Perhaps you’re a lecturer in Shakespearean literature who secretly writes romance novels in your spare time (much like romance novelist Eloise James).
You’re among friends here and they say confession is good for the soul, so speak up and let us all know what you read when no-one is looking. What genre do you try to hide amongst more worthy tomes at the bookstore or library checkout counter? We promise we won’t tell anyone, so don’t be shy.
Related Article: Review of The Desperate Duchess series by Eloise James at Suite101.
1
Book Review – Handpicked by Siew Siang Tay
1Title: Handpicked
Author: Siew Siang Tay
Publisher: 4th Estate, 2009 (341 pages)
ISBN: 978-0-7322-8792-4
Grab: A shady spot by the river to read and relax
I always take a deep breath before diving into a debut novel. I like to have some idea of the direction a story will take, or at least a basic expectation of style or content, before beginning. I was pleased that I took the chance on Handpicked by Malaysian- born Australian author Siew Siang Tay.
Handpicked is a gentle love story offering empathetic central characters with very real hopes, flaws and strengths.
Tired of cramped living quarters in her Malaysian village, Laila’s longing for a better life leads her to join a dating service. She meets Jim, a South Australian fruit picker and after a year of correspondence, accepts Jim’s proposal and plane ticket to a new life in Australia.
Soon after her arrival, Laila’s hopes of a comfortable life are crushed when she discovers that Jim lives in a caravan. Jim and Laila struggle to overcome their disappointments and unmet expectations, leading to a relationship that dissolves into unhappiness and arguments. Eventually, Laila leaves Jim believing that she will have her needs met by another man who lives a more financially secure life.
Jim and Laila are very convincingly yet gently portrayed. They struggle with their own expectations and their frustration with the limitations they perceive in each other, but not themselves. Abusive scenes between Laila and her lover are confronting, in contrast to the gentle portrayal of her relationship with Jim.
While Handpicked does venture to explore the clash of cultures to a certain degree, the themes are generally more universal. Both Laila and Jim must learn to value themselves before they are able to truly appreciate each other.
Handpicked is a very touching love story told with great sensitivity by Siang Tay. I enjoyed reading it and found that Laila’s story in particular stayed with me. I really enjoyed the novelty of the South Australian setting and Laila’s connection with the river, both in her village in Malaysia and in Renmark, created a lovely ongoing image throughout the story.
Suite101 Review: Handpicked
1
Book Review – The Marriage Bureau for Rich People by Farahad Zama
1Title: The Marriage Bureau for Rich People
Author: Farahad Zama
Publisher: Abacus, 2009 (276 pages)
Grab: A beach chair and a mango
I really enjoyed this novel and read it quite quickly. I tend to get bored with chick-lit generally – all those predictable storylines and cardboard cut-out characters – but this book had that little bit extra that made it a fun and interesting.
As Mr Ali interviews potential clients for his marriage bureau/matchmaking service, there is a fascinating amount of detail given about the caste and sub-caste requirements, social hierarchy and family obligations and expectations that are major factors in choosing a partner for the characters in the story. The descriptions of both Hindu and Muslim wedding ceremonies are also very interesting.
On reflection, there is a surprisingly large amount of detail about Indian culture worked into the story and it is an indication of the skill of the author that the novel never feels like a lecture in Indian customs and traditions.
The descriptions of the saris and other clothing have me looking at my cargo pants and T-shirt in despair and the Indian dishes prepared by Mrs Ali have my mouth watering. Too many more books like this and The Hindi Bindi Club and I will overcome my inertia and actually start cooking some of the dishes from the Traditional Indian Cookbook that I have sitting on my kitchen bench (obtained after I finished reading the HBC).
The lack of bad language, sex scenes or any other possible elements that might offend means that this book can be as easily recommended to your grandmother as it can to a girlfriend or teenager.
This is Farahad Zama’s debut novel and I will definitely be looking out for any books he writes in the future.
1
Book Review – Saving Grace by Ciara Geraghty
1Title: Saving Grace
Author: Ciara Geraghty
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton, 2009
Grab: a pint of Guinness
Am I allowed to confess that I am not a huge fan of the chick-lit genre? It is perhaps a sign that I am getting older (dare I admit it), but I often find it difficult to relate to the supposed trials faced by the central character (“Oh no! I’ve snapped the heel off one of my favourite Jimmy Choo boots. WHAT WILL I DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”).
Okay, maybe I’m being a bit harsh, but I do think that Saving Grace by new Irish author Ciara Geraghty shows that it is possible to write chick-lit with a protagonist who is both fun and has some depth.
There is a certain level of predictability with the characters, but in my mind this is part of the comfort aspect of this style of novel. Grace is tall with blazing red hair, slightly clumsy and generally running late. Her younger sister Clare is petite, gorgeous and happily preparing to marry the man of her dreams. Older sister Jane is practical and reliable. Grace’s boyfriend Shane is gorgeous but self-centred and her “unexpected” love interest Bernard is a geeky IT guy with poor dress sense. No surprises there.
The real pleasure in this novel comes from the wonderful self-deprecating humour of Grace as she narrates the story. Saving Grace is at times laugh-out loud funny, particularly the opening scene when Grace wakes to find herself in bed with Bernard with a very nasty hangover and then finds herself running late to attend a dress fitting for her sister’s wedding.
The heart comes from the damaged relationship between Grace and her mother and her wonderful friendships. Events have brought Grace to a point where she finds it difficult to feel good about herself, yet she is surrounded by true friends and others who believe in her and can see her potential. I admit to shedding a quiet tear or two in the final chapters (I’m such a sentimental fool).
The focus on family relationships and Grace’s self-doubt gives this story depth and prevents it from simply being another frothy and forgettable girl-about-town novel. Grace and her friends and family are likeable and the humorous mishaps offer a wonderful balance to the deeper themes.
Suite101 Review: Saving Grace
1
6 Predictable Romance Novel Heroes
1- The Doctor – still grieving for the loss of his wife/child, this gifted medical practitioner puts all of his emotional energy into healing his patients. Somehow he manages to maintain a buff physic despite his 16 hour working days.
- The Cowboy – practical, tough and sexy as all-get-out, this hardworking rancher doesn’t have time for anything except for his property and his horses. Funnily enough for a man who only seems to leave his property to visit the rodeo, feed store or local honky tonk, he can be amazingly suave when the right woman comes along (see Hugh Jackman in Baz Luhrman’s Australia for the Aussie equivalent, The Drover).
- The Billionaire Tycoon – From dirt poor beginnings, probably with one alcoholic parent and one absent parent either through death or desertion, this man has abandoned all emotion in his single-minded quest to accrue wealth and power. He is most inclined to fall in love with a) his plain-jane secretary who really stunningly beautiful and incredibly nice and has secretly loved him for years, b) a sassy woman who cares nothing for wealth or monetary success and is not impressed by him in any way or c) a random woman that he asks to marry him to fulfil some business ultimatum from a managing director or to avoid some money-hungry socialite trying to trick him into marriage.
- The Billionaire Heir – Unable to know whether women are more interested in him or his money, this hero is unable to trust. For possible romantic interests, see The Billionaire Tycoon.
- The Prince – Who knew there were so many dashingly handsome, charming, single royal males roaming the world? As with The Billionaire Heir, The Prince believes that all women are only interested in his wealth and status but will probably end up falling deeply in love with a woman he marries to fulfil his obligation to continue to royal line.
- The Hero – Perhaps a police or ambulance officer, fireman, detective, marine or SEAL, he is always tough as nails, totally independent and unwilling to form emotional attachments.
