Although this isn’t exactly a romance novel, it’s close enough, so I think it belongs on my blog.
Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches Guide to Romance Novels
by Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan
(2009, Non-Fiction) 4/30/09
Grade: 4.5
Overall, this book was great fun. Although there were some dull sections, overall it kept me laughing, and reminded me of why I love romance. The snarky attitude of the authors worked perfectly to explain why even the most devoted romance lover has to sometimes roll her eyes when she comes across “that book”.
The one thing that I found surprising about this book was the emphasis on the “Old Skool” romance. I started reading romance in the mid-80’s, and my first romance novel was Ashes in the Wind by Kathleen Woodiwiss. (Given to me by my grandmother!) So I know all about the Old Skool romance, and have a certain fondness for a few of those books. But I haven’t read one in almost two decades, and I don’t think any romance readers think about them much any more. You have to talk about them to understand the history of romance, but it just seemed like too much time was spent discussing a type of romance that hasn’t been published in 20 years. I realize that the outside world still thinks of romance as “the bodice ripper”, but I wanted to read more about the books that turned me into a romance believer, not the rape fests of the 70’s and early 80’s. (And I think the audience for this book will mostly be romance readers, not skeptics who can’t get past the bodice ripper image.)
Still, this book is completely unique, and it was worth every penny. But it won’t be going on my keeper shelf next to Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women.
Karen Wheless
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