I'm no scholar, but I really am tired of how people are looking at romance on booktube, so I decided to write my thoughts down then put them in a video.
I truly do believe that part of the reason people look down on romance, is because of misogyny, it's given a bad rap because people don't believe that romance is a 'real' genre, or that the woman that read romance, are lonely women without men, and that the women who write romance are simply living out their fantasies, because they are also lonely women, And while that may be true for some women reading the books, it's not true for a majority.. Even if it is true, that doesn't make the book any less than (yeah I know there are some really shit books out there, I'm looking at you the story inappropriate insensitive racist books, we're mostly talking about the books that aren't a waste of trees and ink). No one looks at spy books written by men and telling them it's not realistic or only pathetic men will read these.
It's really starting to get on my nerves also when people look down on romance then turn around and talk about how much they love Pride and Prejudice, or Romeo & Juliet. Yeah How you love those, but don't love romance??
I express more in the video linked above, but here are the companies I mentioned: (None of which even know I'm mentioning them so...not a sponsored blog or vlog post)
Ellorascave ( although there seems to be some issues going on with EC right now and a few authors are asking people not to buy directly from EC (Boycotting EC and the Exodus Support Thread), and EC is suing Dear Author, I don't know much more about it, so I'll just leave links and y'all can make up your own mind).
So that's what I think, What are your thoughts?? What do you believe is the underlying reason people hate on romance. Share your stories of what people have said to you or what you thought romance is or was and let's keep the discussion going.
Thanks so much for watching and reading and I'll see you guys tomorrow,
Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page! These are the books I'm talking about in the video:
I made a promise to myself that this year I would collect the authors that I love. Each month picking a different author's catalog and attempt to collect all the ones I have read and those I want to read. This month I'm playing catch up, in June I ordered the following Linda Howard books to complete my collection, I believe I only have 5 more anthology titles to go and I will own all the books she's ever written and published. Paperbackswap Haul I didn't pay for this, I had some credits I wanted to use up so I grabbed this for my shelves:
A Mother's Touch by Linda Howard
Boston Author Event Haul: Julia Kent's Random Acts of Trust Bookoutlet Haul Omar Tyree: * I'm returning these because they aren't the covers I'm looking to collect*
Sweet St Louis
A Do Right Man
Just Say No *Keeping this one
From Brenda Jackson I got
A Family Reunion
Let's Get it on
Kimberla Lawson Roby's Novella A Deep Dark Secret
A book I haven't hear much about but it's a Corretta Scott King Winner so I'm hoping it's interesting: Mare's War Tanita S Davis I picked up Shiloh Walker's other series
Deeper Than Need
Sweeter than Sin
Tina Reber's books were on the site, since I own them in ebook and really wanted them on the shelves I was happy to see this
Love Unscripted
Love Unrehearsed
Then my all time favorite books of the 2014 new adult category, well at least one of them was on the site and that was True ( True Believers 1 ) by Erin McCarthy. If they had had Sweet I might have died a little then revived just so I could order it. I'm hoping they can resolve the issue with the Omar Tyree covers because I ordered the old covers on purpose. I wasn't a happy camper about the wrong covers and yes while I know it's a first world problem if I"m spending my money?? It better be right. ***When I wrote this post I was waiting to hear back form Bookoutlet, they have since sent a the correct copy of one book and credited me for the second. I want to thank them for their speedy service in correcting the issue, I can't wait until my new book comes in*** And that's it, I'm sure there a few ebooks but that's work I don't even feel like doing right now. What did y'all get this week?? Share your links and I will come on over. Lots of love and happy reading and haulin'
This week I wanted to share my love of myths with you. One of my favorite myths comes from Greece and it is the Persephone Myth. I am a huge fan of the real story told and of course a few retellings because I loved to see what authors can do with the Classical myths.
Here are a few of my favorite Persephone Retellings:
The Goddess Test Series by Aimee Carter including:
TBR Pile ( Books I haven't read but have heard about)
The Goddess Legacy by Aimee Carter (these are the novellas that I hadn't read while reading the series, but I want to read them now).
Everneath by Brodi Ashton This is a series that I have heard about for several years and I really want to read them so bad.
Metamorphoses by Ovid The classical tale and I wish to read this.
Have you read any of these?? Share in the comments any you have read and wish for me to add to my list. I'm really looking for some adult and romance retellings, the only ones I have seen are from PC Cast, if you know of anymore share down below please. Let me know if you have read any of these let's discuss below.
And it all comes to an end. I did pretty good actually. I did vlog almost every day and I'm happy with the vlogs I did manage to accomplish. Now I know what you're thinking it's only the end of August beginning of September, but I prep for Samhain as early as November 1st the year before, I hunt down decorations on half or seventy percent sale and stock up for next year. I'm always on the hunt for great deals when it comes to Halloween, that way each year my collection will grow and be better than the year before. And that takes planning, while I like to plan and prep one of the ways I get into the mood of the season is to read Halloween and Samhain-themed books. Samhain being the nonfiction books and Halloween being the fictions books.
Here are a few of my favorite and a few authors to check out for your selves, as well as a few more recommendations than in the video:
For Non Fiction :
For Reference, at times I turn to Halloween by Silver Ravenwolf. It has some great fall recipes to try and a few places listed so you can find other resources. There are many who take issue with the book, however, I feel it's like anything, take what works and leave the fluff or incorrect information behind.
For Fiction:
Anything Maggie Shayne and Heather Graham works for me. For Maggie I especially love her Portal Series which included: (my review is on the title, the portal series brings you to Maggie page where you can see all the series and the goodies)
I also picked up Lorna Tedder's other work including Flying By Night which is perfect for Halloween.
Another adult favorite of mine is Goddess of Spring by P.C. Cast, now I know what you're thinking, however, this is a Persephone retelling, and if you know anything about the myth you know it is perfect for this season.
Heather Graham's Krewe of Hunters series features quite a few books set in New Orleans and even a few set around Halloween. (she however writes way too many for me to list here, we might be here all day).
My Favorite Anthologies:
Trick or Treat by Lark Eden, Lori Handeland, Stobie Piel and Lynda Trent
Bewitched by Susan Krinard, Maggie Shayne, Lisa Higdon, & Amy Elizabeth Saunders
and of course, I love Croak which is the grim reaper series by Gina D'amico. I also have another Persephone retelling which is Love Underground by Alicia Fields. And last but not least is the witch series Circle of Three by Isobel Bird.
And there you have it folks, these are the books that get me in the mood for Fall, Samhain and Halloween. I'll be sharing my list of to be read books that I wish to read soon. Do you have any favorites?? Share down in the comments below and we can discuss and gush about our favorite parts of Halloween.
This Austen In August Read a Long and monthly feature is hosted by Misty over at The Book Rat blog. She's been doing this for a few years now and this year I've decided to be apart of the festivities instead of just watching from the sidelines.
My Austen In August TBR is here and below I have my participation for this year with my collection of modern adaptations of Austen, a few I own and a few I have discovered online and love!!
You can watch the video and scroll down to find all the information in more details here as well as a few more links:
Movies:
Based On Pride & Prejudice:
My absolute favorite is Bride & Prejudice featuring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and a whole cast of amazing characters that just make you love them!! This is a Bollywood adaptation of Pride & Prejudice. I absolutely love this movie!!!! The cinematography and the music just blow you away and make you love the story. You must watch if you're a lover of Jane Austen.
Bridget Jones Diary based on the book by Helen Fielding which is based on Pride & Prejudice.
Lost In Austen Featuring Jemima who is a huge Janeit, and she gets sucking into her favorite book. I loved this BBC adaptation that made me re-fall for Mr. Darcy (because Colin Firth is too awesome but man listen this Mr. Darcy?? Yasss!!) Where To Watch
Death Comes to Pemberley a BBC adaptation coming in the Fall of 2014. Based on the book by P.D. James, this is supposed to be a what happens after the end of Pride and Prejudice. I haven't read the book but I plan to before the show comes out.
Lizzie Bennett Diaries a youtube adaptation, that is done Vlog style and is absolutely wonderful!!! I really enjoyed watching this and I marathoned the entire series in a few days (I had vacation time so yep enjoyed it) (Watch the Playlist )
Based on Emma
Clueless a real modern adaptation, and perhaps one of the best version but least known as an adaptation. This had a wonderful movie and a spin off show ( i never watched the spin off but hey, it lasted a while so it might have been good).
Emma Approved (another from the Pemberley Digital Group)
Based On Persuasion:
Bridget Jones and the Edge of Reason the follow up to the first book and movie is apparently based on Persuasion.
Books
Young Adult Persuasion Adaptation
For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Perterfruend
Adult Adaptation : Bridget Jones the Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding
Pride & Prejudice Adaptations: Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James
Bridget Jones Diary by Helen Fielding
The Jane Austen Marriage Manual by Kim Izzo
Me & Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter
Using Jane Austen for Inspiration:
Austenland Shannon Hale
The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler
Haven't Seen Yet and Will be watching
Pride Prejudice and Zombies by Quirk Books (Doesn't come out until 2015)
Jane Austen Book Club
Emma Approved
Becoming Jane Austen
From Mansfield Park with Love
Welcome to Sandtion
Miss Austen Regrets
Austenland
Aisha (From Bollywood)
Sense & Sensibilities the BBC version
So there you have it my loves. What are you doing for Austen In August?? Have you seen any of these movies, loved any of these books, have any good recommendations?? Leave it in the comments, and I'll add it into the growing list of ways to become a better Janeit!!
Recently when deciding to clarify what I was going to be doing on my Booktube channel, I came to the decision to create a video about what romance was. What I was going to read, review and share. I wanted to clarify for those who didn't know that Romance is an overarching umbrella under which many sub genres exist. This is my idea of romance is., If you have something else in mind please do share.
There are many sub genres including
Romantic Suspense with authors like Heather Graham, Linda Howard, Maggie Shayne, Lora Leigh, and Julie Garwood
Paranormal Romance: Charlaine Harris, Laurell K Hamilton, Cheyenne McCray, Tanya Huff, Katie MacAlister, just to name a few.
Erotica Romance which has several different sub genres of it's own. Some of my favorite authors are Sylvia Day, Maya Banks, Tiffany Reisz, Lily Harlem, Jory Strong, Zane, Shayla Black just to name a few. Their categories vary but include:
Big Beautiful Women,
Interracial Erotica,
Polyamouros Romance (romance with more than one love interest NOT CHEATING, but consensual multiple and multifaceted relationships) ,
BDSM themed novels,
paranormal Erotica: Shapeshifters, and Witchs abound!!
Contemporary Erotica (happening in current time with mention of most of social media, or well known and understood vernacular being used as well) ,
Science Fiction Erotica (featuring time travel, alien planets, futuristic Earth and even other planets).
Historical Romance which includes the sub genre of Steampunk Romance. A few authors include Amanda Quick, Julia Quinn, and Elisabeth Lowell,
Dystopian Romance: These tend to be more of a sub category of SciFi Romance, JD Robb
Christian Romance: This romance is categorized with having the main protagonists wait until marriage to consummate their relationships, Amish Romance stories and books with a strong Church focus within them.
New Adult Romance: This subcategory is a new one; it's been gaining popularity recently even though before it was just considered regular romance and only broken down by it's content instead of the age of the characters, and it age of it's target audience. It's mostly written with readers being between the age of 21-35, they tend to have characters who have recently graduated from college or are in their last year, attempting to find their way in the world. Some characters haven't gone to college but the basic demographic is women and men who are trying to figure out what they want to really do with their lives. Authors include: Erin McCarthy, Jay Crownover, Cora Cormack, J Lynn, Elisa Dane and many more.
Contemporary Romance hot men and even better women, struggling to figure out their romance lives while juggling their expectations for life and how to make it in this modern world. This is the broadest category and it even has it own sub genres including cowboy romance, men in uniform romance, 'paranormal' romance where psychics and witches exist along with ghosts. Heather Graham, Brenda Jackson, Lynn Emery, Sandra Kitt, Robyn Carr, Brenda Novak, Nora Roberts are some of the few who are well known for these books.
Interracial/African American/Native American Romance: There are many book written that include interracial romance, including those by JJ Murray, Eric Jerome Dickey and many more.
African American romance has it's own category and it's own sub-genres as well. Brenda Jackson, Beverly Jenkins, Sandra Kitt, Lynn Emery, Zuri Day, Omar Tyree, Eric Jerome Dickey, Kinberla Lawson Roby, Terry Macmillan are just a few of the greats.
The sub genres in AA Romance are vast and I'm only just beginning to explore, so I'm sorry that I don't have authors to recommend, but in 2015 that's going to change so be on the lookout for other videos and more discussion posts.
These are just some of the categories and some of the authors in each. Do you have some favorites?? Please share as I'm always looking for new authors.
What do you think romance is?? Share in the comments and let me know.
