Saturday 31 August 2013

My Naughty Thoughts : Is it the Sex or the Story

When I first started reading romance novels in my teens I became one of those people. You know… the type who hides the cover of their book when reading in public. Now almost twenty years later, when I read paperbacks, I still find myself lowering my book to my lap. When half naked hunky men or a couple writhing in passion grace the glossy cover of a book, it’s pretty obvious what you’re reading. Thank God for tablets.

It’s not that I'm ashamed to be caught reading such “trash”, I'm just tired of explaining to my friends that I'm not reading it for the sex, I really am reading it for the story. Then I get the ‘uh-huh’ look and I roll my eyes in my head because I know they've never even read a romance novel yet they’re judging. Those of us who like to indulge in this guilty little pleasure of ours know that there are some romance novels that don’t even have one line of sex. Romance doesn't always equal sex. It’s about the journey the characters are on. The obstacles they face, challenges they overcome and finally finding their happily ever after. Personally, I love reading about a powerful man whose heart is conquered by a willowy flower of a woman. I truly do skim the sex scenes and enjoy the banter between the hero and heroine. I like rooting for them to succeed, groaning in frustration at their near misses and being angered by a really good villain. I also like men on horses, ladies in long flowing gowns, and medieval castles. I do so love a good historical that can take me back in time. So poo....I like to read romance novels.

And now I've added the paranormal romance genre to my reading list. Oye...now I get two kinds of looks. The ‘uh-huh’ for reading a romance novel and the ‘what the hell’ for reading something about vampires and werewolves. I have to admit that I use to give my cousin the ‘what the hell’ look. Guilty. I didn't know any better. So why do I now read about witches and fairies? Because it's fun. They do humanly impossible things and live in this extra ordinary world where anything can happen. And the secret truth is...they're so damn sexy. Their stories always seem a little more intense, a little more dangerous. I love the darkness that seem to cloak the paranormal genre that's lighten by the romance between the main characters.

So yeah, romance novels have some sex. And maybe it is mommy porn for some of us. But its the story that really gets me going. A romance novel can have all the hot steamy sex scenes it wants, if the story's not there it falls flat for me. If the journey fizzles, I won't be reading book two. If I can't connect to the characters, then I've wasted my time. So I don't really care if there's sex or not, I just want a good story. Because a well crafted story stretches my imagination. For me when I read, it's like there's a little movie projector in my head and I'm seeing the story play out on a screen right in front of me. 

And that's my naughty thoughts about sex and romance novels.

Later Loveys

11 comments:

  1. Oh, I've enjoyed my share of romance novels and I totally agree - it isn't about the sex, it is about the fantasy that even when things seem hopeless between two lovers, there is still hope that everything will be good in the end!

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    1. I've read enough romance novels that have no sex scenes, and kept coming back for more. I know where my passion lies. Seeing the story unfold.

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  2. I won't even lie...I'm reading it for the SEX!!! I think reading sex is way better than just watching it. Romantic sex is the best to read. I love books written by Zane because the sex is off the chain. OK i am a little of topic here. but i do understand where you are coming from. Reading about romance is great too. Maybe I'm just a horn-dog. lmao! Thank you for dropping by my community. please keep the posts coming!!!"Promote Your Blog"

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    1. LOL...I will admit that I did read a romance recently when the sex was off the chart...I didn't skim those parts

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  3. I agree with you, I read a lot of romance novels, I am actually in the process of writing one of my own, and yes most have a few... uh.. steamy scenes, as does mine, but I think it is the structure of the story that matters most. For example a big inspiration for me is people like Jeanine Frost and Richelle Mead, both write books that have some rather explicit scenes, but to be honest if it wasn't for the intense fighting scenes, a decent plot and some mushy bits, I probably wouldn't read them. :))

    Follow my blog to read excerpts of my writing http://elouisefield.blogspot.co.uk/ comments are welcomed and encouraged :))

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  4. Well for me, that depends on my mood.
    there are times that it's really the sex, but after that, I'll be hook up if the story is good, So it's definitely the story!
    =)
    great post!

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  5. I agree completely! I always feel slightly odd when reviewing a book that could be considered erotic for my site at first, and then I think: Why? Why am I feeling awkward about something that is completely natural and part of a relationship. Add to that the story and I just keep writing the review like I normally would.

    This is a great post, and no one should be lowering books really! Though tablets really do lower the risk of offending someone accidentally! I also worry about people judging books by their covers, particularly ones which have very suggestive ones but actually contain a great story!

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    1. I've never been afraid of offending anyone... that's their issue. I just get annoyed by my friends constant teasing about reading a book for sex...Like I can't get that in real life.

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  6. Why is there mutual exclusivity? Can you not enjoy both? Can you not enjoy the novel of the plot and the sex? I have conducted over a 100 psychosexual assessments and I will tell you the truth, regardless of the root causation of the assessment, the client found some sense of enjoyment in the sexual act itself. I'm Just Saying......

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    1. My point wasn't about exclusive...I hate when people think the only reason I read romance novels is for the sex...like it can't possible have a great plot because it isn't a Stephen King novel...Whether there was sex or not I'd still read romance novels..And there's nothing wrong with enjoying a good sex scene....I did (very much) in a resent one I read...

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  7. To me sex in a story is like sex in real life. If you cant connect with the person in some way - it's not going to be the best. I don't read stories simply for the sex, however, I admit that it does entertain me and I really enjoy books that have a little action!

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