Believe it or not, the staff here at the Library have secret identities in the wider world. Speaking for myself, I teach the history of gender and sexuality. And while I adore both my identities, there are times when they clash…because there are a lot of people who think that feminists, especially feminists who talk about gender a lot, can’t like romance novels. Since this week has been about celebrating what we love to read without shame, I thought I’d take a moment to talk about the romance genre.
What is at the heart of romance that makes it such a difficult genre? I mean, the covers, for one, can be a little…much. That I will admit. But above and beyond the Men Who Own No Shirts and the Women Who Cannot Stand Up Straight, why do romances get a bad rap? Obviously, romances deal with issues of physical desire, but so do plenty of other genres. Thrillers, spy novels, mysteries, adventure tales–all of these books deal with sex and love to varying extents (see: James Bond, for a prime example). But these books don’t get stigmatized because of it. But when we are dealing with a heroine who falls in love, suddenly these books become “Those Books”. The ones that we hide on the floor of the car, or in the bottom of a bag, or in the files on the e-readers.
Speaking academically (just for a second, I promise), the primary message of feminism is that women should be respected as individuals–that their individual goals, values, and dreams deserve the same respect and attention as men–whether that was the right to vote, the right to own property, or the right to work inside or outside the home. In fiction, romances offer the clearest validation of the individual–especially women. At the heart of all the best romances is validation; that what the heroine (and the hero) want in life, and in a relationship, is valid; that their goals and hopes and fears and dreams are legitimate, and that they have a right to become the very best version of themselves, because who they are is perfect.
And that is a message that is not easy to accept. We live in a world that tells us that we are not good enough, and, speaking as a woman, I can tell you that those messages are really, really loud. Lose weight you’ll be more attractive. Open up and live a little, and other people will like you. Don’t be so open and lively, or you’ll drive them away. Wear this mascara and you will look just like that person you always wanted people to think that you are. Romance novels, in the end, subvert every one of those messages, and reminds us that the only way to get a happy ending is to be true to yourself and true to your own desires–and to find someone who loves you precisely as you are. And that is pretty revolutionary, when you come to think about it.
So, rather than hiding your love for romance, let’s read them–and whatever else we want to read, as well–and let’s change the world.
For this week’s If/Then, here are a few of my favorite romance novels, in case you are looking for a place to get started:
Follow My Lead: Regardless of the fact that the heroine of this historic romance is an historian, this is one of my favorite books of all time. Winifred is on a trans-European expedition to prove herself the author of several historic articles along with her erstwhile companion, the terribly well-meaning, but not very savvy, Jason Cummings, Duke of Rayne. Their road trip from hell is full of ridiculous scenarios and plenty of humor, but in the end, both Win and Jason realize that they have spent their whole lives chasing other people’s ideals of what they should be, and have to find the courage to define their futures for themselves. There aren’t too many romances where the hero and heroine get to laugh with–and at–each other, but this book gives them both the freedom to have fun.
Rule: Jay Crownover’s Marked Men series is a manifesto for respecting and loving yourself for precisely who you are, and this book is a perfect example. Rule is a bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks who couldn’t care less about what people think about him–except for Shaw Landon, who was once his dead brother’s girlfriend. But Shaw’s life is based around what other people expect of her…and it’s killing her by inches. Both Rule and Shaw spend this book dealing with their own self-image, both physical and mental, but offer each other the tough love and unwavering support that they need to find a way to each other.
One Good Earl Deserves A Lover: I have a soft-spot in my heart for Sarah MacLean’s work for many reasons, but this book, especially, has a special place. Lady Philippa Marbury is a scholar and an intellectual, but her duty is to marry. So, terrified that she will never get to experience life, she seeks out Cross, the co-owner of London’s most famous gaming hell, to teach her about the darker side of life. This book is gut-wrenchingly emotional and whimsical by turn, but there is never a moment when Philippa’s learning and social awkwardness is played for comedy, or when her intellect and individuality isn’t respected. Indeed, it’s her brains that save the day for her and for Cross, who loves her precisely as she is–spectacles, books, and all.
The Wedding Vow: Cara Connelly’s Save the Date series are all fun, but the characters in this book grabbed my attention from the very first page. Prosecutor Maddie St. Clair knows that billionaire Adam Le Croix is an art thief, but, to her fury, she has never been able to prove it in court. When Adam needs legal help, he turns to Maddie, knowing that she is the only person smart enough to help him. But what starts as a familiar enemies-to-lovers, billionaire-gets-the-girl story quickly turns into something utterly unique; neither Maddie nor Adam are the people we expect them to be, and as they keep peeling away layers of themselves, and exposing their deepest secrets and worst fears, they become that much more real, and that much more deserving of their happy ending together.