Many years ago in junior high, my class would do sustained silent reading. One day, my English teacher pulled me aside and some choice words for me and my choice of reading material.
"Would you please stop reading Choose Your Own Adventures?" he said to me. "Every test show's reading at a college level! You've grown beyond them! Please, please please try something else!"
He started tossing out all kinds of recommendations, and there's one thing he said that's always stuck with me: "Hell, try a romance novel!"
So now, 30+ years later, I think it's time I finally give it a shot. But I don't know what's really out there for romance.
Yeah, there's the ones that have made headlines, like 50 Shades of Grey and Twilight. And let's not forget the good ol' Harlequin Romance novels down at the drugstore. But I'd prefer something that didn't become a late night talk show punchline, ya know?
My only experience with romance has been, when I took English 101 in college, I had to read Wuthering Heights.
My personal preferences tend to be sci-fi, so something with a sci-fi bent might be a good gateway.
Thank you very much!
by originalchaosinabox
2 Comments
Does the gender of romance bother you? I understand it’s not for everyone but I’ve recently finished the song of Achilles and it was quite a beautiful story. A retelling of the Greek hero Achilles from the eyes of his sworn companion Patroclus.
My mom, who was always the smartest person in the room, consumed Georgette Heyer novels like they were bonbons. I haven’t read one, but I’ll bet they’re good.