Additional notes to accompany the feminism in romance debate at the Australian Women Writers blog.

My thoughts on the place of feminism in romance fiction is up at the Australian Women Writers blog—thanks to Elizabeth Lhuede for hosting the discussion. I invite you all to the AWW blog to weigh in on the debate!

I apologise in advance for the waffly tone, but I’m hoping the rest of you guys will provide the intellectual rigour missing from my opinions. (Yes, I’m lazy, and even with the waffling it took me over a week to finish that post!)

When I first sent her my draft, Elizabeth asked me to elaborate on my brief mentions of m/m romance and rape fantasy. What resulted was notes section that was almost longer as the post itself, so I cut it down to a list of links for AWW.

However, I’m posting the annotated references here for anyone interested in following the discussion or pursuing their own interests in the topics raised. I’d also like to point non-romance readers to Jennifer Crusie’s essays in defence of the genre, which I think provide a good overview, though her arguments are not without their critics.

Finally, I wanted to include something that I removed from my original post because it sounded so very melodramatic, and it’s this:

I’ll tell you what many of these books have in common—a hero who treats the heroine like she’s worth something. Worth changing his life for, worth dying for, worth denying himself for, worth losing his soul for. Whatever is most important to the hero—that’s what he offers in exchange for her love.

And sometimes, yes, it’s the heroine who offers the greater sacrifice. Because romance books are unpredictable like that.

Additional notes to Feminism in Romance

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This is a transcript of my introduction and interstitial talks at the Raunchy Romance Storytime event at Customs House Library last Wednesday. (It will differ slightly from the actual event because not everything I said was written down.) Items in italics are asides. I’ve linked to sources where relevant. Click here for a list of all the books featured on the night.

Photo: Decadence

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to Raunchy Romance Storytime. I’m Kat Mayo and I run a book blog called Book Thingo, which focuses on romance fiction and, to some extent, genres that intersect with romance.

Here I asked the audience and the presenters to indicate if they’ve read a romance book before. There were quite a few of them!

I’m glad to see that we’re so well represented tonight, because romance, generally speaking, doesn’t hold an exalted place in our literary culture. Even when you look within genre fiction circles, there’s a sense that romance is the lowest common denominator and there’s a tendency to justify romantic elements within stories. That, or to kill romantic leads off, usually quite violently.

You also might not realise this, but Australia has the highest number of romance authors per capita in the world. The local market can’t actually support support their output, so they end up being published by overseas publishers.

So when Alison emailed me and invited to curate this event, I was extremely chuffed, for two reasons:

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A bibliography from last night’s Raunchy Romance Storytime at Customs House Library.

First, I think last night’s Raunchy Romance Storytime went really well. The performers were just fantastic, and I hope everyone who came along had fun. I learned a lot from it, too—but more on that later. I’ll also post a transcript (at least, the part that was scripted) of my introduction, and I think Decadence will be posting a recap of the night. (Update: Click here for the transcript.)

For now, I just wanted to list all the books that were featured, because I know quite a few people would like to know how the stories end! (Happily, I promise you. :D)

Enjoy.

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I wrote this article last year for the ARRA newsletter. I meant to repost it last week, but I forgot!

Last month, on Valentine’s weekend, many libraries across Australia celebrated Library Lovers Day. Books and love—could there be a more perfect combination?

I’ve always had a love affair with the library. This might not be surprising, given that I’m a self-confessed bookworm, but my emotional attachment to libraries goes beyond gratifying my book addiction.

I love stepping into the library. I love browsing through old books. I love dropping off my (usually overdue) books into the returns chute. I even love repairing tatty picture books that have fallen victim to too many curious toddler hands. I was a library monitor in year six, in the days when we still used library returns cards.

The library has also fuelled my love affair with romance books.

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Wanted: Female Australian romance authors

There’s been some talk recently in the media—both traditional and online—on the gender bias that exists in literary prizes and book reviews. Blogger, tweeter and all-around awesome advocate for reading Elizabeth Lhuede is challenging readers to help redress the imbalance. She has devised the Australian Women Writers 2012 Reading and Reviewing Challenge. Her goal is simple:

This challenge hopes to help counteract the gender bias in reviewing and social media newsfeeds that has continued throughout 2011 by actively promoting the reading and reviewing of a wide range of contemporary Australian women’s writing.

To achieve this goal, we need your help!

I think it’s especially relevant for us romance readers because I think most of us will agree that of all the readers of women’s fiction, our reading choices—and authors—are almost always the least likely to get a mention in literary book reviews, never mind one that understands and appreciates the appeal of the genre. Looking at the sign up list, we’re still not all that well represented.

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Photo: Blood by xTrish (via Flickr)

Warning: Not for the squeamish. (And I haven’t had this much fun with euphemisms ever.)

I love a good vampire romance as much as the next Twilight fan, and I love it when authors force their ethical vampire heroes to fall in lust with human heroines. It’s a heady thrill to read about the excruciating dilemma of a vegetarian vampire, a conscientious objector when it comes to live blood sport, whose instincts throb in the presence of his One True Love and her pulsating arteries.

It’s why we let Edward get away with stalking bloody Bella. Because he’s conflicted! And hungry! And noble! And sparkly!

Wait, what?

But seriously. There’s a question that has never been addressed to my satisfaction by any paranormal romance or urban fantasy book I’ve read:

What happens every month when Aunt Flo is visiting, when all is not quiet on the waterfront, when the heroine is trolling for vampires?

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This month’s mailbag features fishing, horse riding, vampires, shapeshifters, magical worlds and, of course, love.

Thyla by Kate Gordon

1/4/2011 – 9781864718812 – Random House
Teen/YA urban fantasy, Australian author, Australian setting

Thyla is a story of Tasmania: of darkness, of convicts, of devils and tigers, and of promises that stay true through the centuries. It is the story of what happened to Cat, and what Tessa really is.

My name is Tessa. I am strong.
I am brave. I do not cry.

These are the only things I know for certain.

Found wandering in the mountains behind Hobart, Tessa has no memory of who she is or where she came from. Frightened and alone, Tessa tries to make sense of the mystery of her past and her strange nocturnal longings. And of the strange vicious scars on her body…

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Somehow, a vampire snuck into my Blaze. I am so outraged. An open letter to Mills & Boon.

Dear Mills & Boon,

I heart your category romances; you know I do. I love some of your authors like a sheikh loves his billions.

But Harlequin, we have a problem.

Last week, I had nothing to read, so I decided to open one of the many ebooks sitting in my Reader, waiting for just this moment: the in-between TBRs decision dilemma*. I had a bunch of titles from Mills & Boon’s Everyone’s Reading website. I was surfacing from a historical romance binge, so I was eager to get into Kimberly Raye’s Cody.

I didn’t read the blurb when I downloaded the ebook. It was a Blaze. I thought it would be safe to assume a few things about the book.

When I open a Blaze, I expect a contemporary story with a bit of drama, a bit of humour and, more often than not, urban lifestyle issues. I can usually relate to the characters’ conflicts, secrets and insecurities.

But this one? The first page is set some time after the US Civil War. And the hero? Well, he’s a vampire. Yes, a freaking vampire!

Let me take a deep breath and calm down, because…

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Wandergurl’s recommended reads from 2010 and a self-imposed challenge to conquer her TBR pile.

Book picks for 2010

The Forbidden Rose by Joanna Bourne

Effectively the prequel to The Spymaster’s Lady, this equally wonderfully written novel is about ‘Maggie and Doyle’. Marguerite de Fleurignac, a French noblewoman, encounters William Doyle in her burnt out chateau. They both pretend to be people they are not, as she is trying to desperately smuggle out people during the revolution and he is an English spy looking for her father. The romance is lush and lovely, the spy plot moves around nicely, and I was kept captivated. Highly recommended.

Feet of the Chameleon by Ian Hawkey

This is a largely anecdotal history of modern African football and how it has shaped various countries’ political histories. I read this book during the football (soccer) world cup while in Africa so it was especially poignant. It explained a lot of things that were interesting to me, and would be interesting for anyone with an interest in Africa, its people and its history.

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Kat’s favourite books of 2010. Oh, and look! It’s just in time for the Australian Romance Readers Awards nominations.

I wasn’t going to post a best-of list for 2010, simply because it takes me ages and causes a lot of internal angst. But the nominations have opened for the 2010 Australian Romance Readers Awards, and I thought I’d use the nomination form as my best-of list. I’ve included the rules, for the curious.

Favourite Paranormal Romance

1. Play of Passion by Nalini Singh
2. First Drop of Crimson by Jeanine Frost
3. Lover Mine by J. R. Ward

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