Ramblings for January: eBooks, Reviews, and the Question of Romance
Just a quick note here to let you all know I’m still alive. Unlike this time last winter, when I was fat and pregnant, I’m not getting many opportunities to be online.
A couple updates.
One, I finally have an eReader. A Kindle Fire, to be specific. Which means that soon I’ll be able to accept eBook copies for review. Right now on the Kindle, I’m reading Rutger Klamor’s Z Strain and Dalya Moon’s Practice Cake. I’m liking it. It’s different from print copy, of course, but still good (in my head, I sound like Stitch from Lilo & Stitch: broken, but still good. Yeah, still good.) I don’t know if I’ll ever prefer it to print copy, though- but I’m pretty happy about the doors it has opened so far.
Two, I’m changing my format for my book review blog to simply publish my Goodreads reviews. They’ll be less formal, and probably even shorter, and they won’t include synopses or summaries (because everyone who reads them on Goodreads already knows the synopsis of each book listed.) I figure we live in a hurried age: brevity has value. It’s also more fun to write about the books I read when I’m not worried about sticking to a formula or doing the plot justice in my descriptions. After all, I’m not writing these to convince you to read the books (well, often I am, but…), I’m writing them to generate conversations about the books after you’ve read them.
That said, I’ve scheduled posts for Blackbird for everyday this week. Check them out.
I’m also wondering if I should abandon Blackbird and post my reviews here instead, since it’s not exactly like I’m overwhelming you with content- but that could change. What do you think?
Another thing I want to touch on because it’s on my mind: as readers and writers, how important is romance in your stories? I’m curious because I’ve never been a Romance Reader, exactly, but lately I’ve appreciated romance when it appears in other genres. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness might have been the first time I recognized this, and more recently, Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky. Neither book is solely romantic by design, but the relationships within aid the story in ways that might not have been possible otherwise. Two of the stories I’ve edited for our April catalog are romantic, too, and they’re both completely awesome (I can’t wait until they’re illustrated and out there for all of you.) Now I’m finding myself looking for romance in non-Romance books. Sometimes I’m disappointed when this element isn’t there, even though there’s no reason for me to expect it. And I’m not talking sappy love stories, I’m talking complicated, multifaceted, often doomed tentative relationships. Or a hint of them.
What do you think about romance in non-Romance genres? There’s next to none in my own writing. I’m wondering if I should add some, which actually isn’t half as simple as it sounds, and would require almost a total rewrite of most of my stuff. Which I’m fine with, because I’m a perpetual re-writer.
Posted on 2012 Jan 17, in Ramblings and tagged Amazon Kindle, book, book review, E-book, Goodreads, Lilo & Stitch, Romance. Bookmark the permalink. 14 Comments.
I got a Kindle for my birthday and I love it. Are you going to write a review about your Kindle Fire, Alexis?
How’s your baby doing? How are you doing?
I guess I could, once I’m more familiar with it. Right now I’ve only used it for reading and for playing Plants vs. Zombies. Haha.
My son and I are great. He is almost walking. Thanks for asking, Kim. You’re so sweet.
I hope all is well with you!
For “just a quick note” you certainly covered a lot of ground.
1) I look forward to hearing what you think of the Kindle Fire. I’m more of a regular (e-ink) Kindle fan myself, but the Fire is certainly popular)
b) If Practice Cake is as good as Charlie Woodchuck Is a Minor Niner, you’re in for a treat. Charlie Woodchuck kicks ass.
c) Since you have a Kindle, I was just thinking…
**cough** (a sane woman) **cough**
2) I go back and forth on whether to have everything on one blog, or to have different blogs. I’m mostly unifying things these days, but I still have four blogs, so I’m obviously not _that_ unified.
3) I never set out to have Romance in my writing. There have been romances, but it usually comes as a surprise to me. I have written two relationships that I’m particularly pleased with, but they’re mostly not Romantic in the way people usually mean it.
I think part of the thing in Romance is usually the developing relationship, the pursuit, the difficulties, etc. I’m much more interested in the marriage, what happens after the wedding, rather than before it.
Practice Cake is adorably excellent. Very refreshing so far. It’s the first thing I’ve read by her, so maybe eventually I’ll check out her other books. Thanks for the recommendation.
I’d be glad to check out A Sane Woman, of course. Still might not get to it for a little bit, but once it’s on my Kindle and glaring at me, I’ll probably get to it quicker than I pretend I will.
I’m definitely not going to start any new blogs, but I’m thinking I’ll keep my review blog separate. It would make me sad to neglect it.
Surprise romances are nice, and I guess that’s what I like because I don’t read books for the promise of romance. I never thought about which I prefer hearing about, though: the before or after.
Romance is as important in fiction as it real life, to me. It can be good, bad, helpful, or distracting. It is certainly an easy way to engage readers, and people are rarely as entertainingly awkward as when they are trying to interact romantically.
You make some excellent points, Connor. And I guess that’s what it is- something has to be kind of epic in order for me not to notice a complete lack of romance. Like in reality, romance takes a backseat to more pressing drama. But usually, it’s nice to see it in some form.
Entertainingly awkward. Well said, sir.
I don’t read romances, per se, either. However, I do find that romance, as in the exploration of a relationship between a man and a woman (or children), should be included in most any work of fiction.
While, as you say, it is not technically a necessity, it is universally relate-able. Between the delicacies of mere friendship and the roller-coasters of a passionate relationship, romance is always right at the cusp of it all.
For me, when I start to get that feeling of, “Hmm… I wish there was a bit of romance added to this story,” it’s not that I want the characters to fall in love, but rather that I’m picking up on a lack of emotional characteristics.
People are more than just the sum of their actions–there are always underlying emotional aspects that help us determine what each of those actions will be. People are like little cauldrons, and it’s the romance in each of us that keeps our blood boiling.
My current project has a definite romance element throughout. It’s kind of background for the mystery and action, but it’s very imposrtant.
Of course, the romance is not between a man and a woman.
Anthony, that sounds intriguing. Especially the mysterious way in which you mention it.
No, I just meant that the romance is between two women. There are relationships in my writing that are pretty unusual, but not this one.
Jess, I couldn’t have said any of that any better. I agree completely. And you’ve answered my own curiosity as to why I sometimes miss the romance element in fiction. It’s more than just love or the possibility of love— it’s every emotion that leads to or away from it. Romance can add depth to a story without turning it into a Romance Story.
“Jess, I couldn’t have said any of that any better.” <– Considering how this little baby has been feeding off my brain, zapping my communication abilities, that was REALLY nice to read. LOL!
I can’t wait for that little person to get here! I want pictures of that baby and all the TMI details of delivery, lol.
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