I like to read romance novels. Every romance reader, at some point in their lives, has had to hear about how the books we like to read are trash, crap, poorly written tripe, filth, porn, cookie-cutter, lacking in originality, anti-feminist, yada yada yada.Frankly, we're used to it. We're used to people questioning our intelligence and implying that we're brain-dead ninnies. I'm at that point in my life where I've sort of "given up" on these morons, except when said idiot is a librarian.
Because, duuuuuude. Seriously? You're a librarian and you're turning your nose up at people who actually like to, and willingly, read? You might want to answer that phone, it's probably some brain cells calling.
Honestly though, I mostly roll with this sort of nonsense. People have always hated on popular fiction, and I don't suspect that's gonna change anytime soon. I pick my battles.
But when I see books like this:
and this....
and notice that Snooki's book is due out in January 2011....
I feel rage.
Hulk-like rage.
Because, you know, what I like to read is apparently "trash."
Side Note: "Creeping on chicks"?!?!?!?!?!?! Someone pass the vodka will ya? New Jersey you have my deepest sympathies. I can't decide what is worse: being stereotyped as gangsters or being stereotyped as douchebags?
17 comments:
I am so with you on this. I've mostly given up on defending romance, but librarians really should know better.
Also, I don't know how residents of NJ feel, but I'd much rather been perceived as a gangster than a douchebag.
You must go to the site Hot Chicks with Douchebags - it's hilarious!!! :) Making fun of Jersey Shore losers before they became popular.
Yeah, the show is a joke but honestly, they are laughing all the way to the bank! I don't think they (the kids) are idiots - just the people that watch the junk. If you ignore it then it will eventually go away. :)
Ahhh Wendy... [sigh]... I don't know how the majority of NJ residents feel, but I can tell you that being one myself (and going by the people I know) well... most don't pay attention to this nonsense or watch those shows.
I've seen/heard outrage that THIS (junk? trash?) is what's out there at the moment. But hopefully the rest of the country knows better than to think it represents NJ's population. Stereotyping (gangsters or douchebags), neither is truthful or works -- stereotyping never does.
It has always amazed me what people think of as trash. I don't pay attention to those who malign romance -- as far as I'm concerned, they don't know any better.
As someone who grew up in New Jersey AND who writes romances, this particular state of affairs makes me want to gnash my teeth in despair. I will do my best to resist, though, and re-read a book by Loretta Chase to cleanse my jaded palate.
I've pretty much given up on defending romance too, but like you, seeing books like these really gets my goat. WTF, man.
And I'm not from Jersey, but I have to say as an Italian, these people are an embarrassment to us all.
Oh, and "creeping on women"? Really?
At my local library they have all of 25 romance titles, most of which are a popular Native American romance author. It drives me bonkers when I go in there and see the little turnstile rack of beat-up romances tucked away from the other fiction books. It is actually right next to the check-out desk, as if it needs adult monitoring. It makes me, a romance author, feel like I'm being scrutinized for my choice in reading material.
When people donate romances, they go straight in the dollar bin. I always wondered if the library had some type of censorship going on with the romance novels.
So frustrating. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.
Borrowing from Sarah at Smart Bitches, "Sing it Sister!" I cannot fathom who would actually buy them. But you know ultimately they'll end up donated to the Friends of the Library for their book sale. I see too many of these books donated to the Thrift Shop. Since we have limited shelf space, we just pass them along to Goodwill.
What is he, a vine?
If so, there is such a thing as clippers.
;-)
It's quite possible that my library (an academic library, which to my mind makes it even worse) will end up owning these books. We have the autobiography of Miley Cyrus, after all.
The sad part is, the Jersey Shore cast are even from NJ. seriously, leave! Please!
And ooo! Me want to see Super Librarian go in hulk-like rage mode. Meh. . . I see these books being listed in the Awful Library Books blog pretty soon.
The Jersey Shore losers aren't even from New Jersey.
And "creeping up on chicks" sounds like a great way to get arrested for attempted rape.
At my library I informed the librarian that romances are popular with our homebound patrons and we need to keep adding new ones for their sake. It worked. He adds them more often now. Yes, most of the ones he adds are ones that a lady donates to us - she buys a bunch, reads them once, then gives them to us so they're practically brand new. But at least he adds them rather then giving them straight to the Friends.
You know, for the homebound patrons.
(Actually it is true that most of our romances are checked out in bulk by people taking them to their homebound parents/neighbors/friends. But the rest are checked out by a variety of people like young moms, middle aged married women, elderly men who can't make it down the stairs so they only read the paperback romances and mysteries....)
This is why I confine my TV viewing to sports. I honestly had no idea who these people are. Where I grew up, the Jersey Shore was somewhere you went on prom night or for a day at the beach. I love NJ!
My sister-in-law is from New Jersey and trust me, she is nothing like those idiots on Jersey Shore. It's amazing what gets published and sells.
I pretty much ignore people who look down on romance readers. Many have never read a romance novel and only read what Oprah tells them to.
Sigh, it's sad that we still get crap when there are stuff like that that comes out. But seriously, what I don't get is that it's getting published!!
Anyway, one of my co-worker read a Harlequin while she was on vacation at a resort and came to tell me she was actually engrossed in it and it wasn't bad. Ha. Progress ^_^;
I LOVE the picture. Don't we all just feel like pouting sometimes! Honestly, why would someone come home from a nasty day at work, or a commute from hell and want to read something dark and ugly? Wouldn't that just continue your bad day?? Maybe it's my age, but I no longer care what anyone thinks about what I read. (unless they like it!)
I don't blame you at all for putting on your crabby pants!!! I'm just putting mine on too. What is wrong with this world when these people get books published when so many wonderful authors aren't?
And "people" call romance trashy???? It is to laugh.
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