Reading the Romance
Book description
Originally published in 1984, Reading the Romance challenges popular (and often demeaning) myths about why romantic fiction, one of publishing's most lucrative categories, captivates millions of women readers. Among those who have disparaged romance reading are feminists, literary critics, and theorists of mass culture. They claim that romances enforce the…
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Why read it?
3 authors picked Reading the Romance as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
A man I was working with recommended this book to me, when he heard about my novel, while it was in the making. I got hold of this book and already after the first chapter I understood why. Janice Radway investigates how Harlequin novels have such a large audience. In essence it is because romance novels always end well, as opposed to life, that keeps being complicated. It taught me that I’m a very romantic person. This was something I had never regarded as a positive trait so of course I failed to see just how important romance was and…
From Pouline's list on how to get a deep and fulfilling love life.
Radway’s book was invaluable to me as a way to read the structure of Chica Lit, which depends on tropes and language from contemporary romance fiction. Her approach, which included a study of women who read nothing but romance in their time off, made many things clear about the pull of romance and its conventions for women. Her approach to the language and psychology of romance fiction also clarifies what makes these fictions, including Chica Lit, so appealing to women of all ages. This book came out in 1984 but is still for my money the best on romance fiction…
From Tace's list on the writing and marketing of chica lit.
If there is anything that snobs hate more than popular literature, it’s popular literature that’s popular with women. Especially young women, middle-aged women, and older women.
Radway really revolutionized the historic study of readers with this book. It has some weaknesses, but there are many many more things that it gets right, starting with the premise that you shouldn’t just assume why people read. But ask them.
From Daniel's list on reading about reading.
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