Musings: My (Somewhat) Secret Shame

It started out when I got my eReader for Christmas. A typically story, really. It was just so easy. Just a tap-tap on the green button and it there it was, at no cost whatsoever. And, even better, nobody had to know.

It started my on a path that had no way back: romance novels.

I love reading them. So much so, in fact, I go through them like cookies.

Shown: Figurative representation of how I go through romance novels. Also, of how I eat cookies.

We've all heard these criticism, I'm sure: "I only read nonfiction. Novels are so poorly written nowadays." Or, one of my favorites, "I only read books where I can learn something. Why would you read something just for fun? It's a waste of time." And it only gets worse if you get these folks started on romance novels.

Well, you know what? Nobody should feel ashamed for reading romance or any other genre. Everyone should read what they want to read. Nothing turns off more people to reading than pretentious assholes that act like everyone else is an ignorant peasant if they read a genre said assholes don't respect.

So, to those folks, here's my plebeian response to you:

But I digress.

After I started reading romance novels, I found a whole world out there I had no idea existed. Websites like Smart Bitches, Trashy Books showed me how plenty of smart, educated, and completely well-adjusted women read these books all the time. I didn't think only stupid women read these books. It's just that, back in the day, most of the novels that came out were historical bodice-rippers that had too much of a rapey tone for me to enjoy. And, of course, I judged people who read romance by that misguided preconception.

Sure, some novels out there still have rapey undertones. But so many more of them have some of the strongest female characters in fiction. You can find everything from books where the main characters just hold hands to erotica where anything goes. It took me a bit to find the ones that I truly enjoyed, but find them I did.

During times when I've been under a lot of stress, reading these novels have helped me. I'm one of those people that, more often than not, reads the end of a book early on. I don't really do that with romance novels because I know a happy ending awaits. I don't want the heroine and the hero to have an easy time of it (angst and tortured souls are my romance catnip) but life beats the shit out of you enough on its own. Once in a while, I want to know the story I'm reading ends well.

For a long time, I refused to read romance novel hard copies on mass transit. For incredibly sexist and ignorant reasons, people feel completely free to criticize your reading material and your intellect if you have a romance novel in your hands. I also don't talk about it freely with just anyone. The judgement is real and I just don't want to deal with it.

So, here I am: confessing to anyone that might read this that I enjoy romance novels. I enjoy them frequently and with relish.

I have plenty to say about romance novels and how many people perceive them, but my advice to anyone that likes reading romance, or sci-fi, or fantasy, or whatever the hell else you enjoy, is the following: