In Defense of the Fluffy Romance Novels

Okay, I think this may turn into a series of blog posts. There are many things I need to address in my writings to defend the "fluffy romance." I myself am an avid reader of fluffy romance novels. I have read more than I care to count and I want no longer to be one of those people who shamefully hang their heads when asked what they read.

Why is it that so many people say that Pride and Prejudice is their favourite book? I'll tell you why, be cause it is an acceptable response (it is also quite a good book). It's a response that people won't scoff at. Sure you can love any contemporary indie novel that you like, but if you happen to enjoy a light funny romance book, then you're shallow and have no taste? I'm sorry but that's bullshit.

So I'm going to address some of the main arguments that people have against romance novels.

The first thing I want to talk about is when people say that romance books are predictable. OF BLOODY COURSE they are predictable. Life is predicable. I am a person and I can guess at how life will work out in certain situations. People are confusing predictable with realistic of the situation. Also they always say they can tell what's going to happen with the plot and how they are going to end up together, the whole point of a romance novel is that they end up together... just saying.

Now, I want to move on to the polar opposite: that romance books are completely unrealistic, that this doesn't happen to anyone in normal life. Again, you are reading fiction. If you dislike situations that arn't about to occur in real life then don't read fictional novels. These are romance novels and their target audiences are people who enjoy romance and love the utter impossibility and confidence that this type of love can exist... even if only in an authors imagination.

There are millions of types of books out there and just a moment ago (literally just a moment ago) my friend asked me what her favourite books were and I said Spellbound, (by Cara Lynn Shultz, REALLY good teenage romance book) and she said no, "that looks lame" I know for a fact that she loved that book, that we fangirled over that book for weeks... but she can't even post it on Facebook that she likes it because it's lame and everyone is posting "adult books."

Screw that for a joke, I strongly dislike those literary snobs who judge people on what novels they read, well at least they read! Unlike so many my age.....

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So really got on a rant there, anyway I'll post more in defense of the fluffy romance later, have a nice week,
M xx

Girl with a Pearl Earring

So today I want to write this blog entry in two parts, the first is a review of the book, Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier and the second on the movie they made of the book.

So part one:

When I was in year eight, my english teacher came up to me during a period called Wider Reading (basically a lesson spent getting books suggested to us and then choosing a book and reading for the rest of the lesson). My teacher approached me and took me to the senior fiction and pulled out a stack of books for me to read. One of them was Girl with a Pearl Earring, sadly I made the unfortunate decision to read the book Possession by A. S. Byatt first, not a great decision on my part as this book put me off all books of that nature. I gave up after about 300 pages on snail paced supposed romance. I then made an even worse by my choosing Wuthering Heights as my next book (one of the most depressing novels I have ever in my life attempted to read) and soon gave up after about 200 pages.

Sadly, I never decided to read Girl with a Pearl Earring that year, but perhaps it was a good thing because I'm not sure I would have enjoyed it the same way if I had read when I was fourteen.

When I picked up this book again from my school library I was looking for something "literary," I felt like something that would challenge me a little, but still something I would enjoy. So I chose that book, and surprising I really enjoyed it.

The story line was gentle, it was nice book, yet it was full of anticipation. Griet, the main character was very interesting and I found myself staring at the painting on the front cover and wondering if I could see the Griet, whose mind I had read in her eyes. I found that I could, this book gave me a new appreciation for a painting which I had always liked, but now find that I love.

The relationship between her and Vermeer was tenuous and filled with fleeting glances. There's a lot of forbidden love but mixed into a real life situation which adds finality to the book. I can't explain my love for this book without giving away a heap of spoilers, but it's safe to say that this is one of my favourites.

Part two:
The movie... *sigh,* I wasn't expecting much when I started this movie and after watching the trailer I had set my expectations even lower, with hope that it would somewhat impress me. But when you skip the first half of the book and cut out major characters? that's where I draw the line.

This movie wanted so badly to get to the "real" plot line that it skipped over the build up. It didn't give any insight into Griet's personality and if you had never read the book, you wouldn't understand the way she thinks at all. The plot line focused so much on the romance, that it brought the movie down.

I had wondered how they were going to make a movie of a book where the main character is so internalised and they did not do it well. As much as I loved Scarlett Johansson in The Avengers I feel like she didn't quite pull off the depth this character had, the depth the painting has. She lacked those emotions and values that are so integral to Griet and only focussed on how ladies at the time would have acted in regard to men, rather than how Griet acted.

The only highlight of the movie was Colin Firth as Vermeer, although I have to admit that I am biased when it comes to Colin Firth (be still my beating heart), but while he almost seemed too young for the role, he did seem to capture some of his character's sardonic nature and intense feelings.

Overall I wouldn't recommend the movie, especially if you have read the book, it only leads to disappointment and bafflement at the spoiled plot. Plus the skipped a significant part of the ending.

If you would like the Goodreads link to the book click here

BOOK REVIEW: Slated

Book: Slated
Author: Teri Terry

I am a sucker for a good romance. I always have been, and I probably always will be. There is something about romance novels that have me rolling all over my bed squealing with delight as the characters confess their love and affections.

Slated, however, is not a romance. Sure there are defiantly some romantic aspects to it, but it's not the main story line. And guess what? I still loved it, (and that's saying something for me). I loved it so much that I couldn't stop reading it. My finger quickly turned the pages as I became more and more enthralled with the characters and a story line so gripping it feels as if it will choke you.

I had all but given up on dystopians when I read this one, (it's one of my problem with publishing companies; when something sells they only sell that until everyone is sick to death of it). This dystopian was different. It held interesting new ideas that I hadn't read about before.

In the book criminals under the age of sixteen are "slated" meaning that all their memories are wiped and they have to learn everything again and are assigned to a new family. Kyla, the main character, is Slated. But she is smart and I absolutely ADORE it when the main character is smart and is figuring out the plot at the same pace as you.

This book is a page turner right until the last page... and then you start the second book. (I'll save you the worry of it being a bad sequel... it's good too)

Things to do instead of Writers block

I am a self-admitted victim to the toils of writers block. So I decided to make a list of things to do instead of staring, mindlessly at a computer with a cursor that blinks mockingly in my face.

So here is my list (that largley invloves many forms of procrastination):

1. write something, anything, that is completely different.
2. bake cookies.
3. watch vloggers on YouTube.
4. Burn cookies.
5. watch celebrity talk shows on YouTube.
6. Eat cookies anyway.
7. Read fanfiction.
8. clean desk.
9. reorganise desk
10. clean wardrobe.
11. throw out practically all your clothes (none of them fit you anymore) 
12. Rearrange clothes according to colour and type of clothing (cause we all like pretty rainbows in our cupboards.)
13. find homework.
14. stare at homework intently.
15. give up on homework and go back to whatever you are trying to write.
16. Stare at blinking cursor.
17. write a bunch of swear words about how you hate your life.
18. Play Octagon (in case you don't know what this magnificent game is, oh I can't be bothered telling you, just get it, its great).
19. Make meringues because you only need two ingredients (1 cup sugar, 4 egg whites, whisk together until stiff peaks form, blob on trays and cook in a preheated oven at 225 degrees for 30-40 minutes)
20. google the longest german word and try to memorise it (btw its 'Donaudampfschiffahrtsgesellschaftskapitän')

So, there you go. There is 20 things to do when you have writers block. Hopefully by the end of it, you have thought of something else to write.

Book Review, To All the Boys I've Loved Before

Title: To All the Boys I've Loved Before.
Author: Jenny Hann.

I didn't know what to expect when I first started reading this book. I had heard a basic plot outline from the person who recomended it to me. So I was curious.
To All the Boys I've Loved Before is about a 17 year old girl, who in order to get over somebody writes them a very deeply felt love letter, which she never sends and keeps in a box below her bed. Predictably you can guess what happens... all the letters get sent, and plot line ensues.
I found this book unpredictable, I did not guess the ending from the reading the first couple of pages (as you can do with most fluffy romance novels... not that I'm complaining) and as the book progressed I fell more and more deeply in love with the characters.
This book seems to check all of my boxes, it has:

• A squeal-worthy romance.
• a sexy bad-boy guy, with a cocky attitude (does it get any hotter?)
• Bad driving.
• love triangles.
• Korean food.
• and, a great family dynamic.

And the last one is what really impressed me about this book, I find stories which include families much better and more relatable than those who seem to leave the family almost completely out. There is many a scene, where the banter between the three sisters leaves you giggling either at the book, or the memories it evokes of your own siblings.

The only downfall I found in this book was that the begining was rather slow. Although, apart from that, I found this book to be a great, fun read. Perfect for a lazy day when you just want a laugh. 

Click here for Goodreads link.

Thoughts #1

I find it ironic that an author may spend years and years writing a book, and its readers often devour it in hours...