IR Themes

[Channasl]

When reading IR stories (non paranormal) how important is it for you that the author deal with everyday issues? I read somewhere once that a reader stated that they were tired of authors dealing with race in IR stories. I am from the south (SC)and I know that race plays a big issue here and I enjoy authors dealing with the racial aspects that a couple may encounter. What are your thoughts?

[Theresa]

Hi Channasl, I'm new to the group as well as a new author and thought I might as well jump in feet first. My thoughts on your question; I agree, any racial aspects that develops during the course of the story should be dealt with. I may even to further and say, differences should be acknowledged, celebrated and dealt with when necessary/as the story demands. But I don't want these differences to take up too much space. In my opinion, the majority of the book should be spent on the development of the romance, the racial aspect should be secondary.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

I think it's fine to acknowledge that some still have issues with interracial relationships and racism, but I think that it's also fine to have a story where this is not the major conflict. I can imagine that while this might be a stumbling block to some couples in IRRs, I don't think it has to be for everyone, depending on where they live and how they were raised, the culture at large.

People read for escapism, and some readers may not want to be confronted with the reality of racial tension every time they read a book.

I live near Austin, and I don't see IRRs being a huge deal. While that is probably not the case in other parts of Texas and smaller towns.

[Theresa]

That's it exactly, escapism. This is also reflected in the movies I like to watch, e.g. comic book based films. Conflict keeps me interested – how will it be resolved? But I want my happily every after ending. H.E.A is not always a manifestation of our daily reality, so I choose it for my escape.

[Channasl]

I must admit that escapism is why I love to read also. I agree with Theresa I prefer that the books I read have HEA!

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

I love my HEAs. No question!

[Paganalexandria]

For me it depends on the setup if race is mentioned or not. If both are in the same socio-economic situation race shouldn't be a central theme, but if one is uber-rich and the other comes from the wrong side of the tracks, it's hard for me suspend belief that no one around them wouldn't bring it up.

[Michelle, Mod with the Bod]

I agree with Paganalexandria. The setup of the story is important. Before reading Being Plumville, I would've said that I prefer that race not be dealt with. Just describing characters and such was enough for me. But, when the story is setup well, and the trials of an IR relationship are realistic, then I'm all for it.

[TinaNoir]

I agree with Danielle. I think race or difference can be incorporated into the story without it being THE issue.

For instance, in some IRs there are family members or friends who are overtly disapproving or racist. But what if a family member or friend isn't racist or even disapproving but has never really interacted on a personal level with someone of a different race and says or does something racially insensitive?

Or what if the racial issue isn't external but rather internal. Say you have a non-white heroine who has never wanted to date cross-racially. Now she finds herself in a great relationship with a white guy finds it necessary to adjust her long held expectations in light of her feelings for this guy. Family and friends all say what a great couple they make. Her brain has to catch up with her heart.

I prefer that whatever conflict an IR couple has not to be about race especially if it is a contemporary romance and the conflict is external. But I do think within that context an author can still acknowledge the difference in creative ways.

[The FountainPenDiva, Old school geek chick and lover of teddy bears]

It really depends on how the issue is handled and/or if race is relevant to the setting. I don't like when race is dealt with in a heavy-handed or preachy manner. I certainly have BIG issues with a grown woman willing to put her happiness on hold because of what her family/friends/strangers might think. Maybe that's realistic for some women of color, but it's not something I've experienced or know of other women who have.

If we're talking historical then it also depends upon setting. Race was thought of far different in Ancient Egypt or Rome than it would be in 1950's/1960's America. In Egypt as in Rome, you were either a citizen or you were a barbarian. That was it. And setting is importance to the relevance of race. A contemporary IR couple in Seattle or San Francisco is less likely to deal with the same attitudes that are sadly still prevalent in the South (though the rate of IR marriages in these regions has been growing steadily go figure).

I've said this for years: Not every IR book needs to be or should be about race. There are so many other issues IR couples face in their day to day lives and those issues are seldom dealt with. Pardon my frankness but falling back on race as plot (unless it is pivotal to the characters/situations) just smacks of laziness.

[Kate]

For me personally, race is almost always an issue to some degree. I've had to deal with this quite a bit in my own IRRs. That said, if it becomes the driving force for a story, I lose interest quickly. Things in real life are never *only* about race and if you force it, it just pushes me away from the characters.

[The FountainPenDiva, Old school geek chick and lover of teddy bears]

To be honest, I think it is totally unfair that IR books are often put in the position where they have to be about race in any way. We don't ask that mainstream romance be issue-oriented. They're given a lot more freedom to just "be". If I'm reading a paranormal or fantasy IR, I don't want race anywhere near the story. I feel it detracts from the overall narrative. Yes, I want to know what the characters look like, and if their powers/abilities/etc. are based in their culture, that's fine. But to have the "OMG people aren't going to accept us because you're fill-in-the-blank and I'm fill-in-the-blank" plot line just would make me face-palm.

That's one huge reason I go absolutely insane when certain authors (especially in erotica) treat and market interracial romance as "taboo". Taboo to me is something like incest (a popular sub-genre of erotica) or bestiality.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

I have to agree with The FountainPenDiva, that I don't think the onus should be on every interracial writer to make race an issue in their stories. In fact, an IR writer can tell a perfectly wonderful story without ever using race as a conflict.

[Echo]

I agree with TheFountainPenDiva too. I read IR books because I like having characters of color in fiction rather that the mainstream romances where everyone is white. I like to see heroines & heroes who don't have to be white to be attractive or important. Plus, I enjoy IR exploring other cultures, mythologies etc. I think certain people pressure IR and MC books to be issue oriented b/c they only view POC characters through the lens of 'other'; so they feel IRs need to be justified in some way.

Now, I get reflecting parts of reality- and racism is a reality but as the main story it gets tiresome. Plus, it makes it seem as if the characters have no depth beyond their skin color. I want to read more BWAM romances for ex. But I swear if I have to read another blurb @ how his Chinese/Korean/ Japanese parents won't accept her because she's black (and that's it) I will just quit trying. I want an HEA, sexiness, fun, adventure not a lecture on race relations.

Sorry to ramble.:)

[Michelle, Mod with the Bod]

mrsbookmark wrote: "I agree with TheFountainPenDiva too. I read IR books because I like having characters of color in fiction rather that the mainstream romances where everyone is white. I like to see heroines & heroe..."

I don't think you were rambling at all mrsbookmark :) I'd like to see more bw/am romances too.

[Melissa]

TheFountainPenDiva wrote: "To be honest, I think it is totally unfair that IR books are often put in the position where they have to be about race in any way. We don't ask that mainstream romance be issue-oriented. "

THIS! Excuse me for yelling. I'm not sure how IR ended up being known as books about race issues, but the ones I love usually aren't. They don't touch it with a ten foot pole. I'm not against it, but so often it's either a throwaway or done in a hamfisted way I end up annoyed. But, really, I want that romance.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

Well said, mrs bookmark. It's kind of irritating because there is underlying assumption that every person of color is exactly the same and struggles with the same issues.

To me, an interracial relationship isn't an issue, and my family would accept my spouse because he's the man I chose, and they have to deal with my choice. If I encounter people at large who have an issue, that's no worse than I might encounter as far as racism in society that I would deal with even if I was married to a black man.

[The FountainPenDiva, Old school geek chick and lover of teddy bears]

I re-read Pussycat Death Squad and while it was an IR BW/WM pairing, the focus wasn't race. The heroine was Muslim while the hero was Protestant (to a degree). I thought the author did a good job of presenting the difference in faith in an interesting way. There are so many issues IR couples face and I would like to see those issues dealt with in this subgenre.

[Channasl]

Has anyone read a book where the hero's or heroine's family was really opposed to the relationship however, they were won over in the end? I don't think that I have unless it was a long time ago. Any ideas?

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

Once In A Blue Moon. Her family liked her old black boyfriend more, and the heroine had to decide what she wanted in life, and that it was more important than what her family thought.

[Channasl]

You know I read this one a long time ago it was really good. I don't remember any other novels by that author.
Thanks for the reminder!

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

I don't think she's written anything else since. It was good. I loved Ian, the hero.