Help with a project?

[Isis]

Hi their goodreaders! I'm really nervous about asking this, but I think people here are interesting and have solid opinions on the books they read, so I'm wondering if any of you would be interested in helping me with a project (my senior thesis), which happens to be about adult paranormal romance!

There are two parts; one is general questions that anyone can answer, while the second part is some questions for people who have specifically read (and remember) or are shortly planning (or willing) to read any of the following books: Pride Mates, Fury, Bad Blood, The Beast in Him, Stygian's Honor, or Just Like Cats and Dogs.

Now to explain; this is the part where I think people will be scared away. (^_^') My project is essentially looking at beauty and racial representations in adult paranormal romance novels. What I'm doing: looking critically at this stuff without belittling the fantasy (because I love to read paranormal romance, so that would be not-fun). What I'm NOT interested in doing: trying to determine authorial intent, calling people prejudiced, or any of that stuff. I happen to think that while being highly entertaining fantasy, the genre also reveals interesting things about the formation of racial and beauty standards. My intent is not to say there's anything inherently wrong with this, but only to point out that there may be patterns, things to be said, and connect these patterns to the culture (United States in particular) at large. I'm really interested in how readers think about these things, or if they think about them at all. There is no right answer, and questions can be answered wholly or in part with as much or as little detail as you want.

So here are the general questions; feel free to answer them here if you're comfortable, or message me with your response. If you've read any of the books listed above and would be willing to answer a few specific questions, let me know and I'll message you. If you'd like to answer but prefer to be totally anonymous, there's an anonymous survey at this URL: my link text

Any and all responses to any or all questions is enormously appreciated; no one's name (or screen name), unless you give me express permission, will be used when I present examples of the types of answers I receive (if I receive any, haha!).

1. Why do you read paranormal romance? What do you enjoy about it? What do you find problematic (if anything)?

2. If you find contradictions in the novels you read and what's acceptable in real life (for instance, things or characters that would be unacceptable in real life but are desirable or fine in the novel), how do you deal with them? That is, are you able to enjoy that kind of fantasy/real life contradiction, or do you prefer not to read the novel, or something else entirely?

3. Do you notice general patterns of racial representation across the paranormal romance you read? That is, do you notice when no diversity is shown versus when lots of diversity is shown? Or do you notice Asians, Native Americans, "white" people, "black" people, or any other way we box people, shown in certain roles, as heroes, heroines, villains, soldiers, witches, whatever comes to mind? Are you bothered by any types of diversity/lack of diversity/particular roles you notice?

4. How do you think supernatural characters are usually presented (good, bad, powerful, oppressed, it depends on the type, however else you want to answer this question)?

5. If you happen to be a writer as well as a reader of paranormal romance, how do you think about these things (if at all)? Does it influence writing choices (however much choice there is with characters demanding their stories be told, haha!)? Why or why not (in your opinion).

6. Is there anything you think/want to say about beauty or racial (or both, or something else altogether) representations in paranormal romance that I didn't ask about?

7. For demographic purposes, and only if you are comfortable with it, how you do "racially" identify yourself?

Again, to reiterate, this project is not about accusation or responsibility or racism or reader judgements. It's about how paranormal romance fiction is both entertaining and can also reveal insights about culture and how readers and writers might think about these things. This is a really general explanation for a project that's been months in the making, so feel free to ask me any questions about anything that's not clear or that you're uncertain about, and if you answer questions and would be interested in reading my thesis when it's done (June), let me know!

Edit: I should mention that if you answer, I need them by May 20th.

[Missyb]

I'll do it. I've read The Beast In Him, Pride Mates, & Bad Blood, and I have Fury and could read that for this project. I could care less about being anonymous, I was raised Catholic & Baptist & that gets plenty of looks when people hear that, which makes me open-minded to at least listen.
I'll have to re-read the books to answer better.

When do you want our answers?

[Deanne]

I will help you out. I read Fury, Beast in Him and Stygian's Honor it has been awhile so I will have to re read them :)

[Missyb]

I'll get my Mom to answer the questions as well. She's read at least 2 of the 3 I mentioned that I read, and it would give you another age group.

[Isis]

Missyb wrote: "I'll do it. I've read The Beast In Him, Pride Mates, & Bad Blood, and I have Fury and could read that for this project. I could care less about being anonymous, I was raised Catholic & Baptist & th..."

Thank you so much; if your mom wants to answer as well, that would be great! I'm having my mom answer also! : ) As for the deadline, I'll add that to the post, but by May 20th would be fabulous!

[Isis]

Deanne wrote: "I will help you out. I read Fury, Beast in Him and Stygian's Honor it has been awhile so I will have to re read them :)"

Thank you, I really appreciate it!

[Sonya]

I'll answer the questions - but tomorrow or the day after. :)

I actually don't read very much paranormal romance now compared to a few years ago, but as an Australian I probably have a different take on this to some others.
As long as you don't mind Australians answering!

[Missyb]

Isis wrote: "Missyb wrote: "I'll do it. I've read The Beast In Him, Pride Mates, & Bad Blood, and I have Fury and could read that for this project. I could care less about being anonymous, I was raised Catholic..."

Sounds good, Thanks.

[Isis]

Sonya Heaney wrote: "I'll answer the questions - but tomorrow or the day after. :)

I actually don't read very much paranormal romance now compared to a few years ago, but as an Australian I probably have a different t..."

Oh thank you, I'd love a different take!

[Sonya]

I filled it in in the anonymous survey thingy.
It's sort of a garbled mess - as I typed it after midnight!

[Missyb]

1. I read Paranormal romance because of the the escape and I like the critters better then regular people. It's a vampire thing, I guess. Blame it on Anne Rice and Interview With the Vampire, the movie came out a few years after I graduated from high school.
The same old same old does get boring in romance novels (they meet, fall hard, fall into bed and more in bed, then the book is over). I really want a plot to go with any sex in the book. To get around it sometimes I switch it up to something fluffy or gritty. I do find the over-description of things such as someone's hair annoying. Constantly calling her "baby" is also annoying, and so is the names/words some authors use during sex. I don't care for clinical words used during sex or goofy type words. More real life the better.
2. I'm a rather open minded person, and believe "to each their own". I prefer male/female pairings (it's what I'm in for real life), but have read m/m, m/m/f. I've read some books that had racially mixed couples, and I really didn't give it much thought if the characters are good together. One series I'm reading the main guys in her life are green, black, white, blue, and I forget the other 2. Another series, the next couple is white & black. It's fantasy, not something to get upset about. I will not read anything involving child sex acts or anything like that, or human with animals.
3. with what I read, I've noticed some diversity. I had to think on it because I don't take note of it. If I don't like a character it's because the character is boring, lousy, etc. I have noticed more and more strong female characters, and not just when pushed to protect themselves & others. They are often in tough professions (cop, private detective, FBI) before meeting the lead male, and are staying on in that position during the story.
I've read books with male & female Native American, M & F "black" & Asian & Hispanic, and the villains tend to be different as well. The villains are sometimes "beautiful" & sometimes "ugly".
4. supernatural are often portrayed as striking or beautiful, or masculine. Not often are the "good" guys portrayed as regular. Vampires are a large part of what I read, and often it's explained that their beauty draws in their food.
5. I'm not a writer, but if I did then I would give a great story and characters and fill in what they are (white black, whatever) probably much as what I am, or look for in a guy. I guess it's that saying that Birds of the same feather flock together (something like that). I think it's probably a matter of unconsciously writing what you know or like, or are more comfortable with. Maybe that changes the more you write.
6. Often times the male is a big hulking guy and the female is a short feminine thing. It's nice to have the woman be 6 ft tall and not be described as huge. I like when a series mixes it up and gives some short guys as well as some tall woman, and some skinny and some fluffier. Makes it more realistic. We all come in all different sizes and shapes.
7. I'm pasty white, with Native American, Irish, Scottish, Canadian, English, & German heritage. I just can't tan to save my life, I'm not pale so I can be like some of the characters in the books I like to read (vampire like). My boyfriend's Grandma is Spanish, but I never paid attention to the name, and you couldn't tell by looking at him because his Irish side shows too strongly. Not like it would have mattered because it wasn't part of the conversations before we started dating 17 yrs ago. It was something I found out after we started dating, and it didn't change anything.
I could care less what you are. Lousy workers/friends/people are lousy because they're lazy or have a bad attitude or are just rotten people, whatever, not because of what they are or how light or dark their skin is.
Race, religion, politics are such dangerous subjects and cause so many arguments/fights. Too many. I hate voting time because of all the attack ads, and I'm surprised I haven't broke the mute button from overuse.
Besides politicians, I can't stand those who quote religion and throw it in your face, while forgetting the basics of not judging others. I think it's the "holier then thow" attitude that bothers me most. We all breathe, eat, go potty, and our potty stinks just like the next person's.

[Isis]

Missyb wrote: "1. I read Paranormal romance because of the the escape and I like the critters better then regular people. It's a vampire thing, I guess. Blame it on Anne Rice and Interview With the Vampire, the m..."

Thank you so much!

[Andrea]

I'd love to do it. I'd also be interested in your completed thesis.

[Isis]

Andrea wrote: "I'd love to do it. I'd also be interested in your completed thesis."

Well thank you! If you haven't already done it and want to, the survey is open through tomorrow; that would be fabulous! If you've read any of the books (minus Stygian's Honor, which I had to cut because my thesis was too long) and want to answer any questions in the next day, shoot me a message. Even if you don't but are still interested in the thesis (or the outcomes if you don't want to read the whole thing), I can send you a copy (or summary) in June when it's all pretty and revised. : )