Do You Find Yourself Defending Your Harlequin Presents Reading?

[Lisa Kay]

Kouk, If you say so, LOL! Too funny! :)

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Harlequin Presents are my crack!]

I think that paranormal taps into explorations of the elemental nature of man, the raw sexuality, and the violent nature. The urge to protect and defend, and survive, and to form lasting bonds in a dangerous world. That's what I get from PNR. I think that it can be taken too literal by those who don't get the appeal of the genre. I'm not saying you feel that way though, Mia.

[Sam]

hey everbody .. so r u all of u harlequin addicts?
i am so happy to join this grp..

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Harlequin Presents are my crack!]

Hi Sam. Glad you joined. I can definitely call myself a Harlequin Addict!

[Jacqueline J]

So I just got back from the library where I was picking up a handful of HPs that I'd reserved. I was chatting with one of the librarians about an interview that I am going to be doing about reading Harleys and we were agreeing that I certainly read enough of them to know whereof I speak. It's a small library and they know me there.

At that point another librarian butted in and said if I read those kinds of books then I'm not living my own life. WTF? Why do people feel the need to say that sort of thing? My mom was standing right there. She's a voracious reader of murder mysteries. Is her life passing her by while she reads murder mysteries? I've read hundreds of sci fi books. Was I missing my own life while I read those?

And really? A librarian judging what people read? I was a bookseller for years. Judging your customers/patrons is just an all around bad idea. Aren't librarians supposed to just be happy you're reading?

[Lemon]

Jacqueline wrote: "So I just got back from the library where I was picking up a handful of HPs that I'd reserved. I was chatting with one of the librarians about an interview that I am going to be doing about reading..."

By that logic, that means you shouldn't be watching any TV at all (even news as most of that relates to other peoples' lives), going to the movies, reading magazines, reading biographies . . . the list goes on and on and on.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Harlequin Presents are my crack!]

That was way out of line for a librarian to say to a client!

[Jyothi]

Lululemon wrote: "Jacqueline wrote: "So I just got back from the library where I was picking up a handful of HPs that I'd reserved. I was chatting with one of the librarians about an interview that I am going to be ..."


I think the common feeling is romance books are read by teenagers and as you get older, such books are best left alone while biographics or self-help books are supposed to take over the interest. Could it be that ppl feel they are not intellectually stimulating?? I for one love the world of romance. Anyways, any day I wud choose a good romance with a dreamy HEA to biographies though I would read them too along with murder mysteries or sci fiction. I still sometimes feel a need to defend y I bring back at least 2 romance books with some other choices whenever I visit the library..but there it is, cannot be avoided

[Lisa Kay]

I bet that same librarian would never think to say to your mother, “Gee, you are not living your life! Just think. When you could be out solving a real murder (or committing one – yikes!) instead of just reading about it?”

[Mareli]

Lisa Kay! LOL I thought exactly the same! It's wrong reading love stories because you're wasting your life and you don't if you read any other kind of books?
I wonder about music...

My opinion would be you're wasting your life when you do something you don't like... but better not to go there ;)

[Aruana]

I had an English teacher in high school and she knew I loved my Mills & Boon. She never judged me about them, in fact she said it didn't matter what I read as long as I read! Miss Bergman was wonderful.

I lead a variety of books: History, Film industry books, Biographies etc, but I love my Mills & Boon and don't mess with me when it comes to them!

[Lynsey A]

What a judgmental librarian! I agree with Danielle. It was way out of line for her to make that kind of comment.

First of all, what business is it of hers how you spend your time? Second of all, as a librarian she should be encouraging reading of any kind. Thirdly, if she didn't "approve" of what you read then she should have just kept her mouth shut mostly because she has no right to judge what anyone reads.

Ugh, that just makes me sick. Of all people, a librarian, judging someone about what they are reading? That just makes me so mad!

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Harlequin Presents are my crack!]

There's something wrong with the idea of a judgmental librarian. I mean, people are reading. Isn't that the point?

[Komal]

Some librarian's at my local library snicker at my Harlequin/ romance books. It hurts my feelings a little, but like everyone has already mentioned, it makes me question why they would work at a library if that is the reaction they have to a patron's reading choices.

I also used to work at a bookstore, and some booksellers would laugh at customers who asked about romance novels. Again it baffled me how a person can work at a bookstore and manage to be so judgmental about other people's tastes.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Harlequin Presents are my crack!]

That is just rude. I'd have to complain if someone was snickering about my buying romance novels. Would it be appropriate to tease someone for buying religious texts? Nope, and it would be a huge issue.

I have to be honest, and say that I generally don't get disrespected when I buy romance novels at the store. I do get teased for the large number of books I buy and I have a complex about it now.

[Kouk]

I think it's nobody's business what kind of books you buy / read !

When you work in a bookstore or library you cannot comment on people's books, that is really rude and disrespectful!

I have worked at a library for 3 months for a school project.
Which i really enjoyed!

I'm sorry that you both have been treated badly!

[Vanessa]

That is all so bad and a part of me, the snarky part, wants to say something about her chosen field of work. I'm gonna tamp that mean part down. :)

I usually get teased from the one that picks up my books at the library. LOL!! I send in my son! He refers to them as my sex books! Not all of them have sex in them ;0 LOL!! Okay, the majority does, but it's not anything explicit . . . surely that counts right?

I say just ignore them. My mom always said if they are talking about you then they are leaving someone else alone.

[Leona]

I just got into this thread and have really enjoyed reading everyone's comments. It is very arrogant of people to judge what other people find entertaining. Unfortunately, I do know many men and women who regard Harlequin's as very bad form....In fairness to them, some of it has to do with the titles, the book covers, etc. But I look at it as to "each their own". The sad part is, that there are many many good HP's out there, that are much better quality than other books. Maybe this is where we get to say..."Don't judge a book by it's cover"! It's been 35 years since I read HP's. This past January, my husband bought me a nook for a gift, and I read my first HP, after my 35 year draught. 100 downloaded HP's later, I am having one heck of a time! I have a stressful job, that requires a lot of focus and energy. It is great to come home, relax in my favorite chair and escape to an exotic place, with some very very sexy characters. It's all about escape and being able to relax. I like the happy endings and I am ALWAYS guaranteed ROMANCE. I feel sorry for people who are too jaded to appreciate it.

[Lisa Kay]

Leona wrote: "I have a stressful job, that requires a lot of focus and energy. It is great to come home, relax in my favorite chair and escape to an exotic place, with some very very sexy characters. It's all about escape and being able to relax."

Very true, Leona! That is when I switched to almost exclusively romance, when I had a very stressful - and sad job. Now that I'm not working, I find I can venture out into other areas of fiction and not-fiction. Some people just don't understand.

[Verity]

Seems like that librarian azz got a virulent foot-in-mouth disease.

[Vanessa]

Did anyone see the clip on Ellora's Cave about the romance genre? It's a 1.36 Billion dollar earner! So we are NOT alone :D

[Verity]

More power to us romance readers, the snobs dunno wot they're missing.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Harlequin Presents are my crack!]

Yup! I've noticed a lot of the anti-romance people don't read romance. If you've read one and didn't like it, that's not a reason to bad-mouth the whole genre and to look down on people who enjoy reading the books.

[Virginia]

I am a retired librarian with several degrees and have worked in a number of positions from elementary to college. The years that I was a jr. high librarian, I traded in my paperbacks at a used book store and picked up paperbacks that I knew some of the kids wanted which included Harlies. I must add that they were not as graphic as now with the the sex scenes. The ones that I chose I could support if there were questions by parents or others. I picked up a Harley in 1972 and just added them to my reading. I have known English teachers who read many different romance series because we shared. My husband who thinks reading fiction is a waste of time and my son who reads mysteries and fantasies use to give me a hard time. I would remind them that I felt their TV viewing of xshoot 'em up coboys and terrible action shows were a waste of time. At least my books were HEA. I know that a lot of my friends do not know that I read Harlies and would give me a difficult time if they did know. But as the English teacher previously, "at least you are reading" was and is how I feel. We like different types of music so why can' t we like different genres of literature? We know what we are reading so we do not need others being nobs.

[LoveRomance]

I've read romances for decades, but started reading Harlequin Presents in 2003. It was the most traumatic year of my life, and there were some days when escaping in one of those romances got me through the day and helped me sleep at night. Life resumed to normal, but I haven't been able to let go of my HPs as a stress management tool. I don't advertise the fact that I read them, but my friends who know tend to be surprised since they perceive the books to be shallow and predictable. But for me, that's just the point. In my hectic life, shallow and predictable is just what I need in my leisure reading. I don't apologize or justify. I just enjoy. And while some HP books are better than others (and I definitely have some favorite authors), I LOVE that I can count on HP to take me away better than any bottle of Calgon. Not many things you can always count on in life, but I can count on a HEA every single HP! Luckily I don't need others to understand or appreciate my perspective in order to enjoy the books :)

[Aruana]

Most people think that woman only read them for the sex. So what? At least they give me some ideas - lol.

[Verity]

Hey that's the 1st thing I look 4 when browsing @ bookstore haha

[3meg]

Lovin' all the comments ladies! I just wanted to add, with my fav finger in the air to all the asshats that want to pass judgement, I read more than anyone I know. I have a bigger vocabulary than most people and my husband walks around with a smile on his face and never, EVER complains about lack of sex (even when all the other men are!. 'nuff said......

[LoveRomance]

@3meg: Beautifully stated!!

[Virginia]

Well said, Megan. I am so pleased that I found this group and to know that there are so many of us out there who enjoy reading and sharing our thoughts about what we have read.
I have found many titles from the reviews and comments that have been made in this group. .

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Harlequin Presents are my crack!]

We went to pick up Chinese food on Sunday night, and I was sitting there trying to read Undone by His Touch by Annie West. This older gentleman sat down next to me and asked what I was reading. I told him it was a romance novel. He said, 'oh,' but surprisingly not in a judgmental way.

After reading romance for many, many years and being made fun of, I think I am oblivious to any jeers I might get from people who don't get them. They make me happy, and that's good for me.

[Bella]

The last time someone mocked and asked why on earth do you read those books, I looked them straight in the eye and told them that it beats the heck out of watching Jersey Shore. They haven't mentioned it to me since.

[Lynsey A]

Good one, Dani.

[April]

to me reading a HP beats any television. i agree Dani

[Neri]

This was a fun discussion to read through. People have their nose in the air about romance novels. Admittedly, titles like "The Billionaire's Pregnant Virgin Mistress" even make me laugh but the stories are what count, lol. But find me a set of better writers that can pump out that many books a year with that level of writing skill (even if some of the plot choices are...dubious).

Comparisons are odious, but my partner, cheering me up when someone did come down harshly for my reading taste, said, "Well, honey, I guarantee you that Charlotte Lamb could write Game of Thrones, but George RR Martin could never write Temptation." LOL. He might be right. I just comfort myself that all those people are missing out on quality writing and a giggles...'cause I just finished one where the hero had a denim suit and we're still supposed to think he's a hunk. All-righty!

[Leena]

Sometimes predictability is soothing...when you know things are going to be alright in the end. And nothing does that better than Harlequin, especially when we live in a dreadfully uncertain world. I've been berated for reading them. But I've never been apologetic about being an idealist. When I started writing romance and got published, eyebrows were raised. But I love love stories. Nothing will change my mind about the beauty in a story that talks about pulling through bad times and finally achieving a happy ending.

[Vintage]

Neri wrote: "This was a fun discussion to read through. People have their nose in the air about romance novels. Admittedly, titles like "The Billionaire's Pregnant Virgin Mistress" even make me laugh but the st..."

I shudder to think of what Charlotte Lamb could do with the characters of Games of Thrones. Anne Mather would be even worse.

[Neri]

Vintage wrote: "Neri wrote: "This was a fun discussion to read through. People have their nose in the air about romance novels. Admittedly, titles like "The Billionaire's Pregnant Virgin Mistress" even make me lau..."

Robyn Donald would probably have a blast with it, too. LOL.

[Dinou]

Neri wrote: " Admittedly, titles like "The Billionaire's Pregnant Virgin Mistress" even make me laugh but the st..."

You reminded me when I used to cover my books so as not to draw unnecessary attention to my readings (not so much because I was ashamed or embarrassed but because all the girls around me would ask me to lend them to them and they would not always give them back!). With a title such as the one you mentioned I'd probably feel the need to stick heavy black sticky tape on it! Nowadays with my e-reader, problems solved. Unfortunately it looks like I'm the only one reading anything around me...