CRY OF FOUL WHEN ROMANCE NOVELS DON'T FOLLOW THE FORMULA

Some of us read romance books because we like to sublimate to have our bodies and minds feel good. 

There are  formulas for a romance novel.  One definition is: "A romance novel is a work of prose fiction that tells a story of the courtship and betrothal of one or more heroines.:"  Formula is a subset of genre.  Silhouette suggests 50,000 words.  Category romance, very contemporary, fast paced, fun,flirtatious, entertaining, upbeat and sexy.  For those who wish to understand the genre and not necessarily have a plot to read and relax, I suggest buying A Natural History of the Romance Novel by Pamela Regis (who wrote it in true academic style, quite readable with excellent organization)

Pride and Prejudice was one of the earlier ones that has remained read by many readers today.  'What if...' books and sequels have sprung up.  While many provide interesting and enjoyable reading, none of the more than 70 I have now read surpass Jane Austen.  Clearly, many authors are capitalizing on her coattails and many are most enjoyable reading.

Recently I have read a few that sneak in a plot, occasionally move it along in between the history book under which it should be filed..  Other authors have spent more time describing, to give us mental images no doubt, of food, furnishings, gardens and clothing.  My fantasy is that these are written by people who are unable to get to a point without wandering off and editorializing so that the listener or reader's head has wandered off as far in the opposite direction.

Each writer elicits different emotional reactions for the reader.  If I wanted the carnage and violence of the Gladiators, I would not choose to read a romance novel, yet some authors add all that to the 'action'.  The appeal seems to be to all tastes from the stereotypical frail, dependent female who is dutiful and without courage- to the independent female who stands up to oppressive, bossy males even though it against the custom of the historical time.  Since it is a novel, the author can take great liberties with the characters, clearly against all research as to how people behave, given their makeup and the situation.

However, I enjoy many genres and any book that has a happy ending which has traditionally been an accepted rule of the romance novel.  Recently I read one listed as such in which the hero and heroine had been happily married but he gets murdered near the ending, leaving her widowed, with twins less than two years old, who will have to be brought up without their father.  If one is looking to feel good, this is not a book to read; it did nothing to perk me up.  Too many modern women are single mothers (even while married)...it is not fun and not the story within which one wants to be wrapped when looking to be cheered.