I was going to select "Romance," but I went for the "explain in comments (serious)" option instead. A lot of what makes so many older romance novels... er... "unsuitable" is because of changing social and cultural values, and thank god for it.
What constitutes a sympathetic protagonist has changed quite a bit. I'm not sure that's inherent in the genre, though, so much as the culture.
That said, while I have read romance novels, I haven't read a lot of them; it wouldn't be hard to find someone with a more informed opinion.
Austen and the Brontes are readable for pretty much exactly the same reasons Shogun was a hit. They are visages into deeply alien societies, Science fiction for the masses with the respectability of being considered classics added on top. As romances, they are not so hot.
I think lots of women dig Austen as romance. I know that I think Persuasion is much more romantic than any contemporary romance novel.
And I don't really see the problem, either: the Austen heroes love the heroines for their spunkiness, independent thought, and wish to help others, not for their giant breasts or whatever.
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What constitutes a sympathetic protagonist has changed quite a bit. I'm not sure that's inherent in the genre, though, so much as the culture.
That said, while I have read romance novels, I haven't read a lot of them; it wouldn't be hard to find someone with a more informed opinion.
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(Anonymous) 2009-11-21 05:37 pm (UTC)(link)no subject
And I don't really see the problem, either: the Austen heroes love the heroines for their spunkiness, independent thought, and wish to help others, not for their giant breasts or whatever.
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