[identity profile] icecreamempress.livejournal.com 2009-11-22 07:19 pm (UTC)(link)
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.