Category Archives: reading

Genre is the Highest Form of Literature

Posted on September 1, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I think genre fiction is the highest form of literature. I really do. If “highest” means most important to humanity. How’s that for a sweeping claim? Romance, fantasy, mystery, and science fiction. Those are the highest literature out there.For one … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, reading | 4 Comments

IASPR Call for Proposals

Posted on August 18, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Just in case anyone out there is interested! A Call For Proposals for The Third Annual International Conference on Popular Romance: Can’t Buy Me Love?Sex, Money, Power, and RomanceNew York CityJune 26-28, 2011The International Association for the Study of Popular … Continue reading →

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The Journal of Popular Romance Studies, First issue!

Posted on August 10, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

The Journal of Popular Romance Studies has published its first issue! If only this journal had been around when I was in graduate school…but no, then I never would have gotten around to writing novels.So far, I’ve read A Little … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, reading, romance novels | 2 Comments

Trusting Authorial Voices

Posted on August 9, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I’ve recently been thinking about novel beginnings, and how it’s common (and good) advice to start with big obvious conflict. However, I don’t think that it’s always necessary to do that. More importantly, I’ve been thinking about why that is … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, writing craft | 2 Comments

Top 5 Marriage of Convenience Novels

Posted on July 29, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

This post was originally written for Monkey Bear Reviews. # My Five Favorite Marriage of Convenience Novels It was really difficult to make this list! The “marriage of convenience” is one of my favorite romance novel plots. I made the … Continue reading →

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Bearded Heroes

Posted on July 23, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I’m a guest today at the Novelists, Inc. blog on “Five Ways of Thinking About a Writer’s Conference.” As for my own personal blog, I’ve been wondering something. Where are all the romance heroes with beards? Or even moustaches? I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in moonlight mistress, reading, romance novels, the duke | 4 Comments

Eroticism in To Have and To Hold by Patricia Gaffney

Posted on July 21, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I recently read Patricia Gaffney’s To Have and to Hold for the first time. If I’d only read the first section of the book (a bit less than half), I could easily interpret it as an erotic novel, though one … Continue reading →

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Mansfield Park Revisited, Part the Third

Posted on July 16, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

My final notes on my last re-read of Mansfield Park. Mansfield Park can be read online at Gutenberg.org. #November 18, 2004 After finishing my reread I confess I’m a bit puzzled about Henry Crawford. Either he was a great actor … Continue reading →

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Mansfield Park Revisited, Part the Second

Posted on July 15, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

More on my most recent re-read of Mansfield Park, from several years ago. Mansfield Park can be read online at Gutenberg.org. # November 15, 2004I had a couple more thoughts on the rereading I’ve done so far. First, Edmund criticizes … Continue reading →

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Mansfield Park Revisited, Part the First

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I recently located the journal entries I made when I last reread Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park, way back in 2004. I reproduce them here for your enjoyment. # November 12, 2004I’ve just begun my first reread of Jane’s Austen’s Mansfield … Continue reading →

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