Category Archives: reading

Erotica Under the Skin

Posted on June 14, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I want to read erotica from the inside. The surface elements are much less important to me than how the characters feel. A bland setting or one that is poorly realized is, to me, a flaw, and an intriguing one … Continue reading →

Posted in erotica, reading | Comments Off on Erotica Under the Skin

I Don’t Read It For the Sex.

Posted on June 7, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I don’t read erotica for the sex. Well, not entirely. I know. I write the stuff, so why I don’t I read it for its intended purpose? Possibly for the same reason that a pastry chef might not eat pastry … Continue reading →

Posted in erotica, reading, romance novels | 4 Comments

May-Ten-Centuries-Back Vampire Romance

Posted on June 3, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

The May/December romance is one thing. The May/Ten Centuries Back romance is quite another. It’s always disturbed me a little that vampire heroes in romance are so often much older than their heroines. When the heroine is not only not … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, vampires, writing craft | 2 Comments

Vulnerable Vampires

Posted on June 1, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I would love to see vampire heroes and heroines who are more vulnerable, even, than ordinary humans. I know most readers don’t want to see that, but I do. Vulnerability is what draws me to a character. I want them … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, sf/f, vampires, writing craft | Comments Off on Vulnerable Vampires

A Little History With Those Vampires, Ma’am?

Posted on May 24, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I absolutely adore historical fantasy, and that carries over to vampire novels that happen to be historical fantasy.Moonshine by Alaya Johnson just came out this month; I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy in April, due to running … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, recommendations, sf/f, vampires | 1 Comment

"Cold, Brooding and Dead" – Cate Hart – Guest Post

Posted on May 20, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Please welcome my guest, Cate Hart, blogging on some of her favorite vampires in movies and books. # Cold, Brooding and Dead: Vampires and Why We Love ‘Em I think I can pinpoint when my love of vampire stories began. … Continue reading →

Posted in guest, reading, vampires | 1 Comment

Jane Eyre in the Carnival Mirror

Posted on May 16, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Finally, I’m going backwards to the scenes surrounding Jane and Rochester’s wedding day, and tying those into the repeated reflections of Jane in Bertha and in Rochester himself. Several times throughout the novel, Jane’s true feelings escape the barriers she … Continue reading →

Posted in brontë, reading | Tagged | 2 Comments

Jane Eyre A-Wandering in Search of Family

Posted on May 15, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I left off yesterday when Jane departs Thornfield for Gateshead, where her Aunt Reed lies dying. Mrs. Reed’s dislike of Jane is finally explained more fully; she was jealous of her husband’s affection for his sister, Jane’s mother, and of … Continue reading →

Posted in brontë, reading | Tagged | Comments Off on Jane Eyre A-Wandering in Search of Family

Jane Eyre Advertises, Will Travel

Posted on May 14, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I’m a guest poster today at the Novelists, Inc. Blog on “Promotional Drops in the Online Bucket.” Please drop by and check it out! I recently re-read Jane Eyre in conjunction with Jessica of Read React Review, and am posting … Continue reading →

Posted in brontë, reading | Tagged | Comments Off on Jane Eyre Advertises, Will Travel

Reading and Reading Again

Posted on May 13, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

In the last couple of years I’ve started to become fascinated with the study of reading and narrative. I partly blame a friend who specializes in a related academic discipline. I haven’t read a lot about theories of reading yet … Continue reading →

Posted in brontë, reading | 2 Comments