Category Archives: reading

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 →

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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 →

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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

Reading our Grandmothers

Posted on May 12, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Jessica of Read React Review, one of my favorite blogs, recently mentioned that she had never read Jane Eyre and had decided to do so. I and several others volunteered to read or reread it along with her. I’ll be … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, reading, romance novels, writing | 3 Comments

The Bashful Hero

Posted on May 7, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I wish more romance novels featured bashful heroes.I’ve never been a huge fan of the romance novel hero who’s physically large and good at everything and gorgeous to boot. Except, I don’t mind that combination of traits if the hero … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, romance novels | 11 Comments

Less Is Enough

Posted on May 5, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

There’s a reason stories aren’t made up of eighty percent description. It’s because there has to be room for the reader. Reading is a collaborative exercise, between the writer and the reader. The writer has a shape or picture (or … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, writing craft | 2 Comments

Writing Emotion

Posted on April 20, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

This post is more questions than answers. I’ve been thinking about what makes some fiction so much more satisfying to read than other fiction, aside from factors such as story elements one loves, a well-constructed plot, and elegant prose style. … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, writing craft | 11 Comments

History as Fantasy

Posted on April 12, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

In many ways, writing historical fiction is like writing fantasy. And reading historical fiction is like reading fantasy. In one genre, you have to look up a lot of tiny details to make the reader accept that the world they’re … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, historical fiction, reading, sf/f | 4 Comments

Romance Series-Itis

Posted on April 1, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Series-itis: there’s entirely too much wordcount devoted to reminding us what happened to the hero when he was a minor character in a previous book, and setting up various other characters for their roles in future books, not to mention … Continue reading →

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Research Books Whee!

Posted on March 9, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I’m in a research flurry, collecting materials that I hope will be helpful in writing my second erotic novel set during World War One. I do the dance of new books! The Belgian Army in World War I is another … Continue reading →

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