your kiss was my life's breath

[parkergray]

Two very interesting things from The Guardian this morning - and I haven't even gotten to the 24 hours in pictures to which I'm slavishly devoted, as you are all well aware.

Bad RomanceBasically, there's a study out saying that romance novels are the reason for most sexual/relationship problems

Comments

[heinous_bitca]

As a big romance novel fan, I have to agree with you. I'm always amused that the sex between the h&h is always perfect; there's always orgasm through traditional sex, and even though some heroes will stimulate the heroine manually, she always has orgasms through just penetration (LOL).

I do like the *few* novels that I've read where the heroine's first time (never with the hero!) is a terrible experience. But the heroes are almost always WELL experienced (though I do loves me a virgin hero, they are few and far between, and they always MAGICALLY know what to do).

I think they set up unrealistic expectations only if someone expects their life to be like a book. Which just doesn't happen...either way. I work hard at my marriage, and I love my husband. But he'd be the first to admit he's no hero from a romance novel, and I don't think he should be!

[parkergray]

I read romance novels sporadically when I was in high school and a bit in college (we'd pass them around as brain candy) but I have become such a...snob. I cannot take things that are not well-written and my forays into romance (because how can you resist some of those blurbs?) lately have resulted in abject failure.

But this -

they always MAGICALLY know what to do

Hahahahaha! So true! Everyone always knows exactly what to do and, again, the mutual orgasms always get me. Every. Single. Time. Becuase that totally happens. And your first time with someone is never weird and nobody ever moves wrong and everything the other person does inflames your loins. It's really that, much more than the frankly wonderful euphamisms used, that gets me about sex in romance novels.

And, of course, the orgasms through penetration. *g*

[starbuckjr]

Here i thought something was off with me, not liking the books with sex&love gurus on their covers. In differing stages of passion. Always consenting, always orgasmic.

*snort*

[parkergray]

Romance novels are hysterical.

My aunt loves them, so my brother and I used to get her some every Christmas. And my brother has a superpower - he can stand in the romance aisle of a bookstore and, withouth fail, pick the smuttiest book there. It's amazing.

[redbrunja]

Frankly, I am getting serious 'she is too fond of books and it has turned her brain' flashbacks. I feel like there ARE some really screwy ideas that romance novels promote... but it's not just romance novels. IT'S THE WHOLE DAMN CULTURE. When was the last time you saw a guy in a movie reach for a condom? When was the last time a main character on a tv show got an abortion (this is particularly driving me crazy because I feel like my tv shows have been flooded with pregnancy plots lately and it's making me want to hit things).

[parkergray]

That's definitely true.

The only 'very special abortion episode' of a show I have ever enjoyed was 'Episode 20,' the first season of Everwood. This girl (not a main character) got pregnant and decided to have an abortion. And they actually let her go through with it; she didn't magically have a miscarriage or something. It was a great hour of television. It was about her, but it also featured a physician who was morally against abortion, but ended up doing it because it was his obligation as a doctor. They sort-of showed everyone's perspective and it didn't feel preachy.

And because of that, I will use my old-as-dirt Everwood icon. Speaking of icons - yours is fantastic. Parker! I love her!

[raincitygirl]

I also liked that the Everwood episode (obliquely) addressed the violence against abortion providers. The one doctor character was going to do it, but because he was a widower and the other doctor character was married, the other doctor character said he'd perform the abortion instead (despite being morally opposed to it), so the first doctor character wouldn't risk leaving his children orphans.

Mind you, I doubt Everwood would have gotten away with an abortion episode like that if the girl having the abortion had been a regular character.

[redbrunja]

Parker is, hands-down, my favorite thing about Leverage. She's perfection.

And I'd heard good things about that episode of Everwood before... and apparently Grey's Anatomy had a good one... frankly, I would love to see abortion stories become more common place because it's something that a lot of women have to deal with and there are some great storytelling potential there.