By Roxanne
I’m in the library holding an Isabelle Allende, a new book by Zadie Smith and small paperback that describes traditions in small villages located in the Amazon jungle. I felt very intellectual and was about to leave, resisting the urge to pick up three more books. Not just any books, but my guilty pleasure reading material – romance novels – because although I appreciate a good book once in a while, I love me some literary indecency.
Just think: After a long day of hard work, dealing with problems, hearing about issues, I don’t want to watch a depressing albeit great movie like Seven Pounds, I just wanna watch some MTV. Romance novels are my form of literary MTV.
I browse through the Nora Roberts and Johanna Lindseys, historical novels with untamed warriors are my favourite. What girl doesn’t want to tame a handsome warrior who is great in bed? I find the perfect one. The cover displays a muscular half-naked man holding a near-fainting woman in his large arms. The cover reads: “Stunning statuesque Brittany Callaghan isn't used to seeing Nordic gods in her tiny California town. But when the spectacular blond Viking, whose name is Dalden, turns up at her doorstep, Brittany knows her dream man is very real.”
Dalden claims to be a barbarian warrior since Brittany's passion has been running red-hot since she first saw him, the sexy giant can fancy himself anything he pleases! The truth is a very rude awakening, for Dalden is exactly what he claims to be – a warrior to the depths of his soul, from a place where the women always obey. Intelligent, independent Brittany isn't about to be subservient to any male, not even one who's everything she ever wanted in a lover. But the proud, powerful barbarian is accustomed to fighting for what he wants and winning. And what he wants most of all is Brittany.
Perfect. While reading, my name was no longer Roxanne in my mind, but Brittany. While it's true that there’s a lot more to the romance novel than the sex scenes, I’m not ashamed to say they are my favourite parts. At some point, once you start reading romance, you'll come across that first lovemaking scene that totally turns you on. Although at times I must admit the sex is so ridiculously described, it becomes more funny and entertaining then sexual.
“There wasn't an inch of her that he didn't taste from the base of her throat to the curve of her waist to the backs of her knees to her candy-apple red toenails. And when he finally tasted the already damp petals of her womanhood, she tangled her fingers in his hair and arched her hips as the tremors of ecstasy shook her body. He felt each spasm as acutely as if she were connected to him. Then he plunged deep and buried his face in her neck. ‘Oh God, Libby,’ he groaned over and over as the lightning bolts of fulfilment shot through him.”
I relish reading these scenes, but I can’t lie; I always am just a bit embarrassed when a person asks me: ‘What are you reading?’ I wish I could tell them I was reading the next Pulitzer winner, because though many people read romance novels, somehow they are still looked down upon. But whether you’ve thought, “Oooh” or “Yuck” about Romance, this genre, translated into 90 languages, is a publishing economic force to be reckoned with. “Romance Writers of America” reports sales volume of $1.4 billion last year – yes a BILLION! Guess I am not the only one reading…
And there might be a reason why men should appreciate these books more! Women who read romance novels make love with their partners 74% more often than women who don’t, according to Psychology Today. Furthermore, “when women fantasize frequently (as they do when they read romance novels) they have sex more often, have more fun in bed, and engage in a wider variety of erotic activities,” according to a report in Psychological Bulletin.
In short, my guilty pleasure is entertaining and might enhance my sex life. Talk about a great guilty pleasure! Time to soak myself in romance!
