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<From The Wall, Friday, May 30, 2008 >
Sarah, hurled Judith McNaught's historicals against The Wall.
The reasons were:
Why is it that all these historicals have "heroes" that essentially sexually assault the heroines in some way. They either cause them pain while attempting to kiss them or rape them, for heaven's sake. Is this supposed to be sexy? I don't think so.
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Cale added:
Seriously? I mean seriously? These rants are insulting to two women who were cornerstones of romantic fiction. Shame on you.
Anna added:
Can you remember when nipple was a dirty word and they all walked off into the sunset? If today's novels had been publiashed in the 60's they would have been on the porn shelf
Lizzie B added:
I hated this passage the first time I read it and reading it again I still don't like it. I guess your only consolation is that two pages later he is very very sorry. I too have never been able to stomach Johanna Lindsays sustained imprisonments and rapes. I read one or two and gave up but you have to remember the period of historical writing they come from. McNaught got me into this genre and I still love it though the genre has quite rightly moved on from then just ..... like we ..... (gasp)..... all moved on..... from Barbara Cartland. Many women in 1985 when this was first published were still behind the kitchen sink and the characters reflected that more dependant role. The characters of todays historicals are more in keeping with the women of today who have had to come out of the kitchen - stronger minded and more independant. The books have to reflect this or they won't sell. We have all moved once more.
Sarah added:
Janel, you make an excellent point. I don't don't think that Judith McNaught is, in any way, condoning rape. My younger sister was raped when she was fourteen and I am, understandably I think, a little sensitive about the subject. The idea that a woman could love a man who forced that kind of violation upon her is idiotic, in my opion. That is what ruined the book for me, as it would for anyone who has had any experience with rape either personally or with loved ones.
Janel added:
I love Judith McNaught. I didn't read "Whitney My Love" until after I'd read 2 or 3 of her other ones. While I didn't like the rape scene, it didn't ruin the book for me either and no way gave the impression that it was all right. But during the time that Whitney my love as published, this is what was hot, just like all the blood-sucking vampire novels and sex with werewolves are hot right now. I may read these, but it doesn't mean I condone necrophilia and bestiality, right?
Sarah added:
I do like historical romaces. I just do not find "forced seduction".... seductive. While I like a hero who knows his own mind and has a forceful personality, I do not like him to be blind about the feelings and wants of the heroine. The whole idea of the romance novel, since its inception, is to play to a woamn's idea of the perfect love affair. My idea if the perfect love affair does not involve rape. Rough sex is one thing, forced sex is something else entirely!!! It is in NO WAY sexy.
Sara added:
I am a JM fan but HATE Whitney, my love...about the rape scenes...I remember taking a Human Sexuality course and this same issue came up (romance novels/rape,etc). What the professor argued, and what literature says on the matter (really good book to get inside the minds of women in that era is Nancy Friday--My Secret Garden)is that the sexual fantises of women change with their status in society. In a time where women were condoned for ENJOYING sex, the only way for it to be ok is if it were forced upon them. Obviously there's more to this analysis and I'm just touching the tip of the ice berg, but I'd recommend everyone really do some research, it's fascinating! Also Nancy Friday is an author who basically pusblishes letters sent in anonymously, describing sexual fantisies. Through these journals you clearly see the trend of sexual fantisies (what's romantic, etc) from the 60's all the way to the 90's. What was in then (JM), is definately NOT in now (vampires, etc) and you can bet that in the next 10 years it's going to be different.
Aly added:
I am a JM fan. Honestly, I could totally do without the rape scene in Whitney, my Love. It creeped me out. That being said, I didn't let it ruin the book for me. Just my opinion.
Jen added:
I can't believe anyone has a problem with Judith McNaught! And what's with the dig about Johanna Lindsey? OMG. I for one like a good, old fashioned romance novel. I guess ya can't have one today unless there are vampires, or witches involved! Oh, how I long for the days of the "bodice rippers"!
Clare added:
I don't think anyone is saying rape is sexy. I understand both points of view here. They lived in a different time period where as horrible as it may sound, rape was commonplace, even when married. That doesn't make it right, but it is accurate. It was accepted then. He was not a monster, merely a product of his time.
CD added:
I have to agree w/Sarah on this one as well. While I like reading about a man knowing what he wants and going after it, rape is NOT something I find sexy by any means.
Tess added:
This whole post is supposed to be a joke, right? What a bunch of nonsense. You go ahead and find yourself a good book where the heroine runs roughshod over the hero. You're apparently looking for a new age sensitive kind of male. Good luck with all that. I know I always find it really sexy when I can beat the tar out of a man I'm seeing. Please. What drivel.
Bobbi added:
I was suckered into reading 'Whitney, my love' also written by McNaught. It was highly recommended and it had great reviews. What a load of crap that book is! The hero treats the heroine about as bad as you can treat a human being, but this is considered high romance? I don't think so! I threw that book against the wall so many times that I gave myself a headache. Have refused to read anymore of her books since then.
Sarah added:
No Thank You! Thanks for the heads up though, I will check publication dates from now on.
BZHAnne added:
Do read the original publication dates. Most of the books to which you refer were written in the 80's and early 90's when the "bodice-ripper" romance was the "in" thing. Forceful seduction was an accepted ploy to begin a relationship and if you think McNaught is bad you should read Johanna Lindsey's from that time!
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