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Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches' Guide to Romance Novels by Candy Tan, Sarah Wendell
catymart83's review
5.0
Wonderful book by the two women who write the blog "Smart Bitches, Trashy Books" on the joys and problems of romance novels. The book is smart and insightful in discussing the trends of romance as well as the impact of the writing on the (primarily) women who read them. Sarah and Candy also write (with much tongue-in-cheek humor) about the sexual mythology of romance as well as the sometimes disturbing covers. I'd recommend this book for those who (like me) enjoy romance and for those who have people in their lives that read romance but don't understand why.
sarahanne8382's review
5.0
one of my favorite websites has outdone itself by collecting their insightful, sometimes silly, sometimes snarky revelations about romance novels. Sarah and Candy, while hardcore lovers of the genre (pun intended), are more than willing to point out the stupid covers, and other annoying facets of the genre. Yet, I've come away from this book no longer wanting to take a break from romance novels. They gave me so many new authors try, if anything I want to read more romance.
As far as the serious stuff goes, the chapter on rape in romance as well as the discussion of old school vs. new-school romance were really thoughtful explanations of some major trends in romance that have turned a lot of people away from the genre. It reminded me a lot of Janice Radway's Reading the Romance in its thoughtful explanations that women don't read (old school) romances because they like rape. It's about much more complex issues of control and societal roles and stuff that I really don't want to get into in a brief review. Basically, it was really thought-provoking and intelligent discussion of some of the most serious issues affecting romance readers.
But even better, this book had so many fun bits that both unabashedly celebrated romances for what they are, and were light hearted enough to laugh a little about the silliness of romances as well. There are discussions about the heroines Magic Hoo Hoo and the Hero's untamable Wang of Mighty Lovin', as well as a lengthy section about the man titty so commonly found on romance covers. There are also several romance themed games including a choose-your-adventure style romance where you can end up as the heroine in everything from a contemporary office story to a historically accurate regency, to a paranormal fuck-fest. In addition there are romance mad libs and board game in which you can be sent backwards by various misunderstanding that come up on the path to true love (i.e. he sees you kissing someone & thinks you're a whore, only the man was your brother)
To make a long story short, I LOVED this book, and could go on talking about it's awesomeness for hours. Anyone who appreciates romance novels will find years of enjoyment with Beyond Heaving Bosoms because it's the kind of book you end up going back to over and over again (sort of like your favorite romances).
As far as the serious stuff goes, the chapter on rape in romance as well as the discussion of old school vs. new-school romance were really thoughtful explanations of some major trends in romance that have turned a lot of people away from the genre. It reminded me a lot of Janice Radway's Reading the Romance in its thoughtful explanations that women don't read (old school) romances because they like rape. It's about much more complex issues of control and societal roles and stuff that I really don't want to get into in a brief review. Basically, it was really thought-provoking and intelligent discussion of some of the most serious issues affecting romance readers.
But even better, this book had so many fun bits that both unabashedly celebrated romances for what they are, and were light hearted enough to laugh a little about the silliness of romances as well. There are discussions about the heroines Magic Hoo Hoo and the Hero's untamable Wang of Mighty Lovin', as well as a lengthy section about the man titty so commonly found on romance covers. There are also several romance themed games including a choose-your-adventure style romance where you can end up as the heroine in everything from a contemporary office story to a historically accurate regency, to a paranormal fuck-fest. In addition there are romance mad libs and board game in which you can be sent backwards by various misunderstanding that come up on the path to true love (i.e. he sees you kissing someone & thinks you're a whore, only the man was your brother)
To make a long story short, I LOVED this book, and could go on talking about it's awesomeness for hours. Anyone who appreciates romance novels will find years of enjoyment with Beyond Heaving Bosoms because it's the kind of book you end up going back to over and over again (sort of like your favorite romances).
margocandela's review
4.0
You don't have to be a hard-core romance reader to enjoy Beyond Heaving Bosoms. The authors run the addictive website SmartBitchesTrashyBooks.com and take their books seriously. Reading this book is like jumping into a very funny, very smart graduate thesis on one of publishing's most maligned literary genres. They stand up for their right to read romance but they never shy away from calling a bad book a bad one, that takes guts.
marmarta's review against another edition
3.5
It's a bit of an artifact of its time (wow - in just 10 years, how much the genre has changed!), and didn't tell this particular romance reader much new stuff, but it's a funny and pleasant read, ideal for reading on the plane after a very intense weekend.
easyer's review
5.0
I've never given much thought to the history and landscape of romance novels and I learned a lot by reading this. Full of knowledge, humor, and references to other books to expand my reading list. That's all I ask for.
lectorliber04's review
5.0
I wish I could write a review worthy of this truly funny, insightful and smart book. From the elusive hymen, the power of the 'mighty' sword (okay, penis), to Old Skool romance novels with the 'alphole' heroe convinced that no means 'yes, harder please', to learning about how and what we women like during intercourse because romance authors (unlike some other fiction writers) aren't shy about having their heroines 'telling' the heroe where and how to use his magical hands and his 'wang of mighty loving'. To the different genres under the Romance label and so much more that I better stop before I lose track of what I'm trying to convey. I laughed while reading Sarah's and Candy's book. I learned that Romance novels have more depth than I ever thought and that if I like reading books written by intelligent, caring and kick ass women then it makes me just as brilliant. Thanks you Sarah and Candy!
emmalthompson85's review
3.0
I read this on the back of a recomendation from the writing excuses podcast. Perhaps because of that, I got a slighlty different book from when I expected. I'd expected to find something that might be of use for me in writing romance. Something that explored the common tropes of the genre and how to use them sucessfully. So, I suppose, in a way, I'm judging this book harshly for not being the book I wanted it to be instead of judging it on it's own merit.
But I am still judging it.
Beyond heaving bosoms is a lovingly mocking take on the modern romance genre. And by the modern romance genre I mean the romance genre as it was when this book was written nearly ten years ago. The bit at the end about predicting the future of the genre was telling both in what has happened and what hasn't, and in the futility of trying to predict these things in general as, of course, nothing can predict something like 50 shades of grey and how that will change a market.
The book looks at common stock tropes and characters and lovingly takes the piss out of them. There's some deeper discussion of how some of these things appeal to their audiences and why which is nice but the general tone is 'yes, these things are still but we still love them and that's fine so get lost' and while I'm 100% behind that as a general tone, I'd also like to have seen a bit more of a substantial defense of the genre on literary merits. After all, if the best of romance is as good as the best of any other genre (something I believe), why not delve into that in a bit more depth instead of devoting, for example, 21 pages to cover design and why they're crap.
The book was funny and lovingly written but I would have liked something slighlty more accademic.
But I am still judging it.
Beyond heaving bosoms is a lovingly mocking take on the modern romance genre. And by the modern romance genre I mean the romance genre as it was when this book was written nearly ten years ago. The bit at the end about predicting the future of the genre was telling both in what has happened and what hasn't, and in the futility of trying to predict these things in general as, of course, nothing can predict something like 50 shades of grey and how that will change a market.
The book looks at common stock tropes and characters and lovingly takes the piss out of them. There's some deeper discussion of how some of these things appeal to their audiences and why which is nice but the general tone is 'yes, these things are still but we still love them and that's fine so get lost' and while I'm 100% behind that as a general tone, I'd also like to have seen a bit more of a substantial defense of the genre on literary merits. After all, if the best of romance is as good as the best of any other genre (something I believe), why not delve into that in a bit more depth instead of devoting, for example, 21 pages to cover design and why they're crap.
The book was funny and lovingly written but I would have liked something slighlty more accademic.
paperbacksandpines's review
3.0
Beyond Heaving Bosoms is a celebration of one of the most denigrated reading genres: romance. It celebrates the genre in all of its cheesiness, cliches, and tropes. While it makes fun of some elements of the genre (ie Fabio covers), it recognizes and honors the unfailing love and devotion readers have of the genre.
I was interested in the authors' point of view about the future of the genre at the end of the book.
The tone of the book is definitely snarky, so be aware of it going in. I appreciated the scholarship of this book. It had a lot more meat to it than I was anticipating, which I wasn't anticipating but definitely welcomed.
I'd definitely recommend this book to romance readers.
I was interested in the authors' point of view about the future of the genre at the end of the book.
The tone of the book is definitely snarky, so be aware of it going in. I appreciated the scholarship of this book. It had a lot more meat to it than I was anticipating, which I wasn't anticipating but definitely welcomed.
I'd definitely recommend this book to romance readers.