Allowing as this is February and the month of Romance, I thought this would be an interesting topic, but not totally off subject.
Not all Novels of Romance are Romance Novels. This is one thing I have discovered through the years as I have read through the vast genre of fiction, sci-fi, history, bibliography, and the wide range of fiction genres, including the "Romance Novel" category.
What I have found is that most novels of note have a vein of romance running through them. At what level and dominance. can be dependent on the plot and many other aspects the author is addressing in his/her work. But what I have come to realize is that life without love is dead, thus a novel without a love interest is just as dead.
Given that premise, the question is: What would you consider;
1. The Ultimate Novel of Romance of all time?
2. The Ultimate Novel of Romance that you have ever read?
3. What is the first Novel of Romance that you remember reading or that was memorable enough for you to remember reading?
If you, like myself, find that a really difficult decision, wheedle it down to the top FIVE. I will post mine in a separate post, as soon as I figure out the answer to my own question. Google might answer the first, but only deep thought will answer the second and third questions.
I am eagerly looking forward to the gifts of new book ideas and reminders of old as we share our favorite thoughts about what makes a Novel of Romance.
Happy Reminiscing
Mtn Muse
Mountain_Muse wrote:
Okay, this is not finished, by any means, but here is a start.
1. The Ultimate Novel of Romance of all time?
Paradise Lost, John Milton
2. The Ultimate Novel of Romance that you have ever read? (up to five)
Les Miserable, Victor Hugo
Jane Eyre, Charolette Bronte (okay, she makes the top five of all my lists
)
The Ring Trilogy, J. R.R. Tolkien (the love of you brother)
still thinking
The Gift of the Magi O Henry
3. What is the first Novel of Romance that you remember reading or that was memorable enough for you to remember reading?
Into the Night, Grace Livingston Hill (a book given to me by my Grandmother)
Girl of the Limberlost, Gene Stratton-Porter (one of my Great Great Aunt's Library)
Okay, I waxed literary on you. Sorry. But my two earliest novels, I still have the books I originally read. I don't know how they managed to follow me all these years, but they are still on the shelf and have survived the moves and the downsizing. I recently re-read Into The Night and found it not to be as spell binding as I did at age 11 or 12. But I also recently re-read Girl of the Limberlost (on my Nook, it was a Free-Friday book, WOW), and found that I enjoyed it just as much as I did the day I first read it.
Muse
Mountain_Muse wrote:
Allowing as this is February and the month of Romance, I thought this would be an interesting topic, but not totally off subject.
Not all Novels of Romance are Romance Novels. This is one thing I have discovered through the years as I have read through the vast genre of fiction, sci-fi, history, bibliography, and the wide range of fiction genres, including the "Romance Novel" category.
What I have found is that most novels of note have a vein of romance running through them. At what level and dominance. can be dependent on the plot and many other aspects the author is addressing in his/her work. But what I have come to realize is that life without love is dead, thus a novel without a love interest is just as dead.
Given that premise, the question is: What would you consider;
1. The Ultimate Novel of Romance of all time?
2. The Ultimate Novel of Romance that you have ever read?
3. What is the first Novel of Romance that you remember reading or that was memorable enough for you to remember reading?
If you, like myself, find that a really difficult decision, wheedle it down to the top FIVE. I will post mine in a separate post, as soon as I figure out the answer to my own question. Google might answer the first, but only deep thought will answer the second and third questions.
I am eagerly looking forward to the gifts of new book ideas and reminders of old as we share our favorite thoughts about what makes a Novel of Romance.
Happy Reminiscing
Mtn Muse
Muse what a great idea for the month of February.
I can't wait to see everyone's responses and I'm putting on my thinking cap for mine
thank you
Mountain_Muse wrote:
1. The Ultimate Novel of Romance of all time?
2. The Ultimate Novel of Romance that you have ever read?
- Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston
The following excerpted lines are the very last of the novel. Janie has buried Tea Cake in Palm Beach and returned home, where she and Tea Cake met:
The kiss of his memory made pictures of love and light against the wall. Here was peace. She pulled in her horizon like a great fish-net. She pulled it in from around the waist of the world and draped it over her shoulders. So much of life in its meshes! She called in her soul to come and see.
- Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte
I love Heathcliff, one of the most enigmatic characters of literature--raw and sensual and capable of great tenderness.
3. What is the first Novel of Romance that you remember reading or that was memorable enough for you to remember reading?
- Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte
4. (I'm adding a category here) What are some recent Novels of Romance that have made you laugh, sigh and/or cry?
- One Day, by David Nicholls
- Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, by Helen Simonson
- The Lotus Eaters, by Tatjana Soli
Thank you, Muse, for beginning this fun diversion!
whiteginger wrote:
Mountain_Muse wrote:
1. The Ultimate Novel of Romance of all time?
2. The Ultimate Novel of Romance that you have ever read?
- Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston
The following excerpted lines are the very last of the novel. Janie has buried Tea Cake in Palm Beach and returned home, where she and Tea Cake met:
The kiss of his memory made pictures of love and light against the wall. Here was peace. She pulled in her horizon like a great fish-net. She pulled it in from around the waist of the world and draped it over her shoulders. So much of life in its meshes! She called in her soul to come and see.
- Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte
I love Heathcliff, one of the most enigmatic characters of literature--raw and sensual and capable of great tenderness.
3. What is the first Novel of Romance that you remember reading or that was memorable enough for you to remember reading?
- Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte
4. (I'm adding a category here) What are some recent Novels of Romance that have made you laugh, sigh and/or cry?
- One Day, by David Nicholls
- Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, by Helen Simonson
- The Lotus Eaters, by Tatjana Soli
Thank you, Muse, for beginning this fun diversion!
THANK YOU, Ginger. I love your added topic. It is a wonderful addition.
4. What are some recent Novels of Romance that have made you laugh, sigh and/or cry?
- The Collectiblesi, The Collectibles
- When we read this last year, I fell in love with the protagonist, several of the characters, and head over heals with the author (don't tell him). He is right up there with Og Mandino in my book
- Twelfth Angel by Og Mandino
- I first read this tear jerker about 20 years ago. It is about learning to live and to love again. In many ways, the Collectibles by Kaufman kept reminding me of this story. My heart cried with sorrow, joy, compassion, and love with every turn of the page, in both this book and Kaufman's.
- Well, Ginger. Thank you for sharing your special Novels of Romance. Now I am going to have to read Their Eyes Where Watching.. It sounds wonderful.
Muse
I don't read many romances anymore so I'm struggling to remember them but here are the ones I really liked and have searched out old copies just to keep in my bookcase. (I read them when I'm sick--they sort of make me feel better).
Pride and Prejudice I might put this as the ultimate romance of all time. I haven't read it but I tend to watch each film version I find. Elizabeth's and Darcy's story just seems to resonate with everyone.
Outlander (Outlander Series #1) It has enjoyed such wide popularity that I just have to put it here. Frankly, I was happy to stay end with this one and not carry on with the series--I loved it that much.
I liked this one from a more mature perspective. It's more of a quiet love story. The romance is one that we might see from behind a curtain.
And One Rode West This series probably starting me on a historical romance binge during my 20s. I fell in love with Daniel Cameron in "And One Wore Gray" (I have found copies of them too!)
I can't think of one that has made me cry, but perhaps one will pop into my head.
PJ,
Thank you so very much for your offerings. Pride and Prejudice was quite the "romance novel" of its day. Somewhere along the way Jane Austen and her works have been elevated to the literary works status. I'm not going to argue, lol, I've read them all and own them, too.
I wonder, do you think that Diana Galbraldon and her Outlander Series will one day be listed in the Literary Works section? I do know that her historical referencing is wonderful and that she is a captivating at Austen. But I would classify her works as more Gothic in style. What is interesting and says something to her skill at writing and her gift of story-telling, is that as spread out as her series has been, I have been able to retain the story and the story line, from Outlander and on through all the series without loosing the threads of the various storylines that are being continued from book to book. I need to get her latest volume and get caught up.
I do agree with you, nothing like a good ol' romance novel when you are sick or down...they will always lift your spirits. Jude Deveraux has always been my personal favorite for historical romance.
Muse
pjpick wrote:I don't read many romances anymore so I'm struggling to remember them but here are the ones I really liked and have searched out old copies just to keep in my bookcase. (I read them when I'm sick--they sort of make me feel better).
Pride and Prejudice I might put this as the ultimate romance of all time. I haven't read it but I tend to watch each film version I find. Elizabeth's and Darcy's story just seems to resonate with everyone.
Outlander (Outlander Series #1) It has enjoyed such wide popularity that I just have to put it here. Frankly, I was happy to stay end with this one and not carry on with the series--I loved it that much.
I liked this one from a more mature perspective. It's more of a quiet love story. The romance is one that we might see from behind a curtain.
And One Rode West This series probably starting me on a historical romance binge during my 20s. I fell in love with Daniel Cameron in "And One Wore Gray" (I have found copies of them too!)
I can't think of one that has made me cry, but perhaps one will pop into my head.
well, I've been lurking here since Muse put up the thread and I'm going to put in some of my two cents worth.
1. The Ultimate Novel of Romance of all time?
Outlander (Outlander Series #1)
I know that people will disagree but I honestly think this was the best love story ever written, I mean these people not only spent decades apart but they traveled through time to get back together, well Claire did anyway and I'm a little like pj in that I haven't read all the series yet because these are stories meant to be savored, they are definitely not your Harlequin romance and Diane's historical references, her brutality of the times and her total honesty in the telling of the story is what brings to light just how deeply the feelings go between Jamie and Claire and so this story makes it to the top.
2. The Ultimate Novel of Romance that you have ever read?
Outlander (Outlander Series #1)
Wuthering Heights (Barnes & Noble Leatherbound Classics Series)
and I know there are more but my befuddeled brain can't think right now.
3. What is the first Novel of Romance that you remember reading or that was memorable enough for you to remember reading?
Now see this is easier to answer than you might think because I only started reading as an adult in 2003, yeah I know, it's hard for me to beleive too. And my first romance was actually a romantic suspense but it got me hooked not only on the genre but the author as well and now I just have to have what she's written before it's released if at all possible.
The Perfect Husband (FBI Profiler Series #1)
Lisa will be featured on this week's Q&A with the new release of her latest crime drama Catch Me, be sure to check it out on Tuesday when it comes out. But I'll give you a small preview (that doesn't mean you can skip the feature )
A while ago I won Lisa's monthly contest and was given the opportunity to choose any of her novels which she would autograph, I chose this one and she replied that it was only available in pb and perhaps I should choose a hb because it would be worth more, well in my novice-ness in the great big world of publishing I was aghast that someone would actually choose a book for it's value to sell it. I told her that it was the one that introduced me to her and therefore was invaluable and would (and still does) hold a place of honor on a bookshelf in my personal library.
It also taught me that being a book snob really is not a good thing, I remember (yes me queen of the romance lovers) saying that I don't read romance, thinking it on a level of prostitution or drug addiction, and look who's the true addict now.
Muse I want to thank you again for coming up with this very month appropriate thread and helping out when my brain was fried on what ever the heck had me this past week and a half.
What would I do without my faithful posse here at General Fiction, you keep me on my toes, out of trouble and always thinking.
Thank you, Debbie,
I just bought Gardner's book. So will check it out. 
.
Now how long does a book/author have to be published to be considered a classic? J.R.R. Tolkien and his Lord of the Rings Trilogy definitely is under the century mark and everyone considers it a classic. It is the same with C. S. Lewis and the Narnia Series. Or should we just say Giants of Literature?
Even though Gabaldon is under Romance, I really feel that she falls under historical fiction, before romance. It is the great romantic story thread that carries the story forward and is the constant thread that weaves through the wonderful telling of such a tumultuous time in Scottish and American history.
Keeping thinking. I know there are more out there, but my muddled mind is just that right now.
Muse
Mountain_Muse wrote:
I do agree with you, nothing like a good ol' romance novel when you are sick or down...they will always lift your spirits. Jude Deveraux has always been my personal favorite for historical romance.
I also tend to pull out all my Jane Austen DVDs when I'm sick.
In regards to Outlander falling under more of a historicala fiction line, I think it's the love story between Claire and Jamie that really keeps the readers there. Most of my friends who have read them still swoon over Jamie Fraser (wouldn't mind seeing the real thing myself!)
pjpick wrote:Mountain_Muse wrote:
I do agree with you, nothing like a good ol' romance novel when you are sick or down...they will always lift your spirits. Jude Deveraux has always been my personal favorite for historical romance.
I also tend to pull out all my Jane Austen DVDs when I'm sick.
In regards to Outlander falling under more of a historicala fiction line, I think it's the love story between Claire and Jamie that really keeps the readers there. Most of my friends who have read them still swoon over Jamie Fraser (wouldn't mind seeing the real thing myself!
All I will say is "let's say my husband's linage and last name is as Scottish as it gets." I don't have to do much imagining at my house.
Muse
Mountain_Muse wrote:
pjpick wrote:Mountain_Muse wrote:
I do agree with you, nothing like a good ol' romance novel when you are sick or down...they will always lift your spirits. Jude Deveraux has always been my personal favorite for historical romance.
I also tend to pull out all my Jane Austen DVDs when I'm sick.
In regards to Outlander falling under more of a historicala fiction line, I think it's the love story between Claire and Jamie that really keeps the readers there. Most of my friends who have read them still swoon over Jamie Fraser (wouldn't mind seeing the real thing myself!
All I will say is "let's say my husband's linage and last name is as Scottish as it gets."
Muse
Lucky girl!
