Romance Schmomance

Do Romance Novels Have Any Literary Value?

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

I have a friend who's absolutely obsessed with reading romance novels, which I say have no literary value and are just brain candy fluff. Our other friend argues that at least she's reading something, even if it is romance novels. But I feel like she's actually starting to get addicted to the books! Do you think this is possible? And do you think romance novels have any value in society?

Sincerely,

Get out of Romance Land

Dear Get out of Romance Land,

Romance novels actually are not brain candy fluff. For some people, romance novels are the only things that they read and if they didn't have them to read, they would not read books. Therefore, for this segment of society romance novels are the sole reason that these people are reading books and enriching their lives in this way.

Fluff is so subjective. If someone gets a burst of creativity or a catharsis of feelings because of a piece of art -- whether it's an Andy Warhol or a Picasso, a piece of Faulkner or the latest Harlequin novel, the means, or the novel is less important than the end -- the effect on the reader.

Do romance novels have literary value?

Absolutely! In fact, within academia there is a hierarchy where Jane Austen novels are looked upon as brain candy fluff because they are just novels of manners. Man non-fiction writers look down on fiction in general because they feel it is not substantial. Passing judgment on value is dangerous business. Literary value comes from the effect a book has on the reader, not on the book itself.

People rank books or anything for that matter because they are insecure about making their own judgments. This ranking or competition where there are winners and losers allows people to think that there is value to winners and losers or value to differently ranked books. Anyone with good self esteem knows that there is value in many things regardless of their ranking.

Is it good that people are reading "something," or are romance novels no better than trash TV?

Reading anything is better than watching trash television -- not that there is no merit in trash television because often there is. But they are two different mediums. Reading encourages and supports reading, writing, spelling, vocabulary, and sentence structure. When people read, they inherently become better readers and better writers and better communicators -- both with other people and with themselves.

Are romance novels addictive and can you overdose?

When anything interferes with reality it's not good, but I would not blame romance novels for people who have individual problems that prevent them from comprehending real life. These people will use romance novels or some other vehicle to shield themselves from real life. You cannot overdose on romance novels, but you can become on expert!

What is the value of romance novels in society?

Romance novels express and explore feelings of love, intimacy, and sexuality. These are important parts of humanity.

Most people say they are an escape. One writer said she has heard of readers suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who are actually prescribed by doctors to read romance novels as part of their treatment. The readers are not in suspense and always know it will end well. What do you think? Could that really help? How?

As far as PTSD goes, anything that soothes a person will be therapy for this disorder. If romance novels help a person feel safe and secure, then great! They can definitely help people the same way therapy dogs or other pets soothe a person with some trauma.

If you want to make your life a real-life romance novel, check out my books, Think & Date Like a Man (for women) and Date Out of Your League (for men).

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

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