Guest Blogger Wendy the Super Librarian
by Sarah on Oct.09, 2009, under Book Chat
I have a younger sister who was an English major in college. Even though I am a librarian, I do think that my sister is vastly more well-read than I am. For one thing, she slogged through more classics than I did, and for another, she’s a bit more adventurous. She’ll read across genres, delve into literary fiction, read young adult, any type of book that sounds interesting to her, or that a friend recommends.
She hit a snag not that long ago though, with a book club bestseller that one of her friends said she just had to read. My sister got to about the 150 page mark and was ready to commit murder. She couldn’t take it anymore. Her exact words to me were, “Wendy, I have little patience for whiny, weak-willed female protagonists who refuse to help themselves and this character is driving me insane.”
I love the romance genre. I love it enough to not claim that every book within the genre is fantastic, wonderful fiction. Like all books, whether it is fiction or non-fiction, there is going to be the good and the bad. So I realize I’m making a sweeping generalization, but when my sister said that to me, my first thought was, “Another reason to love romance!”
The type of romance novels I tend to be drawn to feature strong heroines with gumption. By strong, I don’t necessarily mean they have to kick butt. They don’t have to know how to throw a punch, fire a gun, or be a martial arts expert. No, I’m talking about backbone. I love a heroine with backbone. A heroine who will stand up for herself. A heroine who might not necessarily need a romance, but heaven knows she deserves one. I like a heroine who is in the process of rescuing herself when the hero comes along to throw a wrench in the works.
Certainly the romance genre does feature stories with rescue fantasies. The type of books where the heroine’s life is a complete mess until the hero comes along and makes it all better. I understand the appeal of these stories, I truly do. They’re a bit like a fairy tale. In our modern lives, what woman hasn’t put in a full day at the office, come home to a messy house, refereed a squabble amongst her children, gotten annoyed with her husband, and fantasized about a Greek tycoon showing up at her door to take her away from it all?
We’ve all been there.
However the fact is, in real life we don’t get rescued all that often. This might be why I like the heroines with gumption. The heroines who have a host of problems, with plenty of obstacles in their way, but who are not sitting on the sidelines, ringing their hands, and praying for someone to come along and rescue them. Nope, they’re going to rescue themselves. They might fall flat on their face, but they are going to try.
All of which makes romance novel heroines pretty remarkable. Women who are willing to help themselves, and get rewarded for it at the end. It’s enough to make you fall in love.
Wendy Bio: When Wendy took her first professional library job in 1999, she realized her knowledge of the romance genre was lacking when she had no clue who Nora Roberts was. She started reading romance novels in the name of educating herself, and hasn’t looked back since. Wendy works for a large library system in California, and is in charge of purchasing all adult fiction. A former reviewer for The Romance Reader (www.theromancereader.com), she’s a regular contributor to Romancing The Blog (www.romancingtheblog.com) and has been blogging on her personal blog, The Misadventures Of Super Librarian (http://super_librarian.blogspot.com) since 2003.
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October 31st, 2009 on 10:43 pm[...] the Superlibrarian is over at Borders True Romance talking about heroines. And you know I was nodding my head in agreement at the part where she says [...]
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October 11th, 2009 on 9:57 pm[...] the Superlibrarian is over at Borders True Romance talking about heroines. And you know I was nodding my head in agreement at the part where she says [...]
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Sue G - Borders True Romance Host - Borders Romance Buyer, reads romance. For her JOB. No, really. You can email Sue at sgrimshaw at bordersgroupinc dot com.
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Previously published as Wishes No Matter How Fast You Run. . .The newborn baby boy is beautiful, perfect, and hers for the asking. All Kate Summers has to do is agree to one condition--she must disappear from Boston and never breathe a word about the adoption to anyone. Or How Far You Go. . .Fifteen years later, Kate has built a good life for herself and her son, Jon, in Hopewell, Oregon. Still, she is haunted by the fear that he will somehow be taken away. Then Daegan O'Rourke arrives in town and strikes up a friendship with her and Jon. But Daegan has his own past to hide--one with shocking ties to hers. A Killer Will Always Find You. . .Someone is watching Kate, watching her son, and is willing to go to any lengths to claim him. And the one man Kate is tempted to trust has dangerous secrets that could change her world forever. Soon the past Kate thought she could outrun will explode, unearthing a legacy of lies and treachery, and a fury powerful enough to kill. . .
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October 22nd, 2009 on 6:22 am
And so fatherhood dies a quiet death, over an 18 year period in the case of a particular fatherless child. ,
October 16th, 2009 on 5:20 pm
Great blog post!
I agree- A wallbanger read is definitely a heroine who has no backbone but she doesn’t need to be superwoman. I actually prefer quieter heroines because they are more interesting especially how they deal with difficult situations and their heroes. Its also more realistic and that for me makes the story more real and believable.
October 12th, 2009 on 6:03 pm
Everyone’s comments have been so marvelous — I want to go back and write down books I should put on my must-read list!
How about Carla Kelly’s Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand: never tire of re-reading that book! And I’m re-reading Untie My Heart (Judith Ivory) — could anyone be more capable than Emma Hotchkiss? Or more delicious than Stuart, the viscount with a bit of foreign kink
October 10th, 2009 on 2:27 pm
Yes, a heroine with a backbone! That’s what we’re all looking for. I’m starting another “bibliotherapy” group for women in the spring (I’m a clinical psychologist) and I plan on including some romance titles in the mix. People often think that bibliotherapy must be devoted to dusty psychological tomes (like the complete works of Sigmund Freud) but actually, we concentrate on contemporary fiction and discuss why the characters made the choices they did, what motivated them to do so, the outcome of these choices, etc. The ideal size for the group, I’ve discovered is 10-12 women. And interestingly, the women come from all walks of life, and have varied life experiences–it makes for an interesting discussion, Bibliotherapy is actually a very “hot” area in psychology right now. Romance novels are a good choice, because there is always emotional depth and layering–the kind of thing that provokes interesting comments from the group members.
October 10th, 2009 on 3:55 pm
Mary: What I find interesting about the romance genre is that the characters can be so different and multi-faceted. They’re aren’t all Alpha heroes and damsels-in-distress heroines. Oh sure, we have those - but there’s more to the genre than that. I often tell people that there is something for everyone within the genre - they just need to find their niche
October 10th, 2009 on 7:59 am
While I love a good hero, it’s the heroine who makes or breaks a book for me. So I love a good strong heroine too. She can be kick-ass, like Eve Dallas, but she can also be quiet yet have an inner strength to her like Sarah from Dreaming of You. But as you say, the key is a strong backbone.
October 10th, 2009 on 3:53 pm
Hiya Kristie! Yes, at the end of the day I want the heroine to be strong in “her own way.” Not all of them are going to be (or need to be) gun-toting, bad-asses. I’m also drawn to those heroines who have a quiet strength about them….
October 9th, 2009 on 10:50 pm
I was looking forward to reading your post and I couldn’t agree more about preferring a strong heroine in romance fiction. They are as rare as hen’s teeth. But Laura Kinsale and Judith Ivory (Judy Cuevas) books come to mind when speaking of strong, smart and capable heroines (not all but a few books in each author’s backlist.)
Great post. You rock.
October 10th, 2009 on 3:52 pm
Heeee - You rock too Keishon! I wonder if our mutual love for strong heroines has anything to do with the fact we both enjoy mystery/suspense novels? Hmmmm.
October 9th, 2009 on 7:23 pm
I love those heroines that come to the hero’s rescue as well as make the hero’s head spin.
October 9th, 2009 on 9:39 pm
Katie: For me, it’s all about the heroine having her own “power.” Oftentimes that “power” manifests itself in the form of her hero’s growing emotional connection with her. When he realizes that “Holy crap, I’m in love?” - that’s the pay-off.
Good stuff.
October 9th, 2009 on 7:18 pm
Hey Wendy, Nice to see you over here. It’s actually my first visit. I don’t know what took me so long
When reading your post about strong heroines, the first thing that came to my mind was LaVyrle Spencer. Man, did she know how to write a great heroine. Women who faced hardships and dealt with these hardships with grit and determination. And you are right, they were not gun-toting, butt-kicking hard asses. They were simple women trying to survive. Thank you for reminding me of those wonderful books!
October 9th, 2009 on 9:35 pm
Jill: Those are exactly the type of heroines I’m talking about! They aren’t necessarily gun-toting, leather catsuit wearin’, bad-asses. They’re strong in their own quiet ways.
Sigh.
Love those heroines!
October 9th, 2009 on 6:19 pm
I follow Wendy’s blog!
October 9th, 2009 on 9:31 pm
Hi etirv!
October 9th, 2009 on 5:55 pm
I love the guest bloggers … we always get to hear an interesting take. Great post! I tend to agree, although I think the best romances also show the limits of “independence” — that is to say, they also demonstrate the importance of connection and vulnerability with other falliable human beings. My favorite heroines are able to balance their gumption and vulnerability by the end.
October 9th, 2009 on 6:11 pm
Well said — & thanks for your comment on the guest bloggers. . . we’ll keep them coming!
October 9th, 2009 on 9:30 pm
Laurie: Totally agree! My favorite characters are those that feel “real” - and that means they have many facets to their personalities.
October 9th, 2009 on 4:23 pm
I agree, the heroine needs a spine. Like you, I love historicals, and there are fine lines there. There were women in history who made good lives for themselves and their families by finding ways, within their social restrictions, to stand up for themselves — that’s what I look for in historical heroines, not the ones who totally defy convention and somehow get away with it. working within the “rules” of the world, whether historical, contemp or fantasy, is important to me.
What I love most about romance is when it empowers female characters. I do not enjoy it when the hero does all the work, or when the heroine needs one of those fuzzy brown shirts that says “heroine” on the front and “welcome” on the back!
October 9th, 2009 on 4:45 pm
SonomaLass: Totally agree! In historicals if the heroine is traipsing around without a care in the world, I’m left wondering how she hasn’t been run out of town on a rail or stoned to death
It’s those heroines that find a way to navigate through society, maybe bending the rules a teeny bit, that stand out in my mind. Totally flouting convention probably did happen - but not without grave consequences!
October 9th, 2009 on 4:06 pm
Hi Wendy!
I too love a strong heroine, but I will allow enough time for her to grow up and learn to look out for herself. Granted, these are few and far between, because I gravitate to the more developed characters.
Great post!! I first started reading historicals moved up the ranks to paranormal romance/urban fantasy. And anyone who says they are not a romance reader, almost all genres have romance, it’s what makes the world go round.
Dottie
October 9th, 2009 on 4:42 pm
Dottie: I know so many readers who say they started out reading other genres, and when they realized it was the romantic sub plots they were attracted to - they started reading romances. I was a mystery reader before I was a romance reader, but even a lot of the mysteries I enjoyed as a teen featured romantic sub plots. Hey, even Nancy Drew had Ned Nickerson
October 9th, 2009 on 2:05 pm
Wendy, Lisa Kleypas writes some wonderfully strong heroines, even if they’re flawed. The first romance I ever read, THE MAIDEN by Jude Deveraux had a woman who was swinging a sword and eye to eye with the hero. Loved it.
October 9th, 2009 on 3:42 pm
Oh man. Michelle. You have no idea how much of Kleypas’ backlist is in my TBR. It’s really not pretty. At all. But at least I have read a few of her books - and you’re right. Some good heroines there
October 9th, 2009 on 1:26 pm
I love a smart heroine who isn’t afraid to stand toe to toe with the hero and argue her point, rather than disappearing in a hissy fit weeping that he can’t possibly lover her at the slightest opportunity.
My mother was a librarian-the worst thing she ever found in a returned book was a cooked kipper that someone had used to mark their page LOL
October 9th, 2009 on 1:57 pm
OMG Kate! I can’t imagine. Well, I can actually. That’s the sad thing. I’ve been doing a lot of weeding lately, mostly based on condition. So that requires me to literally pick up books off the shelf and rifle through the pages. Always interesting to see what people use as bookmarks. Luckily I haven’t found anything too disgusting yet!
October 9th, 2009 on 1:19 pm
By strong, I don’t necessarily mean they have to kick butt. They don’t have to know how to throw a punch, fire a gun, or be a martial arts expert. No, I’m talking about backbone. I love a heroine with backbone.
Truer words were never spoken. It immediately brought to mind some of Jenna Kernan’s heroines. Backbone says it all.
October 9th, 2009 on 1:56 pm
Rosie: That’s it exactly - backbone. I’m not saying the heroine’s life can’t be totally screwed at the beginning of the book. Some of my favorite romances feature heroines who are literally one foot away from total ruin. But I want to see some fight in her. I want her to stick up for herself. And when the hero comes along, I want to be left with the feeling that they’ll well and truly be “partners” in life.
October 9th, 2009 on 1:00 pm
I love a smart heroine. Ones that resonate with me the most are those that I feel resemble me in some way. Since the vast majority of them don’t resemble me physically, that means I prefer a heroine that is smart and practical, and sometimes a little off.
I don’t mind when a heroine is not physically capable, too, because I am not very strong and have my own issues there…but a strong personality and a determination to do the right thing more than make up for any deficit of strength, to me.
I DON’T like a heroine that is whiny or stupid (as in unintelligent)…if she makes decisions that lack foresight and planning, that is a sure-fire way to lose me as a reader. I hesitate to call this TSTL because that might be a bit strong…she can live, but I won’t like her too much.
October 9th, 2009 on 1:53 pm
RStewie: People talk a lot about “relating” to characters. Most of the time, I honestly don’t want that. I tend to read to “escape” my own reality. I do want to understand where the characters are coming from though - especially the heroine. If I don’t “understand” her motivations, then the book probably isn’t going to work well for me.
And LOL - on TSTL heroines. You’re more forgiving then I am. Especially in historicals, I’m left wondering how she’s managed to stay alive and/or not completely “ruin” herself.
October 9th, 2009 on 12:57 pm
Hi, Wendy! I totally agree on loving strong heroines. We’re raised with fairy tales about beautiful princesses being rescued by their princes, but we’re eventually disappointed when our prince doesn’t come. I read a book to my then 5 year old daughter with a princess who’s locked in a tower and realizes she’s being silly waiting for the prince. So she rescues herself! I loved it, wrote down the title to buy it, and now have no idea where I wrote it down.
Cheers,
Jaime Rush
http://www.jaimerush.com
October 9th, 2009 on 9:28 pm
Jaime: I hate it when that happens! I’m the Queen Of Lists, and inevitably I end up with small piles of paper at the bottom of my purse
October 9th, 2009 on 12:56 pm
I totally agree. for me to enjoy a book and a love story the heroine cannot be a weak, helpless, to stupid to live girl. Spine is never a bad thing to have.
October 9th, 2009 on 1:49 pm
Yep, spine. Spine is always good. I always clarify that the heroine doesn’t need to be “kick butt” or “macho” - but I want her to know her own mind. I want her stand up for herself.
October 9th, 2009 on 12:36 pm
LOL Wendy
You read my mind since I almost used that quote, but you got it exactly right!!
October 9th, 2009 on 12:35 pm
See, now I like it when she has to be rescued - not a whiney one, however. (That’s why I HATE Rogue of the X-Men with a passion, she’s ALWAYS WHINING!) But one who has to be saved by the big strong alpha male.
Maybe that’s because I want to be rescued myself. Mostly FROM myself. Having 3 older brothers I tend to be a little rough around the edges and get myself in trouble.
Heroines whom are too strong and take the lead in everything turn me off the books completely. Sometimes the strongest woman is the one who can say “Let a man do it!”
October 9th, 2009 on 12:50 pm
Jami: It’s a very fine line. I want smart and capable, but I don’t want too stupid to live or dense. Ultimately I tend to gravitate towards the heroines who could take care of themselves - and getting the hero plus a romance is gravy for them.
And I totally “get” the appeal of the rescue element in some romance novels. But like I told Mary - I also want the heroine to rescue the hero right back. Anything too one-sided doesn’t seem to work as well for me.
October 9th, 2009 on 1:23 pm
To each their own, Wendy. I don’t mind it if he doesn’t need rescuing. I guess that’s just cause I’ve been around too many “wimpy” males whom let women totally dominate them and run them down for being “pigs” that they’re afraid to hold a door open for a woman with her arms full cause she might yell at them.
(Yes, this type of “man” exists. Too much anymore.)
I guess I just want a guy - in book form at least - whom can stand up and say “I am NOT a throw back to another era just because I dared to ask you out first!”
October 9th, 2009 on 12:07 pm
Hi Wendy
Great post!! We are always asked about heroes & I do favor the alpha hero but only paired with a strong heroine. Since I do like Navy Seals, firemen, Elite Ops, etc. stories, there is some “saving” going on but normally the hero needs saving too.
October 9th, 2009 on 12:20 pm
Mary: This is going to sound strange since I love historicals, but generally speaking I like the hero and heroine to be on an even playing field. If he’s going to rescue her, that’s fine. But like that line from the movie Pretty Woman, I want her to “rescue him right back.”
October 9th, 2009 on 11:18 am
I so agree, no whiny dishrags for me either! But sometimes? Just a wee little bit *holding fingers thisfar apart* i get annoyed when heroines won’t accept any help from the hero. Like stop traipsing around the countryside alone in the middle of the night with a killer on the loose, tell the hero where you’re going, ask him to come or go in your stead already! Or if he has money/influence/connections use it if you need it!
October 9th, 2009 on 11:33 am
LustyReader: That would be the difference between “gumption” and “too stupid to live.” I like gumption, can’t stand TSTL
October 9th, 2009 on 11:05 am
great post! I think, my main reason to love heroine with gumption is, because I sometimes want to be rescued, period. Then I remember I indeed am able to pick up myself *grin* …and I just now started thinking about why I mostly read regency/historicals. Because the obstacles for women are so very clear cut compared to contemporary times? *musing*
October 9th, 2009 on 11:40 am
As much as I love gumption, when reading historicals, it needs to be believable. There were very real restrictions place on women throughout history - but certainly they found a way to maneuver around whatever “system” they were dealing with. If they hadn’t? Yeah, the lives of women would be much different today
Some of my favorite historical romances feature heroines who find ways to work around societal propriety. In other words, they have to be sneaky
October 9th, 2009 on 10:55 am
Awesome post! I’m looking to getting training to be a librarian because if I HAVE to have an evil day job, being surrounded by books all day would be heaven.
October 9th, 2009 on 11:41 am
Nancy: It’s a great profession, and there are lots of choices. I landed in public libraries, but at one time I thought I would stay in academics or maybe even become a medical librarian. It’s an interesting and challenging profession, and pretty awesome.