On January 26, Alison Kent posted her inaugural review on Paperback Reader. The book was Icing on the Cake by Laura Castoro, and the comment I posted to the review was this:
I got a copy of this book, and it ended up being shuffled to the bottom of the pile, and then put in a bag to pass on. (I just backspaced out the reason why so I can save it for my next RTB column. *g*)
So here’s the column that goes with the comment:
There’s little doubt what we read or watch has an impact on us. I remember reading an article about the effect of the C.S.I. television franchise on our justice system—many jurors now expect definitive physical evidence and prosecutors with circumstantial evidence are finding it more difficult to obtain a conviction. Who hasn’t watched a horror film and then been afraid to go into the basement? I can tell you a steady diet of thrillers can make a person pretty paranoid. (I swear that car was following me.)
So what does that have to do with Icing on the Cake? (No, I didn’t blow my husband’s paycheck on whoopie pies.)
I personally divide chick lit into two categories: -30 chick lit and 30+ chick lit. I’m sure there are semi-official subgenre labels for them, but I don’t know what they are so I’ll use my own. Agewise, I’m on the cusp at thirty-four, but I lean more toward the 30+ chick lit. And one thing many of the 30+ protagonists have in common is divorce.
Whether the tone of the book is deep and emotional or light and fluffy, there’s a certain cynicism that comes with a divorced character. Being particularly voice-driven, the 30+ chick lit novel makes an especially deep connection with the reader’s psyche, I think, and that cynicism can be infectious.
Which brings me (finally, I know) to why Icing on the Cake sifted down to the bottom of the TBR pile and then ended up in the “passing on” bag. It was the first line of the back cover copy:
When Liz Talbot’s husband left her for a woman half her age, Liz put all her passions into her bakery.
I’m on a Divorce Diet. Too many 30+ chick lits with a dash of entertainment news thrown in conjures for me a little black cloud of marital doom.
It’s not acute, like the time—after too many thrillers—I was leaned in vacuuming my car at a carwash and whacked my head on the roof when I realized the noise would drown out the sound of the serial killer I just knew was sneaking up on me. (Think about it—those commercial vacuums are as loud as jet engines. When you’re head down, sucking month-old McDonald’s fries out from under the passenger seat and the only thing sticking out of the car is your butt, you can’t hear a thing. If I was a serial killer, that’s where I’d get my victims.)
The effect of too many divorcees is much more subtle—a quiet, desperate fear that maybe happily ever after doesn’t really last ever after. A pervasive feeling that maybe—even with almost fifteen years under our belt—this is a “starter marriage”. It’s pretty depressing, so every once in a while I put myself on a Divorce Diet. (I cheated on the diet for Icing on the Cake and it was worth it. Great book.)
I’ll admit right up front I’m aware of the possibility I just have a particularly unstable psyche, but I’ll ask the question anyway because I’m really hoping that’s not the case. There are a lot of readers who avoid a certain kind of book because of things that have happened to them, but does anybody else avoid a certain kind of book —either short or long term—because of things that haven’t happened to them? (The cynic in me added a big old “yet” to the end of that question.)
(Oh, and next time you’re vacuuming your car at a carwash, try not to think about the serial killer.)
I’m with you. Mrs. Suggestable.
by Kimber February 7th, 2007 at 8:46 amWhat I read changes my personality if only a little bit. One of the reasons I read romance is because its so optimistic and hopeful. After reading a romance novel, I feel the same way, like I can handle whatever might be coming.
So I try not to read novels that could lead me down the wrong path. That includes ones with divorced main characters. Or evil main characters. Or with cheating in the book.
Way too suggestable myself. Easily influenced.
I have contracted so many terminal diseases visitng WebMD I should be written up in a medical journal.
I remember the first time I saw Jaws. I lived in Indio, CA, which is in the middle of the desert. I went home terrified a shark was going to leap out of an arroyo.
And it goes without saying I never vacuum my car without a look-out standing guard.
by KeVin Killiany February 7th, 2007 at 9:10 amFor me, it’s not a certain type of book, but individual books can do this to me from time to time. I remember the first time I read King’s “The Stand”. Every time someone sneezed or coughed, I’d freak out. And certainly any book with a crappy sense of life can suck the happiness right out of me, so I avoid those like the plague. (Can’t think of an example right now… I’m currently repressing those titles. ;o) )
by B.E. Sanderson February 7th, 2007 at 9:21 amGreat post.
I have to say I avoid secretary/boss stories–mainly because I work in an office and …. ew! It’s not something that’s remotely romantic and I’d have a hard time enjoying it.
On the tune of happy, upbeat stories, that’s the exact reason I’m on the other side of the fence regarding a popular author right now. I want to put a book down and feel satisfied and happy, not pissed off because half the other people in the book are miserable just so one person can get a HEA.
I guess that’s why there are so many popular genre’s and story lines–to satisfy us all.
Mel, who vacuums her car at home and never alone.
by Melani Blazer February 7th, 2007 at 9:40 amOooh, King’s book Cell? That was freaky. Cast a couple of funny looks at my cellphone during that read.
Although, I’d risk the mind-control signal if a shark jumped out of the arroyo at me.
I’m with you on the crappy sense of life, B.E. I can’t think of any examples either, but I know what you mean.
And Mel, I just quit vacuuming my car altogether.
by Shannon Stacey February 7th, 2007 at 9:48 amI love horror, movies or books. The only time that I’ve been frightened as an adult was reading Stephen King’s The Stand. I’ve never felt so isolated, alienated, and paranoid before or since. It was just after finals in December. I flew home 2 days sooner than I intended because I just couldn’t stand the eerie feeling of being alone in the world.
by Barbara B. February 7th, 2007 at 10:49 amI’m very suggestible with a very vivid “picturing” imagination, so I have learned the hard way to be very, very careful about what I expose myself to. Some things you can’t avoid, but when it comes to entertainment (books, movies, TV) I can almost always stay away from things that will have a bad effect on me. I say almost always because sometimes a thing is packaged or blurbed in such a way that you get tricked.
Honestly, one of the reasons I turn to romance is to read about happy things. Positive outcomes, true love, commitment, hope, people becoming better people.
And I send my husband to the carwash.
He’s big and scary, safe from serial killers.
by Charlene Teglia February 7th, 2007 at 11:44 amGeez Shannon, I hope no serial killers read RTB. You’ve come up with a brilliant plan for them! (…looks behind to see if there’s anyone there). Thank God I don’t vaccuum my car at a car wash place. Now I never will.
I agree with you on the power of books to suggest things. I am very susceptible to stuff like this. Sometimes I still read stuff I otherwise wouldn’t but for the most part I try not to. Cause, well, basically I’m a scaredy cat.
I could probably never read Stephen King. I’d never go to sleep.
by Michelle February 7th, 2007 at 11:45 amAnd here I thought I was the only one…
As someone who’s only been married for two years I definitely don’t always want to read about divorce or infidelty. I also tend to avoid the whole termanial diease storyline as well, even more so since my mom’s battle with Breast Cancer this past year.
However as a big mystery fan I have no problems with murder…go figure.
by HWJ February 7th, 2007 at 12:07 pmI can’t read psycho stalker serial killer books where there’s a guy obsessed with the single heroine who lives alone. At some point in the book, the killer inevitably gets into her house so that he’s there lurking and waiting for her when she gets home. I’m single and live alone, and if I read those books then every little noise will have me jumping out of my skin. I ended up opting out of judging romantic suspense for the Ritas because while I enjoy some romantic suspense, you don’t get to pick your books for the Ritas and I always managed to get the psycho stalker serial killer books. I had to take them to a public place to read because I couldn’t read them when I was at home alone.
I tend to avoid the “recovering from cheating ex/divorce” books because, unfortunately, I see too much of that in real life with things that happened to friends and family, and I’d like to hold on to at least a little bit of hope about relationships being able to stand the test of time and men not all being cheating jerks.
by Shanna Swendson February 7th, 2007 at 12:58 pmI am highly suggestible
After having seen the movie THE RING, I went to bed ALL lights on and lying on my back. Why my back ? Because all monsters and serial killers and sharks are after my bootie. (this is not a joke ! lol)
by Anne February 7th, 2007 at 1:14 pmSeriously, I stay away from a lot of plot in a story because it can affect me and it can also change my mood. How many times have I read a story where somebody dies and end up crying ? Too many.
I love romance books for that. It IS always a happy ending. Love it
I came out of an abusive relationship with a healthy distrust of *very* protective heroes.
In one way it’s a huge fantasy for me, that someone can be that protective of me, that jealous, that concerned about every detail of my life without also punishing me for perceived infractions. I still read a lot of Romances with protective heroes, and alpha heroes, and I enjoy them immensely. But there are some books where it’s all a little too much. When I start wanting to sned a note to the heroine to please seek help right now because he’s a touch stalkerish, then I know to put the book down and walk away.
But I wouldn’t say that I go out of my way to avoid reading the book just by the backblurb or a recommendation. I have to experience the book itself to know if it unsettles me. And I wouldn’t say that reading a steady diet of romances influences how I perceive my husband either. I just don’t enjoy getting that fear retriggered.
by Suisan February 7th, 2007 at 4:07 pmNow I have a really good excuse for making my husband vaccum the car.
by Jaci Burton February 7th, 2007 at 6:15 pmHmm. I tend to avoid secret baby books. I’m a single mom and no there’s no chance in hell the daddy and I are getting back together.
But I made sure I got my child support.
So these books where the heroine gets pregnant and decides not to mention it to the hero, but then he finds out and they live HEA… Well, that just doesn’t do it for me.
by Shelli Stevens February 7th, 2007 at 8:05 pm:sad:Alaska winters are dark enough without reading bitter divorcee novels. I’ll stick with my Galaxy-Queen-whoops-bad-guy-alien-butkis-and-makes-good-love-to-her-king novels. Oh, and my Lady-Knight-with-a-bullwhip novels (thank you Jocelyn Kelley.)
by Kimber An February 7th, 2007 at 11:17 pmI’ve never been stalked or abused but I don’t like those “very protective hero” stories either. I needed to be protected when I was a child but as an adult-no thanks. I make my own decisions. I feel as if the heroines in those kind of books get treated like children or property. Not very romantic or sexy to me.
by Barbara B. February 8th, 2007 at 7:05 amUm, I don’t think there’s much I’ll avoid writing. I’m not a “sweet” writer. But I don’t know much about “Urban gritty” that publishers are talking about these days. I truly have to write what I know.
by Jennifer McKenzie February 8th, 2007 at 11:00 amHaving said that, I just finished a story that was WAY out of my realm of knowledge. That character just wouldn’t shut up and she demanded I write things I’d never even thought of. Interestingly enough, it checked out when I researched it.:shock:*Insert “Twilight Zone theme song*
I don’t like Beta heroes very much. That’s just a personal preference though.
Hm, I no longer like the inevitable-premature-death books (went through a Lurlene McDaniel phase in high school :cry:– very sad books).
When it comes to romance novels, there are only two scenarios I can think of that kind of squick me out. One is a HUGE age gap between hero and heroine (I mean significant, like in Georgette Heyer’s “These Old Shades,” which I cannot like. Hello, he could’ve been her GRANDfather!), the other is when the hero was married to the heroine’s sister or best friend. I can overlook the sibling/best friend thing if it is handled VERY well, but even then it makes me a little uneasy. Just a personal peccadillo, I guess.
by Wirdald February 8th, 2007 at 2:30 pmOkay. Am I the only one who can ONLY think of the serial killer now?
I think that we’re all slaves to prior experiences and if we’ve read a scenario before that didn’t work for us (for me, it’s ’sassy’ wannabe journalists moving to London) it’s sometimes hard to shake it off. I think it’s there that personal recommendations come into play (wouldn’t have touched Marian Keyes’ Sushi For Beginners if someone hadn’t have recommended it!.
by Vikki February 8th, 2007 at 4:00 pmUgh, I completely get where you’re coming from. I love medical romances, but I can’t pick up the ones based in a maternity unit, or romances with a strong baby-theme at the moment.
I expect when/if we finally have a baby, I’ll inhale them like a dog with cake, but until then it’s just too much.
Good topic.
by Anna Lucia February 11th, 2007 at 4:53 am[...] Shannon Stacey wrote an entry at RTB last week that got me thinking about how much I crave different kinds of heroines when I read. [...]
by Vixenwriter » Blog Archive » Different Kinds of Heroines February 12th, 2007 at 1:10 pm