At the Popular Culture Association conference last weekend (summaries of all the papers on popular romance can be found at Teach Me Tonight), Eric Selinger and I were talking about authors we love and we encountered a fundamental difference in our reading experiences. He loves Jennifer Crusie’s books because he fell in love with the female characters and the community she establishes in her novels. I enjoy them, but they’re not my comfort reads. I adore J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series because I fell in love with the male characters (can’t wait for Vishous’s book! Can NOT wait!). But Eric finds the male characters just too over-the-top, too unbelievable, too larger than life. We talked about Austen’s Pride and Prejudice — he adores Elizabeth Bennet, I can’t get enough of Mr. Darcy. And Georgette Heyer (Mary Challoner vs. Vidal).
Apparently, Eric’s male students think the same thing. From our interview on Dear Author: “The biggest criticism has come from the male students, actually, and it’s about the heroes: they say that they’re “caricatures” of masculinity, not enough like real men.” But then I read Angela Knight’s wonderful blog post about how the best thing in paranormal romances is the male characters because they’re “strong, aggressive men who make no apology for who they are,” as one commentor says. Or as another commentor, S-Byte, claims, “I think that the major appeal of the paranormal genre is that it allows men to be as alpha as they want. . . . When you can feel the emotional pain of the characters is when you get the full impact of their happy ending. And no one can generate the emotional turmoil like an alpha hero.”
I’ll freely and happily admit that my obsession, both in my personal and my professional reading life, is the way female writers construct their male characters. When I write academically, I can talk in an erudite manner about how female authors construct gender through their representations of their male characters as well as their female characters, that how the male characters conform to or rebel against established gender norms reveal fascinating cracks in gender dynamics no matter the historical period, and how the narrative use of male characters (do they live HEA or die the deserved death of a sinner?) can highlight concerns about gender definitions of the time. When I’m reading for myself, I glom the tortured heroes of Georgette Heyer, Laura Kinsale, Loretta Chase, J.R. Ward, Suzanne Brockmann, Nora Roberts’ Chesapeake Bay series, Joey Hill, Matthew Haldeman-Time, Susan Elizabeth Phillips. The common denominator of my romances is a strong, alpha male brought to his knees by love for his partner (female or, increasingly for me, male). I want them bigger, badder, stronger, more emotionally UNavailable, and I want them to grovel and crawl at the end to achieve their hearts’ desire. I’m all about the hero’s emotional turmoil!
But I know there are readers who despise the big, bad, alpha male, who consider him a jerk and worse (trying to keep it PG here!), and refuse to read books graced by his presence, just as there are readers like me who almost won’t read a book without him. So I thought I’d combine general inquisitiveness (or outright prurience) with some unofficial scholarly research. Therefore, in no particular order:
1. Where do you stand on male characters (chest, head, *ahem*netherparts — sorry, couldn’t help it!)? In other words, what kind of male character do you look for? Do you have any ideas about WHY you like the heroes you like?
2. Who are your favorite romance heroes and why? Or do you not even have any and why not?
3. Is the satisfaction in your reading experience contingent on the particular construction of the hero or of the heroine (personally, I care very little about the heroine)?
4. Would you rather read a romance from the perspective of the hero or of the heroine?
5. What about particular scenes? Would you prefer reading initial meeting between the H/H, sex scenes, reconciliation scenes, realization of love from the hero’s perspective or the heroine’s?
6. What is it about the big bad alpha male that obsesses you/pisses you off completely?
7. Any other thoughts?
[…] Sarah’s having a busy week! Her latest blog post at Romancing the Blog is now up. She’s discussing reader preferences, in particular with regards to romance heroes and heroines. heroes heroines Sarah Frantz […]
by Love and Romance » Blog Archive » Sarah at Romancing the Blog April 17th, 2007 at 6:35 am1. I like ‘em big and brawny in print, whereas I wouldn’t go for that in real life even if I could find one built to those proportions. The reason is probably that it’s part of the fantasy. Divorce me from reality, by all means. I don’t read romance to get a dose of real life.
by Kerry Allen April 17th, 2007 at 7:17 am2. I love any hero who’s been tormented, abused, cursed, and kicked around and survived with even a shred of honor intact. In real life, most men under those circumstances will grow into violent criminals, so again, big fantasy element involved. A recent favorite hero was Rhage from Ward’s BDB. He was pretty and sufficiently screwed up, with the added perk of his lady having the ability to advise anyone irritating her, “Don’t mess with me or my boyfriend will eat you alive. Literally.”
3. I also get, or maybe “allow” is a better word, only a vague impression of the heroine. When I read, I’m sort of a voyeur, peeking over everyone’s shoulder, so it’s not that I blur out the heroine so I can cast myself in her role. Maybe I’m just more interested in men.
4. I like to know everything that’s going on, so I’m not satisfied with one character’s POV. First person seldom works for me. I’m much more sympathetic to any character after spending some time in his or her head, so I need both perspectives.
5. Particular scenes depend upon which character’s perspective has the most impact. I also accept a POV shift mid-scene, as long as I can follow it, to accommodate the focus of the impact.
6. In real life, the domineering control freak makes my skin crawl. I think the alpha romance hero works for me because I know sooner or later, he’s going to cave to make his woman happy (as all men should!), which saves him from being just a jerk.
Being an alpha female myself, I prefer to read about alpha males. I’m married to one so obviously they attract me.
My issue with the alpha male (and female) is that some authors show all the strengths but none of the vunerabilities. My real life alpha male will act like a bad a$$ in front of others, and then go home to cry in private (he knows I won’t take advantage of his weakness). He is often restricted by his sense of duty and responsibility. He can’t simply attend functions. He somehow ends up in charge (he took an intro squash lesson and came home in charge of organizing a tournament…because it had to be organized and no one else would do it). Because he’s always in charge, he’s always getting criticized and often even hated (when you stick your neck out, someone is always willing and eager to chop it off).
The alpha male is a rich, full character, not some 2 dimensional stock ploy.
by Kimber Chin April 17th, 2007 at 9:00 amI don’t read romance novels for the heros. I read them for the heroine. I find it hard to even remember heroes names but ask me about a book I like and I can tell you everything about the heroine. There are a few exceptions. There have been a few books that the heroes stood out. A Hunger Like No Other was one, as was Wolf at the Door. I love me some Jean-Claude from LKH’s books, and Doyle from her Merry Gentry series.
JR Ward’s heroes make me cringe. LOL, I enjoyed the stories. I liked Z until I read his book. Then I hated him and didn’t wish him a HEA at all. Not sure exactly why…but there it is.
I like books with strong independent heroines, and heroes that can match her.
by Vivi Anna April 17th, 2007 at 10:17 am1) Don’t care about muscular chests, but he’s got to have nicely sculpted buttocks.
2) My favorite heroes must have excellent Dad Potential or already be Excellent Dads. This is something I drilled into my head since childhood because I didn’t want my children to grow up without a dad like I did. As a consequence, it doesn’t matter how sexy he is. If he’s a lousy dad, I’m going to tell him to go chase a parked bus. Not even in the slightest aroused.
3) Both the hero and the heroine must be well-developed and compliment each other. The hero must be worthy of the heroine. The Heroine must not be a doormat and NEVER a cliche.
4) I prefer books from both points-of-view.
5) I love tension-building scenes, emotional foreplay if you will.
6) Big, Bad Alpha Heroes annoy me because in Real Life I’ve never seen one settle down to being a good husband and father. More often than not, they knock up the woman and leave her to raise the kids in a trailer park by herself while he chases a perkier set of boobs.:evil:
7) Nope, I’ve met my limit of coffee. Great post though!:grin:
by Kimber An April 17th, 2007 at 10:32 am1. Physically alphas are just my type, but I prefer the personality of a beta.
2. My favorite romance heroes are Stuart from Judith Ivory’s Untie My Heart, Graham from Ivory’s Black Silk (really any Ivory hero). Avery from Connie Brockway’s My Dearest Enemy. I also love Mac from Joey Hill’s Natural Law and Justin from her If Wishes Were Horses. I actually tend to love all of the heroes of certain writers. I love them because they’re complicated, strong and masculine but with a capacity to be gentle and loving.
3. I have to admit that I tend to love a good hero slightly more than the heroine. Or maybe in a different way. But me liking the story is contingent on the heroine. I have given up on stories because of weak or silly heroines. I also don’t like fiesty, petite little spitfires that argue just for the sake of it. I have physical preferences for heroines, too. I like for them to be tall with medium or large builds (very rare in romance!). I like to read about strong, emotionally mature heroines who can stand toe-to-toe with the hero. That’s why I don’t read a lot of romantic suspense. Quite a bit of that is the rescue fantasy and that just turns me off.
4. Ideally I like to read from both character’s perspective via third-person. Just one perspective doesn’t work for me. I’m old enough to remember when romances were strictly from the heroine’s perspective and having both is so much better.
5. My favorite scenes are reconciliation scenes and realization of love from the hero’s perspective. Those are romance money shots to me.
6. What pisses me off about the alpha in romance is the notion that he always knows what’s best for the heroine. I initially detested alphas until I read stories where they were matched with strong women. An alpha male and a submissive woman is not a good combination for me. Yet I know for many women that’s the appeal of the alpha. Being overwhelmed. That’s fine but I don’t want to read about it.
by Barbara B. April 17th, 2007 at 11:21 amI was all set to post a comment and then hit this…
And was left absolutely horrified. I realize this is only Kimber An’s opinion, but my life is filled with good and decent men that would qualify as alpha, and not one of them has ever knock up the woman and leave her to raise the kids in a trailer park by herself while he chases a perkier set of boobs.
There’s a huge difference between an “alpha male” and an ass…
by Tara Marie April 17th, 2007 at 11:24 amI’ve worked in child protective services and special education and community support for decades. In my experience “alpha males” are abusers. They need to dominate and control others — particularly those they care about. (Which makes sense when you think that by loving a person you give that person the power to hurt you.) Emotionally, physically, financially, any kind of -ly, they will force/coerce/cajole/manipulate those who care about them into being totally dependent on them and submissive to them. It’s a pathology.
At the same time, I recognize there’s a fascination with the deadly and destructive. Vampires — whose blood sucking murders are the metaphor for men who suck everything of value out of your life — are alluring in fiction. In the same way, alpha males — destructively dangerous in real life — can be sexually exciting when enjoyed in the safety of the printed word. (How many people who were thrilled and chilled by reading about/watching Hannibal Lechter would like to go on a long train ride with him?)
Me, personally? I’m gamma male to the bone. We’re the ones who make good husbands and fathers. We don’t care who runs with the big dogs because — hey — they’re dogs.
When I meet an alpha male, I smile, shake his hand, and start a background check.
by KeVin Killiany April 17th, 2007 at 11:45 am:grin:Absolutely, Tara, the key words here are ‘Big, Bad.’ There are excellent Alpha Heroes too. They’re the ones with excellent Dad potential, like Brendon in Linnea Sinclair’s latest release, Games of Command.
by Kimber An April 17th, 2007 at 11:50 am:smile:Well-stated KeVin. My husband’s a wonderful Beta and I love him like crazy. Any hero can slay dragons, but few of them have the courage to stay up all night caring for a vomiting child. Like mine.
by Kimber An April 17th, 2007 at 11:54 amGreat post!! I love reading everyone’s answers, too.
1. Strong chest/arms is the only “must” for me. My husband is muscular that way, so I won’t accept anything less in my fictional heroes, of course!
2. The heroes are always the standout characters in the story for me, much more than the heroines. (I’ll recall the book by who the hero was.) I like SEP’s Kenny Traveler, Dan Calebow and Dallie Beaudine, as well as Jenny Crusie’s Davy Dempsey and Phin. I also liked Nora’s “Chesapeake series” heroes. I think humor puts it over the top for me. Give me a hero with a great sense of humor and I’m in love.
3. My enjoyment of a book is 100 percent about the hero. The heroine just needs to bring him over his arc in an interesting way, but other than that, I almost don’t care about her.
4. I love the current trend of both perspectives. I like knowing what he’s thinking of her, but not saying, to add all the tension. And I especially like when writers “get it right” about the male perspective, which I think SEP does particularly well –using men’s terms, words, intonations, and getting right the way they feel about (and talk to) their brothers/ fathers/ friends. Growing up with brothers (and now in a family with five brothers-in-law), I can really tell when writers get this right and find it so charming when they do.
5. I was thinking about this the other day. I realize how much I like the sexual tension to be built up from the hero’s POV (what he’s thinking, including some insecurities thrown in there), but then I like it to switch to the heroine’s POV for the “experience” of it, since women can only relate to that anyway. For reconciliations and declarations of love, both POVs are nice and — again — what he’s thinking and a few insecurities about expressing that are always charming to me.
7. I think I like the beta male typically in movies — sort of the Hugh Grant “aw shucks” kind of funny guy — but I’m finding I like the alpha male better in books. Not sure why. … Maybe the self-deprecating nature doesn’t come across as well in books? And maybe the alpha male comes across as “too much” in movies (whereas in books, you get some of the internal monologue that can express doubt and insecurity)? Not sure why movies/books are different for me, but there it is. …
by Laurie S. April 17th, 2007 at 11:56 amI was reading along too, and had the same reaction as Tara. All Alpha’s are NOT asses. Married to one, we have 7 kids. They make great dads, and the heart of my children are safe with their father and so is mine. He would eat nails rather than be disloyal, he sacrifices for them. THAT is an Alpha.
It’s not big and brawny, arrogance and a big *cough* that makes an alpha (although who doesn’t love the package?), it’s the core of character, who they are when the world is against them. When they hae to do a job that no one else wants. Sometimes that makes them look stubborn, but their character says that they don’t waver when faced with opposition. (that’s the heroine’s job-to make him change his mind-sometimes)
In romance it’s the writers jobs to make me believe that HEA. Make himan ass, make him whatever-just make me BELIEVE in the HEA.
In a way, it’s one reason I write Alphas, I need to show people the other side that they do not let the public see.
1. I think I answered. *g*
2. Every hero that Kinsale wrote, I love Penelope Williamson’s heros, Anne Stuarts and Linda Howard’s earlier heros.
3. If they’re not matched well it’s a definate drawback. If they are unequal the writer better make me beieve that there are sacrifices on the part of a character to make it more equal, but I don’t see that as good characterization.
4. I love first person, but in some stories I really want to know what the hero is thinking. But only if it sounds like a man. I had to put two books down as DNF because the men were written like women. Ann Peach from RT one slapped my wrist for that. “Men do not LONG for a bath,” she said. “Even my husband said so.” (RIP Ann) So that was my first *ah* on the characterization front.
It also depends on the story. I would have hated to read Kushiel’s Dart in third from different POV’s. The same with Gabriel’s Ghost. (and I LOVED Gabriel)
5. It all depends on the scene. Sometimes I’m greedy and want both POV’s but I have to trust the writer that she didn’t give one for a reason.
6. Nothing pisses me off about the alpha’s UNLESS the heroine doesn’t take them to task. If he runs roughshod all over the woman, then that is not the woman for him.
7. Have a good one! Great discuss. I learn things as a writer with dicussions like this.
by Eva Gale April 17th, 2007 at 12:06 pmI’m more of a beta/gamma lover. Alphas do very little for me. In fact, in most romance novels, I find myself wanting the heroine to get together with the hero’s best friend or brother instead of the hero, because that’s the character I like best. I then get very excited to find out that this character gets to be the hero in his own book, but that book inevitably disappoints me because in making that character the hero, the author always seems to change him from the guy I liked before into someone I barely recognize.
Maybe that’s why I migrated to chick lit, where the more alpha types tend to be the jerks who break the heroine’s heart or string her along, and then she finally recognizes the beta guy who’s been right under her nose all along.
I do have a fondness for the lost soul type with lots of internal pain, but I prefer that he hides that pain behind a quiet exterior than with anger or aggression.
As for hero vs. heroine, I need both for it to work. I need a heroine I can relate to who isn’t too stupid to live and I need a hero I can fall in love with — and I need to feel that they’re worthy of each other. I don’t generally care one way or another whose POV what scene is in, as long as it works for the story and as long as there isn’t too much head-hopping (stay in one POV long enough to build up at least a little suspense wondering what the other person might be thinking).
by Shanna Swendson April 17th, 2007 at 12:09 pmOh, Marsha Canham’s Blood of Roses ahs a great hero and so does Heather Graham’s Knight Triumphant. (KT made me cry!-which makes it a must keep forever status)
by Eva Gale April 17th, 2007 at 12:11 pm#6 was such a hot button for me I didn’t answer 1-5 & 7.
#1 - As an absolutely flaming heterosexual, I don’t care a whole lot what the guy looks like. I do prefer men of character, usually ones who persevere from a one-down position to overcome circumstances or an adversary.
#2 - No specific favorites, more the type I mentioned above. What’s-his-name, the medic turned smuggler in Susan Brockmann’s books — the guy who marries the missionary — he’s an example of what I mean.
#3 - Physical construction? Not a factor. I like the people — character is important. Ambitious, greedy, shallow or manipulative? Unless the story is about how they outgrow that, forget it.
#4 - From the perspective of both the man and the woman. Not bouncing back and forth sentence by sentence, but scene by scene or chapter by chapter. I like knowing what both partners in the equation are thinking.
#5 - I like to see pivotal moments from both perspectives. And this does not contradict my prejudice against head-hopping alluded to above. This can be handled very well through the judicious use of flashbacks or by having a character remember/reflect on events. This can be particularly effective if the two major characters have significantly different perceptions of the event.
#6 - See previous rant.
#7 - Any other thoughts? Hmmmmm. Nope. That about covers it.
by KeVin Killiany April 17th, 2007 at 12:12 pm1. I like fierce-looking rather than attractive. I hate the novels where the hero is described as a “fallen angel” or some such. (This is why I love Jayne Ann Krentz.)I seem to be drawn to loners who have little or no family. Which is kind of odd.
by Meredith April 17th, 2007 at 12:16 pm2. Lachlain from Hunger Like No Other by K.Cole. Max from Grand Passions by JAK. Connor McCloud from Standing in the Shadows by Shannon McKenna. Lord Dain from Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase….yup, definitely a theme. (I just read Joey Hill’s Natural Law and loved loved loved Mac.)
3. As long as the heroine isn’t an idiot, I’m much more focused on the hero. Was it Laura Kinsale who said readers identify with the hero in the novel rather than the heroine? I can’t remember, but I’m definitely one of those people.
4. Hero Hero Hero. Especially if he’s tormented. Love the torment.
5. I hate books where the characters have already met or worse–have already had a relationship at some time in the past. There has to be a first meet in a novel for me. I can’t stand books with the fade in/fade out sex scenes–I want the sex. Sorry.
6. Because he’s no one I’d ever date in real life. I posted about one of Shannon McKenna’s books on my blog that there are definitely attractive things about alphas, the protectiveness, the laser beam attentiveness, the passion, but at the same time, I figured breaking up with an alpha male would require a restraining order. I was never a fan of the old bodice rippers with almost rape type scenes, but you could definitely make some comparisons between those books and these novels with the meta-alpha semi-Caveman types: it’s a personality extreme that calls to a lot of women but isn’t healthy in real life.
7. Why do so many alpha males (shoot, romance heroes in general) have such long hair? I don’t see many men like this in real life and from a fashion perspective it doesn’t seem like it’s popular anymore. When did we go from women having waist length hair to men having hair that long too?
Kevin, I think you may see a lot of Alpha’s gone wrong. Takes a lot of self control to have that drive. Some just don’t have it.
I think many CEOs are alphas, cops, fire fighters. All in all-a lot of good men.
Please forgive my defense of them. *g*
by Eva Gale April 17th, 2007 at 12:30 pm1. I like nerds, the Wesley Wyndham Pryce type. Tormented sadomasochistic bad boys like Spike might work too, but they have to be done right, i e not the dull woody corporate alpha male. Physically, too much muscle is a major turnoff.
by Stella April 17th, 2007 at 12:41 pm2. See above
3. Both. None of them can be TSTL. They have to deserve each other. Continuing the Buffy theme, Buffy works with Spike but she and Angel bring out the worst in each other, they are just loathsome together although tolerable on their own. I don’t go for romance for romance’s sake, I have to want to see these particular people together.
4. Anything goes, but what annoys me is the “standard procedure” of sloppily throwing in random passages from the hero’s perspective in a story written for the most part from the heroine’s pov, just to infodump or show how he struggles to keep his hands off her. It has to be consequently done, the pov can’t just shift slippery. I’m not saying it can’t shift at all during the course of a book, but then give them alternating chapters or paragraphs and make the hero as interesting and important as the heroine! I don’t go for that “almost but not quite the heroine’s pov, I just have to cheat a little to let the reader know what she cannot know…”
5. This depends on each character and situation. To whom does it mean the most? Are the feelings most effectively conveyed directly or through the other’s observations?
6. What pisses me off is the glorification of a sexist system. What pisses me of is manipulative psychopaths rendered as Mr Right. I recently read a romance where the hero fit the description of a psychopath, wife beater or fanatic religious leader perfectly, while the heroine was vulnerable and easily manipulated. He bullied and abused her consistently, “for her own good”. She bought it eventually and the reader was supposed to, too. It makes me sick and sad and angry. Women don’t need further indoctrination in finding submission sexy and fulfilling. There are already enough women writing love letters to convicted criminals and so on…
7. I guess alpha personalities might work for me if they don’t conform to the sad gender stereotype. If the hero and heroine are both alpha (but then she can’t be “just a little bit less alpha than he” to show her femininity, rather the other way around) or only the heroine, or if it’s a same-sex relationship with one or two alphas. But generally I don’t find manipulation and dominance sexy. Perhaps if it’s mixed with submission in one complex character.
Wow! Looks like I hit a small nerve here!
Kerry Allen, we sound like reading soul mates! I love your description of why alpha males appeal in the book world: “sooner or later, he’s going to cave to make his woman happy . . . which saves him from being just a jerk.” Exactly.
Kimber Chin, for me, it’s exactly those vulnerabilities, those private tears, that compel me to read more and more alpha heroes. Great defense of the real alpha male and it sounds like your guy is wonderful!
Vivi Anna, that’s exactly the way I feel about heroines! When I find a book in which I love the heroine too, it’s a huge bonus (Suz Brockmann’s Heart Throb, SEP’s It Had to Be You, but for me, the book is defined by the hero. I guess it takes all kinds!
Barbara B., what you say about the romance money shots is right on the money for me. Realization of love from the hero’s perspective….yum!
More in a bit!
by Sarah S. G. Frantz April 17th, 2007 at 12:59 pmKimber An and KeVin, I think you bring up interesting points of definition. Kerry Allen, our first commenter here got it right for me, I think:
It sounds like y’all have too much experience with the criminal side of alpha-dom to believe the fictional representations of alpha males as nurturing and good partners in romance. I’m reading to watch the process of an alpha male get turned into the nurturing, non-destructive beta by his love for his partner.
I’ve always considered my partner a beta male, but then I read Kimber Chin’s description of her husband as being “restricted by his sense of duty and responsibility.” That’s my husband, too. He’s always the one that comes home in charge because no one else steps up. Is that an alpha thing? Who knows.
Some people define alpha as bad-ass and a jerk. Some people define him as full of duty, honor, responsibility, and always in charge of himself and his emotions….until the right woman comes along and cuts him off at the knees. I probably wouldn’t put up with in real life any of the alphas I love when I read about them, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t love reading about them.
by Sarah S. G. Frantz April 17th, 2007 at 1:07 pmActually, I take exception to the whole hero/heroine terminology. It turns me off. Give me REAL people. Don’t saddle them with labels leftover from the salad days of bodice-ripper romance.
by Alessia Brio April 17th, 2007 at 1:25 pm“I’ve always considered my partner a beta male, but then I read Kimber Chin’s description of her husband as being “restricted by his sense of duty and responsibility.” That’s my husband, too. He’s always the one that comes home in charge because no one else steps up. Is that an alpha thing? Who knows.”
Rule of thumb: If it has to do with domination and control, it’s alpha. If it has to do with responsibility and duty, it’s gamma.
The guy who’s a success at business because he wants to beat out everyone else is alpha. The guy who’s a success at business because it’s the best way to provide for his family is gamma.
Taking charge because your ego requires you be the one giving orders is alpha. Taking charge because a job needs doing and you’re the only one willing to do it is gamma.
Lawyer, soldier, police officer — there are a lot of fields in which alpha and gama behaviors look similar. The difference is why they do what they do. And what they do at home when no one is looking.
by KeVin Killiany April 17th, 2007 at 1:44 pmI was gonna jump on the gamma bandwagon, but KeVin has done it for me. Give me a gamma everytime!!!
by Kalen Hughes April 17th, 2007 at 2:12 pmIf it has to do with domination and control, it’s alpha. If it has to do with responsibility and duty, it’s gamma. (…) Taking charge because your ego requires you be the one giving orders is alpha. Taking charge because a job needs doing and you’re the only one willing to do it is gamma.
Oh, no no no no no. That’s not it at all. Think alpha wolf. The epitome, the definition. Domination and control? If so, it is BECAUSE of responsibility and duty. It’s NEVER for the SAKE of ego. Not a TRUE alpha.
If anyone ever has the chance to hear Jane Porter’s workshop on alpha males, go and hear. She uses movies to demonstrate what alpha means, uses also the psychology of the pack mentality, what is required of the alpha in charge - and how the best alpha will also choose an alpha female as the one worthy to be his mate. Fascinating stuff.
by Alison Kent April 17th, 2007 at 2:12 pm1. I like all sorts of male characters in romance novels. I prefer betas and gammas, though, because alphas are more likely to conform to the romance stereotype of the alpha male, ie, their characterization, appearance, etc. tend to rely on shorthand terms and tactics. When authors write non-alpha heroes, it’s as if stepping outside the romance box means they have to dig deeper to make the hero come alive. As a result, these characters seem more unique and fleshed out, IMO.
As for appearance, I don’t care, although I don’t like the shorthand of using celebrities to describe them.
2. I can’t name any favorites. Don’t know why. I guess because I read for premises, plots and situations? Oh, I did get a kick out of the hero in Mr. Impossible, which I read recently.
3. Both characters have to be richly drawn for me to enjoy the book. I read romance because I find it fascinating to see how these (admittedly imaginary) people establish a working relationship while the world is interfering. IE, I read for the relationship, not just the hero or heroine.
4 & 5. POV - I like anything that’s crafted well or at least in a way that appeals to me, since not everyone will agree on “well” and “ill”. I have no POV preferences for specific scenes, though I’m not fond of headhopping. I like a chance to get immersed in someone’s head.
6. What do I like or not like about alphas — Let’s go with “not like” because I DO like to complain :). When they don’t respect the heroine as an equal (worldbuilding-dependent) or at least a person worthy of consideration. Forced seduction fantasies aside, when they think they always know “what’s good for her”. When they manipulate “she of little brain” to get their way. That type of behavior is not enjoyable to read. It bores me when the hero is little more than this alphass stereotype who has nothing to set him apart from all the other six & a half foot tall, donkey-weened, leather (or Armani) wearing bad boys out there.
Enjoying the conversation! Good idea for an article.
Ellie M.
by Ellie M. April 17th, 2007 at 2:22 pm1. I’m not sure if I like alpha heroes, by the strictest definition of alpha. I suppose that what I like are heroes who are amoral and in charge of their destiny. Why? I suspect reading The Vampire Lestat ad nauseam when I was just 16 had a profound influence on my preferences for heroes. It isn’t so much the strength of body as the strength of character that I’m interested in. The revelation of hidden depths, the multifaceted nature of the hero. I like ones who are almost villains. I’m not interested in heroes that always do the right thing or say the right thing or who are always sensitive to the needs of others. They can be funny and frivolous or cold and vindictive but I want them to have layers but still be . . . I don’t, male I guess.
2. I have a mad crush on Lord Linden from The Bad Baron’s Daughter by Laura London. Why? Because he’s a bad ass and kind of a jerk but he’s funny.
3. If I find nothing to like about either the heroine or the hero then I tend not to like the book. I have to like both the main characters. I think it is ever so slightly more important for me to like the hero. Also, the overall quality of writing affects my satisfaction. Case in point, I was not all that fond of Katie, the heroine of The Bad Baron’s Daughter, but the writing itself and the hero made up for what I found lacking in the heroine. She wasn’t quite TSTL, but she was exhaustingly naive, and sometimes naivite can border on stupidity. I don’t think stupid or stupid-ish heroines deserve interesting heroes. In the first place, I don’t believe that they would end up together. Interesting, intelligent, clever people usually have a very difficult time suffering fools for long periods of time, no matter how pretty or sweet they may be. I just don’t buy it. He’d get bored and cheat on her with somebody less pretty but with more wit.
4. The heroine. In romance I find it more satisfying to come at it, at least intially, from the heroine’s perspective. I think it would have to be a different sort of book for me to want the majority to be written from the hero’s perspective. But maybe not. A lot depends on how the story is written and how the characterizations play out. Good writing makes up for a myriad of tast preferences in my opinion.
5. Depends on the book and the story.
6. Weeeeeell, what I don’t like about Alpha Males is that often it is just laziness on the part of the author. A lot of the time they are just pasteboard versions of real Alpha Males, instead of carefully conceived characters. The author just uses brawny, bossy tyrants as a short hand for the hero instead actually developing one. These guys have no depth of character. Or, and this flaw seems particular to a lot of paranormals, their emotions are always at apocalyptic levels for no apparent reason whatsoever. Like actors that only play different versions of pissed off. You know, like Al Pacino who goes from sort of pissed off to really pissed off. A lot of alpha males don’t really display a spectrum of emotion or personality. They’re just fixtures of the genre and like all fixtures, people don’t really bother to re-think them once they’re there.
by Angela T. April 17th, 2007 at 2:22 pm1. Where do you stand on male characters (chest, head, *ahem*netherparts — sorry, couldn’t help it!)? In other words, what kind of male character do you look for? Do you have any ideas about WHY you like the heroes you like?
I love the alphas.
2. Who are your favorite romance heroes and why? Or do you not even have any and why not?
Any well written hero.
3. Is the satisfaction in your reading experience contingent on the particular construction of the hero or of the heroine (personally, I care very little about the heroine)?
mostly the hero- but there has been a few heroines who have made me adore a book to.
4. Would you rather read a romance from the perspective of the hero or of the heroine?
I want both.
5. What about particular scenes? Would you prefer reading initial meeting between the H/H, sex scenes, reconciliation scenes, realization of love from the hero’s perspective or the heroine’s?
both
6. What is it about the big bad alpha male that obsesses you/pisses you off completely?
(see below)
7. Any other thoughts?
Lets get one thing straight:
An Alpha male is not a man in a beerstained wifebeater hollering “Obey woman or I’ll beat the crap out of you”. He is not the leader who demands you follow because he holds power of your life- even if he can physically harm you or more realistically fire you.
A true alpha male is easy to spot. He’s the child on the playground who gathers people around him to be on his team with ease. He’s the teacher who engages his classroom not with a stick but with the force of his personality. He’s the leader with that air of authority you sense rather than see. You’ve seen him. You know he’s alpha when he walks in the room. All eyes naturally go to him. You want to listen to want he says because you know what he has to say is important- again not simply because he has power of you but because he’s got “it”. You know he’ll keep you safe and it’s not because he’s told you so it’s because you’ve seem him do it.
That’s the alphas I’ve come to know and the ones I love to read about.
by Zeek April 17th, 2007 at 2:27 pmuh that was supposed to be “power OVER your life” in both instances!
by Zeek April 17th, 2007 at 2:36 pmShanna, I think chick lit’s focus on the heroine instead of the hero is exactly why I don’t really enjoy it and will stick with romances.
KeVin, I think Alessia makes an excellent point. Give me REAL people. I think defining alpha just as “a-hole” and anyone who acts positively for positive reasons as therefore beta/gamma as slightly reductive (not that I wasn’t being reductive in my post!).
If you’ve ever read SEP’s Hotshot, she compares these two types of alpha. Mitch is alpha for all the gamma reasons you state, Sam is the a-hole and it shows. And then Yank is pure beta/gamma, all the way through. I pretty much couldn’t care about Yank or Sam. I wanted to know about Mitch–the man WITH honor, the man who isn’t a complete egotist. But I don’t think that made him less alpha. Domination and control for the sake of duty and responsibility, like Alison said.
Ellie M. and Angela T., I like your ideas about writers needing to step out the box for a fuller description of a non-alpha. That’s something I hadn’t thought about. And Angela T., I love your descriptions about amoral males! That’s totally it for me, too.
Zeek, thanks for your description, too. Perfect!
by Sarah S. G. Frantz April 17th, 2007 at 2:49 pmEllie M expressed exactly why I sometimes have a hard time with alphas. It’s as if the writer doesn’t have to create a completely new character. It’s the same reason I tired of the vampire hero. With both the alpha and the vampire I often feel as if I’m getting an archetype or stereotype rather than a character that the author has created in it’s entirety. It takes a very good writer to breathe life into any character but particularly the larger than life ones like the alpha and vampire (actually just another type of alpha).
by Barbara B. April 17th, 2007 at 3:07 pm1. Where do you stand on male characters (chest, head, *ahem*netherparts — sorry, couldn’t help it!)?
I’m with Shanna. I prefer betas and gammas. I like alphas okay just not the over-the-top ones. I know it’s romance and fantasy but it’s just too unbelievable.
2. Who are your favorite romance heroes and why? Or do you not even have any and why not?
Lynn Viehl’s heros in her Darkyn books are great alphas IMO. For the most part, I don’t really have any favorites.
3. Is the satisfaction in your reading experience contingent on the particular construction of the hero or of the heroine?
Again over-the-top heros make a read hard for me, but I’ll at least give it a chance.
4. Would you rather read a romance from the perspective of the hero or of the heroine?
I don’t care. I’ve written from both and I’ll read dark near anything as long as it’s well written.
5. What about particular scenes? Would you prefer reading initial meeting between the H/H, sex scenes, reconciliation scenes, realization of love from the hero’s perspective or the heroine’s?
Again it doesn’t matter as long as it’s well executed.
6. What is it about the big bad alpha male that obsesses you/pisses you off completely?
They’re completely unbelievable and honestly, I find it a bit annoying.
by Amie Stuart April 17th, 2007 at 3:44 pmI guess my impression of alpha male wolves is fundamentally different. The alpha eats first and eats the best until he is sated. The alpha is the only male to have sex with the females and has sex with all of the females without loyalty to any one. The alpha uses his strength and savagery to intimidate and control the beta males. This is fine and this is right; it’s what wolves need to do. Wolves live in a harsh environment and need every edge they can get to survive. Alpha behavior is perfect for ensuring the genetic characteristics of the toughest examples of the population are passed on. Through this process the species survives.
But it’s a biological mechanism; the wolves behave that way because they have no choice. And without choice, there is no honor, no nobility. To ascribe these values to wolf behavior is to project human fantasies on creatures who don’t need them.
A human who behaves like an alpha male wolf? Not my idea of a hero.
HOWEVER Having said that: Even though I think a human alpha male is a borderline sociopath, I can acknowledge that mine might not be the only valid perception. As a Trekkie I can accept the idea of intellignet aliens with copper-based blood. As a romance reader, I can accept the idea of a socially and emotionally responsible alpha male. But it’s a stretch.
by KeVin Killiany April 17th, 2007 at 4:17 pm(Besides, from context I’m picking up that at least half the time what the alpha supporters are calling alphas are what I call gammas.)
I do think the problem may be trying to fit a whole host of male/human traits into an “alpha” or whatever box.
My favorite heroes are strong, sexy, intelligent, loyal and protective. And I wouldn’t describe them as “alpha” at all. When I think of an alpha I think of a man who is controlling and jerky for the sake of being jerky, begging for forgiveness at the last second. All I can think about when I read one like that is “yeah right, until he acts like a jerk again”.
Then again, full disclosure, I worked in the domestic violence field for many years. So maybe it is just a bad taste.
My own husband is strictly gamma, but I don’t see him as weak or disloyal. He’d walk in front of a bus for any of us, at any moment. He’s a real man, and a kind one–to all folks, not just his family. I value that over “ooh, so alpha” any day.
by Amelia April 17th, 2007 at 4:18 pm