Comments on: School Days, School Days…

By: Sarah S. G. Frantz

Sarah S. G. Frantz — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:18:21 +0000

Cranky Otter, you’ve definitely got to read Joey Hill. She totally doesn’t do that to her couples. They’re kinky and they stay kinky, and that’s that. (Although her NY-pubbed Vampire duology is more complicated than that, but her e-books are definitely kinky.) Rough Canvas is my personal favorite, but it had a tough time beating out Natural Law.

By: CrankyOtter

CrankyOtter — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 07:26:20 +0000

I particularly like your last question – I haven’t read Natural Law but after reading about your students’ reactions I think I’ll have to. I get really fed up with BDSM novels who end with the main couple finally “freeing” themselves and having plain vanilla encounters at the end of the book to show their “real” love. I could probably do pretty well on this exam too.

Thanks for sharing the romance novel love with students. Any plans on how to get guys to not feel emasculated next year? How does one do that? Because I didn’t think Bet Me was emasculating, but I’m a girl so what do I know.

By: Gwyneth Bolton

Gwyneth Bolton — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:26:23 +0000

If only they had course like this when I was in undergrad! It sounds wonderful, Eric. Are you all on the quarter system at DePaul? At least you’ll get to go back later in the fall. Enjoy your summer and if you do decide to teach Sweet Sensation I’d be happy to chat with students via cyberspace or conference call.

Gwyneth

By: Jill Sorenson

Jill Sorenson — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 15:20:57 +0000

Hi Eric. I’ve only heard of one other college professor who teaches romance, and she’s a woman. Salutations! I love it.

Your post reminded me of a time I tried to discuss sexual imagery (something about a plow and fertile soil from the Grapes of Wrath) with 11th graders. So awkward! But interesting.

Keep up the good work.

By: Eric Selinger

Eric Selinger — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 22:48:31 +0000

I’m at DePaul University in Chicago, Misa. Come on by any time!

By: Misa Ramirez

Misa Ramirez — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 22:25:37 +0000

I wish there had been a similar class when I was in college majoring in English! I’d have loved to discover ‘romances’ sooner than I did, and to recognize classic romances for what they were. You class sounds fantastic! I’d love to know where you teach so I could audit a class. =)

By: Gail Dayton

Gail Dayton — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:16:15 +0000

They make me think, and wonder and try to remember.

I love reading the academic opinions and essays and such, and remembering the leap of understanding and thought and ideas from when I was in college mumble-dy-something years ago. I would have to take these questions away with me, now, and think about them.

I thought a great deal about these books when I read them. I usually have to let a book digest at least a day or two before I can write anything coherent about them. (I do mini-reviews for myself, the romance readers anonymous loop, and also post them on Shelfari. Feel free to friend me there. ) I remember thinking about the symbols (falcons! In hats!) in Mr. Impossible, and about the fabulous way Kinsale handled the religion in FLOWERS FROM THE STORM.

Anyway, it’s totally cool to see how academia can look at romances and see the depths I see. In the good ones, anyway. I’m really hoping I can get Galveston County to pick BET ME for the Galveston Reads book one year. Maybe next year…

By: Eric Selinger

Eric Selinger — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:40:46 +0000

Oh, dear! I do hope I didn’t bring back awful memories of final exams & what-not. I just thought a few of you might like to see what those look like in a romance class!

By: Eva Gale

Eva Gale — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:29:51 +0000

lemme go flip through them