The Romance Novel: Is it trash?

Today's post is all about romance novels. The first thing I have to mention is a pet peeve of mine, the referring to romance novels as "trashy novels". I hate when I hear someone say something like "You read those trashy romance novels?" and look at me with some sort of horror on their faces. Hypocrites!

Yes they are hypocrites because I know darn well that if my "trashy romance book" was made into a romance movie they'd be the first ones in line to watch it. So watching someone acting out a romance is totally acceptable to them, but actually sitting down to READ the romance is some how beneath them and degrading?? Well color me stupid because I just don't get that at all.

I didn't hear anyone say the movie "Titanic" with both romance and sex in it was 'trash', yet if it was a romance story set on another boat with romance and sex some of those same people would snub it and slap the label 'trashy novel' on it. I'll say it again...HYPOCRITES.

A blogger posted a Youtube video back in May asking people to read "trashy romance novels" for the month or week and then share in her comments area what you read.

Well first I need to know what exactly makes a romance story trash.

This is what Dictionary.com says the definition of "trashy" is...

Trashy:
1) Resembling or containing trash; cheap or worthless: trashy merchandise.

2) In very poor taste or of very poor quality: "There was a special pathos ... within ... her trashy tales" (James Wolcott).

Hmm... well that is not how I see romance novels, is that how you see them? "cheap" or "worthless" or "of very poor quality"?? Not my romance novels!

So my question is, What the hell makes romance in books "trashy"?? I don't see anything 'trashy' about a relationship unfolding between people on the pages of a book. I am not talking about some porn article created just so someone can get off in an adult magazine etc (that's another story). This is strictly about romance books. Can anyone tell me what is trashy about romance written on pages in a book?? If it has a sex scene or a dozen does that make it trashy? Is one sex scene acceptable but not four? I really don't know what determines a romance novel as "trash". I can't think of an element that for me would turn a romance book into a 'trashy novel'. It might be a losy romance (poorly written, under developed characters etc), or overly graphic sexually but does that constitute 'trashy' if its a romance story between two people? Not in my opinion, but what the hell do I know since people have been calling romance novels 'trashy' for decades? I must be out of the loop on this one, and I'm quite happy about that.

Writing romance can't be easy. I am not an author, so I can't speak for them I can only guess at the hard work, imagination and dedication it takes to put together a romance, build the plot and create characters we fall in love with and wrap it all up for us in the pages of romance novel. I applaud romance authors, you've given me years (ok decades!) of pure reading enjoyment and not once have I thought of your work as 'trash'. Never even entered my mind. I found a Youtube video to help the would be romance writer...

Now what about those romance book covers? Do you think some people take a look at romance book covers and decide it's "trash" because two people are embracing each other with wind wiping through their hair? If that's the case they why aren't ads for honeymoons, cruises and vacations to tropical resorts "trashy"? See the contradictions? A lot of hard work and planning go into romance book covers. The cover is often times what grabs our attention and prompts us to pick up the book and read the back blurb.

Romance sells! Everyone (nearly) is looking for that special someone and we like romance. We like happily ever afters. We like getting swept up in a romance story of two people coming together - often against the odds and overcoming those odds, that stirs our emotions and takes us on a rollercoaster ride of feelings. Where's the "trash" in that?