The Today show offered a poll alongside a promotion of Danielle Steel's latest book that asked the question: Do you read romance? (And I don't consider DS's book romance to start, but that's another topic altogether.) The answers you had to choose from were nothing short of an insult to anyone who DID read a romance, much less write one. If you answered yes, your answer was "Yes, yes, Yes! Bodice Rippers are my ultimate escape." If you answered no: "No way, I don't touch those books." And there was the "Sometimes, while on vacation or at the beach" answer as well.
The poll can be found here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25195786/
I found it fairly surprising that such an obviously biased poll would be allowed on their site. Given the high percentage of paperback sales that romance fiction accounts for, it seems bad business practice to insult that large of an audience. Not to mention those of us who write romance.
Do we need to provide a disclaimer now? I can safely say that not a single bodice was ripped, torn, snagged, split, damaged, mangled, shredded, slit or pulverized in love scenes (or anything that would be construed as 'mood setting for love scenes') during the writing of Something About Her.
However, I think those "bodice rippers" deserve support and some celebration. Though the style has long since dinosaured, it was part of what started the wold of romance fiction as we know it today. Reading those books sparked a love for romantic fiction that directed me to write. For that, I'm eternally grateful.
So let's celebrate some of our favorite oldies-but-goodies. I know I read books that flagrantly tore apart bodices in the name of love and fevered "I can't resist you even thought I despise you" sex. How about you? What were some of your favorites in which the bodice or other clothing was sacrificed in the name of love?
Some of my favorites:
Crystal Passion by Jo Goodman
The tagline on the cover of the first edition is "She feared him, fought him –but could not deny his fierce desire." I think this epitomizes the Bodice Ripper phase.
I do believe that a fair amount of cotton was destroyed in a few scenes in this book, about Ashley Lynne and Salem McClellan. Ashley and Salem are drawn to each other, but the belief that they are brother and sister keeps them far apart. Until while on board a ship to America, Salem falls ill and in his fever-inspired dreams… and there goes the muslin.
But still, despite the misguided destruction of clothing, I loved this story. I loved Ashley and Salem. I loved how Salem's family became a part of the story. I loved that this story wasn't 100% focused on them becoming a couple… they came together before the end of the book and then it was about BEING a couple and facing the challenges that went along with that, given the other things going on in the story.
This book has long been an old favorite of mine, one I actually scoured bookstores to find again. For me, it doesn't matter what the cover is, I'd read it in public with pride.
Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught (the original version)
Whitney My Love is still my favorite romance book, but the original version likely belongs to the "Bodice Ripper" category. The original version of this story includes the typical BR hero/heroine relationship – he was an overbearing ass and she didn't much like him. And there was a few scenes included in the first version that sparked a tremendous amount of commentary on the Amazon book reviews for this book. When this book was released with a pretty new cover, it also had been edited – some scenes revised, more added. Personally, I preferred the original version and still do.
The put-upon cotton was, if I recall correctly, tossed over our heroine's head at one point when the hero spanked Whitney. But I'm finding it hard to recall if any form of clothing was actually torn or ripped during he controversial love scene. I might have to reread this book for the 141st time to find out. I'll get back to you.
There are two I remember quite clearly. I know there are many more currently in my Keeper Shelves still… books I love. What about you? Celebrate the era of Bodice Rippers with me and tout your favorites.
And if you feel so inspired to let MSNBC and The Today Show know how you feel about their poll, email them at today@msnbc.com. I did.