Genre of Reading Erotica vs. The past Romance novels??

1. 61

   mizzjanique29posted 13 years ago

   I remember as a child i would from time to time run across one of my mother's romance novels. You know the ones with some lady and a buffed handsome man on the cover...any how I found when i got older that those novels were all about romance and not so much sex or the act of sex.
   
   Now with Erotica styled novels being all the rage,full of sex, mystery, intense drama but yet very rarely do these novels focus on romance or love. So i guess my thought would be that society thirsts for more gritty raw and intense writings now than our parents preferred...but again that's just a thought. Please sound off; What do my fellow Hubbers think?

   replyreport
   1. 60

      wcoffeechickposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I write old fashioned romance novels:)

      replyreport
2. 91

   Rochelle Frankposted 13 years ago

   Maybe modern readers have less imagination?

   replyreport
3. 89

   WryLiltposted 13 years ago

   There are a lot of differences now from years ago. Once upon a time a man would be turned on if he got to see a woman's ankle. Why? Because they were usually hidden under volumes of clothing.
   
   I guess these days people leave so little the imagination that they need to seek new and exciting ways to make up for it.

   replyreport
   1. 68

      cupid51posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I agree with you. I wonder what would be the fate of writers when they would fail to attract readers even after the details usage of sex in their writings? Are we going back to the pre-historic age?   

      replyreport
4. 80

   mega1posted 13 years ago

   oh yes!  yes!  yes!   Forever Amber - the book I read when twelve that had me tripping for days! weeks!  I shall never forget how they slept in their illicit affair in each others' arms - their bodies pressed together spoon fashion!  It was NOT ONLY sexy but also so, so romantic.  The unfortunate thing was that I really thought I would find me some romantic man made from that mold when, in fact, that mold does not exist!  Oh, cruel, cruel romance writers! 
   
   Much better now that women and men should meet in dark alleys and do it up against walls - no need to even buy a new dress or find the perfect shade of lipstick.  No one sees each other in that available light anyhow.
   
   The world is too cruel.  then and now

   replyreport
5. 67

   Flightkeeperposted 13 years ago

   Oh man, you brought up memories of myself in my late tweens reading Harlequin romances
   
   When you say Erotica styled novels, what are you referring to?  It's been a long while since I've kept up with any new fiction.  You're not talking about those old Sidney Sheldon novels or bodice rippers are you?

   replyreport
   1. 80

      mega1posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I think she means that in modern erotica they mostly do it all the time, don't talk much, and they describe explicitly exactly WHAT they do and even what they look like . . .
      
      
      down there!
      
      
      I think.  that is. . . I don't really KNOW, but I can IMAGINE!  they're even MORE explicit than Henry Miller and Anais Nin!  can you believe it!?

      replyreport
      1. 67

         Flightkeeperposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         More explicit?! Then you've got a book just describing body parts and sexual acts, where's the story? Is there a story?  If there's no story isn't it just porn in words?

         replyreport
         1. 80

            mega1posted 13 years agoin reply to this

            the story probably revolves around how they manage to get out now and then for an espresso! 

            replyreport
            1. 67

               Flightkeeperposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               or how their eyes looked at each other as he came up for air!!!

               replyreport
   2. 61

      mizzjanique29posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      By Erotica Styled Novels meaning, the basic novels for example eric jerome dickey or Zane...novels with explicit sexual content...sorry if i wasn't specific enough:)

      replyreport
6. 69

   C.A. Johnsonposted 13 years ago

   I remember my aunt giving me my first romance novel, it was a Silhouette Desire, and I was hooked. By the time I was 16 I was reading every historical romance I could get my hands on.
   
   With age I found that romance novels are a pleasant escape from reality for a few hours but will never result in those types of relationships in modern times. We no longer require our men to play the hero, so they no longer see the need to rescue the damsel from any kind of distress.
   
   As for erotica, it's porn for women. A good read when the mood strikes. An interesting read if you have a lover who's game.
   
   As women have evolved in their sensibilities many have lost the understanding of romance or just don't believe that it exists.Romance that may exist in the beginning of a relationship fades and becomes overlooked in the day to day business of living.
   
   Would I like to experience the fairy tale romance of a dashing Scot rescuing me, battling wits, and then living happily ever after? You bet, but regrettably my time machine is not up to par. Do I still read historical romances? Every chance I get because some part of me still believes in the fairy tale.

   replyreport
   1. 61

      mizzjanique29posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I am definiely with you on this, point well taken and don't feel bad my time machine has too many missing parts to work...LOL. it is nice too read novels of all genres but sometimes you just want too read about romance and love..

      replyreport
7. 80

   mega1posted 13 years ago

   Susan Isaacs is one of those authors who does a good job of combining history, romance, intelligent people (usually) and interesting places into mysterious situations that keep you involved.  I recently read her book Red White and Blue - which is located in Wyoming where friends of mine live, so it was quite appropriate.  I get these books at thrift stores for a dollar or two - mostly hardcover, too.  And when I'm finished with them I take them back to the thrifts and that way I don't have to store a bunch of books.  It's like having one of those old fashioned lending libraries (they had them before public libraries came along) you "rented" books.  I seldom pay full price for books anymore.  I did buy the trilogy of Stieg Larsson's Girl With the Dragon Tattoo etc. and recently found Barbara Kingsolver's book Lacuna at Costco for $10.  I recommend thrift stores if you want romances.  I don't read erotica, it bores me.

   replyreport
8. 83

   psycheskinnerposted 13 years ago

   It used to be socially unacceptable for women to write or read about sex, now it is allowed.  Authors and customers can choose to buy romance with or without sex.  I, personally, think what is available has changed, people really don't change that much in their basic interests--and many are interested in relationships that have a sexual aspect.  I don't really see a problem with that. Totally sweet romance (where the characters do not have sex) or suggestive rather than explicit consumated romance are still there when that is what the reader feels like.

   replyreport
9. 85

   M. T. Dremerposted 13 years ago

   I don't know if I would say erotica novels are all the rage now. In fact, book stores that used to have erotica sections seem to be gradually phasing them out. If anything I would say old-style romances are being replaced by vampire romances. Before women just fantasized about muscular men, but now they fantasize about undead men. Which sounds weird, but if you think about it; it's the same appeal. A guy who is strong, mysterious, highly protective and has an erotic/dangerous element. That seems to be the common formula.
   
   In regards to explicit sexual acts in the books of today, part of that is unquestionably the changing of the times. When models/celebrities/teens are wearing practically nothing already, the only direction a book/movie/tv show can go is to get even more graphic. But in terms of storytelling, I don't think that is a bad thing. Human's have been explicit since the beginning. Take a shower and shock of all shocks, you're seeing x-rated nudity. But we don't think of it that way when we're taking a shower. The same thing is true of sex; we don't wear special glasses to blur out the naughty bits during the act. So while most erotica is purely mindless porn, using more graphic descriptions in well told stories can actually lend it a sense of credibility and realism that a book that avoided it doesn't have (in my opinion). You also don't get the sense that the author is giggling every time they hint towards and avoid something sexual. Nothing is more distracting than when an author invents a long elaborate description just to avoid saying a dirty word.

   replyreport
   1. 61

      Freewind Gingerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I always liked the Gothic romancessuch as Phyllis Whitney and others wrote with my fav being Jane Eyre.

      replyreport
10. 77

    kirstenblogposted 13 years ago

    Would the story of O classify as modern erotic writing?
    
    I kinda got the impression it was not exactly written yesterday

    replyreport
11. 63

    Greek Oneposted 13 years ago

    i enjoy pornography very much, buy more so pictures that actual words, per say

    replyreport
    1. 61

       HattieMattieMaeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       hmm...well if you think about pornography, sexual themes were not so much in the media, magazines, etc, as they are today. Our society as basically focused on the raw, sex, lust, serve your appetite and addiction, more than relationships, or even the naked body as art. It has really even destroyed art in a sense. If you look at artwork displaying the natural grace of it, compared to the dirty sexual slander now there is two different scenario's. One is done with taste, and gracefullness, while the other is tasteless and disgraceful.

       replyreport
       1. 63

          Greek Oneposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          i shouldn't have gotten turned on reading what you just wrote, should I?

          replyreport
    2. 0

       klarawieckposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Oh! Honey! You don't know what you're missing!

       replyreport
       1. 63

          Greek Oneposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          words are just for those without an imagination.

          replyreport
          1. 0

             klarawieckposted 12 years agoin reply to this

             On the contrary, my friend... the fun begins when you narrate from start to finish!

             replyreport
             1. 63

                Greek Oneposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                unless by 'narrate' you mean bring out the lube, mechanical devices, and pet orangutan, I can't agree with you there

                replyreport
                1. 0

                   klarawieckposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                   Oh, you are so boring!!!!

                   replyreport
12. 59

    kirstenoposted 13 years ago

    I think that the basic romance story is still what matters.  Many of the romance greats that are writing now, are coming up with gritty, REAL characters.  Those real characters have sex, because people have sex.  They're not skipping over an entire part of the relationship.  I still read some of the romances without the explicit love scenes, but I want to know that, for whatever reason, it's not just being left out, they're not being sexually active.  Make sense?

    replyreport
13. 0

    Daydreamer Tooposted 12 years ago

    I miss the romance of old. There's always been porn and sometimes a little bit of reading/seeing it, is erotic but it's like anything else, too much isn't always a good thing. When you see so much nudity and the sex act, that's all it is, a sex act. It becomes emotionless.
    I think that, although a lot of women just want sex now as equals to their men, there are still very many women who want the romance. They want the meal, the flowers, the chocolates, the flirting as the romance fore-play, leading up to the actual love-making. Erotica here and there is enticing but, too much becomes the norm and then, as mundain to read as doing the dishes.
    Sex is sex but, love-making is an art.

    replyreport
14. 83

    psycheskinnerposted 12 years ago

    A lot of erotica now is erotica romance.  And for those who prefer sweet romance, that is still being published too.  So, no problem.

    replyreport
15. 59

    Jonathan Jancoposted 12 years ago

    I would love it if Hubpages had an adult section; or atleast an Rrated section. None of the sites that are similar to HP that have such section seem to have a whole lot to offer in the long run. But I have some good erotica that I am confident would be seen as both erotic and romantic . . .  and my erotic stories have plots (but no espresso) so what do the other hubbers think of that? Any thoughts, anyone?

    replyreport
    1. 0

       klarawieckposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Sounds like a great idea to me!

       replyreport
16. 61

    mariefontaineposted 12 years ago

    Is there a difference between erotica and written pornography?  Erotic (to me) is considered an art form.  Do you feel as though erotica must be written nasty and gritty for it to be enticing?  Or can the words caress the  mind?

    replyreport
17. 60

    shaylove727posted 11 years ago

    I love writing both. I also love writing in different Generes. There's so much that you can do with erotica. Many people love romance as well.

    replyreport
18. 0

    Renee Collinsposted 11 years ago

    The only books that I've read that would be considered erotica are the 50 Shades of Grey novels and while the characters did develope a romance after a while the sexual aspect to me became a bit excessive and I found it to  be a bit dull after a while, so no I dont think all of society needs the grit. I prefer my love scenes leave a bit more to the imagination.

    replyreport