They say the first steps to recovery are denial, then acceptance. Well I may have moved past denial...but I'm not quite to acceptance yet. My name is Jade...and I have...(big breath)...an addiction to romance novels.
Why does it seem perfectly normal to enjoy dramas and romances on television and in movies, but reading romance novels bears a slight stigma of shame? I feel compelled to hide the front covers when I read them in front of anyone else. I keep my rather extensive Nora Roberts collection tucked away, in a cupboard on a bookcase, down the stairs, in my garage where no one but me sets foot. When I'm in the romance section in bookstores, I glance briefly at the titles, grab one and run. Today I bought Kurt Vonnegut's "Breakfast of Champions" and Nora Roberts' "Table for Two" (as I have eclectic tastes in literary diversions) and I kept the Vonnegut book on top to hide the steamy, scandalous Roberts' book from view.
I read romance novels with almost the same frequency as I read Austen, JK Rowling, Dumas, Kafka, Oates, Dante and Daniel Quinn, but I only admit this to my closest friends. I still skulk around hiding my books and burn with embarrasment anytime I'm caught with one. But hopefully through this session I may one day learn to recover...Well. I have no hope of recovering from my addiction to romance...but maybe I'll stop feeling so damn stupid about it.
You know it would be alright if they didn't have those damn covers that gave you away, alright and maybe the titles too. I mean don't they want to sell these things?
I went through a long period "cough middle school/high school cough" where they were a big chuck of my extra reading. I think I overdosed cause I can't really read more than one a year now, if that. Have you tried Jude Deveraux. She was my favorite. I still have a lot of her's on my bookcase.
Posted by: Nuala on February 25, 2003 02:23 PMhmmm...the name is familiar. i may have one of hers. i'll have to consult my stash.
ya, and you definately can overdose on them (hence...addiction. would not be addiction if not unhealthy). i tend to be a binge reader myself. long whiles with normal reading, then i get this uncontrollable craving and will read like an entire trilogy. then not want to look at them again for another year or so.