AAR (All About Romance) has just published its reader poll. I thought it’s been a while since I gabbed about books, so I’m going to comment on each book in the list for fun.
Since time isn’t on my side at the moment, I’m splitting the Top 100 list into ten-book parts to make it easier.
AAR Top 100 (part 1, 1-10)
1. Lord of Scoundrels - Loretta Chase [Eur Hist 1995]
Heh. Of course(!)
I don’t have the energy to express my opinion of this one. Perhaps tomorrow I will.
2. Dreaming of You - Lisa Kleypas [Eur Hist 1994]
Among the first of a new generation that didn’t have heroes testing and brutalising heroines, who clung on to prove the forever-worthiness of their twue love.
While I do remember enjoying it, I thought the heroine was an idiotic hypocrite, the hero a self-pitying martyr and that there were two plot holes an army of elephants could gallop through with ease.
Don’t ask me how or why as I no longer remember the story. I did think it was great that, apart from his tendency to self-whip for no sensible reason, Derek was an atypical hero.
I suspect he’s the main reason why this book is so popular, the hell with the heroine and the story itself. Poor Derek! So alone and so alienated! Angst-filled, too! Squee! It’s a shame that I’m not that much of a hero-oriented reader.
3. Devil In Winter - Lisa Kleypas [Eur Hist 2006]
Unread and still indifferent enough not to be bothered to read it.
Apart from Dreaming of You, I haven’t been really that into Kleypas’s historical romances. Not enough to finish or remember any if I did. No special reason. I think her voice and my taste just aren’t compatible. I haven’t read her contemporary novels yet, though. I think.
4. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen [Classic 1813]
It’s surprising that it’s this far up. I wonder if it’s due to TV and film adaptations?
To be honest, I’m still not convinced that some readers who say they read P&P actually read it. I tend to be suspicious of readers – especially clearly busy celebrities – who routinely list classics as their Top Ten book lists, especially when it’s obviously they don’t read much or even know what their favourite classics were about.
Such as those self-professed fans of P&P who talk about how much they love re-reading the wet shirt scene.
5. Outlander - Diana Gabaldon [Time-Travel 1991]
Er. Less said, the better.
Well, except for this to readers who keep classifying this ugly monster as ‘historical romance’: it’s a Scottish romance fantasy novel, damn it. And please stop saying it’s an accurate representation of Scotland. That’s like saying Lords of the Ring is an accurate representation of New Zealand.
As for the novel itself, it’s a typical Scottish romance with a pair of rose-tinted glasses and an ear to a cheap porno box. A bit info dumpy at times, too. There were times when you could sense the “See? I did a lot of research! A lot!” vibe, even though some of her research findings were a bit dubious. It’s also easy to see which interested her the most. Linguistics, social history and Scots law sure weren’t among them.
6. Flowers From The Storm - Laura Kinsale [Eur Hist 1992]
I have never been a fan of this particular title. Due to a number of issues, mostly with heroine Archimedea Timms (‘Maddy’). I didn’t like her tendency to judge on flimsy assumptions and, as I interpreted, her sense of superiority where morals were concerned. I can’t remember much about Christian. Except he had a character growth and learnt from his mistakes and like so while, I felt, Maddy didn’t. If Christian hadn’t come for her at the end, she wouldn’t have done anything to stop these people from destroying their relationship.
I might have misremembered the details, but that’s the impression I carry to this day. I ought to re-read as it’s been years since I read it.
7. Slightly Dangerous - Mary Balogh [Eur Hist 2004]
Urm, I don’t know which book is this as I still have a problem keeping the titles of the Slightly series in right order, let alone remembering which story belongs to which title. Hm, according to Fantastic Books, it’s the eighth and last book in the Bedwyn family series.
In order: One Night for Love, A Summer to Remember, Slightly Married, Slightly Wicked, Slightly Scandalous, Slightly Tempted, Slightly Sinful, and Slightly Dangerous. (I’m sorry, but Balogh and her editor deserve to be shot in the arse for coming up with those titles.)
In that case, I haven’t read it. I only read the first three books. Since I was this knees high, I read and finish each book, no matter how long, bitter or dull the journey to end might be. During this period I started to allow myself to accept DNF. Slightly Married was among the first DNFs.
8. The Viscount Who Loved Me - Julia Quinn [Eur Hist 2000]
Ah, the second Bridgerton book in the series. The story of Anthony Bridgerton (a.k.a. the one who was scared of bees) and Kate Sheffield (a.k.a. the one who had sworn to bite any man’s head off to protect her perfect half-sister, Edwina).
Julia Quinn was credited for re-booting the Regency-era wallpaper historical sub-genre with her first Bridgerton book, The Duke and I.
9. The Raven Prince - Elizabeth Hoyt [Eur Hist 2006]
I’m still not sure what to make of this. Fine, I’ll be candid: I’m completely flummoxed.
10. The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie – Jennifer Ashley [Eur Hist 2009]
I’m not commenting on this.
I forgot almost everything about it after finishing it. I still don’t know if it’s because I didn’t think much of it or that I was distracted. At the time, I was having a constant nose bleed, which lasted two weeks. Might have to re-read, but I don’t think I will. No special reason.
—
Those comments make it sound as if I didn’t enjoy those books. I did! It’s just that none of these would have made it to my own list.
I could not agree more. For your enjoyment, my reactions:
(1) Meh. Tried to read it twice, mostly skimmed it. Don’t get the hoopla but then don’t like either character.
(2) DNF
(3) DNR (see (2))
(4) It’s either #2, after Persuasion, or it doesn’t belong on a list of genre romance novels at all.
(5) Um, yeah. Read and enjoyed at the time. Not a top 10 for me.
(6) I really liked this when I read it. Agree on Maddy, but loved the plot, Christian, & the writing. So I’m okay with it. Hey, finally one I agree with!
(7) Not her best book by a long chalk. I’d put it in the 100, but not higher than 30.
(8) A fine example of the wallpaper genre. Not a top 50.
(9)DNF. You have got to be kidding me. It’s a joke, right?
(10) Um, what? Read it, enjoyed it at the time, forgot it.
I’ve never really agreed with the lists, but this top 100 seemed even more out of left field (and out of touch) than usual. I’m guessing they only got a few thousand respondents out of their many thousands of readers, and the ones who responded don’t represent current reading trends for the most part.
“please stop saying it’s an accurate representation of Scotland.”
I haven’t read Outlander, but on the topic of Scotland and inaccuracies (though not AAR), I was rather sorry recently when I took a closer look at an excerpt of an Edinburgh-set novella Sarah Frantz was praising at Dear Author.
@Sunita
I have to agree. Most are average. Enjoyable, but still average. It seems as if the list is really about comfort reads, which would make more sense.
@Laura
I have a copy of that anthology and frankly, I was too scared to read that particular novella. Seeing your comment about the excerpt has me feeling even more wary, especially when I know you grew up in Scotland. Gah.
I think I’ll read it when I’m desperately bored. Or drunk. What can be more Scottish than this?
I’ve liked Fox’s 2 novels, but I don’t think her style works in the short story format. I was noticing other things more than the setting (esp. since I haven’t been in Edinburgh in many years) but it read a bit like channeling Ian Rankin/Rebus in a particularly bleak phase rather than a portrait of a real place. Her books have this tendency to feel very other-worldly; while the context sucks me in, it’s because it’s vividly realized rather than accurate.
@Sunita
So odd! When I read SarahF’s review I wondered: “Hm, sounds as if it’s set in Ian Rankin’s Inspector Rebus universe. Fanfic?”
Because of these elements:
a) it’s set in Edinburgh
b) Rebus regularly goes undercover
c) he has a complex friendship with a criminal, who’s a recurring male character (a popular pairing in fanfic, apparently)
d) human trafficking is one of recurring themes in the Rebus universe, e.g. The Hanging Garden
There are more, but these feature the most.
“Her books have this tendency to feel very other-worldly; while the context sucks me in, it’s because it’s vividly realized rather than accurate.”
Makes sense.
While I don’t remember plot holes (I’ll take your word for it, my memory ain’t what it used to be!) – word for word agree with you on Dreaming Of You. When I reviewed it on my blog a couple of years ago I said that I thought I would had LOVED it had I read it when I was still a romance genre newbie. But now that I’m older and more jaded? Meh. Gave it a C. That said, I appreciated the “type” of hero Derek was, considering the book was first published in 1994 (?). An English historical and no titled hero? Wowzers.
Ahhhh, the Kinsale. I DNF’ed it after 150 pages. Frankly, the writing style made my eyes bleed and the heroine drove me insane. I’m aware this makes me a philistine, and I’m oddly OK with that
A couple more of these in the TBR – notably the Hoyt and the Ashley…..
And neither here nor there – I’m not sure I can trust a Top 100 that doesn’t feature ANY books by Pamela Morsi or Maggie Osborne. But then I didn’t vote, so that makes me part of the problem….
1) LOS – I’m almost afraid to confess this is one I completely agree with. I absolutely love this book, and it would have been my #1, too.
2) Dreaming of you: I really liked it at the time, but mostly because, like you say, it was different. I reread it a few years ago and it hasn’t aged that well.
3) Devil in Winter – Can’t see what’s so wonderful about this one. The change in the hero from what he was like in the previous book was so sudden and unexplained that it caused whiplash!
4) P&P is right up there for me, too, and yep, I have read it a few times
5) Outlander – Haven’t read it, have no interest in reading it.
6 – Flowers From the Storm – Had to force myself to finish it. Completely agree with you about Maddie.
7 – Slightly Dangerous – I do love this one, might even be in my top 10, too. It’s her Pride and Prejudice homage.
8 – Viscount Who Loved Me – Another that would probably be in my top 10. The mallet of death scene still makes me cry with laughter, and I love the romance
9 – Raven Prince – I did like this one, but no way it would be so high up on my list!
10 – Madness of Lord Ian – This is the one that’s most surprising for me, because I really disliked it.
@Wendy
100% with you on Dreaming of You, and the lack of other more-interesting-to-me authors’ books. They’re not famous or cult-worthy enough, I suppose. Feh on ‘em.
@Rosario
Considering what you said, I’ll give ‘Slightly Dangerous’ a try. I’m going to surf over to your blog now to find out why you didn’t like Madness of Lord Ian.
It was either you or CD (one of Brits from AAR) who urged me to give LoS a try.
Well, I’m the philistine for not being able to finish a single Ivory novel. I can understand being turned off by Kinsale’s style; I was surprised that I liked it as much as I did.
I second Rosario’s recommendation of Slightly Dangerous. I’m much fonder of the older Balogh, but I think it’s one of her best of the newer crop. I admit I have a sneaking fondness for the Slightly series, even though I think the quality is lower.
Someone (Wendy maybe?) said something at Jessica’s post on this about how the Top 100 books felt interchangeable, and I totally agree.