Comments for Fiction by Keira Andrews http://www.keiraandrews.com Contemporary and historical gay romance Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:11:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Opinions are Like *Insert Body Part Here* by Shane http://www.keiraandrews.com/2012/02/21/opinions-are-like-insert-body-part-here/#comment-1602 Shane Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:11:38 +0000 http://www.keiraandrews.com/?p=831#comment-1602 I will rate a book on Goodreads but I rarely leave reviews, either there or on Amazon. I never know what to say about why I loved a book so much or why I didn't. I will read reviews, but I don't necessarily use them to sway my decision because I know everyone's tastes are different. I have recommended books on my LJ, but usually only a "this book was awesome, you should read it" kind of thing. I don't normally go into an in-depth review as to why. I will rate a book on Goodreads but I rarely leave reviews, either there or on Amazon. I never know what to say about why I loved a book so much or why I didn’t. I will read reviews, but I don’t necessarily use them to sway my decision because I know everyone’s tastes are different.

I have recommended books on my LJ, but usually only a “this book was awesome, you should read it” kind of thing. I don’t normally go into an in-depth review as to why.

]]> Comment on Opinions are Like *Insert Body Part Here* by Ray http://www.keiraandrews.com/2012/02/21/opinions-are-like-insert-body-part-here/#comment-1601 Ray Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:30:09 +0000 http://www.keiraandrews.com/?p=831#comment-1601 I think the only time I've ever left a review on a book was when someone had jokingly bought me a copy of Meeting Damian Lewis which was ....well. At any rate, I only ended up actually reviewing the thing myself when I went to look at the amazon page and saw that the author herself had left the only good review in a strange third-person and then bashed the other reviews and called them personal attacks. It was very odd. I think the only time I’ve ever left a review on a book was when someone had jokingly bought me a copy of Meeting Damian Lewis which was ….well. At any rate, I only ended up actually reviewing the thing myself when I went to look at the amazon page and saw that the author herself had left the only good review in a strange third-person and then bashed the other reviews and called them personal attacks. It was very odd.

]]> Comment on Opinions are Like *Insert Body Part Here* by Rhi http://www.keiraandrews.com/2012/02/21/opinions-are-like-insert-body-part-here/#comment-1600 Rhi Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:42:52 +0000 http://www.keiraandrews.com/?p=831#comment-1600 I usually don't leave reviews on sites like Amazon or Goodreads. I think my LJ is the only place I might do something that resembles a review in that I'll recommend a book if I really enjoy it. I don't usually talk too much about books I don't like - at least not publicly. Though I do find it is easier to go on at length about what was bad about a book rather than what was good, which rather depresses me to consider. My good reviews are usually: I loved this! You will too! Read it! Whereas any bad reviews I might write up would be long and winding and detailed about all the failures within the book. Not great for me mentally, so I usually don't do it. Especially not publicly. Though sometimes a book will make me so angry that I will - like my recent rant on LJ about The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. What a piece of garbage! Grrrrrr!!!! But, um, yeah, most of the time I just talk with my closer friends about stuff I'm reading. *nods* I usually don’t leave reviews on sites like Amazon or Goodreads. I think my LJ is the only place I might do something that resembles a review in that I’ll recommend a book if I really enjoy it. I don’t usually talk too much about books I don’t like – at least not publicly. Though I do find it is easier to go on at length about what was bad about a book rather than what was good, which rather depresses me to consider. My good reviews are usually: I loved this! You will too! Read it! Whereas any bad reviews I might write up would be long and winding and detailed about all the failures within the book. Not great for me mentally, so I usually don’t do it. Especially not publicly. Though sometimes a book will make me so angry that I will – like my recent rant on LJ about The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. What a piece of garbage! Grrrrrr!!!! But, um, yeah, most of the time I just talk with my closer friends about stuff I’m reading. *nods*

]]> Comment on Confessions of a Bodice-Ripper Devotee by bentley1530 http://www.keiraandrews.com/2012/01/30/confessions-of-a-bo/#comment-1598 bentley1530 Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:27:47 +0000 http://www.keiraandrews.com/?p=824#comment-1598 There definitely was a time when the historical romances were pushing the envelope with rough, borderline rape sex, lots of anything other than the missionary position sex and you could not have a book with the obligatory oral sex scene. Also the sex scenes were long, detailed and very hot. And then over time books by the same authors seemed to pull back so I was sure it was an editorial shift. I laugh to think about what I was reading when I was 12 and 13, except for the fact that it often about same sex partners most of it less explicit with much shorter sex scenes. There definitely was a time when the historical romances were pushing the envelope with rough, borderline rape sex, lots of anything other than the missionary position sex and you could not have a book with the obligatory oral sex scene. Also the sex scenes were long, detailed and very hot. And then over time books by the same authors seemed to pull back so I was sure it was an editorial shift. I laugh to think about what I was reading when I was 12 and 13, except for the fact that it often about same sex partners most of it less explicit with much shorter sex scenes.

]]> Comment on Same-Sex Romance Need Not Apply by Keira Andrews http://www.keiraandrews.com/2012/02/06/same-sex-romance-need-not-apply/#comment-1597 Keira Andrews Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:53:39 +0000 http://www.keiraandrews.com/?p=872#comment-1597 <i>I think it would be a mistake to underestimate how difficult it is for people who are conservative and religious to give any legitimacy to same sex relationships.</i> I can understand it may be difficult for them. It's hard for me to sympathize much, though. The only way they're going to change their attitudes is as society's norms evolve. Interracial romances were once verboten (even illegal in some places), and are now very common, at least where I'm from. We have to keep pushing forward and normalizing same-sex relationships in fiction and real life. Which I know you're not arguing against by any means! :) I think it would be a mistake to underestimate how difficult it is for people who are conservative and religious to give any legitimacy to same sex relationships.

I can understand it may be difficult for them. It’s hard for me to sympathize much, though. The only way they’re going to change their attitudes is as society’s norms evolve. Interracial romances were once verboten (even illegal in some places), and are now very common, at least where I’m from. We have to keep pushing forward and normalizing same-sex relationships in fiction and real life.

Which I know you’re not arguing against by any means! :)

]]> Comment on Confessions of a Bodice-Ripper Devotee by Keira Andrews http://www.keiraandrews.com/2012/01/30/confessions-of-a-bo/#comment-1596 Keira Andrews Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:58:12 +0000 http://www.keiraandrews.com/?p=824#comment-1596 Were they a lot racier than today? I would say they're about the same, but can't be sure. My impression as a teen of what was racy and what I find racy now is likely not the same! ;) Were they a lot racier than today? I would say they’re about the same, but can’t be sure. My impression as a teen of what was racy and what I find racy now is likely not the same! ;)

]]> Comment on Confessions of a Bodice-Ripper Devotee by bentley1530 http://www.keiraandrews.com/2012/01/30/confessions-of-a-bo/#comment-1595 bentley1530 Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:15:35 +0000 http://www.keiraandrews.com/?p=824#comment-1595 Wow your list of authors brings back a lot of memories. I was really into the historical romances which really were a lot racier back in the back in the day. The sex scenes were front and center and went on for page after page and with lots of sex before marriage. I actually gave them up because the fantasy of the feisty little female overpowered by the brutish but oh so sexy wild man and almost but not quite rape scenes lost their appeal. Wow your list of authors brings back a lot of memories. I was really into the historical romances which really were a lot racier back in the back in the day. The sex scenes were front and center and went on for page after page and with lots of sex before marriage. I actually gave them up because the fantasy of the feisty little female overpowered by the brutish but oh so sexy wild man and almost but not quite rape scenes lost their appeal.

]]> Comment on Same-Sex Romance Need Not Apply by bentley1530 http://www.keiraandrews.com/2012/02/06/same-sex-romance-need-not-apply/#comment-1594 bentley1530 Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:01:27 +0000 http://www.keiraandrews.com/?p=872#comment-1594 The culture wars are alive and well in many parts of the US and I think it would be a mistake to underestimate how difficult it is for people who are conservative and religious to give any legitimacy to same sex relationships. I am sure there were many, many members who complained going forward with the contest would have made a large segment of the group miserable. I am not defending the decision but I understand it. The culture wars are alive and well in many parts of the US and I think it would be a mistake to underestimate how difficult it is for people who are conservative and religious to give any legitimacy to same sex relationships. I am sure there were many, many members who complained going forward with the contest would have made a large segment of the group miserable. I am not defending the decision but I understand it.

]]> Comment on Same-Sex Romance Need Not Apply by Keira Andrews http://www.keiraandrews.com/2012/02/06/same-sex-romance-need-not-apply/#comment-1593 Keira Andrews Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:09:14 +0000 http://www.keiraandrews.com/?p=872#comment-1593 Yes, the conflation of YA and same-sex romances is troublesome. Somehow I doubt their members were “uncomfortable” with YA romances. LGBT romances should not be considered a separate subgenre. They’re just romances! There are historicals, contemporaries, paranormals, menage, etc., etc. Just like with romances featuring straight characters. Yes, the conflation of YA and same-sex romances is troublesome. Somehow I doubt their members were “uncomfortable” with YA romances. LGBT romances should not be considered a separate subgenre. They’re just romances! There are historicals, contemporaries, paranormals, menage, etc., etc. Just like with romances featuring straight characters.

]]> Comment on Same-Sex Romance Need Not Apply by Keira Andrews http://www.keiraandrews.com/2012/02/06/same-sex-romance-need-not-apply/#comment-1592 Keira Andrews Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:05:38 +0000 http://www.keiraandrews.com/?p=872#comment-1592 Ah yes, I see the contest is indeed cancelled. Sorry, I wrote this post last night and that happened this morning. I’ll update my post! But yes, it’s due to this hoopla. Interesting that they chose to cancel the contest instead of just accept same-sex entries. This is an interesting comment on it: http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/beyondherbook/?p=5600&cpage=1#comment-93870 Ah yes, I see the contest is indeed cancelled. Sorry, I wrote this post last night and that happened this morning. I’ll update my post!

But yes, it’s due to this hoopla. Interesting that they chose to cancel the contest instead of just accept same-sex entries. This is an interesting comment on it:

http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/beyondherbook/?p=5600&cpage=1#comment-93870

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