The Doll: December 2010 Archives

Despite the title of this blog, I used to not be a romance novel kind of girl. I have had a long and enduring friendship with romance author Sabrina Jeffries, knowing her for years before ever reading one of her books. Once someone pointed out that I would go into an adult toy store and buy myself a means of pleasure without thinking twice, but I would not buy a book written by a dear friend simply because it was a romance novel. "Of course," I explained, "the first implies that I am having sex, even if it is with myself, while the second implies that I am not."

A few years ago while visiting my brother, I observed his wife reading a book, turning page after page, unable to put it down. I asked her what she was reading and, embarrassed, she showed me the cover. Upon my declaration of knowing the author, my sister-in-law gushed over how Sabrina Jeffries was her favorite. That night, after everyone had gone to bed, I picked up the book and read it.

Now, Sabrina writes a damn good story, so I called her the next day and told her so. Once she got over the shock that I'd actually read one of her books and thought it was great, she insisted I sample other authors and try to give an unbiased opinion. Fair enough, I was game. That week, I became something I never dreamed: A consumer of romance novels.¹

Friends and strangers both will admit their dirty little secret of also enjoying romance novels when they see me with a book. Unsurprising, given that romance is the largest selling genre of fiction in the US. I can't help but wonder why reading a romance novel is still a dirty secret?

While romance novels are not necessarily erotica or porn, they do fill a similar niche: the fantasy that we will get what we want. If I am to believe the romance novels, women want to be loved, desired and needed by someone who can fuck them silly.² Maybe that's the problem. Modern women are either encouraged to embrace, explore and fulfill their sexuality (in or out of marriage), or encouraged to be virgins until married. We're supposed to choose whether we're going to be the Madonna or the Whore. In reality, most of us are both.

Yes, women, embrace your sexual fantasies and develop your sexual identity! But don't neglect your emotional fantasies and identity while you're at it. Read science fiction/fantasy AND romance to be a better, more rounded woman. In fact, you can get both with Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Dart series.

And when you're done with those, let me also recommend my friend Sabrina's books... :D

¹Granted, I often found myself yelling things like, "That's creepy! GET A RESTRAINING ORDER NOW!" or "Maybe he's just not that into you..." at the heroine. I'm still working on that whole "suspension of disbelief," both for romance novels and romance in real life.

²Personally, at this point in my life I just want good company that doesn't mind sharing the garage.

Nothing sets the holiday mood quite like a burlesque done to "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch." Yes, that's right. The Grinch. In a Christmas burlesque. You absorb that, I'll be over here reveling in the memory...

San Francisco and Oakland enjoy vibrant counter-culture and underground art scenes, including burlesque. South Bay generally suffers from its proximity to these two hubs of activity, as all the interesting things happen north, thus all the interesting people wanting to do such things tend to migrate that way as well. But the Sin Sisters Burlesque has taken up residence in Santa Cruz, and I don't think the South Bay will ever be the same again.

This is, of course, a very good thing.

I will confess, I have always considered myself a hopelessly straight woman. However, the SSB ensemble had me doubting that last night. Witty, wicked, gorgeous women teasingly removing clothing and dancing provocatively in an intimate setting will do that, I suppose. From classic burlesque to SteamPunk to Goth to futuristic space explorer to the Grinch to whirling whips and fluttering fans, the show opened with bang and just kept wowing the audience. Go. Just go! Keep an eye on the events page; I hear there's another show mid-January.

With Glamazon Madam Chartreuse swinging hips and whips to lead the way, Sin Sisters Burlesque will no doubt carve itself indelibly into South Bay's art scene. I, for one, am thrilled!