Julia Reviews Everything I Know About Love I learned From Romance Novels

Title/Author:Everything I Know About Love About Learned From Romance Novels by Sarah Wendell
Publisher/Year Published: October 2011 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
How I got this book: From my local library
Why I read this book: I read a lot of romance novels and the title is pretty much out of my mouth
Rating: 5 stars

I read my first romance novel right around the age of 12. My cousin gave me some to read that she had gotten through various ways. She said they were really good books I would like them. 13 years later and I am still reading romance.

As a self-professed bookaholic, people often times give me a lot of condecension for my choice of reading. When I tell people that I read 72 books in 2010 and 49% of them were romance I often get "Well those don't count." or "It's just chick porn."

This really frustrates me. Just because it is a book that is heavily focused on romance means it doesn't count? I picked up Everything I Know I Learned from Romance Novels hoping to get some more amo to throw at these people, but what I found was a group of stories and lessons that were enchanting and eye opening.

Everything I Know About Love was written by Smart Bitch Sarah over at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, a site I often frequent. She often asked readers while she was writting to contribute anecdotes, as well as other authors and publishers. What she collected was a chain of stories about people and their relationship with romance. It was really interesting because not only did I realize what other people have taken from reading romance, I realized that a lot of that applied to me as well.

What I Learned From Romance Novels:

• Don't to settle for something less than I am worth.
• Though men are not romance heros, the romance heroes have qualities (like kindness and the ability to listen) that real men can have.
• It's not a problem to embrace sexuality.
• The happily-ever after is not the interesting part. It's how you get there.

I don't expect someone to ride up beside me, sweep me off my feet onto their white horse and tell me they've wait for me forever. I do expect trust and communication, understanding when something happens when life isnt always perfect, someone who will love me faults and all.

For me romance has been an escape, a roadmap to relationships, a way to discover myself to just name a few. What this book really solidified in me is that I don't care that other people may think less of me for reading romance. They dont know what they have taught me. I know that I will be a better friend, lover, woman, and person for reading them.

As for the book, you hear a lot of stories like this neatly divided into sections. If you dont read romance but have wondered why so many flock to it. Pick this up. It is quick and fun to read. It took me one 4 hour flight.

I am not sure how to end my review/personal outpouring. I guess I'll end it with this. Never feel guilty for reading something. A book can mean anything to anyone. :)

Julia Reviews "The Science of Kissing"

Title/Author:The Science of Kissing: What Our Lips Are Telling Us by Sheril Kirshenbaum
Publisher/Year Published: 2011 by Grand Central Publishing
How I got this book: I received a review copy from the publisher
Why I read this book: It sounded interesting and when I started it was around Valentine's Day.
Rating: 4 stars

When did humans begin to kiss? Why is kissing integral to some cultures and alien to others? Do good kissers make the best lovers? And is that expensive lip-plumping gloss worth it?

Seeing those questions posed to me, I thought to myself, "This could be quite interesting! A scientific look into kissing." I am not going to lie; I was a little weary starting a book about kissing, thinking that the possibility could be high of it turning into a How-to book. (Not that I would turn down a few pointers.. which this book does give based on the context of the science)

This is not a How-to book. It is more of a "Why" book. Each chapter delves into a different aspect of kissing, for example: kissing among animals, how kissing evolves, the hormones involved, potential spread of diseases, etc. On the spread of diseases front, what I took from that chapter is that if I brush my teeth and floss regularly but my boyfriend whom I kiss does not, I can still get cavities from the mouth to mouth transfer. Gross.

I aprticularly enjoyed the chapters that talked about how kissing is percieved in men vs. women. She talkes about what hormones get going and what that means for our involentary responses.

Each chapter takes a scientific look at whatever the topic is. Why do men find lips attractive and the correlating aspect of why women highlight them? It's all in there. The Science of Kissing covers a wide range of topics separated by chapters so if one does not suit your fancy it would be easy to just skim passed to the next chapter.

If you are thinking, "This book sounds interesting, but I am not too into reading heavy science things," then worry not! This book, though it does contain the science, presents itself in a way that is not research paper-like, but instead flows well and doesn't talk over the reader. There are some times where I personally thought the science went on a little too long, but someone else may have really found that enjoyable. When that happened I would just skim along until I got to the next new and interesting topic.

If you are interested in reading more about the science behind why we kiss and all that comes with it, this is a really interesting read and I would highly recommend it.

Kelly's Review of "Sex with the Queen" by Eleanor Herman

Title: Sex with the Queen: 900 Years of Vile Kings, Virile Lovers, and Passionate Politics
Author: Eleanor Herman
Published: William Morrow, 2006
Where I Got It: Online

Wow, how awkward is this review title? Nevertheless, I think I have found a new favorite book. In the follow-up book to Sex with Kings (which I surprisingly did NOT like, read my review on my personal blog here), we get a whirlwind tale through 900 years of European royalty, all told through the eyes of the queen’s bedroom. From Eleanor of Aquitaine to Princess Diana, from England to France to Germany to Russia, we go into the secret lives of some of the most famous women in history.

This book isn’t only about the love lives of queens (though it’s hard to think otherwise with the huge red SEX on the cover and a bare butt). The first third of the book is actually about what a queen/princess’ life really was like. Very few of these women’s lives were fairy tales. Most were pawned off to other countries to eradicate men’s debts or problems, lived in a foreign country, and had acquired difficult husbands.

So, as a woman, I of course have a problem with some things. The King was allowed to have as many mistresses as he desired; in fact, it was ideal that he didn’t love his wife. She was only there to produce heirs. On the other hand, if the Queen had even one lover, she could possibly be divorced, or both she and her lover could be imprisoned, tortured, or executed.

Some of these women went through lovers like I go through underwear. It was shocking at the number of men Catherine the Great bedded, even well into old age. Another woman of many lovers was Princess Diana, of whom the author is definitely NOT a fan of. Princess Di was always put in a bad light in this book, yet it is slightly refreshing after her rise to almost sainthood status after death.

The stories are never too long, always short, sweet, and to the point. The only ones that are truly long are Anne Boleyn’s and Catherine the Great’s stories (but they’re both good ones!). Eleanor Herman definitely has a sense of humor and a knack for making history interesting. I’d recommend this book to people who aren’t even history buffs like me. Parts of it read like a gossip column and I read bits of it out loud to my roommates who got a kick out of it. Definitely recommend, especially for females. 5 stars!

Julia Reviews "Beastly" by Alex Flinn

Title/Author: Beastly by Alex Flinn
Publisher/Year Published: 2007 by Harper Teen
How I got this book: The Library
Why I read this book: Saw a trailer for the movie coming out, thought I would read the book.
Rating: 4 stars

I stumbled into a trailer for a new movie coming out in March called "Beastly." Upon doing a bit more research I discovered that it was a book first, as it usually is, and decided to read it. Two things sold me on this book from the relative get go: one, it's a retelling of one of my favorite Disney movies* "The Beauty and the Beast", and two, it's told from the Beast's perspective.

The book does a great job of modernizing the Beast's tale. One of my favorite highlights is the chat room group for mythically affected teens. But besides the obvious of updating the scenery to the 21st century perspective, the actual Beast transformation is really believable. The magic of the tale balances well with the modernity. There is a great story arc that isn't too sudden or unbelievable. He starts off quite unlikable actually, but the promise of his transformation is enough to spur you past his childish special snowflake syndrome.

One side comment that really has nothing to do with my review but I've read quite a few YA novels this year that have novels told from 1st person point of view. Why is that, I wonder? As a general rule, I dislike first person narrative because it limits what I can know about other characters. I learn a good deal about the main character but the secondary characters suffer. I concede that sometimes first person works well, I thought it was great in The Hunger Games, but it's just not my favorite. I'm curious to what opinions you guys have on POV. First person: love it, hate it, can't live without it?

Anyway, back to Beastly. While it does a good job with the modernization while keeping all the essential elements, it was missing something that would push me into 5 star territory. It just didn't have that extra kick. Is it a great read? Yes. Would I recommend it to anyone who likes the tragic romance of Beatuy and the Beast? Hell yes. Is it a book I would read again? Probably not. But it was definitely worth the read. And I'll probably go see the movie when it comes out in March. If only for Neil Patrick Harris.

*I know it's a fairy tale, but I am more familiar with the Disney version. I am still plowing my way through The Brothers Grimm ... then comes Hans Christian Anderson ... then I'll do the more famous ones I have not hit (like this French tale!)

Trivia! The second most familiar Beauty and the Beast version for me? The TV show from the late 80s. Oh, Vincent...

Top Ten Favorite Fictional Couples in Books

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!


Each week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers answers. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND sign Mister Linky at the bottom to share with us and all those who are participating. If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Don't worry if you can't come up with ten every time...just post what you can!


This week's Top Ten Tuesday is all about our favorite couples in literature. For me, a good romantic relationship in literature is one that is, in general, not formed too hastily and the development of the relationship is at least somewhat believable. On occasion I do become enthralled with romantic relationships that are hastily formed and are the most ridiculous love stories ever. It happens. I'm ok with it. None of the romantic relationships ever seem to take the same form. Sometimes I like quiet relationships and sometimes I like really drama-filled ones--all seem to have some flaws and reflect the issues inherent in loving someone. I cannot stand obsessive and unhealthy relationships. I understand there are those relationships but they won't make my favorite couples list. I understand falling head over heels but becoming a mindless creature that can't function on your own disgusts me.

Some picks might include spoilers if you haven't read them:

1. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice -- I'm sure everyone will have this on their list. I may be a bit impartial with this one as my own "love story" looked like this. I loathed my boyfriend when I first met him and essentially thought myself better than him like Elizabeth did. Out of nowhere I found myself wanting to spend time with him and thinking of him differently. He had always known he had feelings for me and he waited patiently for me to realize and reciprocate.

2. Romeo and Juliet -- I genuinely was obsessed with this relationship in high school when I read it. I really didn't even like this play but loved their relationship and oohed and ahhed at their true love and all the dramatics of it. I wonder if I would still feel the same reading it now.

3. Eliza Doolittle and Freddy in Pygmalion -- I read this in my 11th grade Brit Lit class and wrote a paper on it because I loved this play (and also was obsessed with My Fair Lady). I know everybody WANTED Eliza and Higgins to get together but I never really did. Ok, maybe there was a small part of me, but for once I was happy that the guy who genuinely liked the girl--albiet the "nice guy"--got the girl! Don't get me wrong, I like when a guy changes and comes to realize his faults in how he treated a woman and they live happily ever after. But for some reason I just really loved that Freddy liked her for who she was and found her charming and quirky.

4. Katniss and Peeta from The Hunger Games-- Disclaimer: I've only read The Hunger Games so far so I have NO idea who she ends up with AND I realize that they weren't technically a couple but they were in my mind! I just thought this was a really realistic, sweet kind of couple. She could be herself and that was what he liked about her. They had a friendship as a foundation and there was that extra something something there. I am scared to read Catching Fire and Mockingjay because I just have a bad feeling about the liklihood of them ending up together. SHHH. Don't tell.

5. Pigeon and Anieleca from A Long Long Time Ago and Essentially True-- Loved this sweet couple! I love the way he was hellbent on getting her family's respect and then wooing her. I loved his genuine devotion and love for her. Le sigh.

6. Henry and Clare in The Time Traveler's Wife -- This is one of those couples that I loved and don't know why! Some of the girls in the College Students group and I were discussing how tragic it was that all she did was just wait and wait for him all her life and the relationship's development was so abnormal because she just always knew she was supposed to be with him since she was young. For whatever reason, I found myself loving it despite this. I still can't figure out WHAT was so redeeming about it but it moved me in a certain way and that counts for something.

7.  The wife and husband in Blindness-- This might seem like an odd choice. I understand that. However, I just loved how she pretended to be blind and went with him into  these horrible living conditions and took care of  him. I love how she tried so hard in little ways to make him not feel so helpless and how she still loved him even when he resented that she could see. She could have had a much more comfortable life outside the asylum but she chose to remain with her husband.

8. Odysseus and Penelope from The Odyssey-- I remember not being excited to read this for class but I found myself smitten with this couple! Epitome of sacrifice and devotion to your true love! Enough said!

9. Anne and Gilbert from Anne of Green Gables series -- Childhood favorite! I'm in need of a re-read but I remember always rooting for them and thinking they were so cute! Love a good happily ever after story!

10. Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza from Love in the Time of Cholera -- Ok, so one word here--PASSION. This relationship just took ahold of me from the beginning and took me from a ride for sure. The relationship was clearly flawed and messed up with him being a player and her being a tease and rejecting him but I just found it wildly passionate.

What are your favorite couples in books? Do you disagree/agree with any of mine? What makes a good fictional couple in your mind? What couples make you want to gag? :)

Next week's topic -- Top Ten Favorite Authors