Tuesday, March 9. 2010
A Leg Up On The Situation!
One of the most frustrating aspects of being a romance fan is the lack of respect readers receive when they read their romance books in public. Sometimes, the cover is showcasing one of the cliches that cause ridicule. They fear being laughed at, quietly or loudly, for their book of choice. Some are happy that the eReaders have arrived and they can keep their covers for their eyes only.
I purchased an eReader for my son last Christmas but I am not a fan. I love sitting in a cozy spot with my favorite beverage and turning the crisp pages of a book to discover the next event in my romance. I do not feel cozy peering at the small gray screen watching the words appear section by section. It isn't romantic.
I can understand their appeal if you are traveling but when you are at home, I want to have that cozy interlude with an actual book. However, to be fair to the scoffers out there in public land, there are cover trends that often initiate the ridicule romance readers face and one of them is my blog topic for the week.
Have you every wondered why historical romances often feature the heroine with one of her legs raised, bent provocatively, and exposed to, God only knows, what type of weather or casual observers? I know that traditional historical romances often feature an off the shoulder dress with the heroine's bosom just barely contained by the lace and satin. I can understand that aspect. One of those frisky rogues from days gone by would be drawn like a moth to a flame, when confronted with exposed breasts.
The exposed and raised leg is more of a mystery. When the heroine is sitting on the hero's lap, or laying in a bed, then it makes sense but when she is standing, it somehow looks contrived and awkward. I guess the raised leg signals some sexual interplay is going to happen. Passion is on the horizon and the hero is going to travel to places that will bring them joy and ecstasy. That probably occurs but why do they have to show it on the cover? Does anyone know why and when this phenomenon began in the romance world? Does anyone love this trend on some of the current romance covers or would you like it left to the imagination? I just want a leg up on the situation.
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You have a point there! Bare chests, overflowing breasts, and exposed legs seem to go together on some of the covers.
I understand that some women are embarassed by a book with a barechested male on the cover (though I don't understand why) so I am happy to have him on the stepback instead. Then we can all be happy. I, however, am not embarassed to be seen holding a book with a barechested male on the cover. I know who I am and other people's opinions just don't matter to me. In fact, it's to my benefit if they underestimate me just because of what they see me reading!
I also do not want to use an ebook reader as I spend all day in front of the computer and the screen has many flaws. Of course, when I was still traveling several times a year from the West Coast to the East Coast and carrying an extra bag to hold the romance novels I would read while I was on the road, I would have seriously considered an ebook reader just because of its storage capacity.
I admit to being an Apple fan but I love my I-touch. You get to turn the pages and it is backlit so you don't need a separate light. All you need is access to a wireless network to download your books. It is really easy to have a wireless network at home (all you need is the Apple Express wireless modem and a few minutes to let it do its thing setting up) or starbucks, mcdonalds, scholtzkys and many other places have wireless connections.
As to the lifted leg, it seems to me that one of the earliest signs that something awesome is about to happen in a relationship is the ability to touch the partner's leg. Since the leg is the road to THE BIG SHOW you are moving in the right direction. Showing the bare leg and letting the male model touch it is a signing the the BIG SHOW is close at hand (just buy the book and you will be in on the fun!). And yet, the bare and raised leg is culturally much less obviously sexual than a more exposed breast and indeed leaves more to the imagination ... and thus more romantic.
I think you are right that men like that exposed leg on covers but when it is used...it should look natural and fit the scene. I question when a lady is walking outside, she's barefoot, exposing her leg, and it's snowing.
All these "ladies" showing their bare legs bosom would not have been appealing in historical times, nor in Regency period. The word harlot would have been applied to them and they would have been shunned, chased out of their house, village, or cities.
Such a cover is made by men who think this is more sexy and would sell more. But the majority of the buyers are women, and from what I hear at the bookstore, they do not think these covers are in anyway sexy or even decent.
So between the 70's bare bosoms, the 80's flowers, the 90's combination of both and now with these more riske covers, the Art department should make inquiries with the people who are actually buying the books and should listen to them.
What a novel idea.....