Smart Bitches rule the world
No, seriously, Smart Bitches rule the world. *cough* Margaret Thatcher, anybody? */cough*
In this case, I’m referring to Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan of smartbitchestrashybooks.com. Their book, Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches’ Guide to Romance Novels, hit shelves less than 2 weeks ago, and through much pain, I secured my copy and have poured over it with glee.
Let me put it this way: if all genre guides were this funny and insightful at the same time, more people would give a crap. The Bitches leave no stones unturned in dismantling and beating the crap out of all of the common romance novel stereotypes/cliches (seekrit babiez, simultaneous orgasms, mullets & man-titty, raep forced seduction, etc.), and making us laugh at them and ourselves in the process.
There are statements of literary minds as to why we identify with certain plotlines, as well as mockeries of the irresistible Magical Hoo Hoo and the Wang of Mighty Lovin’, and everything inbetween.
I was particularly enamoured with the language of critical distinction: about the only thing that didn’t arrive in a timely manner was usage of the term “fucknuts”. My favorite parts were the “choose your own romance” and “write your own romance novel using these convenient stereotypical plotlines of do00m!!!1!”, because, damn it, I was laughing my ass off. I think I lost five pounds just from all the laughter; laughter is not only the best medicine: it’s also fucking great exercise!
The verdict: if you don’t buy this book, or at least borrow it from the library for the chapter on cover snark and man-titty, you’re an idiot.