Every Friday, we ask you what YOU think about an issue in romance. The questions are good (we think)–the comments much better! So join us, every Friday at the ask@AAR!
the ask@AAR: What is your favorite trope?
A trope, according to Merriam-Webster, is a common or overused theme or device : CLICHÉ. I'm going to ignore the overused part of this today and focus on common themes in, of course, romance. Masterclass, in its [...]
the ask@AAR: why do you read?
I've had a rather heated set of exchanges with my best friend Ann recently about our differing perspectives on why we read. She reads primarily to learn; I, to be entertained. She tells me "Oh, [...]
the ask@AAR: Which romances do body positivity well? Which don’t?
Today's ask is a suggestion from BeckyK. She suggested we ask about body positivity— Do you enjoy books with plus size heroes/heroines? Which books/authors get it right? Which don’t? (This is a topic that elicits [...]
the ask@AAR: What’s your favorite love story on film?
The Academy Awards--yawn--are this Sunday. I have seen just one of the films nominated for Best Picture and hardly any of the other films whose sets, actors, songs, and special effects have led to their [...]
the ask@AAR: Should older romances (and books in general) be redone?
I have followed with fascination the uproar around the revised versions of Roald Dahl's books. NPR has a great summary of what has happened. They write: New editions of legendary works by British author Roald [...]
the ask@AAR: What are the very best love scenes in romance?
My book club--the fun one--met last night and discussed Verity. It was not much loved. Many called out, in particular, the sex scenes. The words crass, vulgar, and filler were mentioned. This group, with a [...]
the ask@AAR: If we were to create a list of THE 100 Romances Every Romance Reader Should Read, what would you put on it?
Later this year, AAR will ask readers to choose their 100 Top Romances as we've done many times over the decades. What does that mean? Are these the best romances ever written? Readers' personal favorites? [...]
the ask@AAR: How has romance changed since you first started reading it?
Today's ask is a suggestion from AAR reader BeckyK. (It's a great one!) How has romance changed since you first started reading it? What changes do you feel are for the better or worse? I [...]
the ask@AAR: Will older heroines in romance mean older parents?
I have been thrilled to see more love stories published with older protagonists. I've just finished reading one--coming out this summer--where the heroine, age 49, is determined to get married and have kids. I confess, [...]
the ask@AAR: What’s the most imaginative romance you’ve ever read?
As a child, I loved fantasy--The Chronicles of Prydain, The Dark is Rising Sequence, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, The Wrinkle in Time Quintet--these were books I read repeatedly, happily losing myself in a world [...]
the ask@AAR: Is there still a canon for romance? What books should or shouldn’t be on it?
Almost exactly a year ago, I asked whether or not AAR should, as it typically does every five years, do a new Top 100 poll. As is the case with most questions, readers were split. [...]
the ask@AAR: Will ChatGPT ruin the writing? The world?
It's fair to say I'm obsessed with ChatGPT. What's that, you ask? Hmmm... let me try and explain. ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence bot that answers questions in fairly fluent language. It can answer almost [...]
This is good. Now all the arguments are in a single place.
Ha ha ha!