tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post8274781898164295109..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Nicholas Sparks – A Writer to RememberDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-43672118802757426682016-02-05T22:22:03.605-07:002016-02-05T22:22:03.605-07:00I agree that good writing and a powerful, surprisi...I agree that good writing and a powerful, surprising story are musts in a romance novel -- as well as in other genres. Thank you for commenting, S.K. Randolph; I'm sorry you had so much trouble trying to post it.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-33695098778821337902016-02-05T22:17:01.805-07:002016-02-05T22:17:01.805-07:00The following comment came to me via e-mail after ...The following comment came to me via e-mail after S.K. Randolph tried unsuccessfully 3 times to post it to BRP. She's the second person who has had trouble today in getting a comment to post.<br /><br />When I was in my teens (a long time ago), I read romance novels by a British author named Georgette Heyer. I loved them because the characters were often polar opposites, unlikely candidates for love, and because I loved Regency England. Today, my library is much more diverse. I do appreciate a good romance when it is part of a broader story. A romance novel has to be exceptionally well written in order to find its way into my pile of reading material. The most important thing to me as a reader is that when all is ‘read and done,’ I am left with that deep feeling of satisfaction that comes with a story well told.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-76157531723192134862016-02-05T15:16:38.281-07:002016-02-05T15:16:38.281-07:00Me, too, Dani.Me, too, Dani.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-34604895338704093652016-02-05T15:16:09.132-07:002016-02-05T15:16:09.132-07:00I agree with realism. Life isn't perfect. I kn...I agree with realism. Life isn't perfect. I know death happens. (I just lost my grandson, who was just shy of 22 years old and who left behind a 2-year-old baby boy who will never know the special man his daddy was.) But I also believe in love and hope, and I sometimes simply want to go there. Life is bumpy. Love is a road full of potholes. Still there must be joy once in a while to make life worth living. My characters go through trials and tribulation -- occasionally of their own making -- and sometimes they don't survive. However, the protagonists almost always make it to the end. What looms ahead for them offers, at the very least, hope and the potential for happiness.<br /><br />I wonder if one of the differences between male and female romance writers is that men are more likely to write romantic tragedies than we ladies are. Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-68411247359477763702016-02-05T14:56:57.708-07:002016-02-05T14:56:57.708-07:00I don't read them either, except when one capt...I don't read them either, except when one captures my attention for some reason. Certain authors, however, never fall into that category because of their use of foul language and/or explicit sex. I simply choose not to go there.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-57548290827745300052016-02-05T14:53:47.418-07:002016-02-05T14:53:47.418-07:00So do I, Polly. That's why I am not a huge fan...So do I, Polly. That's why I am not a huge fan of Romeo and Juliet. Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-70463485623640391312016-02-05T14:48:41.333-07:002016-02-05T14:48:41.333-07:00I don't want to read a novel, invest time and ...I don't want to read a novel, invest time and emotion in characters I love, just to have one die in the end. Sorry, but those books are not for me. I'm not locked into a ride-into-the-sunset ending, but I want to believe the lovers have a chance at happiness. Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-60294144381733059472016-02-05T14:48:03.528-07:002016-02-05T14:48:03.528-07:00I claim I don't read "romance" novel...I claim I don't read "romance" novels, but I've enjoyed the 2 or 3 Sparks books I've read. They're a little outside the formulaic romance box, and often based on true life, so maybe that's why I like them. I do also read the romantic suspense novels a friend of mine writes. So I guess I can't "really" claim I don't read romance Heidiwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593338979995203659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-19193487093053246002016-02-05T14:40:46.493-07:002016-02-05T14:40:46.493-07:00Well, you have the trials and heartaches, and even...Well, you have the trials and heartaches, and even the most insipid romance novels do suffering very well indeed - they just end with the HEA. Truly, I don't think the romance genre is bestselling because it ends in death or heartbreak. I think hope and the desire for happiness is built into the human psyche, and we indulge that with romance writing and reading.Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-50801834991139479262016-02-05T13:15:46.799-07:002016-02-05T13:15:46.799-07:00Great post. I think love in stories should seem re...Great post. I think love in stories should seem real, not perfect. Show the trials, the heartaches. Then I can believe it!Jason P. Henryhttp://www.jasonphenry.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-25650434578873566062016-02-05T13:11:04.900-07:002016-02-05T13:11:04.900-07:00Kisses, hugs, and HEA - that's what romance no...Kisses, hugs, and HEA - that's what romance novel escape is all about for me! I'm such a shallow reader, at least for leisure. :DDanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-26558126145025618932016-02-05T09:52:33.826-07:002016-02-05T09:52:33.826-07:00Love your comments, Christopher. You keep us all g...Love your comments, Christopher. You keep us all grounded, and you make us smile.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-13663981533112127902016-02-05T09:39:40.175-07:002016-02-05T09:39:40.175-07:00If I WERE a romance reader ... I would be the '...If I WERE a romance reader ... I would be the 'happily ever after' type ... I can read about tragedy in the newspaper everyday (yes, I still read a physical newspaper ... ink stains and all).Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-19574504442981550402016-02-05T09:11:19.727-07:002016-02-05T09:11:19.727-07:00A lot of fiction is based, at least in part, on no...A lot of fiction is based, at least in part, on nonfiction. In both cases, sex and language have been used (or overused) to titillate the senses of the readers rather than move the story forward. Neither find a place of prominence in my books (although an occasional reference to one or the other may lend realism to a scene). Thanks for visiting us, Shannon.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-35893415875246966702016-02-05T09:08:45.636-07:002016-02-05T09:08:45.636-07:00I agree that stories should be both nice and sober...I agree that stories should be both nice and sobering. Realistically, many stories are based on actual events that might have been manipulated to suit the authors' characters -- or may be included with relative accuracy because to change them would make them less effective. Of course, drama and the unexpected keep readers turning pages, and that (hopefully) sells books. Thanks for stopping by, Dale. :-)Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-34941856762792681302016-02-05T08:57:22.182-07:002016-02-05T08:57:22.182-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-23034667026250306532016-02-05T08:54:50.693-07:002016-02-05T08:54:50.693-07:00I've always kidded around that a good story ha...I've always kidded around that a good story has both a happy birth and a sad death in it. Fiction is just that, it's not meant to be a replay of reality. It's meant to stir, entertain, and surprise us with what is not common. If fiction wasn't dramatic, how many readers would it have? Happy endings are nice. Sad endings are sobering. Is it possible to have both? Yes. There are some stories that reveal the raw ugliness of the world we live in and yet give hope and optimism. I like stories that I say, "Boy, I'm glad that hasn't ever happened to me," more than stories that would make me say, "Boy, I sure would like for that to happen to me." Drama has it's place. dalediazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997339207984429498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-72200999876737004682016-02-05T08:34:22.061-07:002016-02-05T08:34:22.061-07:00I'm not much of one to read nonfiction because...I'm not much of one to read nonfiction because I've run into too many authors that default to sex or language fillers that add nothing to the plot line, characters or my time. You reminded me of an excellent author by referring to the movie I watched. (Nights in Rodanthe) which I had just stumbled on to watch - and immensely enjoyed. Thanks for the reminder!Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02719915984092153718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-68541496171121871852016-02-05T07:55:40.390-07:002016-02-05T07:55:40.390-07:00He certainly does, and he's a compelling write...He certainly does, and he's a compelling writer. I just long for a few endings that aren't modeled after Romeo and Juliet.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-46018347219718421492016-02-05T07:54:17.912-07:002016-02-05T07:54:17.912-07:00I agree, Diana. In fact, that plays a big part in ...I agree, Diana. In fact, that plays a big part in the story I'm finishing now. Reality, yes, but the positive side of it.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-22948402562460052452016-02-05T07:47:26.180-07:002016-02-05T07:47:26.180-07:00Nicholas Sparks does know how to tug at someone...Nicholas Sparks does know how to tug at someone's heartstrings!<br />Morgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-87908367399739649342016-02-05T07:18:13.093-07:002016-02-05T07:18:13.093-07:00I'd like to see more modeling on how to overco...I'd like to see more modeling on how to overcome differences and save relationships once the blush is off the rose. Better yet, how to keep the blush!Diana Hurwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.com