July 20, 2006 Columns » IQ

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Thrust into a romance novel, we'd find 

by

Tools

Thrust into a romance novel, we'd find ourselves in a world of dramatic hair, howitzer boobs, washboard abs and glistening pecs, our lives rife with coital moaning and kinky fantasies played out against backdrops of colonial Jamaica, Barbary shores and Regency fox hunts. In real-life Colorado, alas, we commute to 60-hour work weeks in an upholstered rut of clockwork days, standard-issue bods, retail coffee, endless dieting, cholesterol meds and talk radio. Choose your poison.
click to enlarge Kate Harvey - - Old Colorado City - - Attorney - - Do you read romance novels? No. - - Why not? They're cheesy and not terribly well- - written. They deal in stereotypes of women wanting to - be seized and ravished. They're for women who want to - escape everyday life. - - Describe a typical romance-book cover. An - extraordinarily buxom woman about to lose her top is - seized in the arms of an overly muscular man usually - with long hair dressed in various costumes. - - Can romance be found in Colorado Springs? - You create your own romance. If you're with someone - wonderful, anywhere can be romantic. - - What's the difference between real-world romance - and the romance-novel kind? Real-world romance - is about loving someone despite his/her flaws. Romance - novels are about not having flaws. - - What do you usually read? Science fiction. I'm - currently re-reading all the Spider Robinson books.
  • Kate Harvey
    Old Colorado City

    Attorney

    Do you read romance novels? No.

    Why not? They're cheesy and not terribly well- written. They deal in stereotypes of women wanting to be seized and ravished. They're for women who want to escape everyday life.

    Describe a typical romance-book cover. An extraordinarily buxom woman about to lose her top is seized in the arms of an overly muscular man usually with long hair dressed in various costumes.

    Can romance be found in Colorado Springs? You create your own romance. If you're with someone wonderful, anywhere can be romantic.

    What's the difference between real-world romance and the romance-novel kind? Real-world romance is about loving someone despite his/her flaws. Romance novels are about not having flaws.

    What do you usually read? Science fiction. I'm currently re-reading all the Spider Robinson books.

click to enlarge Nikki Coleman - - West Meadow - - Stay-at-home mom - - Do you read romance novels? Yes. - - What is it that you like about them? Putting - myself in the book to experience what's going on. They - let you experience something different. - - Describe the typical romance-novel cover. A - half-clothed man and a woman are on an island. They're - embracing, of course. - - Does romance exist in Colorado Springs? In my - house sometimes. And from where we stand, I can see - a couple embracing. - - How is romance-novel romance different from real - life? Romance in romance novels typically has a - happy ending. That's not always true in real life. - - What are you reading now? The Breakdown - Lane by Jacquelyn Mitchard and The Interruption - of Everything by Terry McMillan.
  • Nikki Coleman
    West Meadow

    Stay-at-home mom

    Do you read romance novels? Yes.

    What is it that you like about them? Putting myself in the book to experience what's going on. They let you experience something different.

    Describe the typical romance-novel cover. A half-clothed man and a woman are on an island. They're embracing, of course.

    Does romance exist in Colorado Springs? In my house sometimes. And from where we stand, I can see a couple embracing.

    How is romance-novel romance different from real life? Romance in romance novels typically has a happy ending. That's not always true in real life.

    What are you reading now? The Breakdown Lane by Jacquelyn Mitchard and The Interruption of Everything by Terry McMillan.

click to enlarge Mary Frances Kerr - - Broadmoor Bluffs - - Stay-at-home mom - - Do you read romance novels? No. - - Why not? They're just not all that intelligent. - - What about these books appeals to so many women? - Maybe they're lonely. They have crappy sex lives. - - Describe the cover of your typical romance novel. - There's a man and a woman with heroic-looking - hair. Their bodies are laced with steroids and silicone. - - Does romance exist in Colorado Springs? Yes, - despite the best efforts of Focus on the Family and their - friends. - - How is real-world romance different from that in - romance novels? It happens in smaller moments. - - What are you reading now? I just finished - The Devil in the White City, a story about a - serial killer during the Chicago World's Fair. I like to read - non-fiction, political analysis, and things on parenting. I - also like religious political stuff.
  • Mary Frances Kerr
    Broadmoor Bluffs

    Stay-at-home mom

    Do you read romance novels? No.

    Why not? They're just not all that intelligent.

    What about these books appeals to so many women? Maybe they're lonely. They have crappy sex lives.

    Describe the cover of your typical romance novel. There's a man and a woman with heroic-looking hair. Their bodies are laced with steroids and silicone.

    Does romance exist in Colorado Springs? Yes, despite the best efforts of Focus on the Family and their friends.

    How is real-world romance different from that in romance novels? It happens in smaller moments.

    What are you reading now? I just finished The Devil in the White City, a story about a serial killer during the Chicago World's Fair. I like to read non-fiction, political analysis, and things on parenting. I also like religious political stuff.

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