29 Responses to “Wimpy Heroines?”

1. I remember that the first romance novel I read was written by Caroline Cortney.
   There are many books that have stuck on my mind, but there isn’t one among them which would have had wimpy women being rescued by wealthy men.
   There do seem to be quite a few of those kind romances around, but it would seem to depend on the genre if they have a lot of wimpy women-rich guys-type of stories in them.

   by Minna on September 6th, 2006 at 6:21 am
   
   

2. Minna - very good point. It could vary by line. However, I think there is a difference between the fantasy of a wealthy hero and having the heroine be “rescued” by that wealthy hero. I think that we equate wealth with power and strength, and as women, we like to know that the hero is strong enough to protect us (in any way) should the need arise. So even if he isn’t rich now, the hero COULD be rich — he is smart enough, educated enough, etc. He might not choose to prioritize accumulating wealth at this moment, but he still has that innate power. In other words, the wealth (or potential wealth) is part of the overall attractive package, the same as good looks, a sense of humor, intelligence, and so on.
   And while fiction abounds with examples of evil rich men (and women), having money is still considered appealing. I guess that’s why lotteries are so popular.
   But I still think there is a difference between that and the whole “rescued” scenario, which implies that the heroine is weak and unable to care for herself. Am I making sense?

   by Gail Barrett on September 6th, 2006 at 6:48 am
   
   

3. “Burning ObsessIon” by Carole Mortimer. It was an HP. I was about 11 or 12 yrs old. Heroine was like, 21, and the hero 39. He was a brute. She had left him about 2 years before the story began - which to me did not make her weak. However the consequent relationship and others from the same line were a bit weak because of the helpless, dependent female and the overbearing hero. There is a reason some people believe the “rescue me” theory. It’s just too bad that’s what sticks in people’s minds.

   Not much after that, I read stories like “Skye O’Malley” where the heroine was anything but weak. And wow the woman got around LOL. But she was strong, independent, fiesty - a survivor. The majority of books have similar heroines - no rescuing needed.

   by Stacy ~ on September 6th, 2006 at 6:55 am
   
   

4. I disagree with Dear Abby. Some women have been held back by oppressive husbands/boyfriends but have managed to get away - that does not make them weak. They mananged to do what they had to to get away - that makes them strong. Ex. Metsy Hingle - Behind the Mask and there are others that I just cant remember. There was another and I cant remember recently I beleive of a woman with a child who plots to leave her hispanic drug lord husband - she has the aid of his houskeeper - she know she must take the chance because if she doenst, he child will unfortunately follow in his father’s footsteps.

   I am reading Lori Foster’s Murphy’s Law - rich guy/poor girl with not great life growing up. She is working several jobs and going to college. She is def. NOT weak. The story is great and the dialogue very snappy. She tells hero that she will NOT let anything get in her way to be able to take care of herself and she will do anything she has to to survive and by that she means hard work - not using anyone.

   Nora Roberts Dream Series and Chesapeake Bay had really strong heroines. No One would ever call them wimpy.

   Cant really remember the first romance book I read - maybe it was a Danielle Steele.

   by Pat L. on September 6th, 2006 at 7:22 am
   
   

5. Lavyrle Spencer is the first romance author I ever read. I can’t remember which book was the first one. But after the first I read every one she wrote after I read that first book. That was about 5 years ago since then I have moved on to over a 100 different authors. No, I can’t remember that first book but I sure can remember my first author, I was hooked. Still am. I’ve not read any of your books yet.
   No, I don’t agree with Dear Abbey either. There has been a lot of powerful (strong willed) women in the books I have read.

   by Tammy G. on September 6th, 2006 at 7:44 am
   
   

6. Dear Abbey obviously has not read most of the books I have, b/c most of them have strong and independant women!

   Sorry, I don’t remember the first romance book… It may have been by Luanne Rice.

   by Kathleen on September 6th, 2006 at 9:29 am
   
   

7. My first romance novel was Gone With the Wind. There is no way anyone could call Scarlett O’Hara weak!

   by Carol on September 6th, 2006 at 9:46 am
   
   

8. Everyone who thinks “Dear Abby” has never read a real romance novel, raise your hand!!!! :roll:
   When I read that column, I laughed. Out Loud! I wondered if it would make the rounds of the blogs I read daily! The only thing I agreed with was her advice for mom to take a look at what her middle school aged daughter was reading. That is just smart advice no matter what genre your kids are into!

   I read dozens of Harlequins from the time I was 12 or so until I was 16…then someone loaned me Sweet, Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers. That was the turning point in my romance reading life…so to speak! The HQ’s paled in comparison! Up to that time, I didn’t know romance novels could be that…hmmm…intense, shall we say!? 8O

   by Angie T on September 6th, 2006 at 10:02 am
   
   

9. My first romance novel was also by Lavyrle Spencer “Forgiving”. In this book the heroine is an unmarried spinster who moves out west to take over her Dad’s newspaper publishing business. She encounters resistance from everyone men and older women alike. However, she follows her own agenda, publishing the paper, standing up to and falling in love with the sheriff, and organizing the women to stand up for their interests and their beliefs. This was set in the early 1800’s I think.
   I totally disagree with Dear Abby!! A lot of romances have women struggling against the odds…but usually the woman perservere on their own strenghts,mores and ideas. Men may help them along the way but I think many of them could succeed on their own merits.
   Many of Catherine Coulture’s woman survive terrible odds. Heather Graham’s leading woman’s roles are strong, independent woman. Linda Howard’s and Kat Martin’s heroines are all strong woman too.

   by Laurie G on September 6th, 2006 at 10:14 am
   
   

10. While I do disagree with Dear Abby especially in our times, I must say that I did come across the storyline of wealthy man and woman in need of saving in times past. Some of those heroines were strong and took a stand and some were not as strong and making extremely poor choices. I believe that is how many of us came to know the acronym TSTL in connection to some of the heroines. Thankfully, such is very rare now.

    The first romance title that I remember is Pepper’s Way by Kay Hooper. I loved the humor in it and it is still a guilty pleasure read. Though it is perhaps light in substance, it is strong in impact when I need something to make me laugh.

    by Little Lamb Lost on September 6th, 2006 at 10:32 am
    
    

11. I can’t remember the first romance novel that I read. Isn’t that terrible? It’s just been so long. Although, I do remember reading Johanna Lindsey in my younger days. I don’t think Dear Abby knows what she’s saying. She’s basing the whole of romance novels on the two she has probably read. I read a lot of different genres and lately all the books I’ve been reading have strong, tough and independent women who don’t want a man to tell them what to do. Maybe romances were different way back when but they’ve come a long way now. Dear Abby can call me and I’ll give her some books to read. Apparently, she needs more to read.

    by Janet on September 6th, 2006 at 10:34 am
    
    

12. Dear Abby needs to get with the times. The heroines of books these days know how to take care of themselves. Maybe all the years ago she read one the heroine was wimpy but can you really do a fair assessment of romance books by reading a few select books. The first romances I read were byPhyllis Whitney and Victoria Holt. It’s been awhile so I can’t remember for sure what was the title of the first book I read.

    by Cherie Japp on September 6th, 2006 at 11:05 am
    
    

13. LaVyrle Spencer was the first author I read; can’t remember the book title.
    Dear Abby is somewhat behind on her ’story recollection’ of romances.

    by Robyn on September 6th, 2006 at 11:19 am
    
    

14. i can’t remember but it was a historical book.i started up reading books and my aunt had a romance book , so i was hooked, now i forget the date. romance ever since:lol:

    by KIM H on September 6th, 2006 at 12:13 pm
    
    

15. My first romance novel was For the Roses by Julie Garwood.

    I think Dear Abby hasn’t read any romances recently…many of them are filled with strong women. There are a variety of different kinds of heroines out there. And if she is basing her opinion on stories she has read many years ago, things change…the romance of 30 years ago is not the same kind that are written today.

    by Jennifer Y. on September 6th, 2006 at 1:33 pm
    
    

16. I can’t remember the name of the first romance book I read. I started reading romance with Harlequin Presents by Anne Mather and Penny Jordan.
    I don’t think Dear Abby is in touch with today’s romance genre.

    by Crystal B. on September 6th, 2006 at 1:47 pm
    
    

17. Strange thing is that I can only remember my first romance in English, Susan Carroll’s Winterbourne. My first romance in German was either by Jude Deveraux or Johanna Lindsey.

    I think Dear Abby hasn’t read any of the modern romance books, she really should go with the time

    by Danny on September 6th, 2006 at 2:22 pm
    
    

18. I think Dear Abby should check out the books that are currently available before she makes such a broad statement.
    I haven’t read a book in years that has a weak heroine. I have to admit when I first started reading romances(Barbara Cartland), all of the heroines were wimpy.

    by Estella on September 6th, 2006 at 2:48 pm
    
    

19. Sorry I’ve been quiet all day. I’ve had a problem with leaking pipes and have been running around trying to shut off water valves.:(
    Anyhow, it sounds as if you all think Dear Abby read a couple of books many years ago and is basing her opinion on that. I agree — I find that most people who dislike romance novels are often basing their opinions either on what they’ve heard from someone else (they haven’t actually read any romance novels), or maybe they read one way back and didn’t like it, so they have condemned the entire genre.
    Society has changed since a generation ago, and our books have kept pace with those changes. Unfortunately, the whole “weak damsel in distress/bodice ripper” label has stuck. So how do we stop people like Dear Abby from perpetuating this misinformation?

    by Gail Barrett on September 6th, 2006 at 4:23 pm
    
    

20. I say we mount a massive letter writing campaign to Dear Crabby…I mean Abby. :D
    And Gail, you should send her one of your books! Bet she gets a different opinion then.
    And good luck with the pipes…..been there done that…got the soggy t-shirt! :?

    by Angie T on September 6th, 2006 at 4:43 pm
    
    

21. Can “Pride and Prejudice” be classified as just a romance novel? If so, then that’s my first one ever! If I really cared what other people think (especially sanctimonious and self-important people) then I’d have long stopped reading what’s now become a constant and comforting bookish diet of romance novels. People who condemn others for reading RNs should read them first and then talk. DA doesn’t seem like one such person to me.

    by Sanjay S on September 6th, 2006 at 5:03 pm
    
    

22. Hmm…how to change the perception? Honestly, I think that just as the type of heroine has changed with the time, people will grow more aware that romance heroines are far more capable and stronger than what they perceived in times past. It would be hard for people to avoid catching on to this eventually simply because romance is such a boom market in the book industry (according to what I have heard). The more people who have read the current types of romance, the more who will know.

    It also helps that the covers of romance novels have improved and you don’t get that clingy female in strange arched positions with the hero…or worse clinging to his thigh, staring upwards at him, as he stands proudly and looks the reader in the eye. You know, I never purchase books by the covers but know of people who were so turned off by the covers that they avoided the books. Too embarrassed to purchase at the cashier’s desk and/or read in public.

    by Little Lamb Lost on September 6th, 2006 at 8:48 pm
    
    

23. It will be very interesting to see if Dear Abby retracts her statement or mentions the topic again. I’m sure that she will get letters from romance readers and writers about her comments, so we’ll see how she handles it.
    Thanks, everyone, for the interesting discussion. And L-cubed (LLL), email me at gail@gailbarrett.com and send me your address so I can mail you a book.:mrgreen:
    Hasta luego, everyone!

    by Gail Barrett on September 7th, 2006 at 7:01 am
    
    

24. Big congrats Little lamb!

    by Danny on September 7th, 2006 at 7:07 am
    
    

25. Congrats LLL!

    by Melissa on September 7th, 2006 at 8:47 am
    
    

26. Congrats little lamb!!

    by Kathleen on September 7th, 2006 at 9:59 am
    
    

27. wtglll

    by KIM H on September 7th, 2006 at 12:41 pm
    
    

28. Gail -

    I did write Dear Abby. This is what I said.

    Dear Abby -

    I recently read your article regarding your advice to a woman whose daughter was reading romance novels.

    I am a romance writer and have written novels since 1990. When I first started writing my novels, I read romances as an avid reader. Some that come to mind are Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss, Paradise by Judith McNaught and many lines in Harlequin/Silhouette. In all these books, I didn’t encounter one wimpy heroine. These women were bold and strong with goals to be met that didn’t involve falling in love and getting married. Or for that matter, being rescued by the hero.

    The books I and my colleagues write deal with women of substance who fight fiercely for what they believe in. I will be writing a series that includes former military women who fall in love along the way to their own goals. Tell me what could possibly be wrong with love and devotion to one man, respect and mutual satisfaction in all aspects of a relationship.

    The romance novels of today reflect the changes that have occurred over the years. Please take the time to read one. I’d be happy to send you one of mine and pay for the postage and handling. The romance industry that accounts for over 50% of paperback sales deserves the respect it has garnered over the years. The outdated term “bodice rippers” needs to be relegated to the past where it belongs.

    I think the advice that you gave to that woman was right on, but the wimpy heroine/rich hero remark was just outdated and passé.

    Thanks for reading this.

    Karen

    by Karen Anders on September 9th, 2006 at 2:33 am
    
    

29. Go Karen!!
    Very well put. I hope she prints it….

    by Angie on September 11th, 2006 at 10:03 am