A friend and I were e-chatting the other day and she asked me if I had read a particular book yet.
Uh, no, you should see my TBR (to be read) pile, I responded, plus I haven't made a B & N run in a few months. I had errands to run, so I thought I'd purchase that book along with several others and start reading.
I happily troop through the store to the romance section.
It wasn't there.
Science Fiction and Fantasy had been put in place of romance in the center of the store. I looked down the next row--More SFF. The next row--Anime, Manga, Graphic novels. The next row--mystery. And the final row--true crime on one side and YA filling the wall that separated the adult and children's section.
Imagine my surprise when I HAD TO ASK WHERE THEY MOVED THE ROMANCE SECTION!
It was to the far, far right in never, never land, the dark hole of the corner behind the coffee shop. And there were less shelves than before. Hmm. I decided to do a totally-unscientific study. What I am calling a 'shelf' is roughly five feet tall and four feet wide with six(ish) rows.
Romance--15 shelves
SFF (NOT including graphic novels/anime/manga 12)--16 shelves
Mystery (NOT including True Crime 2)--12 shelves
I didn't count YA, though they had at least12 shelves of 5' high racks, BUT they also had shelves that were roughly 7 feet high. They did account for a huge amount of space and I would definitely say they were in the similar amounts as these other sections
Many of the authors shelved in the SFF and Mystery sections were familiar to me as they used to write Romance.
Does this mean more writers are branching away from romance?
I wondered about this because I've noticed a trend in Romance that I find slightly disconcerting. The language and graphic nature of the 'act' (I'm using this term because I don't want to get tagged by freaks and have to delete their comments) has become more prominent along with the ability for authors to explore various cross-genres, especially paranormal, while I feel the true romantic aspect of the story is becoming less and less.
So are the authors that are being shelved in other areas of the store still including romance in their stories?
I'd have to say, probably yes, but romance isn't taking the lead role that it once did--at least not in their stories. The mystery, Urban Fantasy, steampunk, etc is at the forefront.
Is it is because romance is becoming too erotic? Do authors want to tone down the sexual aspect of the story to write a plot that doesn't focus on how many times your characters hop into bed with each other? On a side note: Two of the three romances that I bought were re-issued Jayne Castle (Jayne Ann Krentz)) books from 1998, while the other was a newly issued book.
I won't get into what the clerk said about YA (And yes, she named a particular author who is shelved in SFF, Romance, and YA areas), but let's just say she's very upset that they are also very graphic in nature--in other words, not really suitable for most fourteen-year olds. And yes, I know many of you snuck your mother's romances and read them, but I KNOW I wouldn't buy them for my kidlet.
As I said, this is a very unscientific study, but it did make me curious.
What do you all think about the topic?
Write on!
Interesting, Margaret! I haven't been to B & N lately. Guess I'll have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteMy first thought is that editors don't really know what readers want. They get tired of a certain subgenre and want something new and fresh. Except they have the *what's selling* numbers and I don't.
The more graphic lines do seem to be selling best right now. I rarely buy them, and then it's because I have a friend I want to support rather than to read about the sex.
Maybe it's a testimony to the direction our society is heading these days.
Ack. I'm starting to sound like my dad.
I've noticed that about B&N, and have mentioned it in blogs. As if we're the Cinderella of books. Their lack of respect for romance makes me feel less guilty about ordering from Amazon. So there.
ReplyDeleteI know a RITA-winning writer who was unhappy that a book about a year ago was put in SFF. It didn't do well, and she thought it was a mistake from the beginning. The next book out, they put back in Romance.
I'm curious as to what other bookstores are doing--is this becoming a trend (shrinking romance/hotter content)?
ReplyDeleteSorry, but I'm with you, Suse. I'd rather have the sexual tension amped and not the 'act'. Maybe that's why I'm not buying as many books from the romance section as I used to.
I haven't been to a B & N lately either. But I do haunt 1/2 Books, and by far, romance still outsells any other genre.
ReplyDeleteI'm saddened by the 'graphic' inserts into books just to sell.
I agree with Susan on maybe it is a direction of our society.
I think it depends on an author's following, Edie. Steampunk novel SOULLESS by Gail Carriger zoomed to the top of the charts--it's shelved in SFF--but I doubt if it would have done as well if it was shelved in romance, as the romance was definitely a secondary plot point.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, Meg.
ReplyDeleteHere's my question:
What's the copyright dates on the romance that sells? Are they re-issues or new graphic stuff?
See--I'm very unscientific about this, but interested in what is happening.
I might need to pick the brain of B & N buyer for the skinny. . .
I am personally COMPLETELY turned off by explicit language and graphic descriptions, whether it's sex, violence, what have you. "Romance" and "sex" are not the same thing. If I want to read a romance (which I generally don't care for) I think it's much sexier to leave things to the imagination than to spell it out in harsh language. Like you, Margie, I prefer the tension and the buildup.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I made a conscious decision some time ago to limit my exposure to violence, whether it's on the news, in TV or in a book. I think society has become desensitized to it to a frightening degree, and I think it's a sad commentary that people are demanding more sexual, gritty, graphic and/or violent content in their 'entertainment', both onscreen and on the page. I need kinder, gentler fare. The world has enough seediness all by itself.
I know there is a way to tell a compelling story sans the excessive gore. But people seem to be more in to the shock value these days. And if that's what sells, and if you're a writer who needs to earn a living writing.....well, you do the math.
I will self publish until the end of time before I go that direction. What I write would no doubt sound like fluff compared to 'what sells.' But I write humor, that's my gift, and it's something I think the world needs more of! They just don't realize it yet.
One more note - the book I am reading now is not the kind I would normally read, or would even pick up off the shelf to consider. It's not a genre I like and it's far too gritty and explicit for me. BUT in spite of that, the story is SO good that I am compelled to keep reading. THAT is the sign of a great book.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to figure out how to read with my eyes closed part of the time.
You're right, Jody. A well-written book is a good book, regardless of your personal taste.
ReplyDeleteI had to judge an Anya Bast (erotic) for a contest a few years ago--I just skipped over the 'graphic scenes' to find out how she resolved the plot. :-) It was an excellent book, but I felt the last two 'scenes' were added--like she had to insert so many to meet a quota!
I don't like graphic stuff either -- one reason why I don't read much romantic suspense anymore. It just seemed like every author was trying to up the gross-out factor. I see and hear enough bad stuff in real life; I don't want to fill my "entertainment" time with it, too.
ReplyDeleteAs far as sex scenes, I skip 'em in 90% of the books I read. Sexual tension beats the actual act pretty much any time for me.
B&N has never had any respect for romance authors. Not long after we moved back here, the manager of the 71st Street store told a romance author that if it were up to him, he wouldn't allow a single romance to be shelved in the store. They haven't been my first or even my fifth choice for books ever since.
I admit that I go to B & N because it convienent--my hairstylist is two doors down--and I'm familiar with the layout. . . qualify that, WAS familiar with the layout. I don't usually shop at other booksellers, which made me wonder if there was a trend building.
ReplyDeleteGo to your regular bookseller and let me know if they are cutting down the shelves of your favorite genre or are they expanding them.
Thanks!
I am really glad to find out I'm not the only one that doesn't care to read graphic and/or explicit stuff. I thought I was just me - and I'm certainly NOT a prude! It jars me OUT of the story most of the time, which I think is the opposite of the desired effect.
ReplyDeleteRemember in the 90's when virtually every movie had obligitory shower scene? I feel like so many books are like that where the scenes are inserted to fill a 'quota' and not because the characters were to that point in their relationship.
ReplyDelete