Malinda Lo
Blog
Sep 30, 2009
Five romantic reads
This week I’ve been dithering over what I should blog about because, well, it’s Banned Books Week and I think it’s a very important subject, but what can I say about it that hasn’t already been said? Pretty much nothing.
So instead, I’m going to share five of my favorite romantic reads with you because I’ve noticed that Ash has been tenaciously clinging to a spot on Amazon’s list of top 100 teen romance books for some time (it has probably fallen off the list by the time you read this). (Note: Clearly, I’ve given up on not checking my Amazon ranking. But somehow, it mostly amuses me rather than freaks me out, so I’ve decided it is OK.)
As a reader, I rarely read romance (at least not of the bodice-ripper variety, although I have read some — I mean, I have nothing against ripping bodices), so when I first saw this list it surprised me. On second thought, though, I realized that most of my favorite books have romance in them. And OK, I admit it: Ash is totally a romance!
So, if you’ve read Ash and you’re looking for more romance, here’s what I’d recommend:
Beauty by Robin McKinley — This is McKinley’s first novel, and it’s a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It is a really lovely book, and I don’t mean that flippantly. It was one of my inspirations for writing Ash, and I think anyone who enjoys fairy tales and hasn’t read this one should go out and get it now.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen — I first read this my junior year in high school, and since then I’ve reread it countless times. Yeah, they’ve made movies and miniseries out of it, too, but nothing beats the original. Get to know Mr. Darcy the right way. 
Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart — This romantic suspense novel was one of the first books I remember reading late into the night, breathless with anticipation! It’s about a young woman who becomes a governess at a French chateau, where there are some mysterious goings-on along with a very handsome, very arrogant, extremely seductive man named Raoul who likes to drive a fast car. Mary Stewart was a pro, and anyone who wants to write (romantic) suspense should read her!
Street of the Five Moons by Elizabeth Peters — This is the second in a series of romantic suspense novels about Vicky Bliss, a scholar of medieval European history. The romance shows up in the form of a sexy British guy named Sir John Smythe. This is the first of Vicky and John’s adventures, and it’s funny, suspenseful and romantic (and set in Rome). Whenever I need to relax, I reread an Elizabeth Peters book. They’re light, comforting, funny, and have just the right dose of romance.
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters — This is Waters’ first novel, a Victorian lesbian romp about a girl discovering her sexuality. There’s theater, sex, drama, rejection, more sex, and true love. And it’s all great fun. Note: This is decidedly not a YA novel!
So there are my romance recommendations. If you have any books you’d like to recommend (romance or not), please share in the comments!
Ooh, I would have to agree with you on McKinley’s BEAUTY (which I enjoyed much more than ROSE DAUGHTER).
I actually liked Waters’ FINGERSMITH better than TIPPING THE VELVET & my favourite Austen novel of all time is EMMA.
My favourite recent romantic reads include Suzanne Collins’ THE HUNGER GAMES books (PEETA FOREVER!!!!), but I will have to say the most romantic book of all time (for me) is ANNE OF THE ISLAND, the book in which Anne FINALLY accepts Gilbert’s (second!) proposal.
Other great fairy tale retellings I’ve recently read is Elizabeth C. Bunce’s A CURSE DARK AS GOLD (Rumpelstiltskin) and Shannon Hale’s THE BOOK OF A THOUSAND DAYS (Maid Maleen).
Thanks for the list, there are a few I’ve never heard of so I’m checking them out as romance novels are my guilty pleasure. I read a variety of novels but mainly in 3 genres; here are my favourite authors for all 3.
Traditional Straight Romance – Nora Roberts (She is my favourite author and her books under the pseudonym J.D. Robb are excellent too)
Paranormal Romance – Kresley Cole
Lesbian – Jane Fletcher (her Celeano Series are beautifully written and whilst romance features there is always a substantial plot that revolves around the world she has created)
Leah
I’ve tried to read EMMA multiple times and sadly I have never managed to get through it. Someday, I’m promising myself to do it.
I’m a huge ANNE OF GREEN GABLES fan, but I’ve never gotten beyond the second book in the series. Of course I loved that PBS miniseries version to death! And I agree about CURSE DARK AS GOLD — it was very well done.
Thanks for the recommendations, Leah! Isn’t it crazy I’ve never read a Nora Roberts book? I’ll have to do that someday.
Heads up ! Your book Ash, is #71 on Amazon’s Best Seller List ! Congrats ! I loved the book !
This is probably the most random list I’ve ever put together:
Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami, An Equal Music by Vikram Seth, Written on the Body by Jeanette Winterson and Red Audrey and the Roping by Jill Malone.
BTW, feast your eyes on the current Amazon rankings for ASH:
#6 in Books > Gay & Lesbian > Literature & Fiction > Fiction > Lesbian
#65 in Books > Teens > Literature & Fiction > Love & Romance
I just wanted to say that i LOVED ASH, it was an amazing tale that i will never forget. Malinda, you are very talented. Hope you will write more just like it!!!
First, I must tell you that I am reading “Ash” right now, and it’s simply lovely. Simple. And lovely. What beautiful prose. It’s a joy to read. The lyrical storytelling reminds me of Isabel Allende. I’m writing a book myself right now and every time I pick yours up, I am tempted to ram a sharp stick into my eyes or chop off my fingers because I can never write anything that rivals the beauty of what you’ve created in “Ash.”
I don’t normally read YA fiction, but a friend told me about a review he had read of your book, so I went out and bought it. I’m so glad I did. I hope you keep publishing.
Second, I wanted to say that I agree with you about Jane Austen. I read “Pride and Prejudice” every year, and have done so now for the past 20 years. I wondered if you knew about a wonderful web site called The Republic of Pemberley? In addition to being a serious repository of all-things-Jane — you can do things like visit a chat room called “Lady Catherine & Co.” where the great woman herself will, with all condescension, right all your wrongs. Oh… but you have to post your query in the manner and style of another Austen character.
http://www.pemberley.com/
Thank you, again, for your great gifts as a storyteller!