Labelling: Are We Doing a Disservice To Our Cross-Genre Authors?

Last week, I published a review on Anne Carter's (Pam Ripling's) second lighthouse novel "Cape Seduction". In the review, I casually referred to the novel as a "paranormal romance". I explained that I usually do not read novels in this genre, but this one was different and listed all the reasons WHY. The romance was sweet, not a tawdry bodice-ripper, and the paranormal aspects are subtle. And the lighthouses! The mystery! The intrigue!

When the comments started coming in, my blood turned icy. Almost unilaterally, readers said "I'm tired of paranormal" or "I don't like romances". Honestly, as bloggers who are literally drowning in books, we DO look for any possible reason to minimize the TBR - we have to weed them out somehow, right? I understood where you all were coming from...I'm so sick of vampires I could gag, and I am too jaded to buy into a typical romance novel. But this novel does not fall into those categories. I felt like I had completely failed in communicating the merits of this book.

I believe most people stopped reading when they saw the labels "paranormal" and "romance".

And I was filled with regret. By using those two words, I guaranteed 99% of my readers would never give this book another thought.

I thought about it at length (almost obsessively). There are no ghouls in this book, just an occasional appearance of a gentle spirit of a woman who was greatly wronged. No sparkly vampires. No wolf-boys. No lurid sex scenes. What category do we place this book? Mystery? Romance? Historical fiction? Paranormal? The answer is...all of them and none of them.

Pam sent me an e-mail a few days ago, explaining her quandary and asking for my input. To promote her books, she attends romance festivals, mystery festivals, etc. but never feels like she completely belongs in any of them. She is alone in a sea of crime scenes, gumshoes, police procedurals, bare chests, groped body parts and torn undergarments.

This summer, I also reviewed two books written by Irene Ziegler, who called her latest book (Ashes to Water) a "platypus" and a "mysterary". I believe she may be having the same problems as Pam.

I think you could apply this same issue to the Young Adult genre. How many amazing books have I read this year in which their marketers have positioned them within the confines of this genre, but are ignored by the adult book-buying public because they don't want to read a "kids' book"? Molly @ The Bumbles Blog actually proved this with an experience this summer at the doctor's office, when one woman was embarrassed and hesitant to share that she enjoyed Percy Jackson's The Lightning Thief.

Are we doing harm to the books we love by labelling them in our reviews, placing them into a particular genre? How does an author, who crosses genres, effectively promote her work? Or in an effort to maximize appeal, should the author attempt to force their books into the genre categories?

Pam published a post earlier this week on her blog entitled "The Perils of Cross-Genre Writing", if you want to get her side of the equation.

I'd love to hear your opinion on this. It may have been discussed before, but this is the first time I feel it has directly affected my reviews.

The Girls from Ames: A Story of Women & a Forty Year Friendship - Jeffrey Zaslow

When I graduated from high school, I ran like hell. Call it a rebellious "I need to broaden my horizons beyond this one-horse town" kinda thing, but I thought I knew it all in my ignorant youth. In the 25 years since my graduation, I've always gone back to visit my parents but never stayed in touch with my friends. Until recently. I think with age, we begin to turn inwards, and appreciate our own history and the paths we have taken that have made who we are today.

There were about a dozen of us that formed a morphing and versatile group of friends. We were in sports together, we traded boyfriends, we patted each other's backs when we had our hearts broken. But when we left Seeger High School, we all went in different directions. Some married and had children right away, some never left Warren County, some went out of state and never came back, some went a little bit crazy. Only when Facebook came in the picture did a group of us become reaquainted, and realized that the differences we felt when we were 18 didn't matter anymore. Four of us found in each other common ground, a safe haven of women who understood each other's frailties and knew each other's skeletons, and loved each other anyway. For this reason, I was drawn to the story of The Girls From Ames.

This is a powerful story of a group of 11 girls, many of whom were friends from their youngest years, growing up in Ames, Iowa. They were a tight clique who often dressed alike and inspired a few enemies who envied their relationships. In pictures, the girls were always squished together, appearing to be one mass of arms and legs, whether they were 15 or 40.

Through the author, a Wall Street Journal columnist, we are provided in-depth backgrounds on four of the women, and various personality traits and escapades of the other seven, along with pictures of them as children, graduating seniors, and as adults. The girls share their memories...the cornfield keg parties, the boyfriends, the influence of pop culture (particularly the 80's), their high school jobs. Their group wasn't always perfect. They could be mean, even to each other, but they managed to to forgive and stay close.

But instead of running away, like I did, these girls stayed in touch over the years, with reunions of their own on a regular basis. They were there for each other when they each got married (once is still single), when one died in a tragic accident, when they had children, when they lost children, when two of them got cancer, when one of them divorced. It is an undeniable support system of women who know each other before they became mothers and wives. This is a feeling that I understand now more than ever, and that I treasure.

I can't say the book is outstandingly written, nor is it satisfyingly complete. There are some girls in the group for which we are given very little information, and I'm assuming this has something to do with their need for privacy. So the information can feel one-sided at times. Nevertheless, the story is heartening and presented many parallels to my life that made their stories mine. It also just reinforces the power, beauty and the near-religious experience of a girlfriend, and that you need it in your life like air and water.

4 out of 5 stars

Wordless Wednesday: Yosemite #6

For more Wordless Wednesday photos, click here.

One Day - David Nicholls (Kindle)

I have mentioned in the past (specifically with Marisa de los Santos' books) the desire to wrap myself up in a story as if it were a favorite comfy blanky. Some books provoke this feeling - they are somehow familiar, and warm, and so enjoyable you don't want them to end. I'm planting my flag on another.

I know I'll sound trite by saying this (and I'm certainly not the first to say it), but the plot is somewhat reminiscent of When Harry Met Sally. A man and a woman with a friendship that spans decades of lovers, career changes, successes and heartbreaks, an accidental sexual encounter or two with each other, and the knowledge that they absolutely MUST end up together. Throw in some clever British wit. Stir in a little "Same Time Next Year" (great movie, trust me if you haven't seen it, Google it). One Day is the result.

The book follows Emma and Dexter from the day after their college graduation (where they had a one-night tryst but recognized in each other a best friend) through the next twenty years of their lives. Each chapter provides a snapshot of each year on July 15th (St. Swithin's Day). There is an ebb and flow cycle between them...relationships come and go, careers come and go, they each struggle through various crises in their lives, but their friendship endures. We pray for the day they allow themselves to freely fall in love with each other.

I've heard people speak unkindly about this novel, and that breaks my heart. Does it have to end predictably? Does it have to be the second coming of literature? It is so refreshingly human. We love Emma and Dexter, for all their faults, whether it is Emma's fear of chasing her dreams or Dexter's self-absorbed tendency to indulge in drink and women. We know they are good people, and we love who they are when they are together. The dialogue is also very clever and snappy, and at times laugh-out-loud hilarious. From there, we wander into weepy and reflective territory. But above all, this is a testament to friendship, about believing in each other no matter how many bad mistakes are made, no matter how obnoxious the behaviour, no matter how weak the will.

The story begs for the silver screen, and someone in Hollywood has obliged. Slated for a third quarter 2011 release, it will star Anne Hathaway (not a fan, sorry) and Jim Sturgess (Across the Universe). I've found a picture of Hathaway on the set of the movie. What do you think? Time will tell if they'll get it right, but if they don't, this will be a massively missed opportunity. In the meantime, readers, friends, read this book. Now.












5 out of 5 stars

Monday Movie Meme - The Stuff of Legends

This week's Monday Movie Meme from The Bumbles is all about movie screen legends. The topic came from a classic movie buff, The Gal Herself, but instead of focusing on the "no-brainers", like Meryl or Denzel, we are turning our attention to the younger set. Who is out there, rambling around, that you think has the potential to be a legend 20, 30, 50 years from now? Would you have been the one to spot the potential in Tom Hanks when he was starring in Splash or Big?

I struggled with this question more than I should have, but I took it seriously. Because there are good actors (Johnny Depp, Will Smith, Amy Adams), then there are the ones that make you all tingly (Viggo, Clive, George), but in this exercise, I really wanted to scrutinize the ones with depth, the ones we will never forget. I practiced restraint and limited myself to two females and two males:

1. Edward Norton - I didn't even have to think about the topic for three minutes when Ed came to mind. It really doesn't matter what movie he graces, he is captivating. Don't get me wrong, he is easy on the eyes, but it is his acting that consistently causes me to sit with my mouth hanging open when I am watching him. He first came to my attention with his role in Primal Fear (a movie I own on my iPod for convenient watching). Trust me on this one...his performance is brilliant. Follow that up with The Illusionist, Fight Club, and American History X, and you will have yourself an entertaining weekend.




2. Leonardo Di Caprio - It almost pains me to put Leo on this list, because for years I scoffed at him. I thought him a punk, a twerp, a little boy trying to pretend he is a big, method movie star. I will swallow my pride and admit that he actually has some serious acting chops. He was pretty impressive with What's Eating Gilbert Grape, but really came into his own with The Aviator, The Departed, Blood Diamond, Shutter Island and most recently Inception. I can't take a thing away from him, he has a grit that moves me.










3. Cate Blanchett - I consider Cate the next Meryl. She is classically beautiful, poised and graceful. She consistently makes good decisions, and she puts her all into every one of them, whether she is playing a minor role of Galadriel in Lord of the Rings, or carrying a movie playing Queen Elizabeth. Most notable in my mind was her role in Notes on a Scandal, where she portrays a teacher that has an affair with a student. Gut wrenching performance. She was also pretty spot-on as Katherine Hepburn in The Aviator.










4. Julia Roberts - Isn't Julia already a legend? I will reserve judgement on Eat, Pray, Love (probably for the best as I have a little bit of an attitude on that movie) but I believe she has already made her mark...Erin Brokovich was nothing less than a marvel. Some of her movie choices have been questionable, but she still brings a certain effervescence and light to everything she does. She is likable; the girl next door.

Who are your picks for legends in the making?

Sunday Salon: A Little Debauchery

Made you look twice with that post title, didn't I? Well, I sensed a theme as I trudged through this past week, and it was too good not to share. But before I go there, I'll fill you in on my exciting week.

I can sum it up in four words: football, sleepovers, appointments and yard work. My baby just started tackle football practice, 5 days a week for over two hours a day. Because it is in the high 90's every day, he has to start hydrating around noon, with a strategic eating and stretching schedule. We've also had three sleepovers this week (two at my house and one elsewhere), hopefully satisfying the kids' needs for youthful interaction. We had several appointments, just stuff that gets ignored over the summer. And speaking of ignored, the weeds were taking over my house, so that had to be addressed. With all of that hilarity, now, you can imagine why I got so tickled with the online naughtiness. Let me share.

First, most of us know Rebecca @ The Book Lady's Blog (the gal who threatens to throws her panties at the more exciting authors, to signify their rock-star status). Well, she featured a post this week called A Midsummer Night's Panty Party, where guest blogger selects the type of panties that may have been worn by our favorite literary characters...Jane Eyre, Holly Golightly, or even Scarlett O'Hara. With pictures and everything. Gold stars all around for the creativity in this post!

Secondly, one of my favorite bloggers, The Bumbles, had a priceless post this week as well. When Molly was at one of her husband's functions, she decided to pass the time by taking pictures of various types of men's butts. That Molly, she is quite the observant little Bumble, and I laughed for an hour at her astute examples of all the different backsides that God has created for us to ogle, or not, as it were.

Then my friend Craig the wine store owner called me in a dither because he had found the perfect wine accessory called The Wine Rack. Did I want to try one? He sent me the link, and here is what I see:



Yes, you too can enhance your cup size AND drink your wine on-the-go with this innovative product. Simply fill up the bra with up to a bottle of wine, and away you go. You can impress the boys with your buxomness and get conveniently tanked all at once. And it can be yours for only $29.95!!!!

I primly told Craig I didn't need any enhancements, thanks, but I was intrigued with the wine on-the-go idea...

I did suggest that it might be fun to cross-market this product with one of those thingies that you can attach to your leg and relieve yourself in without standing up and running to the bathroom.


So besides chortling over all of this slightly trashy fun, I did a little reading and a little blogging. I've been in a review-writing slump lately, so I made a deal with myself to write one review a day until I get caught up. I've been sticking to it, and only have one more review to write. I can't guarantee that they are witty and clever, but they are done. Bear with me friends. This malaise should pass.

I finished "So Cold the River" by Michael Koryta, "Dangerous Neighbors" by Beth Kephart (her new one being released soon) and "Pyongyang" by Guy Delisle (at the top of the graphic novel awesome pyramid in my opinion). I just started the latest Sara Paretsky ARC "Body Work". It has been awhile since I've read anything from her V.I. Warshawski series, and it is good to be back. I FINALLY finished "The Passage" on audio, and now am about halfway through "Middlesex", which I am finding extremely entertaining (is it me, or does it feel an awful lot like My Big Fat Greek Wedding?). The kids and I are about 3/4 of the way through the audio "How I Live Now", which is sad because it is only 4 discs long and has taken us a week and a half to get this far. I just can't get them both in the car with me at once, but we are loving this story.

I'm also serving as a judge for the BBAW long lists, and I've been attempting to work through a few each day in order to pace myself. It is so much fun to discover all the wonderful new blogs during this process! If you haven't signed up to participate in the Book Blogger Appreciation Weed fun, do so now! It is an incredible way to meet new bloggers, build your readership and have a blast while doing it.

Last but not least, guess what movie I'm seeing tonight? You betcha. The Girl That Played With Fire, showing at Orlando's one and only indie theater. My review forthcoming!

Hope you all have a great, relaxing Sunday. What are you up to today?

Skinny Italian - Teresa Giudice

So I'm still digging through my ancestry looking for the Italian link. It must be there somewhere, because when I cook Italian...making my own pesto, or making homemade ricotta, or making tomato sauce with slow-roasted plum tomatoes...I get all TINGLY and WARM inside. But of course there are all those pesky carbs and cheese and things, but when I read about Skinny Italian from Kathy @ Bermudaonion, I figure I'm buying what they're sellin'.

This isn't your mother's cookbook (no offense to mom). Teresa, who starred on "The Real Housewives of New Jersey", is all-woman, all-Italian, and loves a big plate of pasta. She looks like a million bucks, but doesn't really like exercising much (except in the bedroom), and kvetched over having her "bubbies" done (but who would blame her after four kids??). She not only provides us with some great low-calorie recipes, but gives loads of practical advice in the kitchen, like:

* How to spot true Italian food, versus a knockoff

* How to pick out a good bottle of olive oil, then how to cook and bake with it

* Everything you'd ever want to know about spices, including when to add it to food, and how to store it

* 6 rules for loving your food and having it love you back

* The truth about pasta, and which kind is best

* How to make a quickie tomato sauce, and how to can it

* How to get the kids involved in the kitchen

All good stuff, this. But she does it in a way that will have your Chianti coming out your nose because you are laughing so hard. Anybody that entitles a paragraph "OO, VOO, EVOO, WTF?" or calls all the bad foods "stripper foods" (foods that are also stripper names like Cookie, Candy, or Cupcake), well, they have my attention.

Never mind that she seems to cook in clothes that I would wear to a Christmas party. Whatever she is doing, it is working for her.

I made several recipes from this book before I had to return it to the library...it was on hold unfortunately, so I couldn't renew. First, I made the Quickie Tomato Sauce, a double portion, and used it all week for various recipes. It took 10 minutes!

I also made something called Pork Chops Alla Salvia, which was a pan-fried bone-in pork chop that used herbs and some of my tomato sauce. Everyone ate it and was happy, without complaint.

Then my piece de resistance, Gabriella's Bolognese Sauce, which uses my tomato sauce, chopped veggies and lots of garlic (minced in my case so the kids couldn't see them), ground pork and veal, and some wine, and simmered it all afternoon. My husband was almost rolling around in it, and claimed he could have that dish once a week (a big complement from him, the king of wanting new recipes all the time).

I thoroughly enjoyed this cookbook, almost to the point where I might just need to own it!

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