Review: Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan

Title: Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches' Guide to Romance Novels Author: Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan Format: TP Available Formats: Kindle, Sony eBook Page Count: 284 Genre: Humor/Literary Criticism Publisher: Fireside Pub. Date: April 14, 2009 ISBN-13: 9781416571223

Like I said on the buzz post, whether you like it or not personally, romance is the best selling genre. It's a well-quoted fact at the bookstore where I work--and obvious enough over the course of the day, with how the number of romance novels crossing the counter per day. Now, there are several "camps". The Smart Bitches (Candy Tan and Sarah Wendell) contend the two camps are those "Who Just Don't Get It" and the "cheerleader camp". I have to say that I fell into Those Who Don't Get It until fairly recently. In fact, reading Beyond Heaving Bosoms made me decide that romance should be given its fair shot.

Though, like Tan and Wendell say, no genre should be free of criticism and analysis.

Beyond Heaving Bosoms is a book crossed somewhere between fantastic humor and serious literary criticism. The Smart Bitches tackle subject after subject plaguing romance today: "An In-Depth Investigation of the Romance Heroine, Emphasis, Obviously, on 'Depth'," "The Romance Hero," "Cringe-Worthy Plot Devices We Know and Love," "Defending the Genre (No It's Not Chick Porn. Dammit.)," and more.

I found that Wendell and Tan gave the romance genre a serious, honest appraising and explained their continued love for the books articulately--and with spot-on humor:

"Saying that you read romance novels is like saying you like food. Just as there's a world of difference between homemade panang curry and an Egg McMuffin, there's a mind-boggling variety in the romance genre. It's huge. Huge like Fabio's pectorals crossed with Diana Gabaldon's total word count."

Therefore, regardless of what "camp" you align with--if any--I highly recommend giving Beyond Heaving Bosoms a try. You may not come away converted, but certainly my attitude has changed. And, hell, it's just a damn fun read.


Quick and Dirty: Yeah, baby, yeah.
For those who love romance--or those, who are like me--and wanted to know what all the buzz about the romance genre is, then you need to read this book. Fantastic humor and one of the most fun reads I've had all year.