By Nital Jain
Romance and sexual fantasies in a novel are supposed to connect you to a narrative outside of your real life. Sex and romance are not necessary elements to build characters in a novel but also to connect readers to the story. The view of sex has changed completely over the years from books about “closed-door” sex to now “open door” sex a lot has changed. The writing and literature in the 1960s and 1970’s only hinted about sex between the couple and the next turning page did not have any explicit elaboration, if the characters were getting into bed together it was hinted that they will have sex. Later at the beginning of the 1980s people started writing about sex on paper but only in a passing way. In other words, body parts were not called by their biological names and very intricate details were not given out like they are now. Erotic novels have been there for a very long time but the discussion here hold the progress and contribution of sex and romance in Literature and the change is very evident. Romance is one of the most popular genres, accounting for the largest share in the fiction market. Over the time, rise in erotic romance has led some people to call it ‘romantica’ and there has been a rise in the general heat level of mainstream romance as well. Maggie Lynch, characterised the majority of romance novels as “hot” but not falling into the erotic romance category.
However, despite their widespread readership, very little research has been done on romance and sex being entirely different. According to me, a romance novel can easily go without sex and on the other hand, erotic novels can also go easily without romance too. But over time sex and romance are used along the same lines of love and lust and because of that very little can be done to differentiate them.
Now, the question is how important are sex and romance in Literature?
According to me, a cultural revolution is always seen first in novels and books. Books about good people finding other good people bring hope and romance itself are consistently on the leading edge of society. Books and romance can bring open-mindedness through sex positivity and also by breaking hetronormative assumptions.
They say reading romance is also a superpower because then you can potentially create that with someone else and that is how sex and romance play an important role in literature, because who wouldn’t want to escape reality and come out of it with some hope, new tricks and creativity.
August is the romance awareness month so why not ignite that romantic spark in your body starting with a romantic novel and then maybe using something from it in your real-life romantic episode. I have created a list of books that have so much romance and hope that it might make your cynical self a little hopeful and positive about love.
1. The Love & Lies of Ruksana Ali by Sabina Khan
The story is about a 17-year-old girl, Ruksana Ali who is having a teenage crisis because of her strict Muslim parents. She rolls her eyes at everything they do from asking her to dress conservatively to not wearing makeup, etc. As a wild teenager, she saves her crop tops and makeup for the places her parents don’t know she goes. One day her parents see her kissing her girlfriend and all of her future plans of living her life and becoming an engineer fall apart. Her parents not only get agitated for her kissing but being gay was also not so welcomed in her family. She was sent to Bangladesh, where she was thrown into a world of arranged marriages and orthodox traditions. Only when she read her old grandmother’s diary did she gain some perspective and realise to fight for her love without losing everyone important in her life.
2. Only a Breath Apart by Katie McGarry
Should you follow your destiny or your heart? This book makes you question if destiny is set carved on stone or should be broken?
Jesse was cursed by his grandmother’s will: in order to inherit his family farm, he has to take the approval of his childhood best friend who he froze out his freshman year, Scarlett. Scarlett’s fortune teller tells her that to escape her father’s controlling attitude and the dark secrets of her family she needs to rely on the boy who broke her heart, Jesse.
Every midnight that they meet it brings them closer than ever, but as love blooms, the curse rears its ugly head..
The story will give you some hope in your lost love and will help you to rethink whether the relationship needs amendments.
3. The Tiger at Midnight by Swati Teerdhala
Don’t we all love a cat-mouse game that turns enemies into lovers? This one is a perfect example.
Esha is a legend, but no one knows, only in the shadows does she moonlight and become the Viper. She devoted her life to avenging what she lost during the royal coup but now she has a new task of taking down the ruthless General Hatha.
Kunal has been a soldier since childhood training all the time to uphold the Power of King Vardaan. Kunal longs to join the outside world. Then Esha’s and Kunal’s paths cross each other and an unimaginable chain of events unfold. Their common ground is shaken by sins of the past and promises of the new future both of them make unforgivable choices that change their life..
The passion of the rebel and the soldier is to dream of and this book will surely blow your mind.
4. A Love from A to Z by S.K. Ali
This book makes you want to appreciate small moments in life, like small airport meetings that can change everything.
This is a story of two Muslim teens confronting and overcoming Islamophobia, racism and ignorance. The story is in journal format and so you get to know the characters deeply, understanding them like they are your best friends. Reading different accounts of their romantic interactions- including the details they focus on builds an intimate relationship with the book. Their bond ignited from a spark in the airport and then eventually falling in love makes us want to have that kind of love story that blooms from the common ground and a random airport interaction.
5. Fame, Fate and the First Kiss by Kasie West
Magic is the essence of this story. It is a contemporary teen romance, a story about Lacey, the 17-year old actress who gets her big break in the movies alongside a very handsome, experienced actor in her final year. Her father wants her to focus more on school so he hires a tutor for her, the story takes a twist when someone appears to be trying to sabotage Lacey on sets. As her world falls apart with confusion only her tutor, Donovan seems to keep her sane. With her entire dream riding on this movie, she realises that maybe her crush is not the one and that true love stories happen off-script. Every reader loves Donovan and the progress of Lacey and Donovan’s relationship is the happily ever after we all wanted.
Here are the best 5 novels that can bring hope, romance and some faith in love. Hope you don’t waste your romantic self to your cynical self this season and learn the importance of romance and sex in Life and in Literature.
Happy reading, Bookers!