LETTERS : Romance Critics Need Update on the Genre

Concerning Warren Farrell’s commentary on the novel “The Bridges of Madison County” (“What If ‘Bridges’ Roles Were Reversed?” June 26):

Initially, I was more than willing to accept the increasing evidence that male-bashing may be the new national sport. But Farrell tainted his argument by exhibiting his own blatantly misogynistic ignorance of modern romance novels.

I cannot recall the last time I read a romance novel (and I read many) in which the heroine was “swept away” by the wealthy male hero, thus allowing her to “work by option.”

This style of romance has been passe for the past 20 years. Today, the female is almost always involved in a satisfying career when she meets the man with whom she will fall in love.

Nor is he likely to be wealthy. These books are about strong, capable individuals who meet on an equal plane. The men admire the skills and moral strength of these women as much as their physical beauty.

JUDI LIND

La Mesa

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You’re right. If the tables were turned in “The Bridges of Madison County,” nobody would buy it. It is fully plausible that a woman (not a man) would give up her dreams for a life of security.

In the movie, you see a family that takes the mother for granted. It’s obvious Francesca can work the land as well as the husband, yet he doesn’t assist with the cooking or the dishes, and the children treat her as if her sole purpose is to serve them. Who wouldn’t want an escape, even if it’s for four days?

Romance novels win big because the authors recognize that most men do not treat women as their equals in the kitchen, in the bedroom or in the boardroom. However, the romantic stranger does.

ALLISON BANKS

Los Angeles

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It would have been nice if Warren Farrell had stuck with his topic, which is: Adultery, by either partner, is not “romance.”

However, when he goes on to call this book a part of the “romance” genre and then proceeds to call the genre pornography, I have to strongly disagree.

In the romance genre the whole idea is for a man and a woman to develop a relationship that will succeed in passing the test of time. One of the biggest, and most unforgivable, mistakes would be the glorification of adultery.

In this regard, I do not consider “Bridges” to be a true example of the romance genre. Rather, this book is just a mainstream contemporary novel on a subject that has been written about by writers since at least Shakespeare’s time.

I believe that most individuals who read these novels do so to reaffirm the basic belief in the strong family man and the joy of being in love.

I have my hero already; I have been happily married for over 21 years. But, it is still fun to vicariously enjoy the emotions of falling in love over and over again, and being sure that in the end a new strong family unit has been formed. And that, Mr. Farrell, is why I and millions of other women and men enjoy reading “romance.”

MARY BRETTHAUER

Ontario