Librarian Melissa Mackey set the mood for Valentine’s Day with a presentation about the popularity of romance novels. Photo by Linda Hull
The Three Nice Guys Barbershop Quartet serenaded Rotarians in honor of Valentine’s Day at their Feb. 14 meeting. From left, leader Maurice Sheppard, David Daniel, Dan Sheppard and Dick Eaton. Photo by Linda Hull
ROTARY News:
“It’s all about hope and happy endings,” remarked librarian Melissa Mackey as she explained the appeal of romance novels in Romance Is For Everyone during a Valentine’s Day meeting at the Rotary Club of Los Alamos. She continued, the romance genre is defined as “a central love story between characters and has an emotionally satisfying happy ending.”
It’s the happy ending, whether “happily-for-now or happily-ever-after,” that defines the romance novel. Its form is formulaic, not because writers aren’t creative, but because predictability allows the reader’s imagination to concentrate directly on the story and not worry about the plight of the main characters as the plots twist and turn. The characters may suffer, but they will not die, and there will be hope, that prevailing sentiment, at the novel’s conclusion. That’s why Shakespeare’s classic Romeo and Juliet is a love story, not a romance.
Happy endings and hope!
As a testament to the popularity of the romance novel, sales in 2022 generated $1.44 billion, by far the top seller of any genre with science fiction and fantasy trailing at second place with just over $500 million in sales. Some will find it interesting that 18% of romance novel readers are men.
Just as Mackey’s shirt proclaimed “rakes, rogues, scoundrels, and bastards,” readers can find them all in romance novels. Virtually any storylines or characters a reader enjoys can be found in romance. “Do you like paranormal activity? We’ve got romance novels with ghosts.
Victorian-era stories? We’ve got it. Werewolves, Valkyries, vampires, aliens? Pirates, soccer, football, LGBT? Romance novels have it all. Suspense, spies, the Civil War, time travel, magic, Mafia?”
In fact, there are so many plots and settings and time periods, Mackey has prepared a list that will help readers take their first steps into romance or continue their journey. To refer to this list, please contact Mackey at mj.mackey@lacnm.us for your own “personalized advisory”.
Among Mackey’s favorite romances are A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera, American Royalty by Tracey Livesay, To Catch a Raven by Beverly Jenkins, Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola, The Hellion and the Hero by Emily Sullivan, Heart Breaker by Sarah MacLean, and Unforgiven by Rebecca Zanetti.
Oh, and if you are wondering, what are the most popular romance novels? Coming in at Number One is Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy by E.L. James; Number Two, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
See, Romance Is For Everyone.
Melissa Mackey learned to read when she was four years old because “everyone was too busy reading to read to me”. Since her job as a bookstore clerk in 1980 to her current position as head of youth services for Los Alamos County Library System, Mackey has been reading books across many genres every day since then. Her favorite genre is romance.
The Rotary Club of Los Alamos, through its 1312 Club Foundation, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and one of over 34,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary, which now has 1.5 million members, was founded in 1905; the local Club was chartered in 1966. Rotary areas of focus include promoting peace; fighting disease, particularly polio; providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene; supporting education; saving and enhancing the lives of mothers and children; growing economies; and protecting the environment.
The Rotary Club of Los Alamos meets in person 12-1 p.m. Tuesdays, in the Community Room at Cottonwood on the Greens at the golf course. A Zoom option is available by contacting Rotary Vice President Linda Hull at 505.662.7950. Hull also is happy to provide information about the Club and its humanitarian service. The community is invited to attend meetings and become members.
Librarian Melissa Mackey’s list of romance novels gives a brief glimpse into the genre’s range. There is something for everybody! Photo by Linda Hull