hot man in half-laced velvet jerkin? where? where?
but in seriousness (as much as i can muster, about a thimble's worth) romance novels do get short shrift. everytime someone around me criticizes one (and being an english major, lemme tell ya, the general topic comes up suspiciously often, even with the men) i think of george eliot's essay on silly women novelists. i have found myself rather pleasantly suprised by the quality of romance novels even if the plots are formulaic. then again... supposedly there are only 4 plots. or 2. depends who you ask. i like the idea of two: 1) person leaves home or 2)stranger comes to town. blah blah blah.
but then again, i watch the man show sometimes. and don't really object to objectification. i see it as another form of flattery i guess. so i suppose i really should resign myself to my special level of hell full of bra burning feminists and shut up :P