Romance Novels?

Jackie, I was fifty something before I read the one and only romance novel I ever read. I do not recall the title or the author of the book. I am not exactly the correct person to ask.

On the other hand I spend several hour each week at book sales, book stores (retail and used), and auctions where books are sold. I also have investigated current American reading habits. I was shocked to learn that Romance novels are read by American readers more than all other forms of the written word in print (including newspapers, magazines and all other books).

The typical Romance novel reader seems to deal in shopping bag full of books. These are exchanged or replaced often.

There are, however, a select group of readers who seem to idolize certain authors or series of books and avidly collect these. First edition hardback sell for premium prices at times. Signed copies are rare and sell for higher prices.

I have seen collections at auctions go for peanuts or for unexplainably high amounts. Much seems to depend upon who is bidding.

I have been in homes and seen shelves lined with Danielle Steel and Nora Roberts novels, so I know that some people do collect these.

Personally, I do not have room for these on my book shelves.

I don't think people do enough RE-reading of books.

Imagine the new insights you could get re-reading the Harry Potter series in 15 years time, or re-visiting books read in your 20s, or classics you read when you were a couple of years too young for them.

But romance novels? I would think these would be unlikely to be re-read, and therefore not worth collecting.

Conclusion: George Orwell, yes. Tolkien, yes. Romance, (generally) no.

I would not. There are some authors I love, Nora Roberta & Danielle Steel are 2 of them. I don't think that their books will ever be the 20TH centuries Mark Twain. However my mom collects all of Danielle Steel in hardback and I will someday get them.

I only get romance novels through the used book store - usually with store credit - or from the "Friends of the Library" book sale.

My daughter's grandmother by marriage is a well-known romance novelist, and we don't even collect her books. [Sorry]

I am a book addict. If I like it, I keep. However, the ones that I do not like I swap them on www.paperbackswap.com to keep my book shelves under control. However, if someone I knew wrote books, I'd have them all. I do have all the books from my favorite authors though, because I like having them. I am one of the few people I know who actually reread books, so it makes sense that I keep books. My friends call my house their personal library. Hope that helps. . . . .

i only read certain sections of romance novels:)