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Just tried to read a romance novel whose characters and plot I was intrigued by but whose prose made me want to bash my head in.
Most romance novel prose that bothers me is irritating because it's too casual, it's too...contemporary. This book, however, had the opposite problem: the writer never, ever used a simple word when an obscure, multi-syllabic, or archaic one could be forced into the sentence. It was incredibly frustrating because other than that, I think the writer was very good! But when every single sentence feels forced like that, I just can't keep reading!
The prose was the epitome of trying too hard. Did the people of the Regency era use more complicated syntax and a different vocabulary than we did? Of course they did! But when I read actual Regency prose written by actual Regency writers, it is easier and more enjoyable to read than this writer's slavish attempts to emulate it! And her editor should be fired for not saving her from this trap!
As is typical when I read a book I dislike, I scrolled through the Goodreads reviews looking for people who agree with me. Unfortunately, no one seems to! The book was very highly rated and no one complained about the prose!
Maybe I am too picky? And maybe I should just read Georgette Heyer instead of trying to find good recently-written romance novels?
Most romance novel prose that bothers me is irritating because it's too casual, it's too...contemporary. This book, however, had the opposite problem: the writer never, ever used a simple word when an obscure, multi-syllabic, or archaic one could be forced into the sentence. It was incredibly frustrating because other than that, I think the writer was very good! But when every single sentence feels forced like that, I just can't keep reading!
The prose was the epitome of trying too hard. Did the people of the Regency era use more complicated syntax and a different vocabulary than we did? Of course they did! But when I read actual Regency prose written by actual Regency writers, it is easier and more enjoyable to read than this writer's slavish attempts to emulate it! And her editor should be fired for not saving her from this trap!
As is typical when I read a book I dislike, I scrolled through the Goodreads reviews looking for people who agree with me. Unfortunately, no one seems to! The book was very highly rated and no one complained about the prose!
Maybe I am too picky? And maybe I should just read Georgette Heyer instead of trying to find good recently-written romance novels?
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