Books

I love to read. The intensity has ebbed and flowed over my life. Small children and lack of sleep made Good Night Moon the go to night time read. I pride myself with having read a wide variety of genres, more so before the Big C. All of a sudden I found myself craving happy endings and mindless entertainment. Trash novels got me through 2 weeks of waiting for surgery results. They got me through those nights where instead of wondering if ‘it’ would come back, I escaped to the lands of Lord Carylse and the shy daughter of the Earl he had to have as his own, even though it started out as a lark. And sigh, now I am addicted. I admit I love trash novels. They are entertainment at its very best.

The ‘girls’ are ‘never what you would call pretty’ and the ‘men’ who fall head over heels in love with them are always tall, dark, handsome, beefy, or blonde, scruffy piercing blue eye and they are built. They work, but don’t have to because they are independently wealthy, and fly their own planes. Because really, who wants the hassle of flying commercial? They are content to ‘hold them’ their girls all night with nothing more if that is what is requested. They are always neat and tidy and can cook! And their brothers are always equally as gorgeous with stories to tell on their own (love a good brothers series). Plus they always have good healthy relationships with their mothers who instantly recognize the girl is a keeper. How could you not love it (I say with my tongue in check).

Yes, I have read my share.

Everything. Lords. Earls. Vampires. Cowboys. Vampire cowboys. Navy Seals. Paratroopers. Werewolves. Shapeshifters. Shapeshifting werewolf vampires. Wizards. Witches. Once I read one about shapeshifter dragons whose ancestor was the Loch Ness Monster! She really does exist! That one made me laugh out loud many times – when I think I wasn’t supposed to. Which is the great thing about trash novels - you don't have to take them seriously.

So yes, I do enjoy them. They are fun. They are mindless. Simon and Sophie are always asking about my trash novels – Sophie reminds me to put book covers on the more risqué covers. My friend’s daughter refers to trash novels in their house as Courtney’s sex novels. I have favourite authors – some are better than others (think Loch Ness monster), and I am always happy to offer others suggestions after a few general questions about interests. And guess what – my friends read them! We exchange author names and book titles. When I was young, my Grandma would read harlequin romance novels and I was horrified! My great aunts would bring her brown paper bags full of them. I have become my Grandma and you my friends, are my great aunts. And that is a compliment in the highest regard.