11-07-2007, 07:01 PM
Desdemona Wrote:While I've read Gothic novels all my life, Gothic romances are fairly new to me in comparison.  I've read individual novels here and there, but have only started to really hunt for them in my library.
I love a good love story and there has to be a love story for it to be a Gothic romance.  I'm wondering what everyone's favorite Gothic romance love stories or romantic heroes are...and if you can recommend any books that have that powerful emotional center.
What kind of Gothic novels did you read before you discovered Gothic romances?
I've been a closet reader of romances myself, but mostly Gothic romances. I can't stand straight romances unless it is more humorous, such as the Regency romances, or unless it contains suspense/mystery. I guess that's why I love Gothic romances and romantic mysteries.
My favorite romance has to be Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Have you ever read it? The characters are unforgettable and the hero and heroine of the romance has been many times imitated but never duplicated.
As for Gothic romances, I have to agree that Jane Eyre is one of the best. I picked it up without really knowing what it was about when I was a teenager. It has been the standard for Gothic romances. I'll have to find a copy to re-read. I didn't care for Wuthering Heights as much. It was a haunting novel and the atmosphere was great, but although I could pity a lot of the characters, I could not sympathize with any of them.
If you want a Gothic novel with a good hero, one who isn't wimpy nor an "alpha" male, try Brat Farrar. The story is different from traditional Gothic romances because the story focuses on the hero, not the heroine.
I understand what you mean by the emotive force in the romance and I've felt it before. Unfortunately, I can't recall the books at the top of my head. I hope that by writing some reviews from now on, it will help to refresh my memory of the books.