Saturday, February 21, 2009

Sharing the Love

I’ve mentioned before how much I like working where I do. I’ve recently found another unexpected bonus – turning readers into romance readers! Yes – I’ve been able to share some of my books with some coworkers. It started with Janet Evanovitch. I overheard one of the case managers telling another case manager how much she enjoyed Ms. Evanovitch’s books. Of course I jumped into the conversation. As I have a number of her books – including a three-in-one of One For the Money, Two For The Dough, Three to get Deadly, I brought this one in. The case manager loved it and managed to all 14 in about 2 months – she agreed with many reviews I’ve seen that Fearless Fourteen wasn’t as good as the earlier ones.

Since she loved them so much and we discussed them at work in front of others, they got curious too and wanted to try them. One other coworker is now on the 8th book and another one is on book 2. I look forward to many great discussions.

And if that isn’t grand enough, there is another coworker who took out Lisa Kleypas’ Blue-Eyed Devil from the library because I had told other people I work with about it. She wasn't exactly a romance fan but she was curious. And she loved it. But she hadn’t read Sugar Daddy first. So with some trepidation I lent her my copy. My reluctance was due to the fact that Lisa sent it to me personally and autographed it for me. I would have cried if something had happened to it. But I did trust this coworker and all was good as she loved it too and wants to read Smooth Talking Stranger after me once it comes out.

Since she loved the Lisa Kleypas books so much I tried to think of another book she might like and came up with To Die For by Linda Howard. I warned her though that many other readers didn’t like Blair – even though I adore her.

Well – my coworker loved it too and now wants to read Drop Dead Gorgeous. The only problem is she is a casual employee and I don’t see her every day. She left To Die For on my desk on a day off and I haven’t seen her since. But I’m looking forward to seeing her again so we can talk about it.

All of this is rather unusual for me. I have one friend who reads a lot of romance books I loan her – and she realizes how important they are and takes proper care – but she’s not at all into ‘discussing’ them. The most I can get out of her is I loved them. She takes about 7 or 8 at a time and by the time I get them back, she doesn’t really remember that much – whereas me on the other hand can still remember many a book I read over 10 years ago.

So it’s unusual to be able to talk face to face with someone about the romance books we’ve read and for me – a large part of the fun of reading is talking about it after. That’s why I visit romance message places and LOVE blogging. I love sharing the books I’ve loved and in return reading about books other bloggers have loved. After being on a romance reader island for so long, where there was no one to talk about them with, discovering this wonderful online community has changed my world.

And now that I’m starting to find a few people in my work place – it’s just wonderful.

Does anyone else feel this way? After years of being frustrated at not being able for example to share what makes Blair Mallory such a hoot, or who to choose – Joe or Ranger (Joan – the one who has now read the whole series is a Ranger fan) or what a great hero Hardy turned out to be, do you feel that your life is now enriched because you have someone – either online or in person to share this special love with now?

7 comments:

azteclady said...

YES

I love the fact that now I have so many people with whom to dissect romance novels. People who understand what I mean when I talk about alpha heroes vs asshats; about doormat vs TSTL vs kickass heroines.

And having turned my s.o. into romance books has just put a helluva lot of chocolate icing on the triple chocolate cake for me :grin:


Kristie, fair warning: you are gonna get a package from me soon--you better open it, woman! ^-0

Wendy said...

Yeah, the online romance community has scratched an itch for me as well. Especially when I lived in Michigan and there was no one in my "real life" that I could share my love of the genre with. Luckily my move to California coincided with the blogging explosion in the romance community and wow - a ton of us live in southern California!

As much fun as it is hanging out online and talking books - it's even BETTER meeting romance readers in person and talking books. It's more fun than should legally be allowed......

Anonymous said...

I wish I had people that lived nearby who also shared my love of reading, but I'm not so lucky. I am very, very happy to have met so many wonderful people online to chat with. It's no fun unless you have someone to share it all with :)

Oh and BTW, you made my hubby blush!! He saw your comment about cloning him and he went all shy on me, lol!!!

Kristie (J) said...

AL - now you have me curious. I promise to open packages although regular mail is still beyond me.
And it must be nice to have someone so close at hand as your SO to share with too :)

Wendy: It is even more fun meeting bloggers and talking books isn't it? It's wonderful doing it online - but there's that extra meeting in person. CindyS was the first blogger I met in person and as I'm shy by nature - believe it or not - there was a moment's hesitation but it was quickly gone and in no time it was like we'd known each other for years.

Barbara: *laughing* does that mean he's available for cloning then? I think we'd have to age him a bit more for me - but not too much. I think a younger man would be kind of fun.
And it is incredible to meet fellow blogger in person - as you shall see - heh heh heh.

Shaymless Aymless said...

Blogging and meeting blogger has definitely scratched an ick here as well.

nath said...

Lucky you!! My co-worker is a guy and although we have a lot in common, romance books isn't one of them.

I think it's great when you can discuss romance books with someone. That's why I love blogland :)

by the way, Joe all the way :D

Mame Burkett said...

I have a co-worker at my job who I talk with about books all the time . Our tastes are different but every once in a while we will hit on a similar author or title and we will talk until we are purple or our boss tell us to move on...hehehe. Then a couple of weeks ago at a food and wine pairing club I am part of I found out one of the men there was a HUGE romance fan starting with Georgette Heyer and Barbara Cartland. We must have talked an hour comparing Catherine Coulter's historicals to her modern crime, loved it!
I have discovered since doing this blog there are so many people around me that love this kind of literature, (yes, it is literature), but won't admit it in public. Finally, the online blog community is the best and you all have inspired me to keep reading and writing.
:)
Mame
www.besottedbookworm.com