Ginnie Graham: Reading romance to be happy during a dark time | Columnists
It took about 20 minutes for a staffer to explain the digital platforms, making me part of the library’s 27% jump in ebook and audiobook check-outs. Easily the best time spent on a helpline.
So people rediscovered reading in the midst of isolation and uncertainty.
Just when lockdowns began, my sister discovered the joy in books with words like “flirt,” “wild,” and “beautiful” in the titles.
She’s read more than 75 romances this past year, besting my 56 novels and novellas. She created a spreadsheet to prove it; we’re pretty competitive.
We figured out ways to share our virtual purchases legally, mastered the online library digital option and started a two-person book club.
Romance has the same lighthearted escapism as the Hallmark Channel, though some favorites would belong on HBO After Dark.
Even the story predictability brings comfort: enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, secret billionaire/royalty/celebrity, trapped with someone, forbidden love, second chances, fake romance turned real, workplace romance, sibling’s best friend and soul mates.
These frameworks go back to Shakespeare and Jane Austen, just now with sexy Scottish accents, smartphones and dating apps.
It’s been a rough year, and anger continues to boil in some places.
