Radway's Reading the Romance is an interesting, elitist study developed for her academic
peers and want-to-be-peers (advanced undergrad and graduate students). It also provides
a good example of how academics often get swept into the undertow of defending or
otherwise justifying their research interests--which is unfortunate.

Why do women read romance novels? In 200+ pages Radway concludes that "real people can
use the romance to address their unmet needs...because [the storyline's] ideal relationship
is made highly improbable..." and, thus, reading romances enables women to deal with their
own "imperfect relationships" successfully. Oh?

While most readers will understandably pass on this book, anyone involved with gender
studies or popular culture coursework-criticism should probably try it.

Download File Size:15.23 MB

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