Good Romance Novels (Oxymoron?)

I'm not sure these count as pure romances but the books that come to mind as a starting point are Ethan Frome and Return of the Native

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>>8862818

Well, just like with horror and science fiction, romance novels from the 1800s are usually well regarded. But whereas I'm a fan of popular "pleb" horror and science fiction/fantasy I'm unfamiliar with popular "pleb" romance novels so I can't really give recommendations in that area.

I would personally recommend Fortress Besieged by Qian Zhongshu.

>Are romance novels only appealing to woman?

Well, in Pride and Prejudice the appeal for females is that Mr. Darcy is hot, and the appeal for males is that Elizabeth Bennet is the perfect waifu and you want to marry her.

>Is there romance novels not catered only toward women?

Fortress Besieged, although the book isn't "just" romance. Also it's extremely depressing, which most classic romance novels outside of Austen's books are.

>>8862818
>spurt

maybe Lady Chatterley's Lover

I can't speak to how good it is but it is culturally significant

catch a mate my gena showalter :^)

>>8862818
Norwegian Wood by H. Murakami sort of

>>8862818
>I think I want to let you fuck me in the ass
What did she mean by this?

Victoria by Knut Hamsun

braaap

>>8862818
>Can you recommend some good romance novels?
El Zarco by Ignacio Manuel Altamirano

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger is good.

>>8862818
Just read Ovid

>>8862818
Story of the eye

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>>8862818

>>8863643
Heard of it. Are D.H. Lawrence's other novels similar?

>>8862818
>>8865279
Source?

>>8867096
True Detective season 1

>>8866114
haha i've been trying to read story of the eye but it just gets more and more sexually bizarre and ridiculous

i dont even know if it could really be said to be romantic. i stopped reading it.

>>8865270
Reading this now. It's a love story but it's absolute shit imo. Usually I find Murakami comfy, although not particularly good, but Norwegian Wood is just garbage.

>>8862818
Elizabeth McCraken's The Giant's House is very good.

Tender is the night by F Scott Fitzgerald

>>8867041
Sons and Lovers is worth checking out. I have to warn you that it is very polarizing in that people who tend to like classical literature like it while those who look for an Austen or contemporary style romance do not

>>8866114

I tried reading this in high school but had to keep pausing to furiously masturbate.

Wonder if I can finish it now that my libido has cooled.

>>8862818
>Are romance novels any good?
They can be.
>Can romance novels have literary merit?
They can.
>Can you recommend some good romance novels?
Jane Eyre is a good place to start. A Room with a View is another. Depending on how you categorize it, Anna Karenina.
>Are romance novels only appealing to woman?
No.
>Are all romance novels too corny?
No.
>What is considered a good romance novel?
Is this a rehash of your recommendation question, or are you asking in a more general or theoretical way?
>Is there romance novels not catered only toward women?
Sure.

>>8867870
>are you asking in a more general or theoretical way?

Yeah, in general, what is considered a good rimance novel

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>>8862818

>>8865440
this

>>8862818
Possession by A.S Byatt. It is a literary novel, and rather postmodern and cerebral. Still gives you the feels though.

>>8866115
This

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what are some pulpy novels that are the romance equivalent to stuff like Raymond Chandler, Edgar Rice Burroughs, et al?

Gone With the Wind
Wuthering Heights

>>8868287
ugly cover