Comments on: The Elusive A+

By: ШИК Галичина

ШИК Галичина — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:31:59 +0000

ШИК Галичина…

[...]The Elusive A+ « All About Romance’s News & Commentary Blog[...]…

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[...]The Elusive A+ « All About Romance’s News & Commentary Blog[...]…

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By: Kathy W.

Kathy W. — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 02:24:10 +0000

Excellent post – lots of potential A+ material still to be explored!!!
My A+ reads:
Shadow of the Moon – MM Kaye
Outlander – Diana Gabaldon
My Dearest Enemy – Connie Brockway
Venetia – audio edition – Georgette Heyer
The Amber Spyglass – Philip Pullman

By: Aryn

Aryn — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 10:11:46 +0000

As others have alluded to, I have noticed that many of a reader’s absolute faves are books read when either young or as the first of a genre; a *first love* response. I didn’t read romance novels until well into my 50s, after my divorce, so came at them from a whole ‘nuther viewpoint.
I missed the whole rape-as-love mindset of early Roberts et. al., or the ingenuousness of Heyer. An early read was Gaboldan’s The Outlander and I hated the pain and torture involved in that concept of ‘entertainment’.
Many of the other early romances I read involved either the TSTL heroine or the I-cannot-help-myself trope recently found but not only in Meyer’s Twilight (anyone else out there ever lived with an abusive mate or parent, the ‘I know he’s going to kill me some day but I LUV/NEED HIM?’). Or SEP’s format of first-you-must suffer (and I really enjoy her humor once one is beyond the angst). Then I found Jennifer Crusie and I ‘got’ the allure of the HEA and romance novels.
I think that any idea, be it a novel or philosophy or religion is enjoyed probably first through its novelty and then through thought and perhaps finally through affection, but it seems based on where one is as a human being at the moment.
The books I’d rate as As are the ones that I can read wherever I am in life and garner enjoyment from them from that POV. Pretty much anything by Ms Crusie, Ms Chase’s earlier stuff, some of Ms Quick’s one-word titled manuscripts, and if anyone can suggest more of this, I’d be most appreciative.

By: Heather

Heather — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:57:16 +0000

My A+ list would start with an oldie: Elswyth Thane’s Tryst. Published in the 30s, it has everything: smart heroine, kooky aunt, absentminded father/villain, and a ghost. Wonderful.

The only other book on it would be Jane Eyre.

By: Karat

Karat — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 02:47:40 +0000

Great post, Dabney! Loved to see the point of view of the different reviewers, and the preferences of other readers.
My A+ list would be:
Reforming Lord Ragsdale by Carla Kelly
Till the Stars Fall by Kathleen Gilles Seidel
Frederica by Georgette Heyer
Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale and
Bliss by Judy Cuevas (Judith Ivory)

By: Corie

Corie — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 01:09:00 +0000

I’ve read a lot of Carla Kelly’s this year and most of them were in the B+ to A but one is definitely an A++ for me and that’s MRS DREW PLAYS HER HAND, it’s like my perfect novel in tone, characterization, plot, etc., etc…. And also, Lavyrle Spencers MORNING GLORY…definitely!

By: MEK

MEK — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 01:05:52 +0000

I have to add a series here I thought was an A+ :

C L Wilson’s five book Lord of the Fading Lands. It had all the elements I want in a “best” book (or series in this case): marvelous dialogue and turn of phrase, characters I care about, great lead H/hs who grow and develop, believable romance, and a plot that is original and fresh.

By: willaful

willaful — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 01:01:23 +0000

I get the feeling that it’s impossible for a book to get an A+ rating because you can only know if a book is really an A plus after time has passed.

I think that should really be how a DIK is established, rather than by the grade it’s given. I have many DIKs that I wouldn’t consider A+ books. And vice versa.

I never understand when people say their favorite book or movie is one that just came out, and similarly, I don’t see how a book can be a keeper until you’ve kept it for awhile.