Comments on: The Eeeeevil Mother in Romance http://www.readreactreview.com/2008/08/18/evil-mothers-in-romance/ Book Reviews, Philosophy, Academic Life Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:11:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Review: Romeo, Romeo, Robin Kaye « Racy Romance Reviews http://www.readreactreview.com/2008/08/18/evil-mothers-in-romance/#comment-37 Review: Romeo, Romeo, Robin Kaye « Racy Romance Reviews Sun, 26 Oct 2008 22:53:46 +0000 http://racyromancereviews.wordpress.com/?p=226#comment-37 [...] The book is about two Italians in New York. Certainly the author knows her Brooklyn, having grown up there, and the descriptions of things like the brownstones were evocative without being too heavy. If only the same could be said for the cultural descriptors.  I expect there to be stuff about food, some accent stuff, etc. But multiple references to the Godfather, a secondary character called “my cousin Vinny”, a mother calling her daughter “puttana”, reaming her out on a daily basis for not being married and pregnant ( “Do you want I should die of a heart attack before I ever hold a grandchild?”), constant “stunards” and “madonnes”, signs of the cross and references to the Virgin Mary? Big pasta family dinners? I can’t tell you what the line is between appropriate ethnic description and stereotyping, but I felt it was crossed several times here. (The bitch mother is a special pet peeve of mine, as posted here.) [...] [...] The book is about two Italians in New York. Certainly the author knows her Brooklyn, having grown up there, and the descriptions of things like the brownstones were evocative without being too heavy. If only the same could be said for the cultural descriptors.  I expect there to be stuff about food, some accent stuff, etc. But multiple references to the Godfather, a secondary character called “my cousin Vinny”, a mother calling her daughter “puttana”, reaming her out on a daily basis for not being married and pregnant ( “Do you want I should die of a heart attack before I ever hold a grandchild?”), constant “stunards” and “madonnes”, signs of the cross and references to the Virgin Mary? Big pasta family dinners? I can’t tell you what the line is between appropriate ethnic description and stereotyping, but I felt it was crossed several times here. (The bitch mother is a special pet peeve of mine, as posted here.) [...]

]]> By: judybelle http://www.readreactreview.com/2008/08/18/evil-mothers-in-romance/#comment-36 judybelle Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:42:12 +0000 http://racyromancereviews.wordpress.com/?p=226#comment-36 You may have a new blog but I'm so new to the computer I can't even figure out how to put those little smiley thingies on. You are right, Mrs Bridgerton is a floater-inner for most of the series. Maybe the requirements for who qualifies (as in, is she the same perfect mother that my daughters would say I am)need to be specifically outlined. P.S. That remark about my girls - please don't ask them for confirmation. You may have a new blog but I’m so new to the computer I can’t even figure out how to put those little smiley thingies on.

You are right, Mrs Bridgerton is a floater-inner for most of the series. Maybe the requirements for who qualifies (as in, is she the same perfect mother that my daughters would say I am)need to be specifically outlined.

P.S. That remark about my girls – please don’t ask them for confirmation.

]]> By: Jessica http://www.readreactreview.com/2008/08/18/evil-mothers-in-romance/#comment-35 Jessica Mon, 01 Sep 2008 11:51:24 +0000 http://racyromancereviews.wordpress.com/?p=226#comment-35 Judybelle, I have read a bunch of the Bridgertons and I should have thought of that! Thank you for reminding me! Although, I forget (and I will check) -- is she one of those perfect mothers who floats in and out of scenes to bestow affection and <em>bon mots</em>? I prefer a real person to a cardboard cutout, whether evil or good. As to why I haven't gotten "tons" of comments... well, this is a very new blog and not super well known, to put it mildly. I appreciate every visitor I get. :) Judybelle,

I have read a bunch of the Bridgertons and I should have thought of that! Thank you for reminding me! Although, I forget (and I will check) — is she one of those perfect mothers who floats in and out of scenes to bestow affection and bon mots? I prefer a real person to a cardboard cutout, whether evil or good.

As to why I haven’t gotten “tons” of comments… well, this is a very new blog and not super well known, to put it mildly.

I appreciate every visitor I get. :)

]]> By: Review: Tall Tales and Wedding Veils, Jane Graves « Racy Romance Reviews http://www.readreactreview.com/2008/08/18/evil-mothers-in-romance/#comment-34 Review: Tall Tales and Wedding Veils, Jane Graves « Racy Romance Reviews Mon, 01 Sep 2008 11:42:12 +0000 http://racyromancereviews.wordpress.com/?p=226#comment-34 [...] Ummm…no. But Heather’s relationship with her mother is fairly well done, making me eat my words of just a few posts ago. Heather’s sense of responsibility for everyone in her life includes [...] [...] Ummm…no. But Heather’s relationship with her mother is fairly well done, making me eat my words of just a few posts ago. Heather’s sense of responsibility for everyone in her life includes [...]

]]> By: judybelle http://www.readreactreview.com/2008/08/18/evil-mothers-in-romance/#comment-33 judybelle Sun, 31 Aug 2008 20:47:13 +0000 http://racyromancereviews.wordpress.com/?p=226#comment-33 I can't believe you haven't gotten tons of comments from readers of the Julia Quinn Bridgerton series. That fictional Mom seems to have a wonderful relationship with all her children, male and female. Maybe people don't mention her because she doesn't usually have a huge presence in the story. But, now that you've started my thoughts racing along those lines, I really can't come up with anyone else right off the top of my head. I'll ponder on it. judybelle I can’t believe you haven’t gotten tons of comments from readers of the Julia Quinn Bridgerton series. That fictional Mom seems to have a wonderful relationship with all her children, male and female. Maybe people don’t mention her because she doesn’t usually have a huge presence in the story. But, now that you’ve started my thoughts racing along those lines, I really can’t come up with anyone else right off the top of my head. I’ll ponder on it.
judybelle

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