When I choose a book to read I tend to gravitate to certain categories. I typically read fantasy, historical fiction, and Eastern philosophy. Then there are the books I avoid like the plague. Like historical romance. I know lots of you would argue that historical romance and historical fiction are very similar, if not the same. They both include swashbuckling heroes and maidens in distress. However, when I think of historical romance I think of a man violently ripping the dress off of a maiden in a moment of intense passion (hence the phrase bodice ripper). Therefore, I automatically come to the conclusion that historical romance lacks plot and alternates between sex scenes and fight scenes. I also have come to the conclusion that these novels include brutish men who have very little to no respect for women, and to make matters worse, I believe the women to lack intelligence or the will to respect themselves.

However, when I think of historical fiction I think of thick plot with various twists and turns. While historical fiction has some bodice ripping moments it tends to have fewer, and much more tasteful scenes. Historical fiction also includes independent women who are willing to put the men in their place (like in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander). The men also tend to have better roles in historical fiction. Men tend to have respect for women and they are still able to fight for their honor.

Based on this lengthy description of historical romance versus historical fiction, it is safe to assume that I would never ever in my life pick up a historical romance. However, a few weeks ago I was looking for good fiction that I could escape in. When I am looking for something high caliber I tend to use a website called fantastic fiction (fantasticfiction.co.uk). I type in a title that I enjoyed (like Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley). At the bottom of the screen there are books that either the author or other readers recommend to the fans of that particular book.. One of the books that popped up at the bottom of the screen, when I pulled up Mists of Avalon, was called Through a Dark Mist by Marsha Canham. I proceeded to find the book in the store, in the (GASP) historical romance section. My first thought was that this book had been misshelved, and was not actually a historical romance. I proceeded to inspect the book. I discovered that Marsha Canham has written several historical romance novels and has won historical romance awards for her writing. Well…I decided to step out of my reading box and try Through a Dark Mist. I was pleasantly surprised. I am now halfway through the novel and while it does have many bodice ripping moments, it also has a thick plot as well as a woman who thinks for herself, and a man who respects the woman he loves.

The moral of this story is that we should not refuse to read something based on its designated category. I believe that everyone should read outside of their comfort zone. You may discover wonderful worlds waiting for you and heaps or reading material to make your life rich and thought provoking.