The Question of Sex and Violence in Books
I’ve read books where sex and violence have been thrown in for shock value, and nothing more. They really didn’t progress the story at all. I’ve also read stories where these same elements were pertinent to the story. In addition, there are books that contain neither one of these things and they’re as entertaining as any story can be.
Sometimes I receive emails that state an opinion, and they’re prefaced by IMHO. For those not familiar with that acronym, it means “In my humble opinion”. So I’m going to offer my thoughts here, IMHO. I believe that leaving the sexy scenes to the reader’s own imagination is much sexier than laying things out in minute detail. And I believe that the anticipation of what’s to come is also very titillating. Think about it. John Doe patted Jane Smith on the behind and followed her through a door, pulling it closed behind him. Do you want someone to tell you what happened behind that door? Or would you rather dream up your own scenario? Hmm. All kinds of possibilities there.
I have a friend whose first desire was to write contemporary romances. Well, she wrote a book and submitted it to a publisher. The publisher was interested, but only if she’d add sexual and sensuous scenes. So this friend, knowing what was wanted and what she was capable of, sat down in front of her computer and started adding sex scenes. It turned out there was a problem. She suddenly realized that as she wrote this graphic, sensuous scene, she couldn’t bring herself to look at the computer screen. She looked up, to the right, to the left, and out the window – anywhere except at the screen. She’d been asked to write something that she wasn’t comfortable doing. When she told me this story, I laughed. I could picture the whole thing in my mind. Still wanting to write romances, she changed from Contemporary to Regency romances, where she didn’t have to include anything she didn’t want to.
The thing is, when I laughed at this story and pictured it in my mind, the woman sitting in front of the computer unexpectedly turned into me. Talk about surprising yourself! I write mysteries, and the stories I write don’t involve romps in the hay or lurid sexual encounters. They involve murders and searches for the killers. They center around the characters and their growth throughout the story, and they include some humor. My logo is “a little humor, a little romance, A Little Murder!” It suits my books.
This leads me to the violence we see in so many books. That’s fine for some. If the reader enjoys reading about someone being chopped into little pieces, with all the parts described in detail, and then those pieces being buried around the county, okay. Reader’s choice. For me, I see enough violence in real life; in the newspapers and on the news, and in magazines and on television shows. I’ve mentioned before that it seems like there’s just too much drama in real life. Why would I want to read about more?
I won’t knock any author who writes graphic material, because there is a market for it – and some of it is extremely well-written. I simply prefer something entertaining and mysterious, but that’s just me. I won’t even try to change any minds here. I will say that a young woman approached me after reading one of my books and she told me two things. First she said that she never, ever reads anything that doesn’t contain graphic sex. Secondly, she said that it was two weeks after she read the book that she realized there wasn’t any sex in it. Draw your own conclusions.
Until next time, wishing you a week filled with no drama, and reading because you enjoy it – not because you need an escape.
Categories: Sex, Marja McGraw, Mystery, Violence, Humor
Tags: Blog Marja McGraw Mystery writer Mystery blog Mystery Humor Sex and Violence
Hey, that's me! I'm the friend of Marja's who couldn't look at the screen while writing those steamy scenes. I can look at the screen now, but to this day I'll never write a gratuitous sex scene--only when it's necessary for the story.
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Yep, it was definitely Shirley Kennedy, who will have a new book out in the not too terribly distant future. Congratulations, Shirley!
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I discovered Regency romance novels in my late teens when sexy historical romances burst into popular culture with Kathleen Woodiwiss's Flame and the Flower, and the French Angelique novels that actually preceded her by about 20 years. Although I enjoyed the stories and the settings, it didn't take me long to come to the conclusion that while I truly loved historical romances I really didn't enjoy reading graphic sex scenes, consensual or otherwise. Then one day I discovered Georgette Heyer's Grand Sophy and I never looked back.
When I wrote my first novel (A Very Merry Chase) 35 years ago it was a Regency romance in the truest sense of the term. I never published it back then (Which is a story in and of itself.); however I recently self-published it on Amazon and considering the paranormal turn that many Regencies have taken it would now be considered an "old-fashioned" Regency romance. But...that's OK, as a baby boomer/busy career woman/multi-generational caregiver, I don't have time to spare for reading (or writing) anything but exactly what I enjoy, so old-fashioned is just fine with me
Smiles and Good Fortune,
Teresa
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Thank you for your comments, Teresa. I started out with Victoria Holt and Phyllis Whitney, and enjoyed every moment spent with my nose buried in their books. Prior to that my only exposure to mysteries was Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys.
The gothic novels taught me that you can include both mystery and romance, and still write a thrilling story without having to include bedroom scenes. Many people would consider those books old-fashioned now, but they kept me entertained for the time it took me to read each of their stories.
There's a market out there for all types of books, and every few years readers go through a new phase. You're right in saying that right now paranormal is "in". Humor is "in", too, which is something I can appreciate.
Books are such an individual choice, and old-fashioned can be just as entertaining as graphic. As for me, I like to be entertained. If a book is too graphic, then it ceases to entertain me. And that's a personal choice -- to put a book down and move on to something else. I do enjoy having choices.
Best wishes for A Very Merry Chase. You sound like an extremely busy woman, and I hope this book turns into a bright spot in your life.
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I agree with you, Marja. I remember enjoying the story in The Flame and the Flower but being appalled at all the sex scenes, and I suppose, that compared with today's graphic writing, they were mild. I always told myself if Phyllis Whitney and Velda Johnston could write a thrilling story without sex scenes, I could do it too. Do you all remember that wonderful scene in Gone with the Wind after Margaret Mitchell closed the door on Rhett and Scarlett? It proves my point.
Dorothy
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Thank you for your comments, Dorothy. Your reference to Gone with the Wind is a good one. They left the sex scene to the viewer's imagination. Hmm. Rhett Butler leaves room for all kinds of fantasies. Even after all these years, he's still a sexy man.
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I find myself coming to your blog more and more often to the point where my visits are almost daily now!
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Thank you! I appreciate your interest. Is there anything in particular that keeps you coming back?
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