Link This |
Email this |
Blog This |
Comments (1)
A Romance Fatal Flaw: Dyslexia
April 4, 2008
Historical romances use a number of methods to create the tension or obstacles to overcome on the road to love, some more predictable than others. Physical wounds from battle are a good bet for the gentlemen, along with, perhaps, childhood abuse. For the ladies, psychological damage often comes at the hands of cold or domineering parents or guardians. Sabrina Jeffries 
chose a more up-to-date rationale for Regina Tremaine, her heroine in To Pleasure a Prince (Pocket Star, 2005).
Having gotten the sobriquet La Belle Dame Sans Merci for refusing 11 marriage proposals, Lady Regina finds herself facing Marcus North, Viscount Draker, in a bid to aid her brother’s suit of Draker’s sister. Draker has his own issues, which gives Regina a focus for the feelings she develops for him. Still, her reticence to marry turns on a different screw: Regina can’t read. In truth, she is dyslexic and has found a way to keep her secret throughout her life from all but her abetting cousin. What a novel idea, I thought. And Jeffries’s way of dealing with it, along with the solid writing and interesting plotting, offers a fascinating and absorbing read.
Shortly after putting Pleasure to bed, I picked up a galley of a forthcoming historical romance due in June from Avon. Here, it’s our hero who suffers the same affliction, but it isn’t revealed until near the end of the book, so I’m not going to reveal the title (not even a spoiler alert). Let’s just say it’s another terrific work from a best-selling author, one whom readers will be delighted to discover. There’s more going on here than just the nonreading issue, but it makes a handy explanation for our hero’s motives.
Does reading about not being able to read give one pause? Does it evoke a sympathy for our characters over something that even today, hundreds of years later, causes problems for so many. Do we relish our ability to read these works unencumbered as a gift? Perhaps we should.
Posted by Bette-Lee Fox on April 4, 2008 | Comments (1)
