Romantiklitteratur och genus en text- och läsarundersökning

Sammanfattning: This Masters thesis aims to study the reading habits of readers of romantic fiction, especially focusing on gender issues. The main areas studied are the function of reading romances compared with reading other genres, and how the readers value romantic and general literature. The thesis is based on qualitative interviews with seven readers of romances, five women and two men. The theoretical background is based on reader response theory and gender theory. Before I started interview the readers I asked them to read two romances; Sidney Sheldons - The best Laid Plans, and Rosamunde Pilchers - The End of Summer, which we later discussed during the interviews. I have also made a textual analysis of these two romances focusing on gender. The results show that the readers not only read romances, but many different kinds of books. They often chose romances when they are tired, physically and/or psychologically, and want something light to read that will cheer them up. Even though they criticise some of the characteristics of the typical romance, for example the way the characters are described, reading romances most of the time makes them feel relaxed and entertained. My conclusion is that, for this group of readers, reading romances is a "safe" read that does not challenge them or require that very much concentration. This is in contrast to when they read what they call "deeper books", in order to get different perspectives and new knowledge.