# When Ugly Girls Read **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 22, 2001, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-ugly-girls-read/88909 "2001-10-22T18:33:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bossk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@Bossk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bossk)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-ugly-girls-read/88909/1 "2001-10-22T18:33:55Z")
Not a rant, just a poll: Has anyone anywhere since history began ever seen an attractive woman reading a Harlequin-style romance novel? Twenty years in bookstores, coffee shops, libraries, parks, etc. I’ve never seen it. What are the sociological implications? ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-ugly-girls-read/88909/2 "2001-10-22T18:36:44Z")
Yes. Actually, I’m married to her. Thanks for asking. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-ugly-girls-read/88909/3 "2001-10-22T18:37:14Z")
Well, you certainly posted this in the right forum. I don’t expect this to be pretty (no pun intended). ---
**Author:** ![Venoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c4cdca/32.png) [@Venoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Venoma)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-ugly-girls-read/88909/4 "2001-10-22T18:37:45Z")
:rolleyes: I used to read them. I am attractive. (shutup!) I do not, however, read them in public. In public, I read theoretical physics textbooks. =D (Polls go in IMHO, I believe.) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-ugly-girls-read/88909/5 "2001-10-22T18:42:46Z")
What **Venoma** said. I read them occassionally, just for the hell of it. Sometimes, they’re so absurd they’re a laugh riot. That said, in public I stick with my non-fiction history. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-ugly-girls-read/88909/6 "2001-10-22T18:50:55Z")
A polite question, politely asked! Christ. I’m not too hard on the eyes, and I read them from time to time. So do my friends, sister, and sister-in-law. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-ugly-girls-read/88909/7 "2001-10-22T18:55:01Z")
I’ve read a few in my time (when I had absolutely nothing else to read). I’m an ugly man if you want to properly categorize me in your data. While I don’t understand why anybody _would_ read them if it isn’t necessary, I have noticed no correlation between looks and those who do read them. ---
**Author:** ![Asylum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@Asylum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asylum)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-ugly-girls-read/88909/8 "2001-10-22T19:02:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Venoma \* > **I am attractive. (shutup!)** I checked your webpage so I can agree with that. ---
**Author:** ![Sweet\_Sota\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@Sweet\_Sota\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweet_Sota_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-ugly-girls-read/88909/9 "2001-10-22T19:02:55Z")
I used to read them when I was in high school. Once the “real world” got to me, and I _ **fully** _ realized how absurd they are, I found better material. And just as a side note, the damn things are worth shit on eBay or [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-ugly-girls-read/88909/10 "2001-10-22T19:03:28Z")
**Bossk** , are you implying that ugly women aren’t getting any action, and they must resort to reading Harlequin romances to make up for the lack of man-lovin’ in their lives? That’s a pretty big leap, you know. Just for the record, I don’t believe many people’s reading choices are based on their appearance. Their intelligence, perhaps, (but that’s a whole 'nother debate). BTW, nobody’s ugly on a message board. Or haven’t you noticed the lack of bodies here? ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-ugly-girls-read/88909/11 "2001-10-22T19:17:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by featherlou \* > \*\ ***Bossk** , are you implying that ugly women aren’t getting any action, and they must resort to reading Harlequin romances to make up for the lack of man-lovin’ in their lives? \*\* Well, I’m a pretty woman, and I’m not getting any action. At all. Of any description. Since February. I may fling myself into trafic now… Al. Oh, and I read romances - there’s nothing wrong with brain candy now and again, and I read faster than I can get to the library or bookstore, so sometimes I need filler. And actually, I’ve read them in public I think. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-ugly-girls-read/88909/12 "2001-10-22T19:20:59Z")
and please make that traFFic. [sub]CRAP! CRAP! CRAP![/sub] Al. ---
**Author:** ![Amazing\_Magic-Gro\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e95f7d/32.png) [@Amazing\_Magic-Gro\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazing_Magic-Gro_Monster)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-ugly-girls-read/88909/13 "2001-10-22T19:25:37Z")
Well, since it’s just a poll I may as well toss in my 2¢. With the one exception of a crazy bearded homeless man (both the man and his beard were crazy, so no need for a comma I think) reading the bubble-gum pink “The Turbulent Storms of Passion” I can’t recall _ever_ seeing _anyone_ reading a pulpy romance in public, _ever_, mousey or model. True. That said, as an afficianado of used book stores, I’ve noticed an awful lot of shelf space is devoted to these Lavender-pink curley-script foil-embossed oiled-up-bicep slightly-parted-lips books. so _somebody_ has to be to be reading them. Also, I’ve noticed the ones intended for teenage girls, they substitute the oiled-up muscleman with a horse. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-ugly-girls-read/88909/14 "2001-10-22T19:33:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bossk \* > \*\*Not a rant, just a poll: > > Has anyone anywhere since history began ever seen an attractive woman reading a Harlequin-style romance novel? > > Twenty years in bookstores, coffee shops, libraries, parks, etc. I’ve never seen it. What are the sociological implications? \*\* I have. I’m surprised you haven’t. I’ve never even heard of this as a stereotype. And Venoma, you ARE attractive. Mrs. RickJay has you beat, tho. 🙂 (She reads fantasy novels though and so doesn’t much contribute to the OP.) ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-ugly-girls-read/88909/15 "2001-10-22T19:33:30Z")
> [@](#): > > I used to read them when I was in high school. > > Once the “real world” got to me, and I fully realized how absurd they are, I found better material. > > And just as a side note, the damn things are worth shit on eBay or [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) I started reading them in 3rd grade. I stopped in 6th grade because I realized what god-awful, stupid, pieces of shit they were. It wasn’t till I was in high school when I realized that they were all based on the basic premise of Pride and Prejudice, and I really, _really_ that piece of garbage. My dear Grandmother still loves them though. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-ugly-girls-read/88909/16 "2001-10-22T19:34:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by obfusciatrist \* > **I’m an ugly man if you want to properly categorize me in your data.** Well, _I_ think you’re pretty. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-ugly-girls-read/88909/17 "2001-10-22T19:35:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by alice\_in\_wonderland \* > \*\*Well, I’m a pretty woman, and I’m not getting any action. At all. Of any description. Since February. \*\* All ya gotta do is ask. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-ugly-girls-read/88909/18 "2001-10-22T19:38:15Z")
How can you NOT find something in a book with such gems as “kernel of desire.”? LMAO… They’re good for a laugh, and good when you’re horny, I suppose. (Reasonably attractive female-NEVER gotten any :() ---
**Author:** ![Nacho4Sara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Nacho4Sara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nacho4Sara)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-ugly-girls-read/88909/19 "2001-10-22T19:39:40Z")
I think I’m pretty cute ([see for yourself](http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/nacho4sara1/vwp?.dir=/My+Photos&.src=ph&.dnm=Sara%2bSmile.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/bc/nacho4sara1/lst%3f%26.dir=/My%2bPhotos%26.src=ph%26.view=t)), and I occasionally read cheesy romance novels, usually Nora Roberts (never read an actual Harlequin - I guess that’s a publishing company that specializes in romance?). I read them maybe once every six months or so - not often. If I happen to be reading one and I’m out in public, than I read it. It doesn’t really matter what people think. At least I’m reading something. ---
**Author:** ![Venoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c4cdca/32.png) [@Venoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Venoma)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-ugly-girls-read/88909/20 "2001-10-22T19:45:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > \*\*And Venoma, you ARE attractive. Mrs. RickJay has you beat, tho. 🙂 (She reads fantasy novels though and so doesn’t much contribute to the OP.) \*\* Thanks **RickJay**! A little ego-stroking never hurt anyone 🙂 (although that wasn’t my intent.) Lucky her to have a husband who thinks so well of her.(Yes **Asylum** , thank you as well. I’m naturally blonde, however.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-ugly-girls-read/88909.md?page=2)