Lady Business

(Amy that's you right?)'I've heard people say they find it really distracting to read books when the characters (both male and female) are described as unattractive or their physical imperfections are highlighted.' Interesting, I wonder if this has a big impact in romance and how that plays into the dialogue about what romance is and all the things it does for readers.

I now find it distracting when women are described as if their clothing and looks inform their personality. I had to put down a good book last month, because it was all 'she was wearing these boots' which led to implications that this girl was sexual and cunning at the same time. Gah, no, maybe she just likes those boots a lot - clothes are not a come on.

There's probably two different arguments I should have highlighted for characters who are being described as not models, but sympathetic and characters who are being described in a way that is clearly meant to indicate to readers that their physical appearance is unattractive and (implied) this means this character is not sympathetic/not to be trusted etc on and on, but I kind of banged this post together. Anyhoo I'm quite used to seeing men described as imperfect, yet sympathetic having grown up reading a lot of Brit comic writing. Women not so much.