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Subgenre of commercial romance novels
Bonkbuster (a play on
"blockbuster" and the verb "
to bonk ") is a term coined in 1989 by British writer
Sue Limb to describe a subgenre of commercial
romance novels in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as their subsequent
miniseries adaptations.
[1]
[2]
[3] They have also been referred to as sex 'n' shopping or shopping and fucking novels (S&F).
[4]
Genre history
Although the term has been used generally to describe "
bodice-rippers " such as
Forever Amber (1944) by
Kathleen Winsor ,
[5] as well as
Valley of the Dolls (1966) and the novels of
Jacqueline Susann
[6]
[7] and
Harold Robbins ,
[8] it is specifically associated with the novels of
Judith Krantz ,
Jackie Collins ,
Shirley Conran , and
Jilly Cooper , known for their glamorous, financially independent female protagonists and salacious storylines.
[9] Many of these novels were adapted in the 1980s into glossy, big-budget miniseries, reminiscent of
primetime soaps of the time, such as
Dallas ,
Knots Landing and
Dynasty .
Examples
Scruples (1978) by
Judith Krantz , adapted as a
1980 miniseries
Princess Daisy (1980) by
Judith Krantz , adapted as a
1983 miniseries
Bare Essence (1980) by Meredith Rich, adapted as a
TV series
Chances (1981) and Lucky (1985) by
Jackie Collins , adapted as a
1990 miniseries
Lace (1982) by
Shirley Conran , adapted as a
1984 miniseries
Sins (1982) by
Judith Gould , adapted as a
1986 miniseries
Mistral's Daughter (1982) by
Judith Krantz , adapted as a
1984 miniseries
Crossings (1982) by
Danielle Steel , adapted as a
1986 miniseries
Hollywood Wives (1983) by
Jackie Collins , adapted as a
1985 miniseries
Queenie (1985) by
Michael Korda , adapted as a
1987 miniseries
Return to Eden (1985), novelised by
Rosalind Miles
I'll Take Manhattan (1986) by
Judith Krantz , adapted as a
1987 miniseries
Till We Meet Again (1988) by
Judith Krantz , adapted as a
1989 miniseries
Dazzle (1990) by
Judith Krantz , adapted as a 1995 miniseries
Lady Boss (1990) by
Jackie Collins , adapted as a 1992 miniseries
Torch Song (1993) by
Judith Krantz
References
^
The Telegraph , 18 February 2002[
dead link ] Accessed 2007-11-11.
^
Sydney Morning Herald , 19 June 2002 Accessed 2007-11-11.
^
"Bonk word that bust convention" . the Guardian . June 18, 2002.
^
"sex'n'shopping novel" . Oxford Reference .
^
"Observer review: Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor" . the Guardian . July 27, 2002.
^
"Sex in the suburbs: a history of the bonkbuster in six books" . the Guardian . July 28, 2012.
^ Haines, Chris (October 1, 1997).
"Media Circus" . Salon .
^ Cummins, Anthony (May 21, 2016).
"Harold Robbins's cocaine-fuelled bonkbusters sold 750 million copies — and they're far better than Fifty Shades" . The Telegraph – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
^
"How the bonkbuster novel came to define a generation" . The Independent . August 17, 2019.
Subgenres Publishers Awards