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
editAlthough 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
edit- 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
edit- ^ 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.