Ewe - "Romance"

My children believe I'm a sappy romantic. They stick up their noses at romance novels and movies. Anything "romance" makes them wrinkle their nose and go "ewe". My "children" range in age from 14 up to 28. They're not little kids any more.

This is despite the fact they also know I love "end of the world" movies as they call them. Examples: 2012, The Stand, Night of the Comet, Knowing, The Mummy, Left Behind, Day After Tomorrow, Independence Day, V

SPOILER ALERT: Don't read on if you get upset about hearing the end of movies (in particular "Love Story", "The Mummy", "Night of the Comet", "Indiana Jones")

This is also despite the fact my daughter-in-law loves "Twilight". Not just love but is obsessed by it. To her, that's a vampire story, not a romance.

I've explained time and again what "romance" means officially but they still don't get it. They still equate "romance" with a love story. Some of the greatest love stories don't fit the romance formula which means simply - there's a happily ever after - the hero and heroine end up together at the end and basically everything is good with their world. Examples: Gone With The Wind (if you don't count the sequel "Scarlett" where Rhett and Scarlett finally wind up together), Time Traveler's Wife, Love Story

I know Love Story was made a long time ago so some of you may not have seen it. It was a very touching love story with a lot of love and devotion. But the heroine, Ali McGraw, died of cancer, leaving her young husband, Ryan O'Neil, widowed. It was a great love story, perhaps one of the greatest of all times, but it didn't fit the official romance formula: There was no happily ever after, no happy ending.

I saw "Time Traveler's Wife" two nights ago. I cried through most of the movie as the ending was foretold halfway through the story. Like "Love Story", it too was a great love story. But it didn't fit the romance formula. Actually this one falls into a gray area for me so someone might be able to argue the fact. But I don't think it fit the formula.

That said, movies my kids enjoy and don't consider romances are in fact "romances". "The Mummy" is a romance. Boy and girl end up together and live happily ever after. They've thwarted the bad guy and the world is safe (from that particular bad guy anyway).

"Night of the Comet" although not billed as a romance fits the romance mold. Just about everybody on earth dies, but the hero and heroine thwart the last bad guys on earth, get together, and live happily ever after. In between there are a lot of yucky zombies, scads of death and scary things, yet it ends on a happy note with the couple getting together and setting out to rebuild a brave new world.

The most recent Indiana Jones movie fits the formula. There's plenty of action and adventure and lots of typical Indiana Jones humor. In the end, he finally ends up with the love of his life, saves the world (again), and they live happily ever after.

Sometimes I just shake my head and roll my eyes when my children (or anybody else) puts down "romance" or dismisses it. They're often the same people that love "Twilight" and other vampire stories (that are romances - they don't think so because it contains other elements like vampires). Sometimes I get on my high horse. It annoys me that most of them don't understand what romance truly is.

By the way, I only went to see Time Traveler's Wife because my older daughter wanted to. She's one of the ones that sticks up her nose at "romance". (Shaking my head again)

Oh well. It's not the end of the world if people just don't get this. I'll get over it.




Recent posts you might like to read:

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You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

Do You Read All the "Popular" Books?

I know people who go out of their way to never conform. Some are downright ornery. My friends "J" and "S" are often loners and do what they want no matter how weird or unpopular. Sometimes they go overboard to intentionally piss off people just for the fun of it.

I know others who want to be part of the crowd so badly they'd sell their soul. In junior high my friend "C" wanted to be part of the in crowd so badly she schemed and worked to get befriended by the cool kids. She even started smoking pot with them.

Blech!  Both are pretty annoying.

Do you read popular books or watch popular movies just because everyone else is? So you can join the conversation? Or so you can say "I read that, too?" Or just so you have a frame of reference?

I've done it. Not always, but sometimes. There are some very popular authors I have yet to read.

A few years ago it seemed everybody at work was reading the "Left Behind" series. They talked about it a lot. They even read it on breaks at work so had the books sitting on their desks.

Curious, I asked about them. They sounded interesting. Honestly, I wanted to know what everybody was talking about. Ditto with "The Da Vinci Code". I really enjoyed the first several books of the "Left Behind" series and the first movie (not the second or third movie, however.) "The Da Vince Code" was pretty good.

I also picked up "Harry Potter" because of all the buzz. I'm not sure I would have bought it for myself but since my daughter had it in the house, I read it, too. I enjoyed it.

However, I haven't read "Twilight". My daughter-in-law loves the story and has it memorized. I only saw the movie because my daughter-in-law played it at her birthday party. It was...okay. Frankly, I was disappointed. After all the hoopla, I thought it would be at least pretty good. I thought Edward's and Bella's romance would be as classic as Rhett and Scarlett's. My son and daughter-in-law have already purchased tickets to see "New Moon" on the first showing at midnight. They've already booked my daughters to babysit my grandchildren.

I like vampire romances well enough. I've written at least four. But this time, I feel obstinate. I don't feel like being part of the crowd. I'll get around to it in my own sweet time - if I get around to it. There are other books, other movies, other things I'd rather do first. Or maybe I don't care what the rest of the crowd is doing any more. If they go my way, fine. If they don't, fine.

What about you?



Recent posts you might like to read:

Nanowrimo Thoughts 

To Nano Or Not To Nano - That Is The Question

Why You Should Consider Library Booksignings

Make Sure Pretentious Words Don't Turn Off Your Readers

Are You Writing Me Into Your Book?

Dont Give Up Too Early

Must Write Must Write Must Write!!!


You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)