The portrayal of romance
[audio:http://sq.txdnl.com/mwt/t/h/u/n/thundered/playlists/189794/1517341.mp3]
Oo, what is this here? A podcast it seems! I really don’t like my voice on recordings, but I guess if I listen to it enough, I’ll eventually get used to it.
You know, I used to like those sappy movies where everyone fell in love at the end and lived happily ever after, but now that I think about it… I dislike them. They delude people into thinking that they’re going to have a happy ending, when in reality, not many people have movie-like conclusions in their lives. Not everyone is going to find the perfect person for them to be with, not everyone is going to end up with large amounts of money and the love of their life.
I want to watch a romance movie where the main character doesn’t hookup with another incredibly hot character and live happily ever after. I want a romance movie that portrays what love is really like rather than a perfect facade of what we all wish it could be. I also really don’t like romance books either, like… let’s see… a certain series that has captivated the hearts of its readers… Twilight. No, we’re not going to have vampire boyfriends or girlfriends that sweep us off our feet and make us fall to the floor with just a gaze into their eyes. As much as we all want our own personal Edward (Or Edweena, Edwinette, or whichever girl version you prefer) Cullen, it’s not going to happen. The only book that I liked in the series was New Moon because Edward wasn’t the main focus of the story. I would have much preferred the ending of New Moon if Edward hadn’t come back in the end, only to leave Bella and Jacob to themselves — but then again a book like that wouldn’t sell many copies. To guys who’ve read the Twilight series… stop trying to be like Edward Cullen and be yourself.
Honestly, you know what watching all these romance movies does to a person? It raises their standards for a partner. You expect them to be like the characters in your favorite movies, and when they’re not, you’re heartbroken. I want to watch a movie where the characters aren’t perfect all the time.
A good romance book that I would recommend people to read is the classic, Wuthering Heights. The characters are imperfect, flawed, and that’s what makes them beautiful. Their imperfections are the reasons why the story is so beautiful and haunting. Heathcliff is in love with a woman he can’t have, and he has to live with that for the rest of his life. This book, is the best portrayal of romance that I’ve read so far.
People are imperfect and that’s what makes us interesting. Honestly, if you found an absolutely perfect person on the street, would you be interested in them? Well, maybe you would, but I want someone who is flawed, someone who isn’t perfect, someone who is willing to open up their heart and own up to their imperfections.
Do you like romance books, novels, etcetera? If so, why?
By Maggie · # · on May 7th, 2008
Hmmm…. you bring up an interesting like reality? Hmmm… really makes you think.
I guess why I like romance novels (well, I don’t know what I read and consider to be a romance novel is similar to yours or anybody else’s but anyways) is because they are so unrealistic? Lol.. not like in that way but just that well personally I guess I wouldn’t be all that like into it if it were like so realistic.. I mean, that’s what our lives are, right? We might like I guess strive for that perfection in the books but really know that we aren’t going to get it and sooo, settle for it in our reading?
I dunno, just my personal opinion. :I
By Christine · # · on May 8th, 2008
Hmm.. i see your point, it gives some people a false impression. But… it’s also kind of like saying you don’t like fantasy because elves and hobbits don’t actually exist. Romance movies and books, for me mind you, are pure escapism. People in serious relationships know how hard it can be. And that it comes part and parcel good and bad. But a nice romantic comedy just gives a feel good vibe thingie. It’s all about knowing the diff between fantasy and reality.
ps. hiiiiiiii.
pps. byeeeeee.
By Saya · # · on May 8th, 2008
I hated twilight as it was way too cheesy to be taken seriously. I do however love romance novels. Though you will always know that romance like that doesn’t exist, it’s still good to read. Same with the fantasy novels I read. I agree wtih Christine, it’s a good form of escapism. There are some books you read for sheer pleasure of reading, not to be taken seriously
By Drawde · # · on May 8th, 2008
HAHA.
Podcast. Your voice isn’t that high. Actually, its pretty low.
You sound like your reading the blog entry, not speaking naturallly…
http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/jealousy.png
… -crickets- (about the edward/edwina part) .
By Alex · # · on May 9th, 2008
Yeh, your voice is pretty low.
I saw a commercial thing for Twilight. It looked kind of eerie…
By morgan · # · on May 9th, 2008
HOLY COW @ YOUR ACCENT. Oh my God. I’ve never actually heard an American accent that wasn’t on a song or a movie before. Actually, I don’t really know what I was expecting. I guess when I read something (eg. your blog) it always speaks in my mind as an Australian accent. And your voice is quite low (lower than the guys I know, at least).
Sappy movies make people feel happy. Isn’t it so wonderful to read about Edward and Bella in their happy little world, frolicking around, and Edward goes all emo and “I’m not good enough for you” and then comes back a few months later, because he’s so in love that he can’t POSSIBLY stand to be away from Bella?
People (or most of the female variety) like to read about danger, I reckon. Because Edward is so undangerously dangerous. Though I do agree with on the whole main characters being perfect and rich thing.
I want to read Wuthering Heights. But my friend said, and I quote, ‘the book was quite boring; the only interesting bit is when they get it on’. Uh.
By Erik · # · on May 10th, 2008
HA! I TOLD YOU, YOU HAVE AN AMERICAN ACCENT. (:
And you don’t sound like yourself. -.-
WOOOW…
you read every word, word by word.
ad lib alex!
By Regina · # · on May 12th, 2008
I don’t really want to read Twilight, even though many of my friends are crazy about it. I agree with you, the characters seem to perfect, and that’s not how it is in the real world. I’d rather read about someone who had imperfections and troubles, but learned to OVERCOME those obstacles. :P
By Christian · # · on May 16th, 2008
I badly want to read the Twilight series but during the last time I went to the local bookstore, they didn’t have any stock of the first book. I’m hoping that we’ll go to the mall later so I can look for a copy of it.
By Samanta · # · on May 18th, 2008
I like to experience through reading what I cannot in real life. That’s why I’m a sucker for happily ever-after endings. Nevertheless, I can find enjoyment in crude reality once in a while, so I’ll give Wuthering Heights a read when I can.
Nice website btw.