T O P I C R E V I E W
Woodstock
Member # 734
posted 08-02-2000 12:43 PM
Ok, I've been reading stuff published by Harlequin for about 2 years now. I don't read only that, but I do read romances pretty frequently. I'm afraid that this will ruin my outlook on relationships and life. Not that I'm stupid or anything; I know the difference between fantasy and reality, and that not every woman on Earth is a beautiful, skinny WASP who will fall conveniently in love with a rich, tall, strong, oftentimes jealous handsome WASP male. ...but can this stuff be creeping into my subconscious? I mean, the books send out the message that it's ok for a guy to be violently jealous and unreasonable and overbearing and chauvinistic because, after all, he loves the girl and just wants to protect her and all. Can reading this affect my relationships later on?
Angelise
Member # 128
posted 08-02-2000 12:59 PM
Woodstock, I used to read a lot of romance novels. Specificly a series called "Love Stories" which is a series aimed for teenagers. ANYWAY, my point is that it's possible for you to get a waroed sense about relationships but once you find your self in one you realize just how unrealistic those stories are to real life.I mean who wants a jealous bf who goes balistic just cuz your hanging out with a close guy friend. SOrry that's not my idea of a good time.
But hey that's just my opinion. lol.
Angelise
------------------ Be creative - not created
Due to lack of intrest tomorrow has been cancelled.
Heather
Member # 3
posted 08-02-2000 02:09 PM
Ruin your outlook on life? Not if you know that fiction means "made up" (and it sounds like you do) and when it comes to cheap romance novels it means "female wet dream," for both the authors and the publishing companies alike.However, it may kill brain cells. Personally, as both a writer and a pragmatist, I can't read that genre without keeling over laughing that it makes millions upon millions of dollars, usually because what it is is pornography you can get away with reading on the bus.
Try reading some classics, like Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. It's still soft, mushy and often tempestuous, but it's also incredibly well-written and has a plot and strong female characters.
HotGrrl99
Member # 105
posted 08-03-2000 03:41 PM
In my opinion, most of that romance novel crap is just a bunch of BS that authors write to make money off of the gullable female public. None of my real life relationships ever came near the crap you read in those books!!
Heather
Member # 3
posted 08-03-2000 06:04 PM
...and thank god.Men who have tried to play White Knight with me usually ended up with a few bruises and very sore egos.
Pink_Lemonade_03
Member # 277
posted 08-09-2000 04:54 PM
I certainly hope not b/c I've been addicted to romance novels for years! It's very doubtful that a romance novel is going to totally change your outlook on relationships unless you want it to.