A. Do you read love stories?
2. What do you think makes a really fine love story?
III. Must someone die in a story in order for it to be satisfying?
4. What makes you gag, put the love story down, and walk away forever?
E. What’s the best love story you ever read (no fair saying the Bible)?
(thought of a sixth): What book did you take with you on your last vacation?
That is all. Thank you for your participation.
A. Of the pithy romance novel type, no. But if it’s wrapped up in a grander story — and appropriately so — then maybe.
2. Realism. Brokenness. Sacrifice. And a manly man.
III. No. And ew, that’s morbid.
4. Graphic discussion of the goings-on in a bedroom that’s not ours… if you know what I mean. Also cheesiness. And the absence of any of the things mentioned in #2. Oh, and noticing that it was written by Nicholas Sparks… that fact alone will make me walk away, and quickly.
E. Quo Vadis.
Manly men, yeah baby, yeah! I’ve never read Quo Vadis! Methinks I should get my hands on a copy…
A. Yes. Pretty much all kinds. Even pithy romance novel types.
2. Character development. Watching people change.
III. Only if there’s a really evil person who deserves to die. Otherwise, better not.
4. Shallowness. Especially if the shallow person doesn’t change, but even if they do, it’s pretty annoying.
E. Is it too cliche to say Pride and Prejudice? Because that’s a pretty classic love story.
Not cliche at all! Although I have to say I prefer Emma over P & P, mostly because I prefer Mr. Knightley to Mr. Darcy. Heretical, I know!
A. I like the romance set within another larger story- the romance not being the sole focus.
2. When there’s a struggle to overcome, usually of the inner sort of struggle, such as in Pride and Prejudice.
III. I don’t like death in stories. There’s enough of it in real life.
4. Conversations, actions that don’t hold to reality. Like the conversations in “The Notebook”- yuck. I will not read anything by him again.
E. Pride and Prejudice. The early X-Files (I know, not a book). Aragorn and Arwen relationship in the Lord of the Rings.
Love your answer to III…
A. Yes, but not seeking it out as a genre by itself, though I think this is just because the genre has been sullied by a whole ton of bad writing and heaving bosoms
2. The best love stories I’ve read give you delayed gratification, without making the wait painful to live through, iykwim? Pride & Prejudice comes to mind as an example of this.
III. Not to me. I sometimes prefer it if no one does. But I’m a sissy.
4. Characters lacking flaws. It seems to be the thing lately to write ‘perfect’ characters who have a perfect love. Also I dislike most ‘love at first sight’ themes.
E. ‘Redeeming Love’ – Francine Rivers. ‘Beauty’ – Robin McKinley. ‘Little Women’- Louisa May Alcott.
LOVE Francine Rivers. But oh dear, no love at first sight, huh? How about irresistably-drawn-to-one-another at first sight?
1. Yes, I read love stories. But not only love stories.
2. Overcoming hardship, character growth.
3. Not in my opinion
4. Foul language; also the graphic bedroom scenes.
5. “The Last Valentine” by James Michael Pratt. And I must be the odd ball here—-I love everything by Nicholas Sparks, especially “The Notebook”.
Poor Nicholas has undergone some fair amount of slander over here in my neck of the woods; maybe it’s just sour grapes on my part? At any rate, he’s crying all the way to the bank!
First – Lauren’s comment about the genre being “sullied by bad writing and heaving bosoms” is hilarious! And so true… OK, here are my answers:
A. I avoid “romance” novels, but love as part of a bigger story and a broader theme is fine.
2. The characters, situation, and the emotions must seem realistic. I don’t think the world is full of sultry, lusty women with nothing better to do than pine for a dashing Prince Charming to rescue them, and I don’t want to read about them. Ha!
III. No
4. When any part of it is implausible; that’s when I roll my eyes, say “oh, please, NO!”, slam the book shut and walk away.
E. Sense and Sensibility, The Thorn Birds, Gone With the Wind, Dancing at the Rascal Fair, Recipes for a Perfect Marriage, Time Traveler’s Wife, A Marriage Made at Woodstock (this one is about unrequited love)
Adrienne
I have not read Time Traveler’s Wife; does it contain heaving bosoms?
A. Do you read love stories? Yes, both Christian and non.
2. What do you think makes a really fine love story? Good writing, believable characters that could be your friend if they were real, depth, learning, change…
III. Must someone die in a story in order for it to be satisfying? YUCK. NO! I hate when people die in stories.
4. What makes you gag, put the love story down, and walk away forever? graphic sex, nasty language, stupid conversations to the point where it’s no longer believable.
E. What’s the best love story you ever read (no fair saying the Bible)? I readily admit I’m not a classics kind of person (would rather watch them on Masterpiece Theater!), so I’m going to say the Mitford series by Jan Karon. The way Father Tim falls in love for the first time at 62 is so real, so heartwrenching, so beautifully written….I read these books over and over.
(thought of a sixth): What book did you take with you on your last vacation? Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson. The best book I have ever read (barring the Bible).
I confess I did not make it through the first Mitford book because I am just that cynical…maybe I should try again…
A. Yep.
2. Characters that we not only identify with, but truly respect and want to be more like.
III. No.
4. Sappiness.
E. I’m very partial to Jane Eyre, and to the Mitford story romances, but I think I’ll have to go with Pride and Prejudice.
(thought of a sixth): I forgot to pack one. It was sad.
now that IS sad. Couldn’t you buy one?
A. not directly, but a little romance thrown in for good measure is wonderful…currently have been rereading the Mitford stories
2. misunderstanding between future lovers is always a boon i.e. Pride and Prejudice, my own love tale…
III. Yes, emotion in stories is good, it doesn’t have to be a main character, someone remote on the edges will suffice…like the expendable crewman
4. Any overt sexual references, steamy love scenes…and adjectives like hot, slutty, daring, rippling, convulsive…
E. hmmmm…I hate to say this but Elizabeth and Jim Elliotts on again, off again as they waited on the Lord…I mean you know they are going to hook up…but you don’t know when…and then…it’s short-lived…the tragedy, the drama…then her renewed passion to serve those very people who killed her husband…such a picture of Christ’s love…a grand love story will always trumpet loudly Christ’s love for us…true love…lasting love…loyal…unending…you get the gist…
6. Sorry, it was more of the same…Rose Diebler’s Evidence Not Seen…a wonderful book that I highly recommend
You are far too deep for your own good.
A. Not for that purpose, if it’s in the story and it makes sense sure.
2. It’s convincing and a manly man. Usually in a historical setting.
III. It depends on the story. Usually no.
4. Unconvincing or overly trashy stories.
E. I do have some mad love for Pride and Prejudice and Gone with the Wind.
6. The Sweet Potato Queens Book of Love was loaned to me for my hospital stay after I had Caroline. I didn’t read at all I just sat and looked at my baby instead. I have no idea if it was any good. I haven’t had a real vacation in years.
I would never call Gone With The Wind a love story…
If my book is set in the here and now, can’t that technically be history too?
A. ‘course!
2. really fine writing. humor, grit.
III. only if it’s done properly. Fred, for instance, was a mistake, while Dumbledore was perfect.
4. smarm, smarm, and more smarm. when the guy apologizes for kissing the girl. be real, dude. you’re not sorry.
E. Much Ado About Nothing; Jane Eyre; Unshaken (Francine Rivers’ take on Ruth…or does that count as the Bible?
)
when was my last vacation?
The beach in Texas, 3 years ago. Same as mine! lol…and I heartily agree with your III…
(sixth question) I just finished “Just Courage” by Gary Haugen during some recent “free” time (vacation: what is that? I do not know that word) and… I’m not sure if this is going to disqualify me as a worthy commenter, but I devoured “The Chestnut King” (the third book of N.D. Wilson’s “100 Cupboards” trilogy) last weekend. I’ll admit it, I’m a sucker for some good juvenile fiction when it’s of that quality.
I love juvy fiction too! Reading the Percy Jackson series atm…
A. I enjoy a good yarn. If it happens to tell a good love story, I’m down with it.
2. I refer back to the answer for A. If the premise of the story is compelling to me, if the writing is good and the characters are well constructed then it’ll be a fine story in my, uh, book.
III. Not as a general rule…if it works with the flow of the story, fine. But I’m not looking for stories where people die, as a general rule.
iv. Implausibility. Gratuitous anything – sex, violence, heartstring tugging, foul language. When employed properly, those things don’t offend me, but as the main thrust of the story – BORING! Bad writing. Characters I don’t like or relate to in some way. Not long ago I found a book I absolutely inhaled my senior year of college. Couldn’t read it fast enough. I remembered how much I’d enjoyed it back then and picked it up to re-read it. It was awful! I cannot fathom what 22 year old me found compelling about the book! Talk about gagging and walking away forever!
e. Rosamunde Pilcher’s “Coming Home”. “Sense and Sensibility” is my Austen fave. Of actual people, “John Adams” by David McCullough – a biography sure, but I love the story of John and Abigail.
6. “Portrait of an Unknown Woman” by Vanora Bennett. A love stroy as it happens, but one firmly centered in the workd of art history and the Protestant Reformation. Also a bit of a mystery. Pretty fantastic story. Also, if you haven’t read it, “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”. A superb story about many different things, that also happens to have plenty of romance.
I JUST finished “TGLAPPS” and enjoyed it, although I rolled my eyes at one HIGHLY-obligatory character designation, which irritated me. I also absolutely love the story of John and Abigail. sigh. Had to laugh at the 22 year old you and her choices in literature…reminds me of several times I’ve re-watched a movie I liked from those days and embarassed myself to death…
A. Do you read love stories?
Absofrigginlutely.
2. What do you think makes a really fine love story?
Interesting characters, a good plot, and good dialogue. Written from both points of view.
III. Must someone die in a story in order for it to be satisfying?
NO!! I HATE it when someone dies! I like happy endings.
4. What makes you gag, put the love story down, and walk away forever?
Bad writing. Unlikeable characters. No other plot.
E. What’s the best love story you ever read (no fair saying the Bible)?
The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon. Hands down. I love it because it’s amazing writing, detailed, and real. It follows the relationship through good and bad, and throughout their lives, even as they are grandparents.
For a love series that is more fun and less time consuming, I really enjoyed the McGreggor books by Nora Roberts. Goes through all the children (and some grandchildren) with the Patriarch of the family (The McGreggor) plotting all the matches. They make me laugh. I like love stories that make me laugh.
(thought of a sixth): What book did you take with you on your last vacation?
My life is a vacation. I read constantly. Lately, mostly Nora Roberts and Janet Evanovich (she always makes me laugh). I dig Susan Wiggs as well, but Nora Roberts gets the blood pumping a little more, while Wiggs plays your emotions more.
Ah, happy endings. They really can’t be beat. I think sometimes the current trend is to think happy endings are not for intelligent people. To which I blow huge raspberries.
A. Do you read love stories? Romances, no. I read a lot of classics, which are the best kind of love stories–usually honestly told with full and rich characters.
2. What do you think makes a really fine love story? Love that does not come easily, not mushy love, but love that grows into love.
III. Must someone die in a story in order for it to be satisfying? No way.
4. What makes you gag, put the love story down, and walk away forever? I’ve never read a “romance,” so have never gagged that I can recall. The closest being Janette Okie books that are so hokey and filled with sermons and predictability. That makes me gag and put the book down.
E. What’s the best love story you ever read (no fair saying the Bible)?
Jane Eyre
(thought of a sixth): What book did you take with you on your last vacation? Barchester Towers
Janette Oke makes me gag. Involuntarily, but still. Another one who’s crying over my criticism, I’m sure…all the way to the bank. sigh.
oohh, I like Kim G’s #2. thumbs up!
I JUST blogged about this! http://hilltophomeschool.blogspot.com/2010/02/is-happily-ever-after-really-too-much.html
It’s either Happily Ever After or leave me the heck alone!
Sorry, I just realized I probably look like a spammer putting my blog in the comments, but it just struck me as funny that I just did a blog post answering these very questions, and lo and behold, there were your questions.
I’m not a spammer, really!
I believe you.
A. yes, I love to read them!
2. When there is a mystery involved–sometimes it doesn’t work out for the two people to be together, but that is real life. I like them to be realistic.
III. NO way!
4. hokey predictability! and lots of preaching. I can’t stand that. I’ve read love stories full of faith, but without the preaching and they are wonderful!
E. Pride and Prejudice. Love, love love it! I also adore Lynn Austin–Eve’s Daughters
(thought of a sixth): Can’t remember–vacation–what’s that??
Yes, please…spare me the preaching; subtlety is becoming a lost art…
I realize you are asking these questions because you are looking for some ideas for your own writing. I want to say first that, if you write a book the way you write in your blog, I’ll buy the book. Ok, on to the questions:
A. Do you read love stories?
Absolutely. I love romance novels. However, I have certain favorite authors; most others I will not bother with. I have even thrown a book or two in the trash, they were soooooo bad.
2. What do you think makes a really fine love story?
I like “real” characters, not perfect ones. Who cares if the slim, gorgeous, smart, compassionate, humble girl can catch the hunk? If the hunk can overlook some obvious character or physical (or both!) flaws, all the better! I also like a good dose of humor in the story.
My preferences usually run towards historical, 18th or 19th century mostly; Scotland will almost always guarantee a read for me (unless it’s an author I know I don’t like); ditto on time-travel.
III. Must someone die in a story in order for it to be satisfying?
Um, no. I like what Rose said, if it fits in, it’s ok. Death for its own sake or done just to add obvious emotion or “thrill” – yuck.
4. What makes you gag, put the love story down, and walk away forever?
I hate hate hate stories where the two characters are attracted to each other, but spend the whole book denying their feelings because each thinks they are “wrong” for the other, and they are being “noble” GAG. Also, bad dialogue. And of course, just bad writing itself. Oh, and syrupy, preachy, Perfect characters and story lines. Ick to Janet Oke, and quite a bit of Christian “Romance.” I also won’t read Sillouettes or Harlequins. Contrived stories and bad writing. Ick.
E. What’s the best love story you ever read (no fair saying the Bible)?
I couldn’t pick just one. I enjoyed the Gabaldon series, though some of the books towards the end were GAG in places. But the overall story of Jamie and Claire was good. Historical, time-travel, AND Scotland. I was in Heaven LOL.
(thought of a sixth): What book did you take with you on your last vacation?
Hmm I couldn’t tell you. I’m sure I’ve read 40 books since I went on vacation a few years ago. Every week I go to McD’s and read before I do my weekly shopping; does that count? LOL My favorite authors to bring along are Lynn Kurland, Mary Balogh, and Julia Quinn. Romance, easy reads, but humor and wit, and not a lot of naked bosoms. All three are great at dialogue, and their women are usually smart and “real.” I also like Nora Roberts in small doses, though the last one I read was a futuristic time travel, and she didn’t do it as well as Lynn Kurland does; but maybe that is because of my preference for historical rather than contemporary.
Oh, one more thing, I love love love books that come in series, where the second book takes a minor character from the first and grows a story from there; and you see again the people from the first, etc. The Nora Roberts series about the MacGreggors was great for that, and almost all of Lynn Kurland’s characters reappear in each other’s stories.
Other than the obvious Austins, what do YOU like to read?
I have also thrown books in the trash. I would have thrown them in the fire if there had been one handy at the time. I guess I’ll have to check out the MacGreggors…as for ME, I don’t get to read grown-up books as often as I would like, but the last book I read that I REALLY enjoyed was The Secret Life of Bees.
A. Yes, when a part of another story.
2. I think sweet things that are done for the other person in the love story are good. I also like it when the people in love are like best friends.
III. No, death is not satisfying to me at all. I’d rather them live happily ever after.
4. Things that seem overly dramatic or wouldn’t happen in real life (especially on the part of the male gender). I can’t think of a good example, though.
E. My two favorite ones are in YA books. I loved this one The Truth About Forever and The Hunger Games. I liked both of those books because of the love story. The Hunger Games was not a romantic book at all.
(thought of the sixth): I don’t remember my last vacation, but I read all of the time. Hmm, I think last summer I might have read The Host when I went home to visit my parentals.
Best friends, yeah, that’s a theme that will NEVER get old *cue Taylor Swift’s “You belong with Me”*…love it, especially since it’s my own theme too…
A. Do you read love stories? Yes – I’m a sucker for them, but it’s hard to find really good ones.
2. What do you think makes a really fine love story? Sacrifice, unconditional love, love that overcomes obstacles, love in spite of the characters’ weaknesses and flaws. You’ve won me over if you can make me both laugh & cry.
III. Must someone die in a story in order for it to be satisfying? Nope. No dying please.
4. What makes you gag, put the love story down, and walk away forever? I have an issue where I have an extremely difficult time ever putting a book down or walking away from a movie because my curiosity is way to insatiable and I must know what happens in the end. BUT…I agree with not liking cheesiness, preachiness, predictable plots and annoying characters.
E. What’s the best love story you ever read (no fair saying the Bible)? I too love “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers (based on the story of Hosea), I also really enjoyed the trilogy by Liz Curtis Higgs that was based on the story of Jacob, Rachel & Leah (so those are all actually based on the Bible, so do they count?)
I was also thrilled that somebody else likes stories in Scotland with time travel – lol!! I did really enjoy several of Lynn Kurland’s books as well.
YES to laughing. Redeeming Love is an excellent book, the closest thing to a holy bodice ripper you can get. ha! Honestly, I think those of us blessed enough to have lived a truly great love story in our own lives are hard to please when it comes to believing novels about the same…the sheer quantity of sub-par in publication only proves how few people know what true love is.
Wow! What a response! You’ve hit a favorite “nerve” here. Lots of good ideas,and I don’t think I can add much to it. I’ll be brief (haha!)
Yes, I read love stories, but I’m not necessarily drawn to them because they are presented as love stories – LOVE is a part of the story.
You can tell a really fine love story because it will mainly consider sacrifice as a component part, even if it’s all about one or both of the parties learning that it is a very necessary part of Love, which is the exact opposite of the me-ism that is so prominent in our culture. If someone has to die in the story, it has to be tied in to sacrifice, not just gratuitious. It has to make sense. Dull writing will destroy a book for me, and that includes all the comments everyone made about cheesiness and predictability, etc. My favorite love story will always be “Kristin Lavransdatter” – an amazing book set in 12th century Norway. A generational tale of every emotion of love, bad and good, messy and glorious. And yes, people die. But boy, do they learn important lessons. It’s all about redemption! I love Pride and Prejudice too. Don’t we all?
I wasn’t on vacation actually, but it felt like I was – at Christmas, during the snow storms, I read “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society”. Wonderful! Glad you enjoyed it, Jenni. I was counting on it.
Some day when I’m ancient and crusty and have no one expecting anyone from me except to hit them with my cane once in a while, I will read Kristin Lavransdatter.
Btw, I have a copy of “Quo Vadis” I can lend you. I never read it until I snatched a copy someone had given to the library at church. Great story. They’ve also come out with a restored DVD of the movie which I want to get.
Slide that book over here, woman.
1. Not very often.
2. Real sacrificial love, not sex.
3. Good heavens, no.
4. Reading about someone else having sex. YUCK. Or even empassioned kisses. I have an imagination. I don’t need to read about it, okay?
5. The Mark of the Lion series of 3 books, by Francine Rivers. Holy cow, surely you’ve read them.
6. I can’t remember…isn’t that terrible! The last book I took to a doctor’s waiting room was The Lord of the Rings.
Okay, your number 6 MUST change, and soon. Doctor’s waiting rooms are no kind of vacation, lol.
YES I have read the Mark of the Lion series. I loved the story of Hadassah; she remains one of my favorite heroines of all times in fiction, actually. The third book fell a little flat for me, maybe because I wanted so badly to like it and I just felt meh.
A. Yes.
2. It’s best when the characters are really developed so it’s realistic that they’d fall for each other, but they still have flaws and it takes effort for them to make it work.
III. No.
4. There are very few books I don’t finish, but poor writing, combined with a bad story, will sometimes do it.
E. I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it.
(thought of a sixth): Gift From the Sea, by Anne Morrow Lindbergh – highly recommended
Gift from the Sea is a great book to read while by the sea, coincidentally…
I am the “anonymous” above – forgot to put in my info!
Okay, I am a little late to the game. I see you’ve already posted *your* answers in a post. Hee hee.
1. Yes. Of course. But not the harlequin-y ones. I really like ones that I fall into reading by accident.
2. Sacrifice. Actual trust. Real devotion, especially eternal devotion that is deeply honest.
3. F no.
4. Gratuitous sex. Look, I know what sex looks like and sounds like and smells like – I don’t need a step by step (or 1/2 step) description. If it’s the honeymoon night, and your kissing, and you go the bedroom, by all means end the chapter!! I get it, ok. I don’t want to have to go to confession because I read a book. Sheesh.
Oh, and cheating. Dude or lady who can’t be trusted don’t belong in no love story I’m ready.
5. So, I have missed a lot of classics (which after reading these comments, I think I better pick up some Jane Austen asap). I read a lot, or I used to read a lot. Now that I’m thinking of it, I can’t remember what the name of that last book I was balling my eyes out to while my husband laughed at my sappiness. So, I don’t have a ggod answer. Sorry.
6. Vacation? What’s that? Are you making up words for your own dictionary?
Seriously though, the most recent “love story” I read was the Twilight series. I stayed away for a long time ’cause I was like, wtf?, vampires?, really?! But seriously, they were excellent. No gratuitous sex. They waited till they were married to even do any married stuff and it was written tastefully and without details. Even though her baby is killing her, she won’t kill it (nice pro-life theme thrown in). The characters are real, have flaws, and occasionally mess up – but not in any kind of cheating way which is good. There is real devotion, to the point that it hurts sometimes. And I can always identify with the girl who doesn’t feel “enough” or “worthy” of the one she loves. So that’s a plus too.
A. Do you read love stories?
Indeed, I do.
2. What do you think makes a really fine love story?
When it really is about “love,” and not just plain ol’ romance or lust or whatever. When at least one character gets it right and puts the object of his/her affection above him/herself in a way that makes freaking SENSE.
III. Must someone die in a story in order for it to be satisfying?
Nope. Though it doesn’t usually hurt – as long as it’s done right, and it’s not just to get out of a funky plot gone wrong.
4. What makes you gag, put the love story down, and walk away forever?
Infidelity/fornication without consequences, masked as love. There is nothing more insulting than the physical part of love being upheld as ALL that love is. Also, the physical part of the relationship being portrayed as the glue that will get you through the “worse” part of “for better or worse” until death. Complete BS. I HATE THAT.
E. What’s the best love story you ever read (no fair saying the Bible)?
My favorite is the story between Elinor and Edward in Sense & Sensibility, although I probably relate more to Emma and Knightley…but a close second would have to be the story between Hadassah and Marcus in the Mark of the Lion trilogy by Francine Rivers.
(thought of a sixth): What book did you take with you on your last vacation?
I honestly don’t remember…we usually go home to family, so I don’t get a lot of reading time. It was probably a Francine Rivers book, though.
AACK! I forgot one of my all-time favorite romances – the slowly-grown love between Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe.
I knew I couldn’t pick just one.
Jenni –
I should have mentioned that the doctor’s office was my OB’s office and I got to have an ultrasound on my 6th little baby so…it wasn’t really all that bad.
I was wondering if you’d read Here Be Dragons, by Sharon Kay Penman. There is a little too much of the uh…heaving boosoms that we’d discussed here, but I could hardly put it down. It’s about Joanna, bastard daughter of the infamous King John. She marries the prince of North Wales, Llewellyn, and their love story is compelling at the very least. Even more so, Joanna and Llewellyn really existed in history and my very lucky friend who lives in England has ventured over to Wales and visited Joanna’s grave. It’s been several years since I’ve read it. And it’s not just because she has my name that I like it.
I second that Anne/Gilbert thing, although I often want to punch Anne in the face for being so hard-headed.
I love the Anne story so much! And the Here Be Dragons sounds awfully good, too…heaving bosoms aside…lol…
Oh, and a hearty “hear, hear” on the third Mark of the Lion book. Wee bit disappointed, I was.
Jenni-what do you think of Anita Shreve?
Have not read her! Do you recommend?