  Romance/Love
This week: Edited by: Fyn  
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He is not a lover who does not love forever. -- Euripides
When you love someone, all your saved-up wishes start coming out.
~ by Elizabeth Bowen (1899-1973) ~
There is no remedy but to love more. — Henry David Thoreau
Other men said they have seen angels,
But I have seen thee
And thou art enough.
~ by G. Moore ~
Real love stories never have endings. -- Richard Bach
Men always want to be a woman's first love - women like to be a man's last romance. -- Oscar Wilde
The greatest thing you'll ever learn
Is to love and be loved in return.
~ From "Unforgettable with Love" by Natalie Cole
What lies behind us, and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
The most precious possession that ever comes to a man in this world Is a woman's heart. -- Josiah G. Holland
We were two and had but one heart. — Francois Villon
Seduce my mind and you can have my body,
Find my soul and I'm yours forever.
~ Author Unknown ~
Love and desire are the spirit’s wings to great deeds.
~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ~
...and my favorite....
Those who love deeply never grow old; they may die of old age, but they die young. — Arthur Wing Pinero
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Who reads romance novels? Do men? And will they admit to it? I was curious. I felt I had a reasonable understanding of why women read romance, but I wondered if men did too and if so, why they made that choice.
I feel that the main reasons people read romance novels are as follows:
1. Renewal. That sense of relaxation and refreshing of the spirit during those times spent reading a romance novel.
2. Hope. In the day to day, humdrum ordinary life most of us lead, the exciting, adventurous lives of the characters give us hope that better things may come, that there really are happy endings and that our men really are passionate heros after all. (even if they do masquerade as couch potatoe-d, hockey watching, beer drinking, loud snoring anti-heros much of the time!)
3. Predictability. We KNOW everything will turn out fine at the end. We know she'll get her man, that he will end up with her and that they will walk blissfully off into the sunset. This of course being compared to reality where we do not always know that the rent will be paid, that the bill from fixing the car will be affordable or that the roof can last another year...or so.
4. Escape (see numbers 1 and 2 above) Even more, it is a way to vicariously live another's life, if only for a few hours. After hanging off the cliff, dangling from the breach, fighting off those renegrade Scotmen, saving the lost kid and outsmarting the villain, Tommy and Susie fighting over whose turn it is to set the table or who hit whom first just isn't as annoying. We can solve those issues.
5.Learning. While all historical romances may not be spot on as to historical detail, they are full of period information, other lands and wonderful places to explore.
6.and last but not by any means least, Heart. Love, passion, romance...the things that make us sigh, and smile, and cry and just get all warm and fuzzy. The things that rarely ever happen in real life, but that are fun to imagine. BTW--24 roses worth of rose petals scattered on bedsheets sounds romantic, but squished red rose petals turn white sheets several pinkish hues, are a pain to clean up and clog vacuum cleaners. (Let's hear it for those poor over-worked and under appreciated ladies maids of yore!)
So why might men read romance? It sounds logical to say for the same reasons, but is it?
I asked about 200 people (half male, half female) that came in as customers at my gas/convenience store the following questions.
1. Are they readers and when and what was the last book read.
2. Did they read romance novels.
3. Why or why not.
Well over two thirds of the entire number polled responded along the lines of
1. Can't remember the last time they actually read a book.
2. I read too much stuff at work.
3. I don't have time to read the newspaper let alone an entire book.
Of the remaining people, far more listened to audio books while commuting to work than curling up with one to read. Of these, romance novels ran neck and neck with action/adventure. Authors mentioned were Danielle Steel, Nora Roberts, John Grishom, Clive Cussler, Amy Tan and JK Rowling.
Most of the guys looked at me like I was out of my mind when I asked if they read romance novels. One gentleman laughed saying it was lady porn. Another told me (after looking over his shoulder to see if anyone could hear him) that he would read them to get ideas for his girlfriend, and that as long as no one caught him, they were good...but the guys at the plant would have a field day with him...so shhhh don't tell.
One man reads them to his wife whose eyes can't make out the large print any more and they have a ball reading them together. Another said he listens to them while commuting because it is relaxing, and doesn't require any thought. Mind candy. Then he added that they also gave him insights into the way his wife thinks/reacts.
One said he'd read a couple of them when his wife finished them to see what she liked about them. Said it gave him ideas until he tried to copy one from his wife's favorite book and she got all upset. (I didn't ask any further questions about that!!)
When I asked some of the men about why the reactions to reading romance, I was informed it was the 'gender thing.' 'Real men don't eat quiche' and all that. It isn't (pick one....cool, macho, manly) Yet they couldn't really give me a good answer as to why. Nor could they explain why it was perfectly acceptable (in their eyes) for a woman to read action/adventure, but not for a man to read romance.
I asked my other half his opinion. Why would anyone was his question. Read to learn...read about hunting or sports or....(Been there, heard that all before!) *grin*
He doesn't care that I devour them, as long as he can pick up the latest hunting or golfing magazine.
Obviously, this was in no way a scientific poll. But it did serve to give me some understanding. At the very least, maybe someone should try writing a romance from a golfing, wild game, football watching, beer drinker's view point. Maybe not.
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This week's treasures...all newbies...check 'em out!
| |  | Salve Called Freedom (E)
A short, simple poem describing the bondage of being alone with no escape and no outlet.
#1407842 by Echo  |
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#1407820 by Not Available. |
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#1407701 by Not Available. |
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Building upon my unofficial survey, I'd appreciate folks taking a moment and filling out my wdc version of the same questions. Thanks :)
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Romance/Love: April 02, 2008 Issue [#2315]
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