tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063922603642640669.post5977363605553087567..comments2023-06-06T00:26:56.266+10:00Comments on nindogs: All You Need Is Love (Or, Are Love Interests Mandatory?)nindogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00402469664507298689noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063922603642640669.post-27736175283070081722011-12-15T19:43:30.731+11:002011-12-15T19:43:30.731+11:00I don't like romance as a main plot, unless th...I don't like romance as a main plot, unless there is something deeper to the story. If there's a reason for the romance, and a main character learns something from it or grows in some way, I like it. I don't like romance just for the sake of romance because it starts looking like a cheap plot trick in my mind. Maybe it's just me. I like where the point of the story is delving into the characters and who they are and what they are about, and if there's romance on the side or as a main plot line, I'm totally fine with it. One of my favorite stories like that is the Queen's Thief by Megan Whalen Turner. There is so much depth and character development to the story. There is romance, and the fact that the main character is irrevocably in love is one of the main plot points of the story, but it isn't all about the romance. There's a war going on. There are characters doing things that don't have anything to do with romance. There is intrigue and secrecy and brilliant plot twists. I think that's what makes the romance better. It's a part of the story, not the whole thing. I see it like life. Romance is a part of a person's life, but it's not their whole life. There is more to them than just who they are in love with.amber colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05874229679458717329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063922603642640669.post-17447225868169348492011-12-15T05:06:04.240+11:002011-12-15T05:06:04.240+11:00I like my romances to be subplots rather than the ...I like my romances to be subplots rather than the main plot (in what I read as well as what I write). Altho I didn't mind TWILIGHT. I think teen girls love that romance aspect of a novel, however, and it is crucial but not mandatory for YA.Carol Riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14092209912983783974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063922603642640669.post-54274396237245083552011-12-14T21:14:38.746+11:002011-12-14T21:14:38.746+11:00It's interesting to consider romance and its p...It's interesting to consider romance and its place in YA since I can't think of any YA novels I've read which don't include it. I agree with what you said: romance is everywhere because it's what a lot of people want, and I'm part of that crowd.<br /><br />I also agree with some of the comments above in that I can get attached to certain romances - which generally leads to browsing deviantART for any existing fanart before creating my own. However, I do find plot (and overall writing style) to be important, and if a story is annoying me then chances are it has prevented me from forming a strong attachment to any characters, romance or otherwise, and will probably be put down, never to be picked up again.<br /><br />Additionally, romance - or tensions, or the possibility of romance - can sometimes get in the way if they're annoyingly written or strung out. This makes me want to either shout at the characters to let it go and get to the exciting dragon parts already, or to put the book down entirely (I'm currently proof-reading an unpublished novel with this issue. It has dragons, but not enough so far for my liking).<br /><br />Romance can be a part of both plot and characterisation and needs to be treated as such - how important it is depends on how you use it, and why you're using it.MissUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12128664128060956044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063922603642640669.post-69436122568148801192011-12-14T16:32:38.195+11:002011-12-14T16:32:38.195+11:00I'm totally with Emy here. sometimes the coupl...I'm totally with Emy here. sometimes the couple in the book just doesn't do it for me or their romance isn't interesting at all. if, then, the plot isn't up to par either, then I'll quit reading. while I'd keep reading if the plot was good despite a lackluster romance, I wouldn't keep reading if the romance was hot but the plot was crap (porn without plot, I guess).Jessica Silvahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405267450788581689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063922603642640669.post-57964304802913841092011-12-14T14:45:46.441+11:002011-12-14T14:45:46.441+11:00@Michael
Oh, you totally make sense! And I wholly ...@Michael<br />Oh, you totally make sense! And I wholly agree with your point. I think that a romance on top of a good story and even great writing skill is what creates these phenomenons in YA. <br /><br /><br />@Golden Eagle<br />I find that generally, I'm on a similar page to you. But when I find myself invested in characters, it makes the story all the more enjoyable.<br /><br />@Aimee<br />Exactly! You're right on the money about sequels. I find that often they lack something if they're carrying a romance across books in a series. I also agree with you about THE HUNGER GAMES with Katniss needing to thaw the hell out.<br /><br />@Emy Shin<br />I'm always so disappointed if a poor romance mars my opinion of a book, especially if I've been loving it the entire time.<br /><br />@Trisha<br />It is awesome re-reading books I used to love. I'm glad you enjoyed it! :)nindogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00402469664507298689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063922603642640669.post-91896847824259773232011-12-14T13:43:03.035+11:002011-12-14T13:43:03.035+11:00Yeah, I'm definitely one of those suckers for ...Yeah, I'm definitely one of those suckers for a good romance. I just re-read this Point book I first read when I was probably 12 or something, and I stiiiill love the love interest in it. He was the 'hated' one for most of the book but man he was so sexy and though the book has never won any prizes, it's still one of my favourites. I read the last few lines last night and muttered to myself, "I LOVE NEALE." For the record, these kids are like 16 or something, and I'm 31. lolTrishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16927558937796802496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063922603642640669.post-5309905094654237052011-12-14T11:15:54.111+11:002011-12-14T11:15:54.111+11:00If I weren't a Sci-Fi/Fantasy writer, I'd ...If I weren't a Sci-Fi/Fantasy writer, I'd totally be a romance writer -- so I prefer my YAs (both to read and to write) with a smidgen of romance in them. However, as you've said, I like it much more when the romance is the sideplot, rather than the main one, with the exception of a few contemporaries.<br /><br />I am much more likely to finish a book if I like the couples. I have sloughed through fanfiction with atrocious spelling and grammar <i>just</i> to see my favorite couple get together. However, a lackluster couple can likewise mar my enjoyment of an otherwise good story -- so it's a two-edged sword.Emy Shinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06841308748068494839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063922603642640669.post-20993961865034634412011-12-14T10:29:58.650+11:002011-12-14T10:29:58.650+11:00I'm a total sucker for a good romance - and it...I'm a total sucker for a good romance - and it doesn't have to be subplot. But it doesn't have to drive the book either. It just has to be engaging. Enviable. <br /><br />I think you're right that YA readers are usually on the lookout for this stuff. But I think it has to be done well, or not at all. <br /><br />For instance: I started reading Fitzpatrick's HUSH, HUSH series and got totally hooked by Patch. But he was the only part of the book I liked. He was the only reason I read book II. And the romantic subplot of that story was SO unsatisfying, I won't read book III because, what's the point? <br /><br />On the other hand, although I found the romantic subplot(s) of the Hunger Games series really unsatisfying, the story itself gripped me. So I kept reading, despite wishing Katniss would just thaw out and get it on with Gale already.<br /><br />You can imagine my reaction to the end of the series... but the point is, I read (and own) all three.<br /><br />Do romance well, or don't do it at all. That's my opinion. Of course, our definitions of 'well' will vary greatly.Aimee L. Salterhttp://www.aimeelsalter.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063922603642640669.post-51118585649087985922011-12-14T09:53:12.263+11:002011-12-14T09:53:12.263+11:00Romance isn't often something that drives me o...Romance isn't often something that drives me on as much as, say, plot or the writing style. And it's rare that I'm invested enough in what happens between the characters that I'll keep reading if I don't like other elements of the story.Golden Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08721520451194318436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063922603642640669.post-2735757529285655092011-12-14T09:26:57.235+11:002011-12-14T09:26:57.235+11:00I think that to separate out the romance from the ...I think that to separate out the romance from the story for analysis purpose does the book a little injustice. To clarify, I think that romance is appreciated all the more because of the greatness of a story. Take Harry Potter for example. J.K. Rowling's story is so riveting, so powerful, and so engaging that the romantic plotline is just icing on an otherwise delicious cake. If the story were boring, then I don't think people would care so much that Ron and Hermione kissed.<br /><br />The same goes for Twilight. For what it's worth, the story is pretty good. Ageless vampires attending high school pick out a woman who has a mysterious gift of powerful blood and then there's this war between the vampires and the werewolves and then on top of that...not all vampires get along (a vampire society if you will). Anyway, my point is that the romance comes out as awesome because the story is good.<br /><br />Am I making any sense?Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.com