April is the Cruelest Month

I hate the month of April. In the world of a college student in Central Texas, it means lots of allergies and lots of paper writing. Over the past month I have written over 50 pages of academic papers, not to mention a couple of scripts for class performances. Want to take a guess how much novel writing has gotten done? Anyone? Anyone? If you said not a whole heck of a lot, you would be correct. I miss creative writing! Right now, I feel like the most creative sentence I would write would be "Once Upon a Time."
But, just to prove I have been writing, I've decided to provide examples of the tortures they inflict on unsuspecting English majors in college. I promise I will write more this summer and next semester (when I'm having marvelous adventures in London instead of being chained to my desk chair).

"In particular, I want to address how the romance novel has affected women writers. During the early days of the novel, what we would now consider romance novels were outlets for female writers to explore on what terms marriage should occur and the role of choice within those terms. Helene Cixous commissions women in her essay "Laugh of the Medusa”, telling them, "Write, let no one hold you back, let nothing stop you...Smug-faced readers, managing editors, and big bosses don't like the true texts of women--female-sexed texts. That kind scares them" (Cixous 2041). Writing within the romance genre allows for female-sexed to reign supreme and explore different facets of the readers’ psyche. As a part of this, I also want to discuss the idea of androgyny and gender identity within the romance novels. Romance writer Linda Barlow asserts in her essay "The Androgyny of the Writer" that, “The various elements contained in [romance novels] function as internal archetypes within the feminine psyche. This includes the hero, whom I see not as the masculine object of feminine consciousness but as a significant aspect of feminine consciousness itself” (Barlow). The inner gender dichotomy happening within the mind of the reader allows for conflict and personal resolution in the outer gender dichotomy of the marriage plot that is happening in the novel. From this discussion, I want to move on and explore the male-female relationships that are modeled and matured within the lexicon of the romance novel, both in the novels themselves and in the discussion surrounding them." ~ an excerpt from my Literary Theory and Criticism paper over Feminist Criticism and the Romance Novel

"As a woman, there is not much Volumnia can control since; socially and politically she is subject to the will of men. But as a mother, she has a surrogate that she has taught to listen to and put into action her own personal agenda This sentence and the below highlighted one are essentially the same point, maybe make them neighbors or cut one to avoid repetition without growth. When she sees her son for the first time upon his return after the war, she tells him, “I have lived/
To see inherited my very wishes/
And the buildings of my fancy: only/
There's one thing wanting, which I doubt not but/
Our Rome will cast upon thee” (II.I.197-202). She speaks of his accomplishments as if they were hers . She has spent most of her life raising this man;him andnow he has fulfilled what she sees as his duty to her: he has brought glory to himself and to Rome. As a woman, her worth isn’t measured in the same way as a man’s. Her one job in society is to raise her child. Raising a child without a father makes his success or failure even more her responsibility than other mothers. Martius’s return to Rome isn’t just his triumph- it’s hers as well. All of his achievements are partially hers because she made him the man that he is." ~ an excerpt from my Capstone paper about the role of women in Coriolanus and King Lear by Shakespeare. 

My life is soooo exciting, isn't it? 

Count down to summer and getting to see my wonderful friends and family? 4 days.

We Are What We Read

We are what we read. Well, if that's the case I am a hopeless romantic with Victorian ideals living in a world who has lost faith in all of those.

Over the past several months, I have joined in the blog reading craze. Today, in one of the blogs I follow, literary agent Nathan Bransford asks readers what they think is the most influential book of all time. As part of his build up to this, he references another blogger who listed the books that most influenced his world-view. This got me thinking about what would be on my list. Which got me thinking about the people who wrote them.

I have read many books over the course of my arguably short life. My parents started reading to me at a young age and I would fall asleep to the sound of storybooks on tape. As soon as I learned how to read on my own, I hit the ground running and haven't looked back. Throughout my career as a reader, I have developed an affinity for certain writers. Several of these writers have stayed with me for many years and now, as I embark on my career as a writer, I have begun to notice how they influence my ideas as both a reader and a writer.

In no particular order:

Dad: Some of my earliest memories are of visiting my father at the local newsroom where he worked. Being a reporter seemed like such a glamorous job (I have since learned that it is not). As a grew older, I began to recognize that my dad was really good at his job. In a time when most reporters would rather sensationalize a limited number of facts, my dad maintained the old-school ideas about factual, un-biased reporting of stories that people need to know about. As I go through my own writing, I hope I can have as much care for details and the same gift for storytelling that he has.

Jane Austen: My heroine! It is no secret to anyone who knows me that Jane Austen is one of my favorite writers. I can't help but admire a woman writing in a man's world about women. The English major in me has a whole list of reasons why she's a brilliant writer. But, rather than bore you with that, I'll keep it simple. Jane Austen wrote stories that were socially relevant and she created what has evolved into the modern romance novel. Austen's characters are regular young women who work through and against society to marry the men that they love. She made room for uncomplicated happily-ever-afters and love that wasn't bought and paid for. Some people might rebel against the formal language and the trappings of Regency society, but that's what creates some of the romance of the tales.

C.S. Lewis: Disney may have introduced me to the world of fantasy and myth, but C.S. Lewis made me believe in the power of imagination. On the surface, the premise of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is quite absurd. Four kids find a hidden world in a wardrobe? Where it's always winter and never Christmas? And the animals can talk? I primarily read realistic fiction, specifically historical fiction, but this series and this author hold a special place in my heart. I remember when I first read LWW, I was totally consumed by the story. Lewis has a powerful gift for story-telling that I can't help but admire. At heart, they're simple stories, but the extent of the world he created never fails to astound me. I know a lot of people will say that Tolkein did even more and wrote longer books and even created a language, but he never caught my interest like Lewis. Lewis reached out and made me part of the narrative. Even today, my little cousin insists (when watching the movies, as she is to young to read the books yet) that she is Lucy and I am Susan. I think the sign of a good author is one who can absorb the reader like this and keep absorbing them every time they read it.

Louisa May Alcott/Laura Ingalls Wilder/L.M. Montgomery: I grouped these three ladies together because they were pillars of my childhood experience as a reader. On top of that, they are the ones who planted the idea of becoming a writer in my young brain. All three of them projected themselves into their main characters, so they all eventually became writers. I was enchanted by the imagery of Jo March sitting up in her little garrett writing late into the night and by Anne Shirley walking by the Lake of Shining Waters imagining stories. When I was 9, we took a road trip to Missouri and visiting Laura Ingalls Wilder's farm house there. The coolest part was seeing the desk where she wrote all of her books. All I could think of was: did she know how many lives she would touch? What would it have been like to be her? Now I sit at my own little desk to try and send my books out into the world.

Charles Dickens: I don't have much to say about Dickens, except that I am a huge fan. Academically, he and I have become good buddies and I anticipate getting to know him much better over the course of my career. I love the range of his works and the honesty he uses to present life in Victorian England. He very rarely pulls his punches, but he always manages to rescue his characters for a happy ending. And yes, he can be a bit wordy, but that's what creates such great images, right?




On to the modern writers! 

Meg Cabot: The brilliant, hilarious Ms. Cabot is one of the authors who has been a part of my reading list since I was a pre-teen and never really left it. I love her quirky, unique way of telling stories about real girls who deal with real issues. Not only does she tell her readers that they can be princesses and strong women, but she creates a balance between feminism and realism. I also admire her ability to creatively tell a story. In one group of books in particular (The Boy Next Door, Boy Meets Girl, Every Boy's Got One), she tells the entire story through e-mails, journal entries, inner-office memos, and personal notes. She has a huge writing range and appeals to such a variety of readers. I want to be her when I grow up!

Nora Roberts: What I admire most about Nora Roberts is her longevity. The woman has been producing NY Time Bestsellers for almost 30 years! Like most writers, she's had some books that aren't so great and kinda formulaic, but overall she still maintains a standard of being a compelling, interesting writer. I go through phases where I read her voraciously and then I move on, but I always come back. Right now, I'm especially addicted to her Bride Quartet that she's writing. She knows her readers and she knows how to grab their emotions and make them a part of the story. Emotions are the key component to being a romance writer and she is a master.

Stephanie Laurens/ Gaelen Foley/ Eloisa James: I include these three together because like the triad of writers from my childhood, they are the pillars of my historical romance reading experience. These women (to me) embody what it means to write historical romance. They use such vivid details and create characters that come out of the book and plant themselves in the readers' mind. They have honed the craft of writing romance into a fine art. Writers like them are taking romance out of the 1970s bodice ripper stereotype and into the 21st century as one of the fastest growing genres in the world (I will address this in a later blog after I do a bit more research). For several years, I have read them simply as a reader, enjoying their novels (some of which I literally couldn't put down). Now, I have begun to study them as a writer. I can only hope to be half as good as they are, but I'm going to try my hardest to meet the standard they've set.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips/Catherine Anderson: These two ladies are my favorite contemporary romance writers for two main reasons. One: Their ability to create modern characters with integrity and honor that don't give way to modern cynicism about love. It's easy to buy into romances that are happening in historical novels because they don't live in the same world that we do. Contemporary romance requires even more convincing and negotiating with readers' acceptance of the characters. Two: Rather than jumping from fictional world to fictional world, most of their careers have been spent writing in a sort of serial form. SEP introduces characters as minor players in one novel and gets you attached to them, then she develops them into main characters you are already rooting for without having to force a connection between reader and character. CA takes this a step further and uses family as a connection. I also can't help admiring the social issues CA tackles in her novels. Her heroines aren't perfect. One is a paraplegic, another is blind. Several of them are abused. They are real.

Possible future additions to the list or who I'm reading now: Lauren Willig, Janet Evanovich, Sarah Hoyt/Elise Hyatt

What writers have influence you? Who are you reading now?

My Oscar Wish List vs. Who Will Actually Win

I will admit to having not seen too many of the nominated films this year between school and a general lack of interest in most of them, but the ones I did see, I enjoyed. I am voting against Avatar because every year I’m anti-whatever-gets-the-most-nominations-and-I-haven’t-seen

Commentary:
- Watching Neil Patrick Harris opening and I must say WIN!!!!

-       Molly Ringwald and Matthew Broderick are adorable! I love that the Academy decided to do a John Hughes tribute! Hughes was brilliant at getting people and making life funny. He is missed.(“SAVE FERRIS!” ” It’s really human of you to listen to all my bullshit.”) Pardon me while I tear up a bit.
-       The chick who played Uhura looks like she’s pooping purple froth or something.
-   Oh, Ben Stiller. Was the Avatar dress-up game really necessary? Yes, we know you’re funny (not really), but did you really need to be blue?
-       Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner look bored and sound rather unintelligent and flat (Kristen Stewart more so than Taylor Lautner). It’s appropriate that they introduced the horror segment. Was it really necessary to have them present anything? On the other hand, it could be the only way they will ever make it on the stage at the Oscars, if they’re current projects are any indications of acting caliber. (Same goes for Zac Efron)
-    James Taylor for the In Memoriam segment is classic! Always the saddest part of the show 
-       Points for innovation on the Original Score presentation, but overall it just didn’t quite work. Most of the music was not hip-hop, break dancing/tumbling worthy. Ballet might have worked a bit better. It’s hard to reconcile the style of dance with the music. Up kinda worked, but not really. Avatar worked, mainly because it was the only piece with distinctive drum beats.
-       Almodovar and Tarantino: it would utterly terrifying to spend even one minute inside their heads. Seriously weird, but smart dudes.
-       What is with all of these actors and the totally unattractive facial hair? Why Colin Farrell? Why???
-       The costars introducing the nominees for best actor is soooo sweet! I love it!
-   I want to be as classy and elegant as Kate Winslet when I grow up!
-       Were four presenters from the Twilight Saga really necessary? Ok, Michael Sheen was appropriate and Anna Kendrick had to be there. The other two soo didn’t.
-       MEMORIES! AT THE CORNERS OF MY MIND! (That was for you, Mom). Barbra looked quite classy tonight. Yay for aging gracefully!
- Overall, a rather tame show this year, especially compared to the Hugh Jackman extravaganza last year. Funny and fairly on time, but tame.
- And predictable. I guessed every single one of the winners. That NEVER happens. That's how predictable this year was. Hopefully next year will be better. Music was quite good!

Best Picture: SECOND CHOICE WON!

Like: Up (second choice Hurt Locker)

Will: Avatar
Yay Hurt Locker! You came from behind to beat the technology giant! Socially relevant movie: check! 

Best Actor: CORRECT

Like: George Clooney or Colin Firth

Will: Jeff Bridges

Hmm…edgy, angsty character: check! Colin Firth should have won for his sheer adorability and George Clooney should have won for putting up with being teased all night. Still, very nice acceptance overall. He said man too many times though. What's wrong with dude :)? 

Best Actress: CORRECT

Like: Meryl Streep or Helen Mirren

Will: Sandra Bullock

I’m still skeptical about the movie itself and have not seen it, but I can’t help but be happy to see Sandra Bullock get an Oscar. She’s been one of my favorite actresses for a long time. She’s quite hilarious and brilliant. To console myself, I’ll think of this as a career Oscar.

Supporting Actor: CORRECT

Like: Stanley Tucci or Christopher Plummer (Go Captain Von Trapp!)

Will: Christoph Waltz

Was anyone else totally and completely confused by his acceptance speech??? It felt like I was watching a mini Tarantino movie: it kind of made sense until it just didn’t. 

Supporting Actress: CORRECT

Like: Penelope Cruz

Will: Mo’nique

Sigh. This award season was rather predictable. Edgy movie with virtual unknowns aka underdog? Win! Kudos for the Hattie McDaniel shout-out. 

Director: LIKE WON!

Like: Kathryn Bigelow

Will: James Cameron

My little inner-feminist is doing an extreme happy dance! YAY! First female director to win an Oscar!!!!!!!!! It’s about damn time!

Original Screenplay: Correct

Like: Up

Will: Hurt Locker

Let’s face it. Hurt Locker is just the kind of film the Academy likes. Anything edgy and dealing with controversial current events is an instant favorite with them.

Screenplay previously published:

Don’t really care, didn’t see any of the movies

Art Direction: CORRECT

Like: Anyone but Avatar (loved all the other movies)

Will: Avatar

Oh, Avatar. Yes, you were pretty and everything, but must you hog ALL the awards!

Make-up: LIKE WON!

Like: Star Trek or Young Victoria

Will: Young Victoria

Yay, Star Trek! You at least got to win something! Really fun movies very rarely get any recognition at the Oscars.

Costume Design: CORRECT!

Like: Nine or the Young Victoria

Will: The Young Victoria

How could she not win for mid-19^th century costumes for a movie about a “dead monarch”? And she even looks like a costume designer! Corsets always mean a win for the Oscars!

Original Score: LIKE WON!

Like: Up

Will: Avatar

Take that Avatar! Yay for the little animated film that could! Very pretty, sweet, appropriate music! Good speech too!

Original Song: CORRECT

Like: Either Princess and the Frog song or Nine song

Will: Crazy Heart song

It wins points because it was performed by Colin Farrell, but it’s so predictable for the edgy-angsty song to win. Nine’s edgy-angsty song was so good! Why couldn’t it have won?

P.S. That was so early for that award to be presented! I guess after last year’s horrible amalgam, they just opted to make it a normal award instead of a show-long process. Sigh

I miss the show-long process, it gave the audience a chance to actually experience the songs and maybe develop an attachment to them.

Animated Feature: CORRECT!

Like: Up

Will: Up

I’m sorry, but Up was just too adorable not to win! Pixar did an amazing job putting it together. I know,  I know, it was kinda depressing, but it was so sweet and heart-warming! Why can’t all movies be that good?

What were your predictions? What did you think?

Un-Sung Heroes of my Childhood

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking a lot about books I read as a child. Barnes and Nobles new “rating system” has made me realize how many books that I loved as a child have fallen out of favor with the current generation. There does not seem to be nearly as much a sense of nostalgia among teachers today. My teachers in elementary school always made it a point to read to us. Usually the books they chose weren’t whatever was new and hip; they chose books they considered to be classics. By the same token, whenever I asked my school librarian for recommendations, she would immediately steer me to similarly classic books. These books helped shape who I am today (a creative Victorian with a strong sense of feminism). They provided me with good, solid outlines of characters to immulate. I'm not fully versed in current elementary-level literature, but most of what I've seen appears to be geared more toward action, adventure and fantasy or superficial fluff about very materialistic characters. While that's all well and good, not all of these books provide the same ground work for a love of reading that my friends and I were privileged enough to have.

 So, in a fit of nostalgia, I’ve made a list of some of the favorites among my friends and me, and reviewed some of my top favorites.

Little Men by Louisa May Alcott- Most girls are told they should read Little Women at some point, but very few move past that and read this book. While I adore LW, I actually love LM more. This tells the story of Jo and her husband and the school they run for boys and girls in her aunt’s old mansion. It is a quite old-fashioned book, but I love the simplicity of what is expected of the children. They are good because they want to be and if they misbehave, their misdeeds are used to teach them how to do better instead of as reasons for harsh punishment. The capers that the kids get up to are amusing and refreshing. I always wanted to grow up to be like Jo March Bhaer and run a school full of lively children while being a successful writer. Jo was my idol- she was smart, witty, patient, and creative- and I’m still working to be as much like her as I can. I think this is a great book to remind kids of the simple joys of childhood that are missing from today’s society.

Mr. Tucket Series by Gary Paulsen- If you’re looking for a good, old-fashioned adventure tale, this series is great. Really, this author is great for adventure. Gary Paulsen writes these tales of boys out in the wilderness surviving on their own. In the Mr. Tucket series, Francis Tucket is separated from his family on the Oregon Trail and survives being a prisoner in an Indian camp, as well as learning to make his own way as a young man of the west, all the while searching for his family.

Stepping on the Cracks by Mary Downing Hahn- This World War 2 story was always fascinating to me. I not only loved the characters, but I also loved the complexity of the problems they ran into. Life in WW2 mid-western America was highly patriotic with nearly every family having someone off at war, but these two girls had to confront how to react to a deserter. Should they help him because they know he’s a good person? Or should they turn him in because he wouldn’t make the sacrifice their brothers willingly were making? While I enjoyed the rest of the series as well, this book packs an emotional punch that shouldn’t be missed.

Dear America/Royal Diaries series- While American Girl books were my gateway drug to historical fiction, the Dear America and Royal Diaries series were my brand of choice for most of my elementary school years. The groundwork for everything I know about history, I gleaned from these books. They made the people and places real for me. They also provided strong female role models who provided examples of perseverance, courage, and strength. The stories of these young women and their places in history became vivid and alive and I wanted to know more. I found myself spending hours researching the events that I read about. They helped to foster I life-long love of history, as well as of reading. 

Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary- This was one of the first chapter books I remember reading. I love reading about the mischievous Ramona and her practical sister Beezus. It was just a fun, enjoyable book. Reading books like this made me want to read more. (Side note: I am greatly disappointed in the casting choices for the upcoming Ramona and Beezus movie)

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine- I can’t resist a good Cinderella retelling and this book went above and beyond. Characters that in the children story were flat and rather uninteresting became quirky and complex and alive. Ella had to save herself from herself, as well as taking on her evil step-sisters and a misguided fairy. She didn’t wait around for the prince (who was decidedly charming and funny) to save her. She took care of herself and still got her happily ever after.

Some others that were popular back in the day:

True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

Orphan Train Adventures by Joan Lowery Nixon

Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar

Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia Maclachlan

Babysitters’ Club by Ann M. Martin

Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery

Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare

Teacher from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler and Jared Lee

Chicka chicka Boom Boom! By Bill Martin Jr., John Archambault, and Lois Ehlert

Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine

Boxcar Children series by Gerture Chandler Warner

Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene

Hardy Boys series by Franklin W. Dixon

Superfudge by Judy Blume

Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Ryland

BFG by Roald Dahl

The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

What was your favorite book in elementary school and why?

All You Need Is Love

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So, to continue my exploration of love, I’ll move on to movies. I was not nearly as appalled by the lists I found for movies as I was for books. Most of the couples/stories were not nearly as dysfunctional or problematic as the ones so highly prized in literature. Since there was not sufficient material for me to rant about, I’ve decided to just make a list of some of my favorite romantic movies and why.

Love Actually (2003)- This is just an awesome movie. Not only does it have like 80% of my favorite British actors and actresses in it, but it also shows great examples of a lot of different kinds of love. There’s unrequited love, young love, surviving life after love, love that transcends language, unconditional parental love, and love that throws off social expectation. One of my favorite story lines is the story of Liam Neeson’s character, Daniel, and his stepson, Sam. Sam’s mother just died prior to the story starting, so Daniel is trying to figure out how to raise his stepson without his wife. The development of the father-son dynamic is just adorable, especially as Daniel helps Sam navigate the perils of his first crush. My other favorite story line is the story of Colin Firth’s character, Jamie, falling in love with his beautiful Portuguese housekeeper, Aurelia, who doesn’t speak a word of English. Despite the language barrier, these two oddly matched people fall in love. The basic message of this movie that love comes in many forms, but everybody needs it in their lives.

Forrest Gump (1994)- (This one’s for you, Dad) Forrest Gump once said, “I'm not a smart man... but I know what love is.” And he did. He remained devoted to the same woman since the day he met her on the bus on the way to his first day of school. Forrest’s love for Jenny is the epitome of unconditional love. No matter how horribly she treats him, he still trusts her and his love never wavers. That love for her lasts even after she’s died from cancer, as he continues to tell her everything about his life with their son. Forrest Gump has the innocence to be able to give love to everyone who touches his life. He loves his mama. He loves his best friend, Bubba. He loves Lt. Dan. He probably even loves all of the people he tells his life’s story to. But the best love (in my humble opinion) is between him and his son, Little Forrest, because Little Forrest is the only one pure enough to accept his love without reservation.

When Harry Met Sally (1989) – “And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night.” That quote pretty much sums up the relationship between Harry Burns and Sally Albright. First they hated each other, then after not seeing each other for several years, they met and became friends. And eventually, they were so close that they didn’t know what to do without each other. I think the dynamic in this movie is fascinating. On paper, they don’t make sense. He’s this cynical, pessimistic realist and she’s the compulsive, optimistic perfectionist, but somehow, because they’ve become such good friends, it just makes sense for them to fall in love. She makes him think and he makes her have fun. What could be a better recipe for a happy relationship?

Beauty and the Beast (1991) – Sorry to disillusion you, Mom, but growing up this was probably my favorite Disney movie. I love the fact that the bookworm gets a happy ending. And, once again, unexpected love grows out of friendship. The feminist in me likes that the Beast must learn respect and consideration before he can win Belle’s heart. The romantic in me likes that in the end, she breaks the spell and they live happily every after. It is a children’s movie, but I think it is also a great example of love seeing past the physical and being about what’s inside of the person.

Sabrina (1954 and 1995) – aka The Ugly Duckling falls in love. Only it’s not who you expect. On paper, David Larrabee, is the perfect Prince Charming. He knows all of the right moves, he knows how to look at a girl just right, and he’s got heaps of money. Can I just say, BORING? His older brother, Linus, on the other hand, is much more complex and interesting. On the surface, he’s a cold-hearted bastard who only cares about making his business bigger and better. But, as is usual in these cases, he’s got a bit more to him than meets the eye. It takes a while, but eventually, both he and Sabrina see that they would be happier in their odd, more complex relationship, than they would be if she married his dopey younger brother and he kept himself locked up in suits and ties.

The Quiet Man (1952) – This movie, which could only be described as a masculine chick flick, is an odd example of love, but it works. The conflicts between old, Irish traditions about love and marriage clash with new, American views about love and marriage and a whole heap of fun ensues. At some points, it’s hard to tell if Mary Kate (Maureen O’Hara) actually loves Sean (John Wayne), but in the end, she does. Theirs is a stubborn love, but its true and that becomes evident when, even after being dragged through town and field, Mark Kate still kisses her husband and goes home to make him dinner. Sexist, but still, a great ending to a really, really funny scene.

The Princess Bride (1987) - “And wuv, tru wuv, will fowow you foweva...” Sorry, had to be done. Despite the fact that Buttercup is a complete moron, I love this movie. It is wonderfully silly and highly entertaining, plus it does tell the story of a love that (in theory) is quite epic. Westley goes through such an insane ordeal, all so he can keep his word and return to the woman he loves (although I don’t know why). Along with this typical love story, there’s also the great relationship between Fezzick and Inigo and the love that the grandfather feels for his grandson.

Pretty Woman (1990) - This is one of the first full-fledged chick-flicks I remember seeing. Somehow, outrageous hooker Vivian works her way past detached, reserved Edward’s defenses and her own and they fall in love. It’s a fairly standard Pygmalion-esque story, but I still love it. Especially the fire escape scene at the end. Classic!

The Holiday (2006) – I didn’t expect to like this movie, but I love it. It is one of the only Jack Black movies I can actually tolerate. But more than that, it presents two really sweet romances. Jack Black’s character Miles shows Iris, played charmingly by Kate Winslet, how to break out of her shell and become a strong, independent woman, with the help of old-school screenwriter, Arthur. On the other side of the world, the too-independent Amanda falls in love with Graham and his daughters, despite herself. She has to learn to trust and to listen to her feelings. On top of that, the interaction between Jude Law’s character Graham and his daughters is precious!

The Phantom of the Opera (2004) – Ok, all in all, kind of a tragic story. But, at the same time there’s a very sweet element to Erik’s love for Christine. I mean, I totally get why she chooses Raoul over Erik, but at the same time, I can also see just how much love Erik has for Christine. He craves affection and wants so badly to spend forever with Christine, but it’s an impossible love. He is too corrupt and too removed from society to be able to temper his feelings and carry on any sort of real relationship, and in the end, he realizes this. But, he continues to love her until long after she’s gone.

What romantic movies would make your list and why?

"For you alone I think and plan"

When researching for this blog, the lists I found when searching for “great love stories in literature” appalled me. 85% of the lists were filled with couples whom I would say were decidedly in lust or infatuated with each other. When I think of true love, I think of the C.S. Lewis quote, “Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.” Most of the couples our society appears to consider part of the greatest love stories in history most definitely do NOT fit into this definition.

In response to this, I’ve devised two lists. The first will be comprised of the couples that society thinks of as part of the great love stories. The second will be comprised of the forgotten souls that are actually part of the great love stories.

Society’s List and why I think they leave something to be desired:

1. Romeo and Juliet from Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare- sigh! The couple that everyone immediately thinks of when you say “love story.” Even as an 8^th grader, reading this for the first time, I knew that they were most definitely not in love. Romeo starts off the play in love with Rosalind, pining over her. Then less than 12 hours later, he claims to be in love with Juliet. He only really seems to care about himself. The same goes for Juliet. She knows the guy for less than a day and agrees to marry him. That’s not love. That’s infatuation. What’s more its juvenile infatuation. Then they go and completely ruin their lives for each other. Literally. The one improvement West Side Story made on this tale was that Maria at least had the guts to keep going after Tony got killed. Got killed, not committed suicide like Romeo the Idiot. Juliet then proves an even bigger idiot than Romeo by killing herself. What’s the point? Romeo is just horny, narcissistic, and fickle. Juliet is whiney, willful, and wimpy. The End. 

2. Catherine and Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte- I’m sorry, but anyone who thinks Wuthering Heights is a love story has either never really read the book or been smoking something. If anything, it is the opposite of a love story. It’s a hate story. Heathcliff is a manipulative, abusive, cruel bastard who makes everyone around him miserable. There are literally no redemptive qualities in him. He spends the entire story scheming to get what he wants and abusing the people he’s supposed to care for. And Catherine. Good grief. She’s a whiney, willful (hmm…sensing a pattern here), and self-centered brat. She goes around throwing fits when she doesn’t get what she wants and playing people against each other to get what she thinks is the best deal for herself. I’m sorry, but that is most definitely NOT a love story.

3. Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara from Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell- Rhett and Scarlett have a very similar relationship to Cathy and Heathcliff, except they at least have some good qualities. Rhett appears to at least care for Scarlett in some way and tries to do what he feels is best for her, even if he’s too selfish to succeed at times. And Scarlett is too wrapped up in thinking that she loves Ashley to really love any of her husbands, but Rhett especially. Really, Scarlett is too wrapped up in Scarlett. She is one of the most self-indulgent creatures I’ve ever come across. And in the end, she pays the price.

4. Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte- I don’t have as much a problem with these two as I do with the others. To a certain extent, it’s at least obvious that they have some sort of affection for each other. But you add in his secret, mad wife being kept in the attic and her weirdly controlling cousin and you get a few flaws in the make up. And then there’s the whole bit about him having to lose his sight and the use of his arm in a fire in order for him to be “redeemed” enough for them to be together. I’m sorry, but all in all, they’re just a bit too dysfunctional to be considered a “great couple.” 

5. Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald- Gatsby and Daisy really are carbon copies of Cathy and Heathcliff, but I felt they still needed to be brought up. Like Rhett, Gatsby at least seems to care for Daisy somewhere deep down inside. He just doesn’t know how to go about it. But it is really difficult to see why he likes her. She’s bratty, self-absorbed, and manipulative. She plays with people for amusement and only wants what she wants. She doesn’t care about Gatsby at all.

Now for My List. The real love stories.

1. Captain Wentworth and Anne Elliot from Persuasion by Jane Austen- Now this is how a love story is supposed to go (and I’m not just saying that because I’m basing my own novel off of it). They’re separated by circumstances eight years before the start of the novel. She’s persuaded to reject him because he’s not what her family wants for her. Then he comes back and over time they realize they’re both still in love with each other. But it’s not an instant “I love you”, “I love you, too” type thing. It’s gradual. First he trusts her and depends on her. Then she turns to him over someone else. And eventually, they admit they’re feelings in a mature, thought out manner and accept whatever fate brings them. 

2. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen- Ok, so I’m a bit of a Jane Austen addict. But the woman knew how to tell a good love story. Again, it’s not an instant love thing. The affection grows gradually over time. She realizes that he’s not such a bad guy. He helps her family. She accepts his proposal. It’s the little gestures, rather than the big ones that make a difference in this story. They reveal that Darcy is a kind, compassionate man underneath his frosty exterior. And they show that Elizabeth does have a softer side that she hides underneath her wit and brains. In the end, they reach a natural climax to their story and get married because they love each other.

3. Beatrice and Benedick from Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare- These two are an odd couple and I wasn’t sure if I should include them on the list, but they’re two of my favorites. They fight back and forth for the entire play, but somehow end up in love anyways. I think that’s probably what made me put them on this list. There’s such passion in their relationship. You can just imagine them still bickering when they’re 82, but the bickering won’t matter because they truly care what happens to each other. He’s willing to fight and possibly kill his best friend for her, for heaven’s sake. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.

4. Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe from The Anne of Green Gables Series by L.M. Montgomery- I know most people wouldn’t even think to include Anne and Gilbert on a list like this, but I’ve loved their relationship since I was a little girl. They were friends first, then slowly they fell in love because of their friendship. They depended on each other as they grew up and that constancy led to a marriage that lasted more than 50 years. Sure, they bickered and picked at each other, but in the end, they were always there for each other.

5. Margaret Hale and John Thornton from North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell- Again, not a couple you would normally find on a list like this, but I can’t help it. They’re one of my favorites. The whole novel is full of little indications of how they feel for each other, but they’re both too stubborn to come out and admit it until the very end, when they’ve both grown enough to be able to fully appreciate they’re feelings for each other.

 To me, these last five couples are what love has the potential to be if we care more about the other person than we do ourselves. The jaded part of me thinks that society elevates the other couples because they're selfish and self-indulgent and don't try to really love. 

So, readers, what do you think of my lists? Who would you have put on your list? 

Accidentally In Love

February, as most of the Western/English speaking world knows, is the month in which Valentine's Day occurs. Ah, Valentine's Day- or Singles' Awareness Day as I like to call it- a day for lovers to express their true feelings for each other (usually through over-priced, commercialized items, but that's a subject for an entirely different blog).

In honor of this auspicious holiday, I'm looking at how love is expressed in our society. First, I'm going to look at one of the most ancient expressions of love- music. (I'll go into books and movies and poetry in later blogs)

Music is generally used when words alone aren't enough. I, personally, am a big fan of romantic, lovey-dovey music. I have fantasies of Josh Groban or Michael Buble showing up at my door and serenading me before asking me to run away with them. I adore the old Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole songs that used to fill the air at my great-grandmother's house.

But love songs are changing. I looked up several different "Top 100" lists of love songs and the songs in the top 10 ranged from "Hey There Delilah" by the Plain White T's to "Your Song" by Elton John. I was quite surprised that old standards like "The Way You Look Tonight" and "Unforgettable" weren't even close to the top. In defense of the oldies but goodies, I somehow doubt that my great-grandchildren will ever listen to "Hey There Delilah."

But I digress. Love is the most common theme in modern music. Lost love, searching for love, celebrating love. Sometimes words by themselves just aren't enough to express an emotion as powerful and timeless as love. So what songs do you think of when you want to express love?

Here's my top 10 and why: (in no particular order)
1. "Love Song For No One" by John Mayer- I always feel drawn to songs like this. It's like the artist is sending their love out into the void, just hoping that someone will send it back to them.

2. "So She Dances" by Josh Groban- One word comes to mind when I hear this song- adoration. The sensual inevitability of the love in this song never fails to wrap me up like a warm hug. I also loves how it weaves this love story just like a dance, flowing over and under and around.

3. "As Time Goes By"by Jimmy Durante- I love this song because it cuts through the surface elements of love like a kiss or a smile and gets down to the most important part- being happy and making that one special person happy. I think a lot of that is lost today, which is really quite sad.

4. "Everything" by Michael Buble- This is how I think true love should be- the person you love should embody every good thing in life. And on top of that, there's such awe expressed in the chorus. This type of love never becomes a habit- it is always a blessing and, more importantly, a blessing that will endure.

5. "Come What May" by Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman- True love should survive everything (even horrible things like tuberculosis and licentious rich dudes and death). Love should last forever- Amen.

6. "The Way You Look Tonight" by Frank Sinatra- I don't exactly know why, but I've always found this song incredibly romantic. This love could exist for the length of one dance or it could last for eternity and whichever way it goes, the memory of that night will endure.

7. "Can't Help Falling In Love" by Elvis Presley- Sometimes, falling in love is just inevitable. Logic and life have no say in it. Some things just can't- or shouldn't- be stopped. And no outside for can change that. It is simply a part of the natural order.

8. "If I Loved You" by Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones- I've always loved this song because it is a denial of love even as it describes a very substantial form of love. And at the same time, it addresses the very real fear that we'll miss out on love. If there really are soul mates, then if we wait to long, we could lose out on our chance at happiness forever.

9. "Something There" from Beauty and the Beast- Love between friends is usually gradual in developing, but in my opinion, the most enduring love there is. Love involves a level of trust that I think demands friendship and this song expresses that magical moment where it becomes obvious that the affection of friendship has grown into true love.

10. "Accidentally in Love" by Counting Crows- Hmm...love can just sneak up on you when you least expect it. Go figure!

What songs would be on your top 10 love song list and why?