1/16/2016

Chick Lit Romance Books Are Popular

By Michael Barnes


People may scoff at the conventional 'boy meets girl' plot. However, it's proven success means that it's an ever popular theme in literature and all the genres that spin off the written word. Chick lit romance books are here to stay, and there's good reason for that.

After all, almost every woman has grown up with the idea of meeting the perfect someone and living happily ever after. Most men dream of the perfect girl - the perfect 10, the one who will be all in all to them. There's nothing wrong with these fantasies, and most people actually have at least one relationship that seems to fulfill that dream.

It's a fact that being in love is a great feeling. People may dismiss the first rapture as infatuation - and they may be right. But who cares, when falling in love makes every single thing sparkle. Even reading about tragic love affairs - when circumstances interfere (like for Romeo and Juliet) or love is one-sided - arouse strong emotions that people enjoy experiencing.

Of course, a truly skilled writer can engage the reader's sympathy for a girl not quite so beautiful. The new wife in 'Rebecca' was a much lesser light than the glamorous first wife. However, that was fine with the hero of the tale, who only wanted to forget the drama of his time with Rebecca, beautiful and treacherous. In the time-honored tradition of Cinderella, the girl is often poor and the man rich, but there are infinite variations on this theme. It's more modern to have a penniless but admirable young man attract the eye of a rich heiress, who has learned the emptiness of her privileged life.

Whether it's the Cinderella story or a modern reversal, it makes good reading. The inevitable misunderstanding or noble refusal to drag a loved one into mysterious complications moves the story along, but it's the emotional connection that is central and most compelling. In skilled hands, the characters live and breathe and the story line makes sense. Who cares if the formula has been used before?

Any of these scenarios can be true enough to life to make readers enjoy the process, and some are brilliant. The recent vampire series that took readers and movie goers by storm is just a clever twist on the same old same old. However, the engaging characters, the very real dangers they encounter, and the fact that everyone was pulling for the happy ending makes these books unforgettable. In fact, many people have favorite heroines and heroes that are as alive to them as their own family members.

Some of the classics are just this kind of reading. 'Pride and Prejudice', 'Persuasion', and 'Sense and Sensibility' never go out of style. 'Wuthering Heights' is another one that most girls love and to which critics give acclaim. "Romeo and Juliet' of course is the pinnacle, and there will probably never be an end to revisions of that one.

There are great romantic novels and not so great ones. No one should be ashamed of liking this kind of book, as long as they enjoy them. If you also want good literature, choose your authors wisely. There are many that are worth following, with fans eager to read their latest remake of 'Romeo and Juliet'. You can choose historical, vintage, contemporary, or science fiction settings. Whether it's knights in shining armor or star travelers, the interaction of heroine and hero lights the way.




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