Thursday, January 20, 2011

Sappy Romance

Okay, I SWEAR this is not turning into the romance blog. Pinkie promise.

. . . but I do have another post today on love (or lurve, which ever you prefer.)

First, watch this very short commercial. COME ON, just watch it.

*wipes tears* *blows nose in hankie* . . . What? You didn't get choked up? Be honest! (Minor side note: Kate Winslet is a FABULOUS actress. I basically have a lady crush on her.)

Anyway, back to love. Here's the funny thing about love, it's like egg omelets. Everyone likes theirs differently. When you talk about love, especially the love we read about, the opinions vary on the best way to portray it.

Some people like sweet, funny love.

Some people want slow building, realistic love.

Others want tempestuous, we-fight-and-then-make-up-in-a-hubba-hubba-big-way love.

And some, (gonna include myself here,) enjoy big, sweeping, swoony, running-to-meet-each-other-on-a-bridge-in-Paris love.

I'm not going to lie. I have a soft spot for sappy romance. You may not think it's realistic. (Well, you clearly haven't met my husband and I . . .) But the fact is, it's FUN. It makes you feel good. It makes you cry. It makes you cheer. I love when the romance in a book or movie can do that. THAT'S what I want to make people do. That commercial. I want to capture that feeling in a novel.

How about you? What's your favorite type of love (or lurve?)

11 comments:

Natalie said...

Awww, cute.

I'm a fan of light and funny love, most of the time. But I do like it sappy occasionally. :)

Bombshell Char said...

I never thought I'd actually write a romance--in fact I believe I made some ill-fated promise to myself once that I wouldn't, because, like you say, it's hard to get it right.

But my current project has a romance in it. Not an overwhelmingly passionate or hot-and-heavy romance, but a charming, make-you-smile romance and I like it. I hope when all is said, smooched and done, it feels real. Or else I'll have to axe the whole thing!

abby mumford said...

i've seen that commercial on tv and it made me weep then too. sigh, so good.

i like a lot of variety in my love stories (sweet, funny and slow building, realistic and running on a bridge in paris) probably because i'm still searching for my own and don't want to limit my options. :)

Diana said...

Ren! Where did you get that recording of my first date with Gary? jk ;)

Ah Romance! For me, the more dramatic the better :)

Jill Kemerer said...

I love romance! And perfume commercials. And those old International Coffee commercials (Jean-Luc?). I'm sappy--I'll take my romance any way, just keep bringing it!

Ruth Josse said...

I love love in any form. Light, grand, sappy, raw, passionate. I'll take it all! I even have a soft spot in my heart for those cheesy Hallmark romance movies.

Janine said...

I love all the kinds of love, but I especially love a good story which includes some epic jealousy. So horrible to live through, so fun and juicy to read. Yup, blame me for all the abundance of love triangles out there.

Sophia Chang said...

oh HECK yeah! I have goosebumps on my _entire_ body from that commercial. I have absolutely no problem with saptastic stories and when a couple can make me cry, when I wish with my breath held and fingers crossed for them to finally get together, then the novel's a winner in my mind. (Maria Snyder's Glass series)

lora96 said...

I like the realistic slow burn type of love story but, honestly, I like me some grand sweeping Thorn Birds, too.

And Kate Winslet could not be more gorgeous.

Renee Collins said...

Natalie-Light and funny can definitely be refreshing when you've read a lot of the sappy stuff. :)

Charlotte-Ah, yes those romances have a way of sneaking into stories. And why fight it? They're fun to write!

Abby-Yay, a fellow weeper! :) I'm definitely with you, variety is important. I'm happy with all types.

Diana-I just wanted to share you and Gary's amazing love story with the world.

Jill-Hmmm, now I'm going to have to go look up those International Coffee commercials.

R.J.S-Yes, I'm with you. :) Any kind of love works for me. There just has to be love. Nothing kills my interest in a book more than the lack of romance.

Janine-Ooo, jealousy is a good one. Very potent. And very common when love is new.

Sophia-Me too! I still get goosebumps, and I've seen that commercial many times.
Also, I'm totally going to check out that Glass series. Thanks for the recommendation!

Lora-The slow burn can be awesome. Very gratifying when they finally have that moment when it all comes together.

Amanda the Aspiring said...

I think I have to agree with the majority--I love love of all kinds, done well. =) And jealousy is always good, as long as it's resolved in the end. Like Abby, I want to keep my options open. ^_^