Bookie Brunch- 27th November

Welcome to the Bookie Brunch

So sorry its up soo late, I was having issues with the Internet connection.

So today Sasha Soren and I bring to you Bookie Brunch (its almost dinner time now on my end of the world!) this Sunday! 

Your Host today will be:

Kiwi 

 and my Guests today will be..

Jodie Lane from Booksforcompany
Lizze from Elizziebook.com
Christina the vlogger
Peep from Attack of the Book
Michelle from Book Briefs





The Question:
 Are relationship-oriented dilemmas (girlfriend-boyfriend relationships, to be specific), important for the success of a novel? 
Related topics to consider: An example of a book without this particular type of twist, that's still a page turner of a story?


I've got two guest over on time, the rest shall arrive shortly. Until then, let us begin. Feel free to join the discussion. Pull up chair, grab a drink and some food and type in your inputs in a comment.

Jodie

 + 

This is one of those questions which I feel has a simple answer - It depends on the book.

I actually read a book recently that I felt only had a romance in for the sake of the romance. I didn't feel the romance was real because everything was so rushed, why did they suddenly get those feelings for each other? It  just isn't real.

Whereas I feel some books wouldn't be the same without the romance and probably wouldn't be as successful. For example I recently finished Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer and feel that a big part of this book is the love triangle. I am really gripped by this book because I am intrigued as to who Calla will choose and her feelings. 

So in conclusion I think it totally depends, if the author feels the book doesn't need romance then don't put it in! I feel readers (well I do!) will dislike a book if the romance is just put there for the sake of it. It must be a real, heartfelt romance between the characters which must show through the authors writing.

Lizee


(she hasn't picked out her choice of beverage and food for the brunch..yet..)

Since I read mostly Young Adult fiction, I'll be taking these

questions from this perspective.

It really depends on the focus of the novel.  If you're reading a

coming-of-age novel, addressing romantic relationship dilemmas is a

part of the spectrum of dilemmas one may face as a young adult.  Most

young adult novels deal with relationship dramas of some sort, whether

they be romantic, family, or friendships.

I can name a boat load of books that use romantic dilemmas to put a

microscope on a character's faults and helps show how the character

still needs some growing up.  I wouldn't call it a twist, but it is an

important part of these books.

Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Lola and The Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg (which is ALL about relationships)

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green (about a guy who has dated 19

girls named Katherine)

Shiver series by Maggie Stiefvater

Confessions of Georgia Nicholson series by Louise Rennison

Scott Pilgrim series by Brian Lee O'Malley (Fighting the evil exes

count, right?)

Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson

So we've been joined by Peep

 and her delicious batch of Pumpkin Bread

("Up until about 3 years ago I had never tasted it. I had no desire to because it didn't sound good. At all. Now that I've tasted a good batch, it's hard to resist. It's so yummy!" - Peep)

Hmmm, if you had asked me this last year I would have said no. I would have said that it's more of a gimmick to keep the reader engaged. Now that I have been reading more and more books I can see how important it is to the overall storyline in a romance novel. Let's face it, it would be kind of boring if they just met and fell in love and that was the end of the book. It doesn't have to be something over-dramatic, just something that will make them realize how awesome they are for each other. If the romance is not the main point of the story (for example, the main character is trying to make a cross country trip), then I could do without the romance drama. I don't think it's important at that point. If I were reading that story, I'd rather read about her getting stranded at a rest stop because the car was stolen, rather than them getting mad at each other. Wait, unless he's her ride and he leaves her stranded, then that solves both problems!

One thing I do not like, and don't think is important at all, is a love triangle. I hate those with a passion! I know there are some people who love them or don't mind them, but not me. I've given up on books because of love triangles. I get mad and feel bad because I know that at least one guy won't get the girl he wants. 

I can't think of a single one (example)! Unless it's a novella. I searched but couldn't think of one. Maybe I didn't try hard enough...

and Michelle

with her glass of cold OJ and...("I'm just getting over a cold so a nice big glass of cold orange juice would be great! And maybe a croissant and some bacon haha"- Michelle) 

  

Thank you for including me.

I've thought about my answer to this question a lot. Initially, I wanted to say that relationship centered dilemmas were not needed for stories at all, but the more that I thought about it, the more I saw how integral they are to most books. I read mostly ya, and it seems like almost all that I can think of off the top of my head have some sort of relationship drama. At least a little. Even in the books that end happily ever after, they had some sort of problem.

I think it is helpful to divide books into two categories however. I would divide them into contemporary and paranormal. I think relationship centered dilemmas are even more crucial in contemporary books. They are more focused on realism and teen issues, relationship issues being a main one. I think that's why you see so much relationship centered dilemmas. There has to be some strife to keep the books interesting. 

However, I did think of an example of a paranormal/magical book that did not have a relationship centered dilemma and was certainly a page turner. The first and second Harry potter books! I can't include the whole series because relationships and inevitably problems developed later on when they got older but in those first two books there really were none.

I think that some paranormal books can get away with it because they have a lot more to focus on. They have magic and other worlds and other creatures that the focus doesn't have to be on relationship problems. But again, most ya books will still have them because that's such a common theme. 

Thanks this was fun!

My thoughts..



This question struck me while reading Wintergirls by Laurie Anderson. The entire book kept me engaged until the end, despite lacking a romantic relationship (the brief chemistry between Lia and Elijah was just some plain chem, nothing else). I am currently trying my hand at a novel/story in which I've introduced "the boy" and "the girl" but I am still trying to decide whether they should be involved or not.
Today, a majority of the books seem to HAVE to include a little lurrrve. Especially YA, a vamp boyfriend, a fallen angel protector, a charming bad boy, a sweet and understanding but neglected boy, and so on, the list is endless. The point singular- female authors letting their imagination wild. LOL. Just kidding *laughs*
I think Love sells, everybody ALWAYS wants to hear about how "that girl and that boy" hooked up. If its in a book and their working together its a "so-kiss-already". Eventually the plot ends up relying on them. For example their romantic speed bump pauses the progress of the mission at hand (he kissed another girl so no saving the world from the wrath of the dead until he apologizes!). 
I am a sucker for love stories, but there is only so much I can handle. It can get tiresome when all stories end up with love getting tangled up.Sometimes a good ol plot without all that romance is good, like a thriller novel or romance.
But on some levels, I guess that is just how human relationships work. All authors have to establish a setting, connect with their reader and give the character personality and depth. I guess the most important relationships are the boy-girls ones. Like a guilty pleasure (for some) and a habit for the rest- gossip.
That was some tangent, but concluding my answer, I think not. But sadly, I also think the opposite is true. Today's Best Sellers are an illustration of it- Twilight, Percy Jackson, even Wimpy Kid has a thing for Heather. Though I could use those self- helps and cook book to justify otherwise. *grins*.

Thank you so much fellow guests for coming over and my audience for today's brunch. Here is some  "Goodies up for grabs" for my loverlee reader.

About: Delightful boxed set of illustrated note cards featuring writer
Charlotte Brontë (Jane Eyre) and her sisters; her sisters were
also novelists - Emily Brontë, who wrote (Wuthering Heights)
and Anne Brontë, whose best-known work is
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

Shown above: Preview of individual card designs

More: Nice quality card stock, pretty colors. Cards all feature
charming illustration and a Brontë quote. Each card approximately 5.6
x 4.2 inches (14.22 x 10.66 cms.), set of 16 cards and envelopes
included in attractive souvenir box. A wonderful treat for a book
lover, especially someone who might have a favorite title among the
several novels written by the Brontës.

Details: To win this charming box of stationery, please leave email
info and thoughtful or interesting comment below. A winner will be
picked at random. If host and guests agree that a specific visitor
comment is substantial, outstanding, or in some other way has
particular merit, they can override random.org pick at their
discretion.
International . Through December 31, 2011, 12 midnight EST.

Brought by: Sasha Soren (Random Magic). More about Random

Magic can be found below - feel free to browse. On a quirky side

note, the Brontë sisters are also mentioned in Random Magic-

we find them at a somewhat unusual party. The host, at any rate, is a

little unusual. Then again, possibly so are some of the other merry

guests - like Mark Twain, Lord Byron, and Edgar Allan Poe.

Find Random Magic: Print Edition / Kindle 

Explore Random Magic: YouTube 

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