It’s the hardest thing, I think, for a writer to wiggle her way out of – what do you do when your character is caught between desiring two different people?
If you write erotica, it’s Menage A Trois time, baby! But if not, what do you do, knowing that a good portion of your readership might be rooting for the other person once your character makes a choice? I used to read this series of YA novels – Sunfire! That’s what they were called. Thanks Google! – in middle school, the ones where the title was the chick’s name and they were all set against some event of historical significance – the one I remember best was set against the Johnstown Flood in Pennsylvania, which, if you haven’t heard about it, is about the most awful train wreck of an event to hit a town ever. The heroine of these books was almost always caught between two men, but the authors would set up the plot such that you knew the heroine would choose the one who wanted her to be true to herself as opposed to the one who wanted her to conform to existing societal expectations.
But what about triangles that are hard to break? Here are a handful of existing triangles and what I think (and what Candy thinks of the ones she knows about). Feel free to add and offer your opinion!
Archie Andrews/Betty Cooper/Veronica Lodge (comics) – I say he should have picked Betty. Veronica would always have been tied down by her father’s money and would never have really appreciated Archie. Betty, meanwhile, would have to grow a backbone before she was worthy of being half of a partnership. Otherwise she’d just worship Archie and that’d get old.
Dylan/Brenda/Kelly (90210) – I say Dylan/Kelly, because Brenda was a demanding, whiny beyotch.
Stephanie Plum/Ranger/Morelli – Morelli – hands down. I like Ranger and I think he’s hot, but Morelli, *sigh*. I have a huge weakness for how much he adores Stephanie and how much he wishes he didn’t.
Buffy/Spike/Angel – I liked Spike. Angel was too broody and marshmallowy for me, even as he was twisting heads off shoulders.
Note: Candy suggested Anita Blake and the triangle that existed earlier in the series, but since Anita started picking up powers like “charms on a charm bracelet” (TM JenFu) and by doing so started humping anything that moved – nice way out of a triangle, I must say.
Annie/Crash/Nuke (Bull Durham) – This one existed nicely through a state of imbalance between Nuke and Annie as she knew more than he did, but he was destined to move out of the minors while Crash knew that he wouldn’t ever return to a major league roster. So in the end you knew Crash and Annie would end up together, but the interplay of jealousy in the beginning of the movie? Rwor!
Candy’s Turn!
Aragorn/Arwen/Eowyn – OK, movie version or book version? Movie version: GODDAMN I found Liv Tyler and her anemic, whispery, breathy lisping so fucking annoying. Whereas Viggo as Aragorn? Motherfucking hotttttttt. And Eowyn kicked ass. She was pretty hot, too. They would’ve made hot asskicking babies together, plus the chances of Aragorn’s offspring inheriting a speech impediment that would’ve made them sound like a high camp queen on Valium are much, much lower with Eowyn.
Book version, Arwen was the only way to go. And really, the book version of Aragorn had some serious Stick Up The Ass Syndrome—anyone remember his totally ridiculous declamation about being the last of the Dunedain and lo, behold the broken sword that is made whole again and yadda yadda yadda when he first meets the Rohirrim? I mean, DUDE, if I were one of the Rohirrim, I would’ve gone RAR! and totally run him through before he’d gotten, like, a third of that damn speech out of his mouth just to shut him the hell up. I liked Eowyn in the book too much to saddle her with Aragorn. Plus she ended up with Faramir, who was also pretty cool.
Archie Andrews/Betty Cooper/Veronica Lodge (comics) – Fuck Archie. Betty and Veronica should totally get it on. ‘Cause the two of them? They’re pretty hot. Archie? Goofy, not all that good-looking, not all that bright and kind of an asshole sometimes.
Dylan/Brenda/Kelly (90210) – Eh, I don’t care. Personally, I think all three of them deserved to die in an fiery crash as just punishment for inflicting the plague of 90210 upon us. Because seriously? That show drove me batshit bonkers. A plague on both their houses!
Buffy/Spike/Angel – I’ve only seen three episodes of Buffy, but I gotta say: I like Spike better. Angel’s just a bit too mopey for my tastes. But hey, he’s the one who got his own spinoff….
I’m sorry, I can’t get past you choosing Morelli over the embodiment of hotness that is Ranger to even think about more love triangles. I think you can expect so much Ranger lust to be expressed here that I’m going to have to un-check the “notify me of follow-up comments” so my mailbox doesn’t crash with the deluge.
I like Miles Vorkosigan/Elli Quinn/Taura myself, which Bujold resolved by bringing in Ekaterina.
Just tell me what is up with Archie’s hair? How does he get the grid pattern on the sides? B&V find that attractive?
Sarah, I remember those YA books. Sabrina, stuck between American rebel and British spy. So fun.
Thank you for your take on Anita Blake. Gad, is there any creature on earth she won’t jump now? Ewwww.
Oh God – I about spit my morning caffeine on the monitor when I read about Betty and Veronica hooking up. And for the record, I love the suggestion!
As for Plum – Ranger. Sorry. He’s Cuban. He kicks ass. He drives cool cars. What more could a girl possibly want? But realistically I think Steph will end up with Morelli. They drive each other completely insane. If that isn’t a sign of true love what is?
I used to read those Sunfire books when I was younger. I remember really enjoying the drama.
Soap operas are known for dragging out romantic triangles until even the casual viewer is ready to throw things at her television.
Great post 🙂
Oooh, I LOVED those Sunfire books. Sabrina was my favorite. Another good one was set in the Civil War and the heroine fell for one of the Yankee soldiers occupying her house. I think it was Amanda, but I’m not sure.
As for Ranger vs. Morelli. I’m a cupcake all the way…GO MORELLI!
ROFL at these. I’m still torn between Ranger and Morelli *le sigh* I’m all ready for that menage NOW… I totally think they’re both delicious, but since you’re talking about who STEPHANIE should get and not me, well, Morelli, of course.
I was cracking up at the LOTR one too, niiiiice way of putting it. I like Liv Tyler, but you’re right, that voice was anNOYing! And I didn’t feel the love between them too much. (Yes, dangit, I DID watch, I wasn’t drooling over Legolas the entire time).
Oh, those Sunfire books? Loved em. Still have several. Tried to pass em on to my teenage daughter but she’s too into Harry Potter and anime to care. 🙂
Betty and Veronica? What boy from my generation hasn’t stroked off to the thought of Betty and Veronica?
Here’s my contribution:
Frazier/Diane/Lilith (Cheers): Lilith, hands down. What did those men see in Diane, the simpering, bubbleheaded waif? Whereas Lilith: how can a guy not drool over a woman named Lilith, particularly when she’s a raven-haired snappy-dialogued vixen-dominatrix like Bebe Neuwirth?
Pip/Estella/Miss Havisham (Great Expectations): Sure, she’s young and beautiful, but Estella’s a total bitch. Miss Havisham, on the other hand: you know that frustrated bridesmaid has been doing every guy in town, especially the barrister, Mr. Jaggers. Miss Havisham has that older woman allure about her, right down to the cobwebs in her hair. Shtup Miss Havisham, Pip, shtup her till she can’t think straight.
I could go on, but I don’t want to hijack your blog :cheese:
Seems I’m living behind the moon. Except LOTR and Stephanie Plum (I’ve read the first book in the series), I haven’t even heard about most of the other pairings, let alone know anything about them.
In the book I have no problems with Aragorn/Arwen, they are destined for each other. Nor do I think Aragorn comes across as haughty, LOTR stands in an epic tradition and is best compared with books like the Illiad, Beowulf and the Song of Roland. Movie Arwen sucked, though, and there was so much chemistry between Aragorn and Éowyn, while she and Faramir got way too little screen time to make a romance plausible. Though the romance is somewhat hastened in the book, too – I can’t get rid of a feeling that after Tolkien decided not to have Éowyn die on the Pelennor, he needed a match for her and Faramir (who “walked into the book” according to Tolkien) came just handy. -;) Though book and movie Faramir are HOT … *drool*
Ok, imaginging Pip getting it on with Miss Havisham? UGH. My legs are crossed. But good call on the Frazier/Diane/Lilith and Sam/Diane/Rebecca Cheers triangles. Seriously, I don’t understand what people saw in Diane either. Hubby and I were just talking about the women we know that guys are ga-ga over yet we just don’t understand the attraction.
However, let me just explain my Ranger theory here: Ranger is all about fantasy fulfillment. Mystery guy, lots of cars, lots of money, swoops in to save the day with gadgetry, car loaners, and giant men named Tank trying to stop Stephanie from blowing up the joint (again). He’s totally white-horse-knight-rescue fantasy for her, and that’s not real. It’s hot as hell, and quite satisfying on the temporary level, but it’s not real. There’s also little risk for Ranger, since he moves in and out of her life with little emotional consequences for him, whereas there is some risk for Stephanie, thus creating an imbalanced foundation for long-term attachment.
But with Morelli, there’s emotional entanglement there on both sides, with both people unwilling to admit how much entanglement there really is. Add to that familial expectations and the fact that the domestication they bring out in each other scares the crap out of both of them, and you have a very real romantic scenario that has little to do with rescue-fantasy fulfillment.
Sunfire novels, on the other hand – weren’t they all, to some degree, “forbidden love/love triangle” stories? I also read Caroline a bunch of times – she disguises herself as a boy during the Gold Rush, with the incredibly obvious name of “Caro” – and ends up moving through most of the west with him on their way to California, I think. And geez, come on now. Caro? Shesh. And yet, I loved it.
Candy and I might have to do reviews of our favorite YA romance novels – the ones with really passionate kisses and very little else!
Speaking of Miss Havisham, Doug, you should totally check out Jasper Fforde’s Lost in a Good Book. Miss Havisham kicks ASS.
OK, triangles:
Arwen, Aragorn, Eowyn In the book Eowyn ends up with Faramir after he basically tells her she’s in love with Aragorn because of his “position”. Tolkien didn’t seem to like women (hello? Galadriel? Madonna. Arwen? Madonna. Eowyn? Valkyrie/slut. Total double standard!) but in the end it took Eowyn and a hobbit to kill the Witch-King of Angmar. But I digress.
I totally think Movie Aragorn and Movie Eowyn should have gotten together and and had kickass babies. Movie Arwen could have consoled herself with Movie Legolas (they deserve each other) if Leg could ever get over Gimli. And what was that creepy thing Movie-Arwen had going with Movie-Elrond? My skin crawleth.
Spike, Buffy, Angel Angel in the beginning was totally hawt tortured hero. And Buffy ended up stabbing him through the heart after some shagaliciousness brought back Evil Angel, who was really cool. That should have ended it right there (even though I love David B.) finito, let it go. Bringing back Angel was totally Marvel-Superman-stupid.
Now, I always thought Buffy and Willow should get together. Really. They’re perfect together. And Spike? Well, RAWR. Maybe he should have stayed with Drusilla, they were happy together even if she was totally nuts.
Diane, Frazier, Lilith I have but one thing to say: Dude, how can you turn down Bebe Neuwirth?
Sadly, I have no thoughts on Archie, Betty, and Veronica. But I did love the Sunfire books, especially #11, Emily, written by Candice Ransom. Emily is a totally rich little Gibson Girl snob who decides to become a nurse. Man, I loved that book. I especially loved the descriptions of the clothes, but I was young and shallow back then.
Completely unrelated, but have y’all ever had the experience of finding that you had a very interesting and key piece of historical data because you read historical romance novels? I know a little about the damndest things, not just Regency England, but, as I mentioned, the Johnstown flood, logging just after the gold rush in Oregon, clothing in turn-of-the-century New York City – and the buildings that used to be people’s mansions!
I’m a shallow survey of cultural history, thanks to all the authors who did their homework! Heh.
Oh absolutely! I particularly like when a romance novel interests me in a particular era or event in history and then I go on a mad jag of research. My friends who read romances do the same, and conversations get very interesting…
I’m a Ranger babe. I must say tho that the recurring joke in the latest book about Morelli’s broken leg and Steph’s up shorts peekaboo opportunities made me grin widely. But the Cuban American Love God…
I gotta agree on the Litith thing too. Bebe is way hotter than Shelly Long.
Nor do I think Aragorn comes across as haughty, LOTR stands in an epic tradition and is best compared with books like the Illiad, Beowulf and the Song of Roland.
If you read ONLY the bits that involve Aragorn and the elves (who also suffer from the same syndrome—but then Aragorn’s part elvish), that’d be true. However, the thing is, the other characters behave and talk like real characters, not people from epic poetry. The hobbits talk like down-home country folk, Gollum talks like the schizoid freak he is (something that’s always bugged me: the book clearly references him having black skin, but movie and artwork representations I’ve seen always show him as fishbelly white—what up with that, yo?), the dwarves are kind of sticks-up-their assish but not too bad, the orcs talk like bad guys, and the Rohirrim, Boromir and Faramir talk more-or-less like realistic people. Even the way the ring was finally destroyed was realistic, not epic—it’s one of my favorite parts of the trilogy, really, one of those resolutions that made me go “Well of COURSE it had to happen that way! There was no other way it could’ve happened! This is brilliant”
The drastically different voice may have been intended to show how very noble and different Aragorn and the elves were, and it probably works for most people, but to me? Just sounded like they had massive sticks up their asses.
Candy and I might have to do reviews of our favorite YA romance novels – the ones with really passionate kisses and very little else!
If anyone can find me keeper copies of Sheri Cobb South’s Wrong-Way Romance and The Cinderella Deal, I would SO kiss your ass forever and ever, amen. God, those two books were so damn good. Especially Wrong-Way Romance.
*sigh*
Otherwise, I didn’t read too many YA romances. Judy Blume, a couple of other Sweet Dreams novels my friends lent me and made me read (the two South titles were the only ones I liked), and this one series about girls in an all-girls’ boarding school starting up a pen-pal thing with boys from the all-boys’ boarding school just across the river (at least I think it was across the river).
Hey, actually, do any of you remember reading that series? There were 3 girls—at least, I remember there being only three of them. And they lived in dorm 3-D, and they called themselves the Foxes, and so they were the Foxes of the Third Dimension. [insert massive eyeroll smiley] My favorite boy character was nicknamed Mars, but his real name was Arthur. I tried to look up this series on Google a couple of years ago, but turned up nothing.
Movie Arwen could have consoled herself with Movie Legolas (they deserve each other) if Leg could ever get over Gimli. And what was that creepy thing Movie-Arwen had going with Movie-Elrond? My skin crawleth.
Dude, the homoerotic pairings in the movie LOTR are just through the roof. Frodo and Sam (c’mon, think of all those melting looks Sam sent Frodo’s way—that buxom barmaid of his was a TOTAL beard), Pippin and Merry, Legolas and Gimli (think of how cute they’d be as a gay couple! The short, stumpy, bearish daddy with the tall, skinny, skateboarding twink!).
The only two major male characters in the movie who struck me as het were Aragorn and Faramir. Ironically enough, these are also the only two I’d be interested in seeing in some hot man-on-man action.
OK, I’d throw Legolas in, too, but only after he cuts off that Pantene-spokesman-for-Middle-Eart hair.
Candy, there are copies of South’s “The Cinderall Game” (same as “Cinderalla Deal”?) available on Half.com and BN.com’s used book search. I didn’t see the other title.
Candy, there are copies of South’s “The Cinderall Game†(same as “Cinderalla Deal�) available on Half.com and BN.com’s used book search.
Ooooh, yeah, that’s it! Durrrr. Stupid memory. Thanks, Angela! And Wrong-Way Romance is really hard to find. I tried to check it out from the library a few years back and they’d lost ALL their copies.
Stupid bastard teenage girls… *mutter*
Off to see if I can snag me a copy of The Cinderella Game.
Can I give you a guy perspective on Arwen vs. Eowyn? I think it’s a First Love vs. Girl You Really SHOULD Marry dynamic. Sure, Eowyn would be the best pick for a long and happy marriage, but I’d be in a constant state of narcotized, ass-over-tea kettle, cross-eyed love for Arwen.
Just my 2c.
Eowyn would be the best pick for a long and happy marriage, but I’d be in a constant state of narcotized, ass-over-tea kettle, cross-eyed love for Arwen.
Yeah, only you’d come home one day after a hard day of fighting orcs and dealing with Gondor politicians to find Arwen in bed with Pippin and breathing “Give it to me harder, you little stud, UNH!” in Elvish, and where would you be then, huh? WHERE WOULD YOU BE THEN, DOUG?
I’ve only just discovered Anita Blake, and, curiously, blogged about this just yesterday. Triangle + plot = interesting story: erotica gone wild, with every pairing/combination/non-vanilla activity known to man (or vampire) just leaves me saying “enough, already”. I need to know the characters enough to care about them, I suppose.
The later Anita stories remind me of Anne Rice’s “Beauty” series – I wasn’t so much shocked as bludgeoned into overload indifference by the end of that. Bloody hell.
Or is it just me?
Okay, as far as trinagles, love ‘em, overall.
Just as it takes three coordinate points in a space to create a three-dimensional world, it takes three people to show the different aspects of love. Not to say I am particularly into the menage thing, but in theory—in fiction, I should say—it seems to create better tension.
Buffy/Spike/Angel
Spike, I say, all the way. Angel is fine in a fuddy-duddy mulish nice guy way, even when he is “bad”… but with anyone but Buffy. As far away as possible from Buffy. 🙂
Spike is complex, intense, tortured, mrrrow-hot. Without him, the whole Buffy story arc would have been so many degrees less intense. So, Spike and Buffy, bigtime.
Aragorn/Arwen/Eowyn
Unfortunately, Arwen and Aragorn belong together, based on the structure of the story, but I’ve always liked Eowyn best of all the characters, and Tolkien should have developed the Faramir romance. Eowyn deserved better!
The other ones—not sure I am familiar with Morelli or whoever. And I sorta always felt bad for Veronica just because she couldn’t get Archie.
Oooh, a new koan!
“If Anita Blake humps yet another a werewolf in the forest and nobody hears her orgasm, is she still a hobag?”
LOL, I don’t know about y’all, but I was broke as a kid, lol. I fed my book reading addiction by working out a deal with the school librarian so I could read books above the kiddy level and did gruntwork/blackmail for my sisters so they’d check me out “The Good Stuff”. (God, was I the ONLY 8 year old book ho? Call me “Chickenhead” and end it.)
Archie, Veronica & Betty: LOL, I never got the feeling Archie really cared about either of them. Personally, I thought he was all about Jughead. 🙂
Angel,Buffy & Spike: I never got the whole Spike fascination. He was a total shite for most of the show. Funny and deliciously evil, but aside from comedy relief, turning into a good guy wasn’t good for his image. I never saw the hotness in albinos, though, lol, so maybe it’s just me. Plus, I didn’t think Angel was really around enough to call it a “triangle”. I thought there was more of a triangle when she was banging the secret agent guy. Angel was around for some of that and there was the fact that the guy was trying to KILL Angel and Buffy wouldn’t let him. THAT’S triangle shit, gals! YUM!
Aragorn and the Hoochies: I have to admit, the chemistry between Aragorn and Eowyn (why the HELL couldn’t Tolkien just name the damn people Billy and Jane? Did he think we’d enjoy controlling our typos until world’s end?) in the movie had me thinking, well…Arwen IS dying and going home. He deserves someone. And you KNOW he wanted her. I think she should shag Faromir valkerie-style and be sure Aragorn is in the next chamber where he can hear…well, as long as the asthmatic isn’t with him.
Stef, Morelli & Ranger: Sorry gang, I mean, Ranger’s hot. But you just know that if Stef chose him, he’d run in every available car he could get. He’ll bang her—cause she’ll let him (wouldn’t you?)—but he’s not forever. Morelli is the man, if for only one reason, not only did he let her drive his bike…he got on the back and held on. You just HAVE to choose that guy. 🙂
Okay, I’ve been opinionated enough today,
Chickenhead, OUT!
Yep Candy, the hobbits are the “normal” part in LOTR, but I always thought the Rohirrim and Gondorians had their share of heroism and heroic attitude. And I love those parts, but that could be due to the fact that I read the Illiad when I was eight.
Homoerotic undertones in the movies, oh, oh. There was a lot of looks between Aragorn and Boromir, a very sexy glance between Legolas and Éomer, and some undertones between Legolas and Aragorn – in addition to the ones you mentioned.
And Aragorn/Faramir slash is hot. Yum.
I don’t think Eowyn deserved better, I think she got the best (mmm, Faramir-movie or book), I think the readers deserved more! We should have got to see the swooming romance as he pursued her. *cough*
I love the Love Triangle. In romances and especially in fanfic. Nothing is better than the male main character being torn between his canon, on screen love and the other male lead. Uh-huh.
LOL, I never got the feeling Archie really cared about either of them. Personally, I thought he was all about Jughead.
Well, if we’re going there, what about Reggie? He was always trying to fuck up Archie’s life for no real reason and steal Veronica’s attention from Archie, so if you look at it through the idea of Sedgwick’s homoerotic triangle, Reggie had the major-hots for Archie, and the commerce of Veronice between them was his manner of expressing it. He couldn’t get it on with Archie, but he could get it on with the woman who was possibly getting it on with both of them and use her as a sexual conduit.
Not that anyone in those comics got it on. They barely had genitals.
Yeah, only you’d come home one day after a hard day of fighting orcs and dealing with Gondor politicians to find Arwen in bed with Pippin and breathing “Give it to me harder, you little stud, UNH!†in Elvish, and where would you be then, huh? WHERE WOULD YOU BE THEN, DOUG?
I have only one thing to say.
Sex Dwarf
Isn’t it nice
Luring disco dollies (and elves) to a life of vice
Yeah, I know the difference between hobbits and elves, but ‘Sex Hobbit’ doesn’t scan well.
Besides that, you’re forgetting my hobbity nature. She wouldn’t need to call for take-out hobbit when she can get her fill at home.
Oooh, a new koan!
“If Anita Blake humps yet another a werewolf in the forest and nobody hears her orgasm, is she still a hobag?â€
I am so using that in prenatal yoga tomorrow, when it’s time for meditation and relaxation.
Ooommmmmmmmmmmmy god she’s going to have another orgasm! Duck!
Also, as far as Cheers, Diane is so annyoing that Lilith is definitely the way to go.
And, not sure which book I stopped at with Anita Blake—the one after Obsidian Butterfy (which, oddly enough, is my fave). The last book I remember is with the multiple warm and fuzzy group orgies and Micah—and it just started losing all tension. Oh, and take Mr. “Ma Petite” and splice him together with Mr. “Wolfman” and they just might make one solid man. Otherwise, I say, Edward! Maybe that’s why I really liked Obsidian Butterfly best—it was about Edward. Oh, and am I the only sick fuck-tress who thought that that psycho killer woman-hating commando wassisname (Otto?) in the band created some hot tension with Anita?
Oooh, another Edward fan! I _so_ want more Edward in the Anita Blake stories. Keep the vamps and werepeople, I’ll take the smiling psycho maniac who has your back—as long as he doesn’t believe you’ve gone over to the dark side.
I like it when an author surprises me. In two of my favorite historicals, LIBBY’S LONDON MERCHANT by Carla Kelly, and Edith Layton’s THE DUKE’S WAGER, there’s some real tension over how the triangle’s going to be resolved, and which guy’s going to be the winner in the HEA sweepstakes.
She wouldn’t need to call for take-out hobbit when she can get her fill at home.
Yeah, but I’m thinking Arwen looks like the kind who needs more than one pair of hairy feet to satisfy her, know what I mean?
Well, if we’re going there, what about Reggie?
I say Reggie, Jughead and Archie in a 3-way. And Jughead HAS to keep his crown-shaped beanie on.
Does the crown-shaped beanie even come off?
And did you know his real name is Forsythe Pendleton Jones? Now that is the name of a frilly-bloused, cravat-tying hero right there.
I love the Love Triangle. In romances and especially in fanfic. Nothing is better than the male main character being torn between his canon, on screen love and the other male lead. Uh-huh.
Oh yes, and I want him to get the other male lead. 🙂
Does the crown-shaped beanie even come off?
You’re right. Hmmm. Did they ever make Jughead take the beanie off? I can’t remember.
On a sort-of unrelated note: Look at the size of his schnozz. It might very well take both Reggie and Archie to take care of him properly, know what I’m sayin?
And did you know his real name is Forsythe Pendleton Jones? Now that is the name of a frilly-bloused, cravat-tying hero right there.
Hey, wasn’t one of Jughead’s schticks (besides his unrelenting hunger—dude should get his thyroid checked) his hatred of all things female?
Hmmmm.
I am utterly shocked at all the Morelli lust here. Another online community I’m at a lot is heavily Ranger-skewed, so I assumed that was representative of the general public. Not that you-all are particularly “general public” if you KWIM.
I wonder if you’re all into Morelli for the “happily ever after” factor? Because I see Ranger as the exotic, looks good in black, has fabulous soap & sheets (loved that in #10), great at oral sex mysterious stranger. Which can’t compare to a boy next door with an annoying Italian grandma.
Oh, I totally agree with Sarah’s take on the Morelli/Ranger situation (as well as the better choice!!). And I think the books are bearing out her analysis, because as Stephanie learns more about Ranger, some of the mystique is wearing off. When Evanovich started with these two guys, I think she created two very imperfect men, neither of which would be a great fit for Stephanie. But over the course of the books, she’s rounded out Morelli a little more, to the point where much of the resistance in their relationship comes from Stephanie’s commitment phobia. As for her relationship with Ranger, I think theirs is becoming a friendship with a strong sexual attraction. She sees the best of him because they’re not in a relationship, and part of the best is, IMO, a bit more comradeship. But if they ever had a serious romantic entanglement, I think he’d demand far less freedom of choice on her part. Morelli hates what Stephanie does, but they’ve actually had to work through it in the course of their relationship.
As for the general topic of threesomes, you know, it’s so interesting how the inclusion of a little sex on both ends magically transforms what is a staple of the Romance genre into something seemingly different, something that some might want excluded from a definition of Romance (along with gay Romance, which, I’m thinking, may be discomfiting to some who see sexual identity as all about the sex). I’ve always thought it was intersting how Romance will tolerate the very real possibility of two love attachments, but not necessarily more than one sexual relationship (for heroines, at least). This is why I was so impresed with LyVyrle Spencer’s Spring Fancy, where the heroine physically cheats on her fiance with the hero rather than becoming the virtuous martyr. It’s also one of the reaons I like what Charlaine Harris is doing with Sookie Stackhouse. In Sookie’s case, sexual experimentation has actually helped her clarify her feelings for different men and empowered her to choose for herself, which I like a lot.
“I wonder if you’re all into Morelli for the “happily ever after†factor? Because I see Ranger as the exotic, looks good in black, has fabulous soap & sheets (loved that in #10), great at oral sex mysterious stranger. Which can’t compare to a boy next door with an annoying Italian grandma.”
Oh, but Sandy, you’re forgetting that Morelli has a “tongue like a lizard” and is often described as a well-packaged package. Do I think Stephanie will be happier with Morelli? Yes. But not because they’ll be HEA (too much Italian blood between them for that), but because their attraction has actually increased the more they’ve come to know each other. In Ranger’s case, the more Stephanie understands that he’s less exotic than she thought, the less fantasy there is in their relationship. And remember what Ranger told her in 11 about coming home without underwear? I think he could make Morelli look like a feminist in the right circumstances—like a committed relationship.
Oh, totally on the Ranger/Stef thing. Especially that “less freedom” thing. Speaking as a hispanic woman who has seen that “you’re my woman” thing up close and ugly, I’m telling you, Ranger would pull that lock up the pretty girl card and Stef would long for Morelli’s screaming arguments.
Hispanic men like Ranger don’t have arguments. They don’t yell. They lock you in the room until you’re more willing to do what you’re told. Stef would RUN to Morelli (You know, after she figured out how to blow a hole in the wall). And then in his possessive rage, Ranger would dedicate all his forces to killing the both of them. It’s be a toss up who’d survive, given Stef’s laudable ability to escape explosions and death threats with only frizz damage to her hair.
Ranger=hot fantasy. He’s getting progressively less fantasy though, and the closer she gets to him, the less Stef is going to find she enjoys being the owned woman.
Morelli baby. Oh, and he’s one of those rare men who wakes up after sex. Can’t discount that either.
But back to Archie and Reggie. Total obsessive love there. But Archie won’t give him time of day. Reggie tries to hard. Jughead is a challenge cause baby just won’t give up the tail. Archie is only satisfied with what he can’t have…he might make due with the beenie…if it comes off, that is. 🙂
😉
Dee
The later Anita stories remind me of Anne Rice’s “Beauty†series – I wasn’t so much shocked as bludgeoned into overload indifference by the end of that. Bloody hell.
Dude, ain’t that the truth about Beauty?
But, there was the Beauty/Captain/Laurent (or whas his name Laurence?) triangle going on there.
I say go with the Captian, Beauty.
Joyce
Angel,Buffy & Spike: I never got the whole Spike fascination. He was a total shite for most of the show.
Finally! I thought I was the only person in the world who hated the Buffy/Spike thing.
As much as I liked Spike as a character, I hated the Buffy/Spike relationship the same way I hate it when my friends date someone that is No Good For Them.
I wanted Buffy to find someone else entirely.