Yes, I’m talking about romance novels again. This time I’m guest posting at Diaper Diaries for the Marriage Unwrapped series. Check it:
The first time I picked up a Harlequin romance novel, I was in sixth grade. Now, before you gasp, shudder and generally question my mother’s parenting abilities, let me explain. First of all, my mom didn’t know. Secondly, while my reading ability far surpassed my age, my comprehension – at least when it came to love scenes and the such – was a different story.
[No pun intended. But that was kind of funny, right?]
As the not-so-natural complement to my Sweet Valley Twins and Babysitter’s Club books, I devoured the little white paperbacks full of manufactured romance and sap. And as soon as I moved up to high school, I graduated to Danielle Steele along with Mary Higgins Clark and college catalogs.
Those books weren’t my first foray into the world of romantic fantasy. Like every other girl I knew, I grew up on Disney princesses and handsome princes. And well before that, I memorized my mom’s recollection of the magical day when, as a teenager in youth group, she gazed at my dad and just knew.
I was raised to be kind to others, do my best, mind my manners and love God above all else. But I was also raised to believe in white knights, grand gestures and happily ever after.
To read the rest of this article, head over to Diaper Diaries.
Great post Mary! Pre-kiddos I worked for a marriage ministry, and all that you shared is at the heart of most of the marriages we saw: unmet expectations. I love your honesty, and I’m sure so many have been blessed by the truth that you shared.
Oh, and we were stupid young when we got married too :) Ha! loved that line.
Thanks, Nikki. :)
I guess I’ve had a different experience with “romance” novels, both secular and Christian. To me, the majority of them have a lot of unnecessary tension between the hero and heroine that is just plain annoying. You know how they meet and misunderstand each other and bicker for three-fourths of the book until they finally realize they’re in love but have to get through some danger or crisis before they can be together. I hate that kind of formula.
I’d say that you are picking up on God’s cues about your reading material. He has drastically changed what I read over the years and, consequently, it has become really hard to find good books!
I love that “stupid young” line, too. My husband and I also married “stupid young” :-)
I agree. Most romance stories follow the same, predictable plot. But I have to say…I don’t hate the formula. ;)
I haven’t read the post yet, but what you said here already resonates with me. Sweet Valley Twins! I forgot about that series! I loved those books. And I had every single BSC book; it was kind of ridiculous. As for romance novels, my grandma loved them and I remember being in junior high and sneaking them. I knew I should be reading them, and that made them all the more alluring. :) Heading over to read the rest of the post now…
There is something about the forbidden, even when it comes to reading novels!
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