Q: What writing device or trick most irritates you when reading a book? For example, if an author employs an omnipotent narrator that is sometimes considered bad form.
A: One element I cannot stand, and feel is used far too often, is the love triangle. It seems as though I cannot pick up a YA novel written by a woman without finding two guys fighting over a gal. I realize this is what appeals to some readers; I actually had a reader's advisory that revealed that fact the other day.Student: I'm looking for books like Twilight.
Me: Well, what did you like about the book?
There was some humming and hawing back-and-forth before finally, I got an answer I could work with.
Student: I liked how Edward and Jacob fought over Bella!
I was under the impression that Jacob mostly moped and was a doormat to Bella, but whatever.
The fact of the matter is, I am burning out on YA literature, because of how they all seem to need multifaceted relationships with much drama. Are girls learning that indecision and leading guys along are okay things to practice? Are authors writing out of the secret wish to cheat on their partners? Why can't a boy love a girl, and a girl love a boy, and no one extra is involved, and it's all good?
I AGREE! I AGREE! We should be friends. I even titled my blog about it.
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Love is not a triangle
Thanks! I'll be sure to follow you back. :)
DeleteHopping through. I don't always mind a good love triangle, but an author has to go out of their way to distinguish themselves from all the other love triangles.
ReplyDeleteMy Hop
... Is your profile picture of Bella and Edward? How fitting. *face:palm* Thanks for stopping by! :)
DeleteI too HATE love triangles, I think I am just tired of them. I really enjoyed Twilight, but would have liked it better without the triangle. I used to love Vampire Diaries, but the back and forth over and over and over between the brothers eventually lead me to abandon the series.
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna step up on my authors box for a moment though and answer this again. In my own book, because of my own hatred of love triangles, I desperately tried to avoid it. My heroine has a male best friend who has always had a crush on her. She tells him from the start she isn't interested. She is blunt, his introduction as blunt as far as being just a friend that she could never love in the way he loves her, and what do I get? Some people still consider him a love interest and want to root for him! I suppose it works though. Those opposed to triangles can hopefully see that he isn't an option, and those that like them have an underdog to root for. Here's hoping anyway.
Here is my F&F
Oh, those silly readers. :) Thanks for stopping by ~ I'll get to your FF soon!
DeleteOld follower here =)
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how this seems to be a common answer to this question - so many people hate love triangles - yet they still appear in so many YA novels! I'm starting to go off YA fiction for this reason =/
Rinn (My FF)
Yeah, I think I'm going to take a break and read middle grade/children's books. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI agree with you, the love triangle line is getting used more and more in YA.
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My F&F: http://nightmareonbookstreet.blogspot.com/2012/10/feature-follow-1.html
Thank you! :) I'll be right over.
DeleteAs they say, these books are for entertainment, not to be used in place of role models. What they don't know is that books do shape us and Twilight made a poor example!
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My post - F&F: Lit Tropes
Addie @ READioactive Book Blog
Thanks for the follow!
DeleteI completely agree. Not that I don't enjoy myself a well done love triangle...I'm just over it. It's been done people. What makes me nervous is the Stiefvater's new book may or may not have one. I'm holding out hope that she's a better writer than one that needs to make her central purpose a love triangle!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the Raven Boys!
DeleteI despise love triangles! great answer! :)
ReplyDeletehttp://mydailyobsessionreview.blogspot.com/2012/10/feature-and-follow-3.html
Oh my goodness I love your answer! I could not agree more!
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My FF Post :)
I agree- love triangles have become really overused. I currently find myself more attracted to books that JUST focus on the love story between one guy and one girl :P Thanks for stopping by my FF- new GFC follower !!
ReplyDeleteMy FF
~Caitlin :)
Normal relationships are so nice. :)
DeleteThanks for stopping by my blog. Omygawd. Yes. The love-triangle. But sometimes, it makes you wanna read the next book. Like a lot. Old follower~
ReplyDelete- Cindy
http://bookaholicfaggots.blogspot.com
Thanks for visiting. :)
DeleteI cannot stand love triangles either. What's wrong with developing one good solid relationship in a book?
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My FF
Sabina @ Delirious About Books
Yes! Thanks for following. :)
DeleteI'm usually quite against love triangles, but I can think of at least one that I don't mind: Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices series. I think in those books, I am just so interested in both of the well-written, complicated, sympathetic guys involved in the triangle, I can't be annoyed that they're in love with the same girl. Plus, there's a pretty convincing plot element that made Will think he and Tessa couldn't be together. (And no, it wasn't "because if we are together, I will give in to the temptation to kill you"...That happens an alarming amount in YA! :)
ReplyDeleteOh, I did just read a YA book that didn't have a love triangle anywhere in sight: "The Shadow Society" by Marie Rutkoski. I ended up liking it much more than I thought I would.
Sorry to write a novella of a comment here!
New GFC follower*
Sarah@ Sarah's YA Blog
At least it's well-written? :) Thanks for following!
DeleteMy answer was confusing POV shifts... =)
ReplyDeleteNew follower, by the way~!
Thanks for visiting!
DeleteI don't mind love triangles for the most part. Most of the love triangles I've read aren't really triangles at all. The girl knows which guy she wants, it's just that other readers prefer the other guy and it becomes a triangle. I feel like they are the "go to" conflict these days, though. I haven't read many that have a completely indecisive girl, so I wonder if the trend is actually a good thing, to represent that women can choose who they can be with and don't have to settle for someone just because he's into her. I'm just speculating, because too much girl meets guy and swoons romance can have a negative effect on relationships, too, if women thing they need to fall for the first guy they have any kind of connection with.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I kind of got off on a tangent there, lol.
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Megan @ Love, Literature, Art, and Reason
I love your answer! I actually enjoy a few love triangles when I was just starting to read novel-length books - I guess a part of us want to be fought for or something? But it is getting overused, and I would just pretend that it doesn't exist. Which means that if a novel is only about a love triangle, then it doesn't exist for me :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment over at my blog earlier! I've followed you back!
Katie @ Fiction Predictions