Rin’s answer to “Nearly all the reviews I read, both positive and negative, cited the (potential?) love triangle in …” > Likes and Comments
9 likes · Like
I love everything said in this post. I've yet to read the arc I have, and normally refrain from reading reviews or posts until I am finished with the book, but the question drew me in. As an aside, some of this touches on why I get frustrated over the Hunger Games being called a love triangle.
Okay, I agreed with everything you said until the second to last paragraph. Thank you for responding, by the way. However, I think you're crossing the line by saying people that don't read a book because of a love triangle is denying the existence of it. Everyone has preferences, likes and dislikes. Some don't like to read about love triangles because of the angst, some don't like reading about cheating because the situation bothers them, some don't like reading about instant love because they don't believe it's realistic. Opinions and preferences are infinite. You have the right to write whatever your heart desires, but please don't tell me, as a reader, that I'm rejecting the existence of something because I don't like reading it. I'm aware it exists. I just don't like reading about it. Don't insult me and other readers. Please don't pigeonhole readers into being readers in denial.
Just because I avoid love triangles in all literature unless they are LGBTQIA+ and/or diverse does not mean I'm not taking the book on its own merits and especially not that I'm denying something that most people have experienced. It actually means that I just don't like reading about multiple love interests. I really don't understand why authors and lovers of love triangles twist our opinions like this.
My issue with love triangles is that it's usually badly written. While it's often happening in real life, lately there are tons of books with love triangles and the closer the boys are - lately brothers seem to be in fashion - the better. Not sure why this trope got so popular, but mostly I can think about only handful of books that were written in a way that did not make me cringe. Because it's not an issue with trying to date few people, but the whole "OHMY I LOVE THEM BOTH WHAT TO DO" thing that can go on and on and on. Take Clary from TMI - her "relationship" with Simon was perfectly written. But look at the mess with Tessa, Will and Jem from TID - apparently they all forgot about such thing as polyamory existing and reading their all musings was nauseating. It's a matter of presentation of love triangles, although the bad ones exist so often, that I tend to not touch the book if there is love triangle inside and if a book doesn't have one, I immediately give it at least two stars. Btw. yes you did not mention anything about the romance that Tea is going to have - it took me by surprise and I'm waiting eagerly for the next book! :)
I think the reason we dislike love triangles is less to do with internalized misogyny/double standards and more because it’s overused in the YA genre, usually adds nothing to the main plot, and makes the protagonist seem flippant and indecisive. I can’t think of a love triangle I have ever found that didn’t make me want to throw the book. It tends to make me feel like my emotions are being manipulated as a reader.
I also avoid them as a writer because for the same reasons. I have never found one that was necessary. I’m also interested in this statistic. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who has had multiple love interests at once, so I question how common this is? I think this trend sends a dangerous message about what teen girls, who already get enough of a hard time, want.
back to top
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Morris
(new)
Dec 30, 2016 10:28AM
I love everything said in this post. I've yet to read the arc I have, and normally refrain from reading reviews or posts until I am finished with the book, but the question drew me in. As an aside, some of this touches on why I get frustrated over the Hunger Games being called a love triangle.
reply
|
flag
Okay, I agreed with everything you said until the second to last paragraph. Thank you for responding, by the way. However, I think you're crossing the line by saying people that don't read a book because of a love triangle is denying the existence of it. Everyone has preferences, likes and dislikes. Some don't like to read about love triangles because of the angst, some don't like reading about cheating because the situation bothers them, some don't like reading about instant love because they don't believe it's realistic. Opinions and preferences are infinite. You have the right to write whatever your heart desires, but please don't tell me, as a reader, that I'm rejecting the existence of something because I don't like reading it. I'm aware it exists. I just don't like reading about it. Don't insult me and other readers. Please don't pigeonhole readers into being readers in denial.
Just because I avoid love triangles in all literature unless they are LGBTQIA+ and/or diverse does not mean I'm not taking the book on its own merits and especially not that I'm denying something that most people have experienced. It actually means that I just don't like reading about multiple love interests. I really don't understand why authors and lovers of love triangles twist our opinions like this.
My issue with love triangles is that it's usually badly written. While it's often happening in real life, lately there are tons of books with love triangles and the closer the boys are - lately brothers seem to be in fashion - the better. Not sure why this trope got so popular, but mostly I can think about only handful of books that were written in a way that did not make me cringe. Because it's not an issue with trying to date few people, but the whole "OHMY I LOVE THEM BOTH WHAT TO DO" thing that can go on and on and on. Take Clary from TMI - her "relationship" with Simon was perfectly written. But look at the mess with Tessa, Will and Jem from TID - apparently they all forgot about such thing as polyamory existing and reading their all musings was nauseating. It's a matter of presentation of love triangles, although the bad ones exist so often, that I tend to not touch the book if there is love triangle inside and if a book doesn't have one, I immediately give it at least two stars. Btw. yes you did not mention anything about the romance that Tea is going to have - it took me by surprise and I'm waiting eagerly for the next book! :)
I think the reason we dislike love triangles is less to do with internalized misogyny/double standards and more because it’s overused in the YA genre, usually adds nothing to the main plot, and makes the protagonist seem flippant and indecisive. I can’t think of a love triangle I have ever found that didn’t make me want to throw the book. It tends to make me feel like my emotions are being manipulated as a reader.
I also avoid them as a writer because for the same reasons. I have never found one that was necessary. I’m also interested in this statistic. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who has had multiple love interests at once, so I question how common this is? I think this trend sends a dangerous message about what teen girls, who already get enough of a hard time, want.
