Are modern heroes ‘as sexy as socks’?
March 30, 2010
There’s an article on modern romantic heroes (and heroines) by Danuta Kean in the Daily Mail.
It opens:
Something’s gone wrong with romance writing.
Where once manly Rhett Butler battled the flames of Atlanta to rescue Scarlett O’Hara or a rugged Heathcliff tore the earth from Catherine Earnshaw’s grave, readers now find New Men so wet you could wring them out and about as heart-thumpingly sexy as socks.
As for the heroines, they are invariably so exhausted by disease, divorce or family dysfunction that their hearts can’t skip a beat, let alone thud with passion.
My own comment is that the romantic novels I read generally have anything but wimpy heroines. My own novels certainly don’t and as for strong (yet tender) blokes, they DO exist in fiction and real life. I think most women can tell the difference between a fictional hero and a real one.
And surely it’s possible to be a ‘new man’ and still very strong and sexy. One of my favourite romantic movie moments is in ‘He’s Just Not That Into You’ – when Ben Affleck’s character turns up after Jennifer Aniston’s dad has had a heart attack. All the other son-in-laws are sitting around drinking beer and slobbing yet Ben’s done all the washing up.
That sounds wimpy but I almost cry when I see the scene because it seems more like a living breathing relationship. When the chips are down, though he hasn’t offered to marry Jen (yet), he turns up and offers support (I know the washing-up thing is just a symbol) and doesn’t wimp out of the true nitty gritty of loving someone.
What do you think?
Posted by Phillipa @ 6:14 am | Leave a Comment
Christina Phillips Says:
It makes me wonder what books this reporter’s been reading!
Phillipa Says:
Christina – Danuta’s a journalist who was a judge for RNA Romantic Novel of the Year so she read all the short list. I guess she’s just trying to provoke a debate…
Charlotte Says:
WHY does everyone go on about Heathcliff? He nails a puppy to a gatepost, that is NOT sexy! This is in addition to him being just generally sociopathic. I am no more enamoured of Edward Cullen, although I have read all the Twilight novels (I prefer Jacob, who is Bella’s equal and who need her to change who she is to be with him). Doesn’t Danuta consider that half the fact so many women love Mr Darcy is because, under the terse exterior, and after realising the error of his ways, he turns into a much more sensitive and gentle character (or reveals what was hidden underneath all along).
And I absolutely agree about Ben Affleck in HJNTIY – he’s doing exactly what his girlfriend needs most at that moment in time, and it IS pretty heroic and sexy.
Phillipa Says:
Well said, Charlotte. I have never liked Heathcliff – in fact, loathing is more the word.
And I agree that by the end of P&P, Darcy shows that as well as a responsible landlord and master (important to JA), he can be responsive on an emotional level too.