tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2480569708975020177.post8358449880223754718..comments2023-04-28T21:57:55.187+09:30Comments on Kaetrin's Musings: The Bell Curve of the HEAKaetrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16936055488367251592noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2480569708975020177.post-36097919519767736242013-07-21T10:16:34.247+09:302013-07-21T10:16:34.247+09:30@Merrian - Yes! In True, Tyler was worse off in so...@Merrian - Yes! In True, Tyler was worse off in so many areas and I didn't see his relationship with Rory as providing him with any opportunities to really change that. He had a permanent criminal record for drug offences - they don't go away because of tru lurrve (TM). Kaetrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16936055488367251592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2480569708975020177.post-30233070607001603802013-07-20T22:22:53.541+09:302013-07-20T22:22:53.541+09:30I have to believe at the end of the story that not...I have to believe at the end of the story that not only have the overcome events but are more able to live a good life that has possibilities for more. Just being together at the end isn't enough that is too much like musical chairs and the last ones standing win. The seeds for a good life don't lie in that but in the possibilities that are open because they are togetherMerrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00022565372969180953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2480569708975020177.post-80624226038702830332013-07-20T13:44:23.115+09:302013-07-20T13:44:23.115+09:30@AztecLady Hmmm. I haven't really thought how ...@AztecLady Hmmm. I haven't really thought how the HFN ending fits into the theory. But just giving a quick thought now, I think it still holds - there may be challenges ahead or all questions may not have been answered, but the pair (assuming there are only 2!) should be better off at the end than at the beginning.<br /><br />Then if you have a continuing series, you might start from a place of happy, have challenges and another black moment, but end up at a slightly happier place than the beginning - or at least, the same level of happiness. If the happiness is lower at the end than the beginning, I think I'd be dissatisfied.Kaetrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16936055488367251592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2480569708975020177.post-37692027751326289182013-07-20T02:41:50.316+09:302013-07-20T02:41:50.316+09:30It makes lots of sense--and the differential betwe...It makes lots of sense--and the differential between where they both start and where they end should be pretty significant for me to believe in the future happiness of the couple.<br /><br />I don't have anything against "happy for now" endings myself, but I prefer it when, at the end of the story, I can believe these two have what it takes to handle whatever life throws at them and stay together through it.aztecladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14857872357667370906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2480569708975020177.post-67676642602976404182013-07-19T10:40:10.767+09:302013-07-19T10:40:10.767+09:30@Tam - Inorite? Love should make things better but...@Tam - Inorite? Love should make things better but it can't feed you or put a roof over your head. If the rest of the character's life sucks, then I'm questioning the HEA for sure! :)Kaetrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16936055488367251592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2480569708975020177.post-74381968157981006332013-07-19T10:39:10.042+09:302013-07-19T10:39:10.042+09:30@Liz Mc2 I think in a lighter hearted book perhaps...@Liz Mc2 I think in a lighter hearted book perhaps the black moment need not be so black, but I haven't given it a lot of thought. My default is that it should be lower than everything else - especially in romances where there is a sacrifice for the MCs to be together and then they are not - well it makes all those sacrifices wasted unless they get their HEA, no?<br /><br />I had mixed feelings about True. I liked it quite a bit up until the bit with Tyler being arrested. The injustice of his situation (while possibly accurate) hurt my romance loving heart. Him ending up with Rory who had everything going on, well it seemed to me it must be like lemon juice on a cut and I don't think that would bode well for a successful long term relationship. <br /><br />In True, Rory, or "love" wasn't responsible for his downfall at least, that would have sucked donkey's balls. But I do feel that the characters need to be better off over all at the end than at the beginning.Kaetrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16936055488367251592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2480569708975020177.post-11729787677817486052013-07-19T10:34:50.443+09:302013-07-19T10:34:50.443+09:30@Phyl - So pleased to meet another mathematically ...@Phyl - So pleased to meet another mathematically challenged person. :) We are not alone!Kaetrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16936055488367251592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2480569708975020177.post-34233500762896522722013-07-19T09:53:23.138+09:302013-07-19T09:53:23.138+09:30That makes good sense. I never thought of it that ...That makes good sense. I never thought of it that way. If I end up HOPING that one of the characters comes to their senses and gets the hell out of the relationship, not good. And I've read a few where I just thought there is no realistic way this can end well. I'm not sure where they started off hand, usually somewhere middling or lower and a loving relationship SHOULD make your life better, not be the thing that makes it worse. And worse, the whole "love is all you need" thing. Um. No. Food, shelter, Maslow's hierarchy of needs. (I was better at psychology than math. LOL)<br /><br />Tamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15495571402942021799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2480569708975020177.post-12887690967876284032013-07-19T01:33:50.439+09:302013-07-19T01:33:50.439+09:30Oh, I love this.
I agree that the black moment ha...Oh, I love this.<br /><br />I agree that the black moment has to be "lower" than the start, at least emotionally--otherwise, there's nothing at stake, the loss of the other person would be no big deal. <br /><br />And I'm with you on the end. I don't necessarily need everything to be better (e.g. in terms of money, job, family relationships) but I need the protagonists to feel better about things, to know something about who they are. I like a romance where they help each other be their best selves, or better selves, where they free each other to be their real selves. <br /><br />I read the spoilers for True's ending and it sounded like it would bug me too--because it didn't seem like he had a new sense of direction or anything really OK in his life besides her. Having someone totally depend on me to be the happiness in their life is not a fantasy I have or a recipe for a good lasting romance (maybe it's not the way the book is at all, but the descriptions made me wary). If one character gives up too much and the romance becomes their whole life, it's a warning bell to me. Maybe I'm just not an escapist enough reader.<br /><br />Great post!Liz Mc2https://www.blogger.com/profile/06791468134387620449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2480569708975020177.post-29315422658773688112013-07-18T22:38:12.179+09:302013-07-18T22:38:12.179+09:30My math brain must be much like yours. This made p...My math brain must be much like yours. This made perfect sense. I love it!Phylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14665665401551658932noreply@blogger.com