skysenshi.com

Out of boredom, I plucked an old “contemporary” romance novel off my aunt’s shelves and began to read voraciously. I instantly fell in love with the male protagonist — a tall, dark, attractive scientist/author with a PhD and three bachelor degrees in different fields — and I announced this to my aunts as I temporarily paused in my reading.

Tita Yna exclaimed, “I knew it! We had been talking about this since you were in high school!”

Upon seeing my confused expression, she clarified, “We predicted that you’ll never have a boyfriend, much less marry, because you didn’t care about how you looked and you always locked yourself up in your room, reading those romantic drivel about men that can’t possibly exist. You want intellectuals that look like Fabio!” (Fabio was the most in-demand cover model during those days.)

I shamelessly admit that I was addicted to romance novels when I was in my early teens. Especially when it comes to the historical kinds written by Iris Johansen (she’s very keen with historical details and weaves fact and fiction so intricately that you may have difficulty separating them), Johanna Lindsey and Jude Deveraux.  But when it comes to contemporary romances, Jayne Anne Krentz is the queen.  In her world, leading men are hot uber geeks who broke codes long before Dan Brown ever thought of Robert Langdon.

Though I did have at least three ex-boyfriends that would prove their prediction wrong, I still wonder if those books actually ruined my chances for a decent marriage.  I’ve yet to meet a man who has three bachelor degrees (that’s one more than I do, since I only have two) and a PhD, is a successful scientist/author, has quick reflexes, is tall, dark, attractive…and not gay or aging. A man who, despite the heroine’s mean, independent streak, will still try to rescue her so he can prove that she needs him after all.  The sad part is, I think I’m still on the lookout for him — a guy that does not exist.

And it’s all because my head’s been messed up by seemingly harmless romance novels. The reality is, no hero outside of fiction can rescue a girl who can do a man’s job.

animetric wrote on Jun 16, ’08 It’s great to be single.

skysenshi wrote on Jun 16, ’08 my aunts have been clamoring for grandkids (my grandma is begging for a great grandkid) and gave me the blessing to produce one without the benefit of marriage. hahaha!

whattawap wrote on Jun 16, ’08 “The reality is, no hero outside of fiction can rescue a girl who can do a man’s job.” hahaha! kudos! the smarter the woman gets, the harder it is for her to get a man. miss, what’s the title of the book? i’m interested. hehe ;p

skysenshi wrote on Jun 17, ’08 marami siyang books. this one though is “absolutely, positively”. most of her contemporary stories have academe-meets-business-meets-paranormal themes. usually yung lalake ang geek, yung babae savvy businesswoman…tapos may tendency isa or dalawa sa kanila na mag-delve into paranormal activities. ^^