I’ve been thinking a lot about romance and how it is portrayed to us mere mortals. I’ll be honest: I’m exceptionally conflicted.
I had this thought whilst I was sat watching a generic Disney film (I’m aware this is the Books section but bear with me). The common consensus is that Disney and romantic films (e.g. some kind of struggle, boy meets girl, potentially more struggle, boy saves girl or they save each other, they live happily ever after) provides a false impression of what life is actually like. With this, I couldn't agree more. In recent years, there has been particular emphasis on the effect this has on girls, who seemingly develop a Princess complex. From my own childhood experience, I desperately hoped that I would fulfil some noble destiny, have the picture perfect Prince who would sweep me off my feet, and we'd be amazingly compatible and stay together until the end of time. This somewhat idealised vision, I presume, works both ways. Boys must witness the ridiculously high expectations of most girls and immediately feel that they should be strong, heroic and romantic.
But...I do get the twinge of jealousy. Jealousy is perhaps too melodramatic a word; rather, it is a feeling of being cheated. I have no doubt that some lucky girls will achieve a life worthy of a Disney or rom-com spectacular, but the majority of us are left trailing behind, somewhat dejected. Disney, of course, requires an audience to suspend its disbelief, as mermaids don't really live under the sea, and genies do not appear from lamps. But Disney does create a certain sense of hope and expectation. And, as I grew older, I sadly realised that a handsome prince on a white steed doesn't really exist, so instead I graduated to the more “realistic” romantic films, where the people are actually real and in seemingly real situations. (Kind of).
For some reason though, I like to keep up this pretence. In my adulthood years, I’ve developed a thirst for books of the chick-lit variety, but why? They’re often overly cheesy, unattainable and leave me feeling like an ogre because I haven’t found my own romance story worthy of a book or a film. In many respects, I think chick-lit aids the blueprint that Disney created for me. I’m fully aware that I’m being cheated and that real-life romance does not play out like the authors would have us believe, but I can’t help it. I am a hopeless romantic, no doubt borne from my Disney days. As a result, I do still wander through life in a vague haze, where I imagine certain romance-related scenarios - a Mr Darcy type, with the ability to woo me through dance, simultaneously singing A Whole New World, for instance. Reading chick-lit fuels and fulfils my fantasies. I hate the fact that I’m so easily swayed and manipulated by it, but I love it dearly.
Chick-lit can get exceptionally bad press and can be utterly ridiculed and side-lined as not "proper" literature. It's always sectioned off in the ‘romance’ category as if it has some terribly contagious disease, or as if love and sex are the only topics that it covers. Women's Fiction is the more acceptable older sister, the umbrella term, within which chick-lit tends to corner the light, funny, modern woman aspect of the market with romance thrown in, whilst other sub-genres have a sliding scale towards tackling complex, often difficult issues alongside love. Think Jojo Moyes' Me Before You as a good example of the deeper stuff. I adore Women's Fiction in general, but I love the much maligned chick-lit too, despite what it represents.
Nothing can cheer me up like reading chick-lit. Nothing can make me keep turning the pages like chick-lit. I always read chick-lit when I need a bit of escapist relaxation. If I've read something depressing and hard-core, or if I've been having a stressful time in life, I will always turn to chick-lit.
I guess chick-lit can be adored and mocked for exactly the same reason: chick-lit is formulaic. Exceptionally so. You can often read the blurb and know what's going to happen or which characters will get it on. In that respect, chick-lit writers have a harder time than any other genre because they have to maintain reader interest. As readers, we tend to know what is going to happen, so writers have to make us excited to get to the finish. They have to make us invested in the characters and the story so that when we reach the inevitable conclusion, we feel satisfied. That's a pretty tough task when you think about it.
What have I learnt from this lengthy rant? Chick-lit feels like the natural literary progression from the achingly romantic possibilities of Disney films. Sure, things like Disney and chick-lit can certainly give unrealistic expectations of romance, men and relationships, often making me feel manipulated and despondent if my life doesn’t remotely compare to a fictional character. However, I can’t help but revel in this unobtainability. As long as I don't expect every tall, dark, handsome stranger in real life to give me the best romantic and sexual ride I’ve ever had, and as long as I constantly remind myself of the hugely unrealistic practicalities of chick-lit and the like, then I should be OK. It's reading escapism and despite my misgivings, I can’t help but love it.