My brain resembles nothing more than confetti on a windy day: “Where does the towel bar go?” swoops by, followed by a scrap of paper with “Remember to pay the ConEd bill” and another one announcing “I am even more tired than usual.”
See, it’s Moving Week here at Casa Frampton.
BUT I have had time to do some fun stuff–my Eight Year-Old son got his report card last week, and we had promised him if he got good grades he could watch Hellboy starring Ron Perlman and Selma Blair (interesting sidenote: Rupert Evans who played Margaret’s brother in Frampton Obsession North and South is in this, too). (Let’s not talk about an eight year-old watching a PG-13 movie with that title. He can handle it, is all I can say, although other random things freak him out. Go figure).
I loved it, too. And, of course, it’s got a romance–Hellboy loves Liz, but things don’t come to a resolution until the end, when they engage in a (literally) fiery kiss. And I realized, yet again, as I watched and sighed, that I always search out the romance. And, if you are liberal in your application, romance is everywhere: In fairy tales, in mysteries (although Miss Marple’s love interest might just be tea), in film (and if it’s not a romance, the character might just be in love with power, or money, or his or her own neuroses), the X Files, in celebrity gossip (who’s Paris in love with this week?)
I bet regular romance readers look for the romance all the time–we, as Chuck Woolery might say, need to find the Love Connection (see, I told you I was scattered. Name-checking Chuck Woolery?!? I am definitely off my rocker).
So what are your favorite ‘It’s secretly about the romance’ pieces of media?
PS: As another sidenote, I really miss writing. I cannot wait until I can get back to it. Leaves a large gap in my life.
Two of my all-time favorite romantic couples are in mystery series–Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane in Dorothy Sayers’ novels and Falco and Helena Justina in Lindsey Davis’s. And two of my all-time top five desert island movie picks have great romances–DAVE and BULL DURHAM. (Of course, the other three, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, GLORY, and LORD OF THE RINGS, barely even have women.) And on TV, I think Pam and Jim are the heart of THE OFFICE, and I was always a Buffy/Spike ‘shipper back in the day.
Susan, I love Peter and Harriet, too. Love the moment in Gaudy Night where she’s looking at his ear and realizes she loves him (that sounds bizarre. Believe me, it’s a beautifully written scene). And he’s an unabashed counter-tenor, too; you gotta love a man who’ll sing high in public.
And Megan, meant to say also, good luck with the move, and if you don’t unpack it within a week, you never will.
Love the moment in Gaudy Night where she’s looking at his ear and realizes she loves him (that sounds bizarre. Believe me, it’s a beautifully written scene).
I know! It’s beautifully written and IMHO very hot.
I also love the little hint of their wedding night in BUSMAN’S HONEYMOON where she slips up in the heat of the moment and calls him “my lord” after having been on a first-name basis with him for ages, and he tells her he means to be king and emperor before he’s done. Also very hot.
Hey, Megan, in a survey of life’s most stressful events, moving is way up there. Just in case you had not figured that out yet.
I’m drawing a blank on romantic couples — Spock and Nurse Chapel? Captain Kirk and Yeoman Rand? (Now I’m sounding like Cara!)
Happy Easter Everyone!
Gaudy Night is one of my favorite books! Must re-read. 🙂
Good luck with the boxes, Megan! Your new house is going to be fab.
Janet wrote: and if you don’t unpack it within a week, you never will.
That explains so much about my life! Or at least about all the boxes in my office.
Cara
I’m a total sucker for the romance between Alma Garrett and Sheriff Bullock in DEADWOOD. The final scene in Season 1, where the two of them lock eyes across the main thoroughfare . . . perfect (even though it’s complete BS, historically speaking).
And I love watching the hell that Brenda puts poor Fritz through on THE CLOSER. That man lures her. There’s no other excuse for putting up with her crazy crap. Watching Fritz get put through the wringer is half the fun of the show, IMO.
Watching Fritz get put through the wringer is half the fun of the show, IMO.
Oh, good one, Kalen! I love that Fritz always does the right thing, too. Real hero material. I’m always afraid he’s just going to walk out.
But he doesn’t!
Janet wrote: and if you don’t unpack it within a week, you never will.
Somebody must have slipped this little nugget of wisdom to my dh. It might explain why he absolutely refuses to contemplate moving.
Good luck with the unpacking, Megan!
Oh, and I did dig the Troy, Riker and Warf menage!
The only shows I watch these days are MythBusters or GhostHunters. There really isn’t any romance in either. However, I love Falco and Helena Justina, and Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. Also, I just discoverd Ilona Andrews. Kate Daniels and Curran have potential.
Megan, here’s to getting your writing space set up and getting back to it!
I’ve been a hopeless romance hunter since high school. My favorite Dick Francis novels are the ones that a contain a love interest.
I’ll even mine films like Twelve Monkeys or Fight Club for scenes that inspire sexual or romantic tension.
But I live for the unabashed romance. I hardly ever go the movies, and I just saw Penelope. Twice!
Ahhh, Deadwood!
I was beyond obsessed with that show. Still makes me mad about the way HBO ended it.
Thanks for the good wishews–yeah, renovation, moving, and a death in the family are on the top stressors list. Check, check and check!
But I will have a great house, which Amanda will see soon.
Susan wrote:
Two of my all-time favorite romantic couples are in mystery series–Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane in Dorothy Sayers’ novels and Falco and Helena Justina in Lindsey Davis’s.
I believe that in the past I have suggested that we all need to go live in a cottage together–this just reinforces my view. Love both those series! I read the Lindsey Davis stories as much for the continuing romance as for the mystery. (And, by the way, I think it proves that readers don’t have to lose interest once the couple is together.)
As for movies with romance, here’s a bizarre one, but one I still really like: Dark City. Sci Fi Noir!
Todd-who-needs-a-cottage-with-a-mansion-nearby-to-hold-all-the-books
Good luck with your move! How very exciting and I mean the spirit of – better you than me!
X-Files was my biggest gotta get romance in there show. Moonlight also comes to mind. I’m really dating myself here aren’t I?