Are the romantic adult fiction novels messing our brain up?

I wonder, as to why the world is in distress, and I am just referring to the relationships here.

Let’s talk about the one which has been all the fuss since many a centuries-love, the romantic kind. There is a tree called Shepherd’s tree which has roots as deep as 230 feet. That’s how deep the concept of love runs in our world and our veins. I personally do not have a turf with it, I do though have a deep seated annoyance with all these insanely romantic novels. That’s right, you heard me! Don’t know what I am talking about? Well, let’s take a walk down memory lane...

Once upon a time there was this series of books called ‘The Twilight Series’, the book that began it all. Edward Cullen’s love for Bella Swan is sort of a legend in any girl’s life (I won't lie, I have read it about a million times). I don’t think I have to give a summary of this novel as unless you live under a rock, you are well versed with what goes down. Then there was ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ which legit set the world on fire and gave adult fiction genre a whole new meaning. A rich, insanely handsome guy (panty-droppingly, earth shatteringly handsome as some would describe them) with a dark side and a playboy attitude (more often than not) comes into the life of a just whatever girl. She is shy, not outgoing at all, clumsy, sort of weird and does not really know that she’s pretty. They never know that they are pretty. I find it very hard to swallow because there is not a woman on earth who looks like a total babe and does not deep down know it. They pretend to not know, sure, but hell, they always know! Moving on, for some reason, the guy finds this girl irresistible. Now, how on earth can this ever be possible is beyond me, but sure, okay. Maybe the fact that she is so quiet gives her this mischievous aura. Men in these novels like their women to be slightly submissive with a hint of lamb like innocence. At the same time they would like her to have a smart mouth, but only when it suits them. Now, even though these guys are top class douchebaggy vajajays when it comes to other women, suddenly for this one girl (girl whose entire vibe is that of a person who is slightly under the influence of a brain flu or fever of some kind) they change. All other women become non-existent and they know that they will love this girl for fucking forever. Like bruh, you so won’t, at least not the way you do now. For some unknown reason, they feel these extremely intense feelings, she become the center of their world. I honestly have observed that when they pursue this girl, their behavior is borderline psychopathic, stalkery and very cave-men like. They all, also happen to develop a sudden anger problem. God forbid, this girl talks to a random guy, their mind turns into a red hot fog of rage. Like how on earth did you ever become so rich and successful if one single girl can turn your entire persona upside down.

Let’s just assume that owing to that dark side of theirs, they happen to have anger issues. Let’s talk about this girl. This girl, has a very strong sense of self defense in general, she is also very smart in most of the cases and yet when this brooding, smoldering, albeit stalker psycho dude chases them relentlessly, all sense of self-preservation just evaporates. I mean, the man could beat up a guy an inch away from death right in front of that girl, but she would find a way to forgive him and just find a reason as to why he did what he did. She will actually feel sorry for this person. NONE of the above crap would EVER fly in reality and yet we want it to.

Now, let me tell you what boils my blood the most. As readers (mostly the women), we actually fall in love with this male character. The intensity with which he loves this girl, all head over heels. The way he says “You’re mine”, the way he says “Baby, for me it’s you forever” just makes our ovaries explode. Tell me something, would you go out with a guy who you just met accidentally, and he starts stalking you and also starts acting like a psycho? You are more likely to get a restraining order. Oh and the sex is always phenomenal, always! Everybody gets places, and also, at the same time. I mean, kudos to you, seriously.

What these novels do to our minds is that it creates this virtual world, a destination that we as women just yearn to reach. We want that world, we want that extremely intense guy for who we are everything. Now even though you come across a guy in real life who actually does love you, he somehow does not ever measure up to the standards set in our mind. Then, one of the two things happen, either you “settle” and keep telling yourself that “I could have done better” and forever live dissatisfied, or you do not, because you want the exact same shit as these imaginary people. You can deny it all you like but TV shows, movies, and these books are redefining the meaning of love for us all. We are gradually slipping away from the reality. This holds truth not only for things like relationships, but, it has been affecting all parts of our lives.

We see, we compare, and then, get disappointed. No wonder people are already depressed at the age of 20 now, and the word contentment is becoming an alien concept.

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Written by @things, 2018. All rights reserved.}

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