Romance. It is an interesting monster.
Oh believe me, it is a monster, at once huge, and tiny. It is horribly pervasive throughout our society, yet somehow it slips into our lives without us knowing it.
And I'm not saying this with a smile on my face.
Love is worth smiling about. Romance is not.
Romance tells us lies, makes us blind to reality. It tells us war is a chance for people to get together. IF it touches on death,it is distantly, only making the romance that much greater. Romance teaches us that two people who are drastically different, and start out hating each other, will suddenly stop all that and be in love, after they have had hot sex. Romance teaches us that the woman wants it, and that rape is ok.
Don't buy the broadness of my claim? Ok, lets slim it down. Everytime I type romance, put novel behind it. I think then you'll see how apt my comparisions are.