Let’s Discuss: Couples that Last

Posted 15 September, 2013 by Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms in Discussion Posts / 0 Comments

Let's Discuss - (un)Conventional BookviewsLet’s Discuss is a weekly post hosted by The Fiction Conniption and oh, Chrys. The discussion posts are supposed to have something to do with books, but you can pretty much choose your own topic. You can link up to your discussion post at both blogs, and also visit other posts and participate in the discussions they are having. When you link up, it should be to a post made in the past seven days, even if The Fiction Conniption and Oh, Chrys both post theirs every Thursday. You don’t have to post weekly discussion posts, and you can participate when you feel like it.

Let’s Discuss: Couples that Last?

Since I’ve been discussing sex and relationships in my past discussion posts, and also because this weekend, it’s been 23 years since I met my husband, I have been thinking a lot about couples that last – both in real life and in books. I really enjoy series where we follow the same couple through several books, from the time they first met, to the actual establishment of them as a couple, and then – what happens next? Just to show a little bit of life that is true, here is a photo of us 22 years ago – and today :

Lexxie & Hubby  - (un)Conventoinal BookviewsYounger  - (un)Conventional Bookviews

I know some of my fellow bloggers find it a little boring to read about a couple who stays together – what more is there after they agree they love each other, and want to stay together, right? However, I have to admit I really love it when I start a series with two people meeting, then maybe they fall in love. And of course, even if they do fall in love, there are some obstacles that make life and romance difficult for them. But if they overcome those initial obstacles, I really like reading more about them! How they fight the feeling of being ‘stuck’ in everyday life, other people, jealousy, friends and difficult situations that might arise.

One of my all time favorite couples is Cat and Bones from Jeanie Frost’s Night Huntress series. When they meet, nothing at all is helping them to get to know each other – or even survive their first meeting. But when they both do survive that initial encounter and get to know each other, their chemistry and likeness help them overcome all the difficulties that are in the way of their happiness. So, when they start dating and get more serious, I started to enjoy the series even more! And the way they interact and deal with those external problems is one of the things I find truly awesome in the series.

It really does not bother me, nor bore me, that they stay together, I find it refreshing! And the way they solve their problems is both enlightening and gives me hope. They do not exactly settle into a routine, even if they kind of do anyway. And all through the books I’ve read so far in the series, they both have to adjust to new things they learn about each other. That’s the thing I really like! I think in real life, we keep discovering each other as well. And even while living together every day, we cannot possibly share every single thing that happens to us right now, nor every situation we’ve ever been in before we became an item. That’s one thing I’d like to see more about in the books I love to read. A couple who is able to stay together, through the hardship of routine. Through the new situations life throws at us. And the way Cat and Bones share both love and a very deep respect for one another, I keep the faith that it’s not impossible – even for us mere mortals – to stay together, through good times and bad.

Of course, there are other examples as well, but these two are my favorite people, making my favorite couple, and I think their romantic scenes are just as hot after several books. It wasn’t just the initial heat of the romance that made me interested in them – it’s that eternal flame they both show and that is still burning – that keeps me coming back for more.

Do you have a favorite couple you love to follow from book to book? Or do you find it boring that they kind of settle and stay together? Please share in the comments – I’m always interested to read your opinion.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a beautiful Sunday, and happy reading.

Lexxie signature (un)Conventional Bookviews

 

 

Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.

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0 responses to “Let’s Discuss: Couples that Last

  1. Oh man! I feel so giddy with this post especially seeing you and your hubby’s pic. It’s so inspiring to read about this kind of stories. I am still single though but who doesn’t wish for a happy ever after with your Prince Charming?:D

    And…I always thought that we’re of the same age, Lexxie. I am quite surprised after reading “22 years ago.”

    Anyway, I am so happy about your long lasting marriage. And I don’t find long lasting relationships boring. I’m from the Philippines so it’s kind of ingrained in me that couple should make it work until their last breath. We don’t even have divorce here. But then again, I am not one to judge those couples who chose to go on their own ways because of irreconcilable differences and other valid reasons.

    While it might be interesting to read about couples breaking up then moving on and then finding another love, it’s also interesting to read about couples who stood by each other after so many obstacles. I am kind of groggy right now so I cannot think clearly about book couples who lasted until the book/series ended. Well, I am mostly reading Y/As so you know how it is. Majority of Y/A characters either don’t have a relationship when the book started or our heroes/heroes have prop boyfriends/girlfriends.

    This is a great discussion, Lexxie. 😀 And though I don’t know the exact date, happy 23rd wedding anniversary. And look, 2 years more to go for your silver (?) anniversary.

    • Hi Charlotte 🙂 Thanks for stopping by! Yeah, I’m probably closer to your mom’s age 😉 But that’s OK – I’m very young at heart!

      I agree, I would never judge people who don’t stay together, but I’m really happy my hubby and I have been able to be with each other for so long. We haven’t been married for as long, though, we met 23 years ago, and we’ve been married 18 years.

      In YA, there are still couples who kind of stay together, but it’s not the same thing as in the adult books. Obstacles are easier to deal with as a team, so that’s also why I love reading about couples who make it.

      Have a great Sunday, Charlotte!

  2. Oh, I love this post. In stories I love some conflict thrown in, but I hate it too, think Morganville and the recent drama between couples. All that stuff made me fly through the pages, but at the same time I was freaking out! So I guess I do like couples to stick it out, not always, but when they don’t, the rationalizing part of my brain has to take over. Let me tell you I had to do a lot of rationalizing throughout the True Blood series. I wanted Sookie to choose this person then that. When I saw the tide changing yet again, I stopped. Certain series have established couples that would break my heart if anything happened to break them up, Mercy Thompson, Night Huntress, uh…there’s more, but then I might get spoilery.

    It’s so neat that you shared your story and those great pictures. Love stories real or fiction make me giddy.

  3. I can certainly agree with the need for conflict to make a story move forward, but the conflict doesn’t have to be internal to the couple – and they can join forces and get through things together, stronger in the end.

    Oh, Morganville’s last instalment had me reading frantically as well. And now I’m wondering what that other series is that you won’t tell me about for fear of being spoilery… *goes to stalk Robyn’s Goodreads shelves*

    Thanks for stopping by, and I’m happy if I could make you a little giddy 😉 Have a great day (you know… after you wake up since it’s in the middle of the night where you are now.)

  4. I agree with you, I love ti when a couple stays together for some time and you actually read about the couple beign together, not just the getting together part. My favourite couple that stays together would be Elena and Clay from Kelley Armstrongs Otherworld series. They are a great couple and I love the fact that you actually read about them as a couple.

    I really wish there where more books where couples are together and we read about them being a couple. Great post Lexxie!

    Lola recently posted: Sunday Post # 39
    • Oh I haven’t started the Otherworld series yet, but now, I now what my next ‘new’ series will be, thanks for letting me know about a lasting couple in that, Lola.

      Thanks for stopping by 🙂

  5. I love hearing about couples who have been together for a long time. 🙂 I don’t mind reading stories like that now and then. I think one of my favorite hallmark series is called the Love Saga. It is based on the same series by Janette Oke. The first book is called Love Comes Softly and it starts a journey from the one couple, to their kids, etc. They are what are called ‘Prairie Romances’ LOL One day I would like to actually read the books, but I do enjoy the movies. 🙂

    Stormi recently posted: Review of The Mad Earl's Bride
    • Love Saga sounds awesome, Stormi! Both the movies and the books 🙂 And Prairie Romances? Does that make them a little Ingall-ish?

      Thanks for stopping by 🙂 I hope you’re having an awesome weekend.

  6. From ‘one old married woman to another’ 😉 I love this post, Lexxie!! Absolutely, I find following a couple who stays together sexy! And Cat & Bones is a fabulous example. They are rather inspirational in how they work through their problems – even if those problems are something we’d never face in reality. And they do settle into routine – at least routine for them. 🙂 Another couple that I love, even if they don’t star in every book in the series, is Elena Michaels and Clayton Danvers. I think they serve as an example of sticking together through thick and thin as well.

    Thanks for sharing the photos, Lexxie. You and your hubby are a lovely couple! I don’t know if we’ve shared about this before but my hubby and I have been married for 18 years too. We met 24 years ago in algebra class 🙂 but didn’t start dating til 4.5 years later. I loved your comments about discovering one another in real life. I think that’s an integral part of a relationship – discovering more about your spouse and yourself. And being able to adapt to growth and changes as well as surviving the every day routine.

    Thanks for sharing this post, Lexxie! I hope you’ve had a great weekend. We had a short break in the rain yesterday but it’s raining again. *hugs*

    • Oh man! I really hope I’ll never have to deal with the kinds of problems Cat and Bones have to deal with, Brandee. That would be really and truly scary 😀 I don’t think I’ve met Elena Michaels and Clayton Danvers… what series do they show up in?

      We waited a few years before we got married as well… figured if we did get married, we wanted to do our best to make it last, so it was best to know each other and feel sure of our decision first 😀 And yes, discovering continues all the time – it’s part of the excitement for us ‘old’ married couples, don’t you think?

      Thanks for stopping by! I hope you are staying safe, Brandee. *hugs*

      • Ah, I meant to include the series name for Elena and Clay…sorry! They are from Kelley Armstrong’s Otherworld series. It’s fantastic and I’d highly recommend it. The main characters change from book to book but you meet/see everyone in each book. The first two star Elena and Clay.

        I think we’re going to start drying out today. I can actually see blue sky out my windows. 🙂 *hugs*

        Bookworm Brandee recently posted: **Blogger 'Duel' Review ~ The Radleys ~ Matt Haig
        • Oh, I’m glad it’s finally stopping to rain, Brandee! I hope everything is OK!

          Thanks for the mention of the Otherworld series, of course it is already on my TBR 😀

          Happy reading! *hugs*

    • Thank you Alisa 🙂 I’m sure you and Aidan will continue to be happy together! You have a great foundation for it – your common interest in books for one thing 🙂

      Thanks for stopping by.

  7. Congrats, Lexxie! How fantastic to be together and be happy for so long. You guys look so darn cute in both pics!

    I agree that it’s nice to see couples stay together in books. I hate it when you fall in love with a couple and then, bam!, in the next book they break up and it’s someone new. However, I also I hate it when couples are just too perfect and their only conflicts come from outside the relationship. In novels it’s nice to see them stay together but who sometimes fight or misunderstand each other for conflict and, because, well, that’s what couples do! 🙂

    Katie Hayoz recently posted: Full Disclosure
    • Thank you Katie! 🙂

      I agree, not all conflicts come from outside, but they can still work together to solve things. And sometimes, a good fight is just what the doctor ordered – both in fiction and in real life. You are right, nobody is perfect, and I tend to prefer both the characters I read about, and the couples they form to have flaws. That way, I don’t feel as if I’m inadequate, and the characters seem even more real.

      Thanks for stopping by, Katie! While you were commenting here, I was reading your Full Disclosure post while laughing out loud 🙂

  8. Great post Lexxie! I’d love to see what happens in the “after” of happily ever after too. The whole falling in love stage is great, but since I myself have been in a relationship for almost three years (nothing like your 23 though, ha!) I’d like to see more books dealing with the everyday issues of being in a long-term relationship. Some books in the Kelley Armstrong Women of the Otherworld series have long-term couples, and I really like those.

    Celine recently posted: #SKweek Main Post & Grand Giveaway
    • Yes, that’s it exactly, I want to know if after the first excitement of new love the couple can continue to be together. If they will still love each other when they learn more about each other’s flaws.

      Thanks for stopping by Celine! I’m really excited about your Stephen King week 🙂

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