…and no, this time I’m not talking about the crazy ex-stalker. I’m talking about the hero(ine).
The other day I was in the car (I seem to do my best thinking in the car – and in the shower – where I can’t write anything down) and I got to thinking about heroes (and heroines) who act like stalkers – but whom we love anyway.
Take Butch from J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series. If you all remember, he spent a goodly amount of time skulking around the bushes at Marissa’s, waiting for a glimpse of her.
In another book I read recently the hero changed his route so he’d swing by the heroine’s house on his way home for work – no matter that it took him an hour out of his way.
In yet another a heroine “just happened” to be in her hero’s building when he got off work.
One of the most notable, of course, is Edward from Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight Saga. He hung out just outside Bella’s room so he could “listen” to her breathe at night, and even crept into her room while she was sleeping to watch her sleep.
Taken on their own, these events are definitely creepy. And yet..we love these characters. Well, most of us do. Personally, I could do without Butch, but that’s just me.
So..why? Why do we think it’s ok if our hero cruises by our heroine’s house every night on his way from from work? Why is it cute when the heroine just happens to stumble into her hero’s building when he’s headed out after work?
I think it’s because we’re all maybe a little guilty of doing that. I don’t mean standing outside in the bushes (pathetic but kinda funny) or sneaking into someone’s room (so damn creepy!) but just going a bit out of your way to see that someone who you have a crush on.
Of course, I’m talking taking the elevator, instead of the stairs or something small like that, not driving out of the way an hour or something extreme.
In any case, I don’t think it’s cute. Some of it might be funny (like Bush’s) but most of it is just creepy.
I think it works in romance novels sometimes because that level of obsession with another person can be sexy– if he/she returns your feelings. For example, in Bella’s case (and Marissa’s) they were just as into the guy as he was to her and the authors let you see this all the way through. It only gets creepy when one character isn’t interested and the other one either doesn’t get it or doesn’t care …
I haven’t read any Ward books so can’t comment on Butch, but I’m in the group of actually not loving Edward,partly exactly for those creepy reasons (also, and this was a big one: dragging her along the sidewalk by her jacket so quickly she’s staggering along sideways, and threatening to do it all over again if she dares go back where she was once he lets go).
I’m actually reading a book right now described as ‘comic surrealism’, where the heroine has lost all zest for life, and decides to imitate her stalker and become a stalker herself in order to try and capture what she sees as his passionate dedication to a cause. It’s bizarre and entertaining. ‘Love Creeps’ by Amanda Filipacchi
I don’t think it’s cute. I think it’s creepy 99% of the time.
Funny stalking story…
When I was in 7th grade, one of the kids who used to be on the Barney show (yes, the one w/the purple dinosaur) went to my jr high and lived on the street behind me. My friends and I walked past his house nearly every day.
I think my own horror and embarrassment over those few months of…what ever that was…have cured me of any good feelings toward that kind of behavior.
Books are where we can enjoy things we would find horrific in real life. — willaful
I groan whenever I see a character stalking. I actually wanted to reach into the book and grab Butch and shake him. Hanging out where someone *might* show up is okay, hanging in the bushes is pathetic.
And yes, I know as a teenager I pulled a stalker move but was so horrified by it I quickly drove away and about threw up. I didn’t want to be that desperate for anyone. But then teenagers are all emotions anyways so I forgive myself 😉
I’m okay with the need to see someone if the person follows through with it. Like fine, stand in the bushes for a minute, realize you’re an idiot and ring the bell. Or you stand there for a minute listening to someone breathe and then move on.
I think it might have more to do with the idea of ‘mooning’ over someone. The H/H is so distraught without the other. Can’t breathe or move without them. Fine, I would rather they be drunk in a bar 😉
Cindys