Close to Valentine's Day by Linda S. Glaz

Gone With theWind

On my personal blog, I just posted some brief comments on Gone With the Wind, 

and it stirred some wonderful comments in return.

I have always thought that GWTW was the quintessential romance.

A handsome, oftentimes bad boy, Rhett Butler, and the not so fainting Lily, Scarlett O'Hara.

For a true romance to catch the reader's interest, there must be a tremendous attraction and plenty of obstacles preventing the couple from getting together.

And with Scarlett and Rhett, there were puh-lenty!

Ashley, the war, Ashley, Melanie, Ashley, taxes, Ashley, Mr. Kennedy, Ashley, loss of a child, Ashley, Belle, Ashley, THE KISS, Ashley, the staircase, and alas, Ashley....

Well, you get the picture. But the obstacles weren't only Ashley, they were plentiful and the romance never disappointed from page one to the very end. Margaret Mitchell understood the perfect elements for a romance. The only thing she didn't give us was the happily ever after. Or...

did she? If you've ever seen the movie, you know that Scarlett loses hope for only a few seconds. After she remembers her life-connection to Tara, all of her hope to get him back returns.

One reader commented about their flawed relationship and that was absolutely spot on. In fact, it was the flawed relationship that kept us turning pages. Kept us hoping they might grow up and listen to what each other's heart was saying, rather than what their words said.

Anyone wanting to write romance should take a lesson from Margaret Mitchell.

Because frankly my dear, I do care.