Anyway, all this studying up on love triangles got me thinking about some of the more contested love triangles in recent YA fantasy/dystopian history. When you're in the midst of a series of books or movies involving a heated love triangle, you can't help but pick a side, right? So I want to know...which team(s) are you on?
Team Edward or Team Jacob? (the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer)
Team Maxon or Team Aspen? (The Selection series by Kiera Cass)
Team Gale or Team Peeta? (The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins)
Let me know if there are any I missed :) I can't wait to hear what you think!
See you next time!
Laurie
Attributions:
Twilight series: http://twilightsaga.wikia.com/wiki/Eclipse_%28film%29?file=EclipsePoster2.jpg
The Selection series: http://theselection.wikia.com/wiki/Maxon_Schreave?file=The_Prince_Illustration.png (Maxon), http://theselection.wikia.com/wiki/Aspen_Leger?file=Screenshot_2015-10-13-16-47-10.png (Aspen)
The Hunger Games series: http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/thehungergames/images/d/db/Peeta_gale.jpeg/revision/latest?cb=20120910214451
Funny! Personally, I am trying to avoid love triangles in books I write (sort of) but they do make me keep reading! When my husband went with me to the 2nd Twilight movie, it was at the part where Mike and Jacob show up at a movie with Bella. ..my husband leaned over and said, "I'm on Team Mike." : ) I started laughing! I can never pick, because I always feel bad for the underdog. . . but I think I would go with Edward and Peeta, too. I haven't read The Selection series yet. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, Erin! I have a bit of a love triangle in my current WIP, but I'm not sure if it counts because my MC never really has any interest in one of the guys, he just has a crush on her. They keep me reading, too! I love your story about seeing New Moon with your husband, that's hilarious! I never even thought to add Team Mike - poor guy never stood a chance :(
DeleteThis reminds me of when I was in the hospital with Emily. Twilight kept me entertained. Nick sent me an Edward Barbie-type doll in the mail to the RMH for me as a joke, because I decided early on that I was team Edward. Haha. I am unfamiliar with The Selection, but will check it out. Definitely team Peeta.
ReplyDeleteHaha, I love that Nick sent you an Edward doll, he has a good sense of humor, that one :) I have to admit I was always a Team Jacob girl myself, but so far it's looking like I'll be outnumbered. Yay Team Peeta!! Thanks for commenting, Ann Marie!
DeleteI haven't read any of these books, but I have been thinking about love triangles lately. I'm your typical, cruel-to-her-characters author, so I think any romance subplots I write will be love triangles, or unrequited love :). One thing I want to write is a love triangle with two girls and a guy, since the vast majority are the other way round.
ReplyDeleteBrenna
Haha, it sounds like your poor characters have a lot of heartache ahead of them :) I hope to be able to read your work someday! I guess we all have to be at least a little cruel to our characters, otherwise the stories would turn out pretty boring. I like your idea of a love triangle involving two girls and a guy, that does seem to be done much less often (at least in what I read). Thanks for your comment, Brenna!
DeleteThank you! I hope you can, too, but it could be a while :). I'm considering putting the idea into my next novel...
DeleteI have one of The Selection books, but haven't read it yet.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the other two, why would anyone not be Team Jacob, seriously? Picking a pasty white, no personality, I want to kill you blood sucker over a wolfish hunk like Jacob, who clearly loves her more. No contest. :)
And I'm team Peeta only because it never seemed like Gales personality was formed enough for me to make a good decision. Besides, Peeta's so needy and adorable.
That's for doing this post. Love triangles get such a bad wrap. But why then, do so many popular stories have them?
Deanna!!! Your comment worked, hooray!!
DeleteI'm totally with you on Team Jacob - he's funny, sweet, cares about her so much, and is way less angsty, plus she wouldn't have to become a vampire to make the relationship work. And he's not too unpleasant to look at :)
You're right about Gale not having a very developed personality, and other than the opening, so many of his critical scenes (such as their kiss) were told as flashbacks rather than present action, which I think made it harder to connect with him. And I just adored Peeta's self-deprecating sense of humor :)
Love triangles do get a bad rap, which I think is unfair sometimes. As Erin said, they keep you reading, plus they generate a lot of discussion. I think it's all about how they're done. If it's one person heartlessly leading two people on I take issue with that, but if the setup is such that the MC's predicament is understandable and they feel bad about their confused feelings, I think they can be very effective.
Team Jacob all the way. :) Great topic!
DeleteYay! We got another one :)
DeleteTeam Edward. He's devoted, forgiving, and protective. And I really liked his family, especially Carlisle. I did want her to stay human though.
ReplyDeleteTeam Gale. I can't believe I'm the only one! Peeta always seemed like a dude-in-distress to me. I was never quite sure why Katniss liked him, other than that she likes to save people who can't save themselves. Gale was devoted, smart, had been her best friend for years, and didn't have the extra psychological baggage that Peeta did.
I haven't read the Selection yet, though it's been sitting on my "to read" list for a while.
I can't help thinking of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, which I just reread this week. I'm on Team Cal for that one.
Ha, that's funny we're on opposite teams for both Twilight and Hunger Games - I guess we must have different taste in guys :) I agree that I liked Edward's family as well, especially Carlisle and Alice. I'll have to check out Red Queen, when I do I'll let you know which Team I'm on :) Thanks for commenting, Melinda!
DeleteI actually read the first Selection book now, even though I hadn't when I first posted. After reading it, I'm still not sure whether I'm on Team Maxon or Team Aspen. I feel like I don't really know either of them that well yet. So far I'm leaning toward Maxon though.
Delete1. Team Jacob. Why cuddle with an ice cube when there is a toasty werewolf? Plus, he taught her to ride a motorcycle.
ReplyDelete2. Maxon. He's dreamy.
3. Everlark forever. Gale seemed a bit prissy once he realized he was going to always be second fiddle. I'll agree with Melinda about his unwavering loyalty, though. Maybe because Peeta reminded me a bit of Gilbert Blythe...
Thanks for your comment, Sarah! Haha, I think you summed up the argument for Team Jacob perfectly :) And finally someone who's read The Selection! I'm still on the first book, but I'm definitely Team Maxon as well - he's such a gentleman, but I also like his cute, awkward moments. I love the comparison of Peeta to Gilbert Blythe, he's just such a sweetheart!
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