Below is a wonderful article about non-cheesy relationship stories. Elizabeth originally sent it to me to put up before Valentine’s day, but there were technical delays. Yes, they were very technical. Still, it’s a good article and I hope you enjoy it. MB
Relationships Minus the Side of Cheese
a guest post by Elizabeth Eckhart
Whether or not you’re in a relationship, there are a group of us who, for reasons unknown, dislike Valentine’s Day. Sometimes it’s a haunting memory from a past Valentine’s Day, other times, it’s simply a dislike of the Hallmark created holiday, or it might even be the belief that showing affection when obligated somehow taints the action. Whatever the cause of any anti- Valentine’s Day sentiment, you’ll appreciate the list below, which consists of less cheesy films and books to celebrate (or ignore) February 14th.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Featuring the dramas of growing up, this book-turned-film tells the story of 15 year old Charlie as he deals with love, his best friend’s suicide, and mental illness as he searches for friends that will stick by his side. The book, published in 1999, maintains autobiographical elements of author Stephen Chbosky’s teenage years as it begins with a series of letters to no one and contains some strong connections to the Catcher in the Rye.
In this famous film, everyone is in love – although, unfortunately, all of it is unrequited. Roger Avary’s 2002 adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’s novel consists of cheating, raping, rejection, drugs, and more! Essentially, no one is happy. Luckily for you, the film is streaming from Direct TV.
Reuniting America’s favorite heartbreakingly in love Titanic movie couple, Leonardo Dicaprio and Kate Winslet appear again, albeit this time with less sweetness. The two play a married couple at the end of their ropes, pregnant, and stuck in a relationship fueled by hatred. Cheesy romance it is not but, perhaps because the film is based on Richard Yates’ debut novel of the same name, cinematically and story-wise it is excellent.
Crap Dates: Disastrous Encounters from Single Life
In this modern age, it seems every Hollywood “fairytale” is plastered across social media. Add that to the endless string of “Man Crush Monday” and “Woman Crush Wednesday” instagram posts, and it becomes obvious why another picture of a happy couple might make us nauseous. Thankfully, writer Rhodri Marsden has done us all a favor and collected the best tweets describing horribly gone-wrong dates in his book Crap Dates. From finding eerie stuffed animals, being invited to terrifying apartments and even wine-dousing dates, this book displays the best of the worst date tales to exist. Marsden also offers his own advice between tweets on how to avoid the crazies, the already-married, and other undateables during your search for love.
Brief Interviews with Hideous Men
This movie, based on a short story collection by the late David Foster Wallace, follows grad student Sara around as she conducts a series of interviews to find out why none of her relationships have worked out. While the movie has received mixed reviews, it is a humorous film focusing on the interviews Sara conducts that range from wild to boring and are conducted with an array of men.
Elizabeth Eckhart is an entertainment writer and blogger born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She has a penchant for high fantasy, and loves anything that involves an epic battle of some sort. She can be followed on Twitter at @elizeckhart.
Tags: elizabeth eckhart, Guest Post, relationships, romance, Valentine's Day