Caveat: Any trope, done right, is still a joy to read. But done right usually means expertly written, with a new and unique angle. Anything else will induce groans and eye-rolling of epic proportions.
This week’s Top 5 Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by Shanah the Bionic Bookworm, is the Top 5 Tropes I’ve Had Enough of.
Love triangles
Edward, Jacob, Bella. Katniss, Peta, Gale. Harry, Hermoine, Ron. Okay, that last one is debatable, but you get the idea. This seems needless, and should never be the focus of any book longer than a chapter or two. “Look, there are the two boys I like. I think I like that one better.” Done.
Instant Love
Probably a lot of love related tropes on my list. *shrug* The idea of instant love is kind of ridiculous. Instant infatuation, sure. Instant lust, of course. Love? No. What happens when you’ve declared your love for someone and then find out they clip their toenails while watching TV and leaving them in a little pile of the coffee table?
Absent/Dead Parents
I get it. Nothing builds character faster than someone forced into having to do everything for themselves with no help, but it just seems like every main character has dead parents or parents that for one reason or another just can’t be around. Why couldn’t Harry’s Dad be at the quidditch games cheering him on? All that other stuff still could have happened. “Go get em, son! Buy, that Snape’s a bit of wanker, eh?”
Damsel in Distress
Unavoidable, because everyone gets in distress sooner or later. But our female characters should be the hero as often as the damsel.
Love cures/solves everything
It’s not some super power. It can’t defeat an enemy. It can’t bring people back to life. I think we can all agree, love can be great, but it has its limitations. Like Aleeve.
Yes to all. Nailed it!
I 100% agree with everything written in this post😂 Mostly instant love, I just can’t read it anymore😂
Yes! The love cures trope is on my list as well. I instantly dislike a book when I come across that trope. Dangerous message!
Totally 100% in agreement!
Love cures all. That one is so hard for me too. Funny how many of these tropes translate well to movies and television too.
I agree with all of these. We need some spice for goodness sake! Also- sucks that you’re sick, I hope you are feeling well soon!
Hahahaha Joe you got the most popular in your post today!
Absent/Dead Parents <– Books get half a bonus point for NOT doing this to the hero's parents. Hang on – "What happens when you’ve declared your love for someone and then find out they clip their toenails while watching TV and leaving them in a little pile of the coffee table?" – what? That's not a romantic love offering?
Hahahahaha…. Brilliant post!!!! Loved every single part.
Also loved the British-Canadian thing you’ve got going on: “…that Snape’s a bit of wanker, eh?” 😉😀
HA HA! I didn’t even notice the ‘eh.’ They sneak up on us Canadians.
😂😂😄
Sorry you are sick but you kind of deserve it for considering Harry/Ron/Hermione a love triangle!!!! haha I hate love triangles too
ugh yes I’m sick of instalove and love triangles too!
ugh damsel in distress…
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