Fresh Fiction Blog | Nan Rossiter | The Role of Heartache

I have always loved books fraught with heartache, star-crossed lovers, and infidelity. And I’ve always liked novels and movies that allow the reader or viewer to know a little bit more than the characters do.

Who can forget the scene in The Bridges of Madison County when Francesca grips the door handle of her husband’s truck and watches, utterly torn, as her lover Robert Kincaid drives away? Our hearts ache for her indecision and we want to cry out: "Go to him!" Equally memorable is the scene at the end of Doctor Zhivago when Yuri is travelling on a tram and, through the window, sees his beloved Lara. He struggles to get off the tram and, as he tries to catch up with her, he has a fatal heart attack. Our hearts ache and we just want to cry out to Lara: "Stop! Turn around!" But Lara hurries away, never knowing Yuri died trying to reach her. In Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, we know Juliet is going to wake up and we want to tell Romeo, "Hold on!" If he had only waited a moment more before plunging the dagger into his chest, Juliet would have woken up and everything would’ve turned out differently. In Camelot, we know Mordred is setting a trap for Lancelot and Guinevere and we want to warn them, "Stay away!" After they are caught, Arthur struggles with their betrayal and asks the question: "Can passion be selected?"

It is human frailty, heartache, and struggle that make these stories memorable; that make them classic! If Francesca had run away with Robert, if Lara had turned around and seen Yuri, if Lancelot and Guinevere had stayed apart, if Romeo and Juliet had lived happily ever after, there would be no drama...no heartache. There would be no "if only..."

These are some of the stories that, through the years, have stayed with me. They are stories I love and they are a part of me; and when I set out to write a novel, they played a part. If you happen to read THE GIN & CHOWDER CLUB you’ll find out how!

Nan Rossiter

Comments

You are truly a woman after my own heart. Not only are these stories that tear at your heartstrings, if you're in the right frame of mind, they can give you a good cry as well!! I am very anxious to read your book, and I know I will thoroughly enjoy it!! Thank you for a most refreshing blog. You brought to mind so many stories that have totally slipped my mind, and I would love to read or watch again. Have a Happy Memorial Day!!
(Peggy Roberson 9:42am May 30, 2011)

Thank you for your post and giveaway, Nan. "The Gin & Chowder Club" sounds like a fine read.

Like you, I love stories of tragic, star-crossed love. The power and poignancy of such tales deeply move me. These include many of the great love stories from history, mythology, and literature. Stories of couples who follow the rules and end up together and happy tend to get forgotten.

How I wish we could read such novels and watch such movies nowadays. But they're few in number and hard to find.

I realize there's a huge market for feel-good power fantasies that follow the standard romance-genre formula, including the inevitable happy ending. But what about something for the rest of us?

Keep up the good work!
(Mary Anne Landers 2:24pm May 30, 2011)

Just what I needed to read on a day like today. Keep writing and I'll keep reading them.
(Lisa Diel 3:07pm May 30, 2011)

feel that way with Gone With The Wind and Othello thinking of thw what ifs and if onlys. Some stories take time to develop, the winding path that leads us right to where we are supposed to be.
(Carla Carlson 3:33pm May 30, 2011)

well i have some idea you might think about the storm here in mo in Joplin and then in bran son they are having floods
they are still cleaning up in Joplin
(Desiree Reilly 6:50pm May 30, 2011)

There definitely aren't many books available that the boy doesn't get the girl and they get their HEA.
Looking forward to reading more. Good luck and happy writing!
(Tracie Travis 10:10pm May 30, 2011)

YEAH... the Gone With The Wind scene at the end and the Francesca scene at Bridges of Madison get to me every time. :) I cried buckets over Waterloo Bridge with Vivien Leigh as well. But I do love happy endings too.
(May Pau 10:13pm May 30, 2011)

Sounds like i'll be reading your book with a box of tissues nearby! Star-crossed love and what ifs...sounds like perfect summer reading to me.
(Mary Vehlies 10:28pm May 30, 2011)

It tears me up to read books or watch movies that have these heartbreaking
scenes in them. That being said, they make for memorable stories that we love
in spite of the heartbreak.
Thanks for a post that reminded me of some of my favorite movies.
(Patricia Barraclough 11:21pm May 30, 2011)

you can't really have a good romance book without some heartache in it. otherwise what is there for the hero and the heroine to overcome?
(Tammy Ramey 12:19pm May 31, 2011)

This sounds like such a memorable story, one that will stay with the reader. Your example from The Bridges of Madison County brought that scene back clearly to my mind. I love books set on the Cape as I am a transplanted New Englander and miss it like crazy!
(Karen Gervasi 7:08am May 31, 2011)

I always love hearing what authors find inspirational! Thank you for your guest post!
(Emily Davis 9:02am May 31, 2011)

Keep up the great work Nan! I'm looking forward to reading THE GIN & CHOWDER CLUB!
(Cherie Michalec 9:39am May 31, 2011)

WOW; this sounds like fantastic reading. Please enter me in your fantastic contest that I saw on freshfiction.com
I love to enter and win great prizes from their website. May GOD Bless YOU with Success too.
Thank YOU, CECILIA
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 9:53am May 31, 2011)

I look forward to reading your book. I agree with most of what you said, but for some reason I never got Dr. Zhivago. I hate to admit that but it's true.
(Pam Howell 10:00am May 31, 2011)

I think heartache makes for a great book. I also loved Dr. Zhivago and The bridges of madison Co. Can't wait to read your book. Sounds like one I will really enjoy.
Have a great summer and good luck with your book
(Mary Branham 12:36pm May 31, 2011)

These are the types of stories that I really like the best. I love being about to feel good, when I have finished a book. Looking forward to reading some of your work.
(Kathy Sexton 1:14pm May 31, 2011)

Putting this on my TBR list, sounds like a great read.Thanks for the contest and have a Great Summer!
(Teresa Ward 2:07pm May 31, 2011)

Yes.....the what if. I like to reframe it with they lived happily ever after.
(Barbara Ryan 2:41pm May 31, 2011)

Books allow us to explore our own emotions, fears, hopes and dreams. Heartwrenching and emotionally fraught stories always touch us far more because they are the explorations of our own insecurities, our own emotions, and our own frailty. We are far like to relate to the characters engulfed in such a drama than any other book. Also, such stories examine the dynamics of the human psyche and the interaction, and emotional attachments, of one human being with another, so they are really also commentary on humanity! Thank you for the giveaway opportunity, your book is on my TBR list, and I would be ecstatic if I had a chance to read it. Have an amazing day, and a wonderful summer :)
(Hira Hasnain 3:14pm May 31, 2011)

Conflicts in love remind me of regular life and I enjoy reading about the intentions and actions in the stories of romance.
(Alyson Widen 3:37pm May 31, 2011)

I like to read the happily ever after stories, but it's the what if's and the heartache that seem to make the best literature and reading that really stays with you for a long time.
(Sue Farrell 3:48pm May 31, 2011)

There are certainly many situations in evidence in the news today such as you describe. One doesn't have to look very far.
Blessings,
Marjorie
(Marjorie Carmony 3:59pm May 31, 2011)

I enjoy conflict, but there is nothing quite a satisfying as a happily ever after.
(Renee Grandinetti 4:28pm May 31, 2011)

Thanks for hosting the giveaway. The book sounds like a good read!
(Holly Caulfield 4:58pm May 31, 2011)

Can't wait to read your book. Sounds interesting.
(Linda Hall 5:58pm May 31, 2011)

There are certain stories I reread, and each time I always secretly hope it ends differently. I would love to read the book.
(Debbie Penny 6:01pm May 31, 2011)

I always think about the "what if". Thanks for the giveaway!
(Lisa Garrett 7:30pm May 31, 2011)

I love the heartache type books, nothing like a good cry.
(Jody Hollenbeck 8:34pm May 31, 2011)

I really enjoy teary books. I am sobbing right along with the characters. It truly brings an ache in your heart, I loved Prince of Tides.
(Kathleen Bianchi 9:17pm May 31, 2011)

Enjoyed your blog, book sounds great. Looking forward to a good cry.
(Sheila True 9:18pm May 31, 2011)

I love the happily ever after, but the sad endings are the one that stay in your mind and you re-read.
(Sharon Mitchell 9:31pm May 31, 2011)

I love a tear jerker every now and then. It keeps me human!
(Stephanie Bondlow 12:09pm June 2, 2011)

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