Romantic Literature Popularity Rises During Valentine’s Day

According to Time magazine, romance novels make up over half of all fiction paperbacks sold in the United States. With Valentine’s Day in full gear, students and staff may be more attracted to this genre. Two books that are popular with high school students are Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare and The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Both of these use a famous plot: star-crossed lovers.

“[The star-crossed lovers plot] is overdone, but it’s overdone because people like it. It teaches us the universal truth of love conquers all. It does break boundaries, but it can break us down as well,” said Kreher.

Although it was written centuries ago, Romeo and Juliet is well-known in today’s culture and taught in English I.

“[Romeo and Juliet is still popular today] because everyone’s forced at metaphorical gunpoint to read it in high school. It’s a cultural masterpiece that everyone can relate to in the sense that everyone has had to read or see Romeo and Juliet. I think that’s its ultimate staying power.  It is beautiful, yes, but even as I teach it to freshmen–and have taught it to freshmen–it’s something that you understand with time more than you first experience it,” said English teacher Scott Kreher.

The two main characters in The Fault in Our Stars are Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old fighting cancer, and Augustus Waters, a 16-year-old cancer survivor. It is difficult to write a romance novel involving cancer that can apply to anyone, but John Green focuses on Hazel and Augustus’ lives, not only their cancer. While Romeo and Juliet’s love is forbidden by their families, the restrictions on Hazel and Augustus’ love are created by fate. Hazel is very sick and Augustus is healthy, so their relationship has some difficulties.

“The two characters were fated against each other to have a long lasting relationship. But just like Romeo and Juliet shows us, and The Fault in Our Stars shows us, it’s not about the time you have together, but the quality of time you have together,” said Kreher.

Check out a copy of The Fault in Our Stars or Romeo and Juliet to be entertained, learn about love, and become familiar with famous plots in literature.

Written by Molly Thal — Centerspread Editor