Hero Inflation?
Has anyone noticed that heroes seem to be getting taller? I seem to be coming across quite a few of 6 foot five to six foot six heroes. Do women really prefer very tall men? Are readers driving this hero inflation or are authors one-upping each other? Or is it just a quirk of the books I am reading? What’s your experience?
Review:
Question #1: Are heroes getting taller in the books you are now reading?
Question #2: Do women prefer very tall men?
Question: #3: Are authors or fans causing taller heroes?
Question:#4: Are the heroes you are encountering the same size they have been in the past?
Thanks,
Vince
FF: I am writing a book about the romance genre and these little surveys help me avoid making big mistakes. I want to get it right. 
“Romances are the emotional vitamins of the soul.” Vince
Vince, I'm glad to know
Vince,
I'm glad to know why you asked, but why did you tell me? Did I actually ask you? I've often asked myself, but I didn't think I'd actually asked you.
FF
"Perhaps what the average member of a group is capable of doesn't limit what a given individual can accomplish." -- Boston Globe, letter to the editor
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Yes You Did:
Hi FF:
Yes, you did ask me why I was doing a survey. It was a few questions back and I forgot to give a reason at that time so I thought I would this time. Answers to these questions are very useful to me. I appreciate your posts.
Thanks,
Vince
“Romances are the emotional vitamins of the soul.” Vince
I think it's a reflection of the times, this generation being
generally taller than the last (unless you're a Frenchman
)
I love tall men (which is undoubtedly WHY I married a shortish Frenchman
- he's taller than me, but not by much) but that's because we have a
lot of tall men in the family, the brother's 5'10", most of my cousins
are between 6'0" and 6'4" and Grandad was actually 6'6", so I was
"programmed" early to like tall men
Hugs
Sadhbh
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Survey
So what exactly are you doing with the answers given here to your surveys? I know you are writing a book, but what specifically are you using these answers we give for? Just curious here....
The D2K Paranormal Junkies 2008 Challenge
I Call it Research
Hi debiw781:
The surveys are for background. They are not scientific and will not be quoted or used as such. They help me come up with new paths to pursue and they help show me when my preconceived notions are way off. These questions help me get things right or more likely keep me from getting things wrong. Often what I think the answers are going to be is way different from what happens. For example, my question on favorite book covers and on which Harlequin line you could not do without – were nothing like I thought they would be.
The book should be a fun read, very pro-romance, and the working title is “A Random Walk Through Romance Land”. It is in the spirit of the best seller years ago called “A Random Walk Down Wall Street”. I expect to have read over 1000 romances for the book research. I am over 700 right now. I want to actually know what I am talking about. Exact publishing plans are confidential but I think this will give you a good idea of why I ask these questions. Your posts are very appreciated.
Thanks,
Vince
“Romances are the emotional vitamins of the soul.” Vince
Thanks...
I was starting to get a little leery of answering as I don't want to be a part of anyone's survey for publishing! But it sounds like you are just using these questions to guide you and help you understand... and that I can appreciate. Thank you for answering that!
The D2K Paranormal Junkies 2008 Challenge
RE: ARE HEROS GETTING ANY TALLER?
O what a sore subject this is with me! Of course in "Romance Book Land" ALL the H's tend to be tall, and when the h hugs him, she "nuzzles into his broad chest." One of the things us Wright boys are NOT known for is our tallness (though it's made up for in other areas
).
It's like two chits, one with big boobs. The one with big boobs gets whatever she wants, JUST BECAUSE SHE HAS BIG BOOBS, while me and the smaller-boobed girl have to work twice-as-hard for the same thing the tall bloke and the titty lass seemingly get for nothing.
"I went to a FIGHT the other night...and a HOCKEY GAME broke out!! "
HockeyDET@comcast.net
Vince & HockeyJock--
Vince--I'm enjoying your questions. It's really funny because I was wondering about the whole height thing myself. I haven't been reading "romance" for very long so I'm not sure if the H have always been tall or not. But I think most people read for fantasy and I think most women probably fantasize about tall, dark and handsome. Afterall, the phrase came from somewhere.
As for do women prefer taller men...I've seen lots of short women that tend to gravitate toward tall men; and I've seen lots of tall women gravitate toward short men. And I've even known a few tall women that wouldn't date a man that wasn't taller than them. So I think eveyone has their own preference.--I, however, am short and prefer under-tall men. I don't want a crick in my neck just "to gaze lovingly" in my man's eyes.
(For the record, my husband's 5'7".)
HockeyJock--You're kinda warped, you know it? And I mean that lovingly.
Loved your example. But take it from a big boobed girl, it's all about the attitude. Big boobs alone are not enough unless you intend to use their powers for evil.
Shannon
Shannon
batmom72@yahoo.com
Big boobs alone are not
Big boobs alone are not enough unless you intend to use their powers for evil
I'm rolling on the floor laughing!
"Perhaps what the average member of a group is capable of doesn't limit what a given individual can accomplish." -- Boston Globe, letter to the editor
March's Member of the Month!
Oops! I forgot I'd
Oops! I forgot I'd asked.
Let's just say it's a case of advancing senility!
"Perhaps what the average member of a group is capable of doesn't limit what a given individual can accomplish." -- Boston Globe, letter to the editor
March's Member of the Month!
"Let's just say it's a case of advancing senility!"
Let's just
Dream Team 2008 Challenge blogs
RE:Are Heroes Getting Taller?
I myself don't mind the Tall man, I do feel alittle slighted when all the women are slim, slender, or however you want to put it. The big boobs, well..being in that class, they never really got me anything!
But being slighty overweight
I would like to see more women who are in that class, get something. The man, the money, whatever comes with the man. I am short and married a tall man. I don't have a thing for tall men, but that is all I can get mainly cause the tall chicks are getting the short men. But I would like to see the "Not so slim" chicks have some play!
Nothing against all who are slim. But us "Big" girls need some love too
!
~ Arnita ~
Taller and taller
Question #1: Are heroes getting taller in the books you are now reading?
YES!
Question #2: Do women prefer very tall men?
I met my dh folk dancing, at the time I was dancing with (a frenchman) guy that was an inch shorter than me. I loved dancing with the guy about my height it makes some of the moves better in balance. Yes, there's that word again. It's harder to do some partner spins with the very tall man (dh is 6'2"--that would be 6" taller than me). From my stand point it's not the height of the man that counts, it's what he does with that height
Question: #3: Are authors or fans causing taller heroes?
Or is it a reflection of our times and the fact that both men and women in certain countries are taller than prior generations?
Question:#4: Are the heroes you are encountering the same size they have been in the past?
Are we talking about books or real life.
Nancy