In The Hunger Games (book one), Peeta doesn’t actually know that much about Katniss because he never spoke to her much before the games, yet he said he’s in love with her. That’s not really love.
I know, all you bleeding romantics will be complaining. But it’s true. How can you love someone when you don’t know them? That’s not love, that’s attraction. Or infatuation, which starts going into stalker category. (Yes, I know Peeta’s not a stalker.)
Infatuation doesn’t live long in the real world when you realize how different the two of you are, or when you see him pick his nose while farting.
Infatuation can grow into love, but I don’t think someone should say they love you if they hardly KNOW you. If someone says they love you, it should mean they know you, your good side AND your faults, and they love you anyway. That’s the kind of love Jesus modeled for us.
I’ve just got to the point where they discover Peeta is … ahem, sick.
Comments
Back to your post, I'm also annoyed with characters become engaged and they have never been on a date. There are some Christian novels that are guilty of that.
I know what you mean about the Peeta/Katniss relationship (throw Gale in there, too). To me, it was very similar to the Bella/Jacob/Edward triangle. Triangles are popular. But in the end, a choice has to be made. In the case of The Hunger Games, I think Katniss made the right choice, based on the info we're given on the main dudes.
Love triangles may be attractive because a girl likes the idea that she can be flattered by 2 guys and not need to make a committment to either of them when she is really too young. Skewed romance.