Thursday, February 10, 2011

RANDOM MAGIC TOUR: TOP FIVE UNCONVENTIONAL COUPLES

Tour organization: Lyrika Publicis
Contact the tour: @RandomMagicTour 

Random Magic...many great things can be said about this book, but one thing that really stands out about it is that it is a very unconventional story.  While not a love story, per se, there are some very memorable and unconventional couples in the book. 

Winnie and Henry--Winnie is the wild, adventurous type...bold and brave and not afraid to speak her mind and be loud about it.  Henry is the quiet, reserved type...but persistent in his quest to find his love, Winnie.

Callie and Nevermore--Callie, the muse of writing, is colorful and brilliant.  Nevermore, a shapeshifter, is quiet and brooding.  Together they are a reflection of the combination of sun and shadow in the world.

Lady Jolie Witherspoon and Tony--Lady Witherspoon is elegant, eccentric, and vain.  Tony is far from elegant, but like Lady Witherspoon, he is worldly.  Their long-lasting love for, and admiration of, each other makes for a relationship that works.

In honor of these unconventional couples in Random Magic, I give you my top five unconventional couples in books and movies (and some with a possible music tie-in).  These are not necessarily in any particular order.

1.  Heathcliff and Cathy (Wuthering Heights)--many people have disagreed with me on this, but I view Heathcliff as one of the most romantic figures.  His love for Cathy and her love for him make for a very unconventional couple indeed.  Heathcliff, a foundling, taken in by Cathy's father is treated like a stable boy after the death of Cathy's father.  Cathy is a girl born into privilege.  Heathcliff is a brooding and dark character, while Cathy is wild and whimsical.  Somehow, despite their differences, they fall in love.  Cathy is like the wind and Heathcliff, the rain.  Two elements that often go hand and hand, but are equally tempestuous.  And that is their relationship.  Unfortunately, they are too different, and so are destined to be apart until joined again in death. 

Here is a video of clips from my favorite version of Wuthering Heights starring Ralph Fiennes (so far, my most favorite Heathcliff portrayal) and Juliette Binoche, set to the beautiful song, Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush (there is also a version of this song by Pat Benatar that is a favorite).  Enjoy!




movie version-Eric Bana & Rachel McAdams
 2.  Henry and Clare (The Time Traveler's Wife)--what could be more unconventional than this couple.  Clare has known Henry since she was six years old because they met when he time traveled over the years.  However, Henry 'meets' Clare as an adult...not knowing her before then, even though Clare knows him.  It's all very confusing and if you haven't read the book, you probably wouldn't understand until you do.  Let me just say, READ THE BOOK! Though unconventional, Henry and Clare's is one of the most poignant love stories.  There is also a movie, which was good, but the book is much better (of course).



1997 version-Samantha Morton & Ciaran Hinds
  3.  Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester (Jane Eyre)--Jane Eyre...poor, plain, yet spirited.  Mr. Rochester...rich, arrogant, and brooding.  They are mismatched not only by their classes, but also by their temperaments.  Obstacles beset them and drive them apart, but Jane's spirit and perseverance bring them together again.  Probably one of the most unconventional couples, not only to readers, but even to characters in the book, theirs is probably one of the most enduring love stories.



4.  Jack and Rose (Titanic)--Jack...a Midwestern scrapper who is also a talented artist and poor.  Rose...a privileged, proper, and wealthy girl locked in a loveless engagement.  Chance brings them together and so begins one of the most unconventional love stories, not only because of their different backgrounds, but also because of the backdrop of their story.  Also one of the best, and tragic, love stories of all time.  Who can forget Rose clutching Jack's hands as he dies in the icy water and sinks to his death and Rose stating repeatedly, "I'll never let go."  The movie is almost impossible for me to watch because of this devastatingly sad moment.




Cary Elwes & Robin Wright
 5.  Westley and Buttercup (The Princess Bride)--Westley...humble farm boy.  Buttercup...petulant and uppity.  Yet they fall in love.  But Westley leaves to make his fortune so he can be good enough for Buttercup.  Their romance, unconventional to begin with, becomes even more so when Westley returns as the Dread Pirate Roberts and Buttercup is now a princess bride.  Despite the unconventional love and the obstacles they face, their love survives.  One of the greatest love stories of all time...this we learn from the first moment Westley utters, "as you wish." 

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For you...a lovely poem chosen by Random
Magic author, Sasha Soren
Bonus: Sweet treat--Classic Love Poem

“Hymne” by Charles Baudelaire

To the most lovely, the most dear,
The Angel, and the deathless grail
Who fill my heart with radiance clear —
In immortality all hail!
Into my life she flows translated
As saline breezes fill the sky,
And pours into my soul unsated
The taste of what can never die.

Text translations:  Original French, English
Listen online:  Hear this poem
*Poet Charles Baudelaire also appears as a character in

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Feel free to play the Queen of Hearts tour game
for Random Magic Tour: Vive L'Amour (Feb. 1-14)
- just collect more candy hearts like the
one above the poem and you might win a sweet prize!
See prizes or Check out sample post

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 About Random Magic:

When absent-minded Professor Random misplaces the main character from Alice in Wonderland, young Henry Witherspoon must book-jump to fetch Alice before chaos theory kicks in and the world vanishes. Along the way he meets Winnie Flapjack, a wit-cracking doodle witch with nothing to her name but a magic feather and a plan. Such as it is. Henry and Winnie brave the Dark Queen, whatwolves, pirates, Struths, and fluttersmoths, Priscilla and Charybdis, obnoxiously cheerful vampires, Baron Samedi, a nine-dimensional cat, and one perpetually inebriated Muse to rescue Alice and save the world by tea time.

View the trailer HERE
Buy it on AMAZON

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Do you have any favorite unconventional couples from books or movies?  If so, who and why?  Feel free to share in the comments.

Check out more romantic fare in the other romantic features on the Random Magic Tour: Vive L’Amour   Browse the full tour schedule HERE.

8 comments:

Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment. It means so much.

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  1. nice post. ok, my faves here are henry & winnie and henry & clare.
    my all-time fave unconventional couple though is jamie and clair from outlander by diana gabaldon.

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  2. Most unconventional couple... I think that goes to Alli and Nawat from Trickster's Choice by Tamora Pierce. Why? Nawat was a crow-turned-man. How much more unconventional can you get than a guy who was formerly a bird and a spymaster's kidnapped daughter?! ^^

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  3. BTW, did you hear about the new Jane Eyre movie? It looks really, really good. Here's a link to the preview.

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  4. Awesome list! I agree with all of the couples. Winnie and Henry are my favourite from Random Magic. I like the Kate Bush version of Wuthering Heights better - it's so haunting!

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  5. Great choices. My favourites are Jane and Rochester and Jack and Rose:)

    I really like Ella and Char from Ella Enchanted, a Cinderella retelling.

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  6. Even though i haven't read Wuthering Heights (fully) and The Time traveler's wife, i love them already!!
    Hmm..in Eva Ibottston's book Morning Gift-Professor Sommerville and Ruth!
    Happy V-day!
    <3
    xx

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  7. I like Henry and Clare too!

    And any couple from
    Seven Brides for Seven Brothers would do.

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  8. Enjoyed reading/following your page.Please keep it coming. Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
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