Barb, you come up with the best blog thoughts...

Barb, I do the same thing with "Romeo & Juliet." I keep thinking, "Maybe she'll wake up earlier this time..." I guess that goes to show why we read romance: we all want the happy ending.

Right on dear Sister, right on as usual!

I thought it was too much the first time. Yes, the world's obsession was a convenient factor, and just opening cnn.com (my homepage) gives me more tragedy and sensationalized destruction than I like to start my morning with, but let's face it, to focus on the moviesque qualities of our celebrity tragedies is entertainment, and therefore will go on until the public finds another show to watch. We create our own sensationalism when we focus on the tragedy of a work like West Side Story or Romeo and Juliet, forgetting that a beloved character's sacrifice is intended to bring understanding and peace to existing conflict.

I watched her wedding, I watched her death, I understand the magic. Romance books give me the magic, but also the happily ever after that I need after busting my rear in an unforgiving job, with cranky people and depressing real life world news.

I watched the wedding and her funeral, but it pretty much stopped there. I decided not to gape, even if it was at only my TV screen. The family had endured enough. I haven't even watched any of the anniversary shows. I'm a HEA gal to the core and it just saddens me that Diana never got hers. I hope her sons are able to have true love in their lives even with the media attention. Perhaps William will learn from his father's mistakes and won't marry for the wrong reasons.

This story is so hard to ignore. It's everywhere. I'm on my way to the video store to get West Side Story.

I agree. I never really understood the public's "need to know" about celebrities, but I did watch the drama unfolding at Diana's death, but that's pretty much as far as I went. She was an admirable figure, just as human as the rest of us. I'm totally ignoring these shows about the speculation of her death. Let her rest in peace.

I've never watched WSS--strange, I know. I even checked it out of the library last week with the plan of finally watching it while I lazed on the couch--I mean, recuperated from knee surgery. Didn't happen. I did have a student get angry with me in class the first night we were discussing Romeo and Juliet because I mentioned how they both die at the end. I'd ruined the story for her. Hel-lo, I *might* accept that someone could live on the planet and not know they died, but seriously, if you'd just read the assignment... Sigh. Same thing with folks who were surprised the Titanic sank...

Ok Kimberly, I have to ask, what grade do you teach? I remember in HS, our class went to see Romeo and Juliet with Olivia Hussey (and believe me, in the '60s this was hot stuff to see with your teacher). Anyway, I cried and cried (I think all the girls did and all the boys did a lot of eye rolling). Maybe you should have your class watch this movie (don't forget the popcorn)

Sadly, Barbara, this was a college student. (I'm guessing she was absent when R&J was taught in HS...) Oddly enough, I really like the R&J version with Leonardo DiCaprio and Clare Danes. But that's a whole 'nuther lecture...

Thanks Barbara--the comment on shaved legs was so refreshing! My husband comments to me (summer & winter): "Don't you shave your legs anymore?" Hmm--only when in shorts or my bathing suit!! Your wonderful insight about why we cling to our precious books was great--why aren't you a therapist or a psychologist or a priest?!!

Politically correct