Melissa Bank “The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing”

In the story “The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing,” how does Melissa Bank play with our concepts of a traditional romance? (In case you’ve forgotten, Pride and Prejudice is an example of a traditional romance. It’s comic, there are obstacles to union or some sort of antagonism between the heroine and the love interest, and there is a marriage or at least an engagement in the end.) Look at not just what happens in Bank’s story (the plot), but also the style, structure, and/or other fiction writing techniques. How is it a realistic story? Not a realistic story?

On the other hand, in what ways (if any) does the story perpetuate the concepts of traditional romance?

Do any of you think the story tries to have it both ways? If so, is that a problem?

While I enjoyed this story, “The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing,” by Melissa Bank, it did deal with very predictable and typical girl issues when it comes to guys and romance. In this story Jane is like most of us women; she let’s stereotypes conform her, insecurities get the best of her, and she struggles with the big question, what does a man look for in a woman. When a girl really likes a guy she scared of losing him, especially when she’s had a bad luck in the past, like Jane. I think most girls and women would be able to relate and really get a kick out of this story. 

I loved Bank’s style of writing. My favorite styles include this kind of stream of thought writing pattern, where we know exactly what is happening in the narrator’s head. In this story, we knew precisely what Jane was thinking during her dates and romantic obstacles. She became her own worst enemy. She was her own antagonist, trying to follow every “vow” Bonnie and Faith had written in their self help book for women, “How to Meet and Marry Mr. Right”. Melissa Bank’s made Jane’s problems comical by letting us inside Jane’s head while she was having arguments with Bonnie and Faith’s voices she was hearing after reading the book. To me this is a pretty realistic story. Jane makes mistakes, Robert pursues than decides to back off, and they’re both confused about each other. If she wanted to make it really realistic Robert and Jane shouldn’t have gotten back together in the end. 
 

Melissa Banks play with the concept of a girl being hard to get implying a girl should appear aloof, mysterious, confident, and not overly friendly, because ultimately a guys main objective is the “hunt” and once that’s over he loses interest.  
 
I think this is a realistic story in the sense that women really wonder how to be or what appeals to a guy when they begin dating. The story is not realistic in the notion that women most likely are not going to let a book so solidly dictate what they say and how they act on a date. Ultimately, she is going to go with her gut feelings. (I hope anyway) 
 
The story perpetuates the concept of traditional romance in that a women falls for a man, he falls for her, but neither will whole heartedly say how they feel. They almost lose each other because of miscommunication, but finally pour out their true feelings and there is a happy ending. This is a traditional romantic story. 
 
The Story definitely has it both ways in terms of women thinking in modern and traditionally romantic ideas. We want careers, homes of our own, and independence, but we also want to be swept off our feet in the traditional way with the modern choices we have today.  
 
I think the story poked humor at boths modern and traditional ways and I didn't see a problem with that.