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Archived/Extinct Discussions > Should The Heroine Be Shorter Than The Hero?

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message 1: by Arch (new)

Arch  | 4246 comments Mod
I hope it's okay that I post this thread in this folder. There's no off topic folder.

I was flipping the channel tonight and I've came across a French movie, where the heroine was taller than the hero. I'll give her 7 inches taller with the shoes with heals she had on and 5 inches taller without them.

They both was in love with one another.

So, how do you feel about the heroine being taller than the hero? Does their height matters or not?

Does the hero always have to be taller than the heroine?


UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish I'm weird, but in my mind, the heroine isn't vulnerable enough if she is taller. I know it's antiquated thinking, but what can I say?


message 3: by Auntee (last edited Jan 31, 2010 08:09PM) (new)

Auntee | 74 comments I don't think I've ever read a romance where the heroine was taller than the hero. I've read some with short heroes ( Mark Jenkins from Into the Storm and Wes Skelly from Night Watch) and some tall heroines who were eye to eye with the hero, but never a hero who had a taller love interest. I wonder if there are any?


message 4: by Arch (new)

Arch  | 4246 comments Mod
Auntee,

I know that Mark Jenkins was short. But was he the same height with Lindsay or was she a little taller than he was? I don't recall his height being mention in Into The Storm. I don't even recall Lindsay's height being mentioned either.

I guess his shortness was due to him not being tall like Sam and some of the other guys, who were 6ft and up. Sam's 6ft3". I don't think that Jenkins was my height 5ft 1"




message 5: by new_user (last edited Jan 31, 2010 08:17PM) (new)

new_user Taller than me, more importantly, LOL. I don't care about the heroine. xD I don't think I read that scenario too frequently.


message 6: by Arch (new)

Arch  | 4246 comments Mod
new_user wrote: "Taller than me, more importantly, LOL. I don't care about the heroine. xD "

lol New_User. Why don't you care about the heroine?


message 7: by new_user (new)

new_user LOL. I'm more interested in the hero. ;)


message 8: by Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal (new)

 Danielle The Book Huntress  (gatadelafuente) | 9851 comments Mod
I read a book a long time ago where the heroine was 2 inches taller than the hero, but they were both fine with it. He was five, ten, and she was six feet, from what I remember.


message 9: by Nisha (new)

Nisha (parakisu) | 35 comments Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "I read a book a long time ago where the heroine was 2 inches taller than the hero, but they were both fine with it. He was five, ten, and she was six feet, from what I remember."

Do you know what it's called?


message 10: by Arch (new)

Arch  | 4246 comments Mod
new_user wrote: "LOL. I'm more interested in the hero. ;)"

lol, I know New_User, me too, but I do have to say that some heroine fits well with the hero. If I like him, I must like the heroine.

I love Sam, but I also like Alyssa. I think they make a perfect couple.


message 11: by Michelle (new)

Michelle Gilmore | 151 comments I think I agree with UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~* on this. There's just something about height. No one ever describes the hero as 5 ft 7in, or something. It's always "she had to look up to him to make eye contact" or something. I'm on 5ft 2 or 3in so I'm not judging, lol!


message 12: by Auntee (new)

Auntee | 74 comments Arch wrote: "Auntee,

I know that Mark Jenkins was short. But was he the same height with Lindsay or was she a little taller than he was? I don't recall his height being mention in Into The Storm. I don't ev..."


I don't think Lindsay was taller than Mark--I think she was on the short side (I'll see if i can look it up). I'm thinking Mark was around 5' 8" (just a guess) which would be short compared to the other SEALs.

So Sam's 6'3"?:)


message 13: by Debbie (new)

Debbie (halfpint66) | 272 comments Hero should always be taller.


message 14: by Arch (last edited Jan 31, 2010 10:41PM) (new)

Arch  | 4246 comments Mod
Auntee wrote:"I don't think Lindsay was taller than Mark--I think she was on the short side (I'll see if i can look it up). I'm thinking Mark was around 5' 8" (just a guess) which would be short compared to the other SEALs.

So Sam's 6'3"?:)


In Into the Night, Joan was thinking that Sam was 6ft3" tall and In Into The Storm, Lindsay figured him to be 6ft5" tall, but I have asked Suzanne in 2007, when she was being friendly towards me. I will not go there. She told me that Sam was in fact 6ft3" and that Lindsay thought the he was 6ft5" tall, because he appeared to be gigantic to her, because she's short.

So, Joan nailed Sam's height. As for Alyssa being 5ft7" tall, Suzanne doesn't mentioned how tall Alyssa is in her books. I told her that I picture Alyssa being 5ft7" or at least 5ft9" or maybe 6ft and she told me that she always figured that Alyssa would be Jules height 5ft7", so that's why I say that Alyssa is 5ft7" tall.

So, since Sam is 6ft3" tall and in Over The Edge, when Mark came knocking at Alyssa's hotel room's door and she looked up, thinking that it was Sam at the door, but found out it was Mark - she looked down 8 inches, so that would make Mark 5ft7" like her.

Come to think about it, I don't think Lindsay is tall like him or even close. I know that Sophia is like 5ft or is that 4ft9" (I better get her height correct). Not now though. Anyway, I think Lindsay is just a few inches taller than Sophia.


UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish Michelle wrote: "I think I agree with UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~* on this. There's just something about height. No one ever describes the hero as 5 ft 7in, or something. It's always "she had to look up to him to..."

*sigh* It's so nice to be agreed with ;)

I've often thought about this, the height issue... and it just always seems to me that the female needs to be more... vertically challenged... if the male is 6'5" then I suppose the female can be 6', but that still seems too tall for a vulnerable female. Now, if said female is supposed to be the more agressive, save the day character, then I not as concerned about her being too tall.


message 16: by Auntee (last edited Feb 01, 2010 03:51AM) (new)

Auntee | 74 comments Arch wrote: "Auntee wrote:"I don't think Lindsay was taller than Mark--I think she was on the short side (I'll see if i can look it up). I'm thinking Mark was around 5' 8" (just a guess) which would be short co..."

In "Into The Storm", Lindsey says she's 'five feet and three-eighths of an inch tall' and 92 pounds, bra size of 30A, and age 30. Mark is only 28 (I didn't know that). So yeah, she's vertically challenged, so Mark would be just right for her.:)


message 17: by DarkHeart "Vehngeance" (last edited Feb 01, 2010 04:38AM) (new)

DarkHeart "Vehngeance" (darkheart) LOL, an amusing discussion. At 6' myself, I definitely want my dream hero to tower over me, as in life I only managed to date one guy taller than me (my husband is 5'11"). I remember asking Adrian Phoenix why she chose to make Dante only 5'9", as that was his only flaw in my eyes, and she said that's just the height he appeared to her. Heather is shorter than him though, so it works for them. In my head though, he's at least 6'2" ;)


message 18: by Arch (new)

Arch  | 4246 comments Mod
Auntee wrote: "In "Into The Storm", Lindsey says she's 'five feet and three-eighths of an inch tall' and 92 pounds, bra size of 30A, and age 30. Mark is only 28 (I didn't know that). So yeah, she's vertically challenged, so Mark would be just right for her.:)"

I do recall her saying that her age and her bra size was the same and I do recall her being 2 years older than Mark. This year Mark would be 32 and Lindsay 34.

In Into The Storm, Lindsay weight less that Sophia.




message 19: by Lisarenee (new)

Lisarenee I had a friend whom always made me laugh. She used to have a saying about height, "It's all the same when you're in bed.". She was a tiny little thing so it made me chuckle because I seriously doubt she'd ever have to contemplate whether it bothered her if a guy was shorter than her. I prefer a guy to be taller than me, but if he was the right guy would it really matter to you?


message 20: by Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal (last edited Mar 19, 2010 12:28PM) (new)

 Danielle The Book Huntress  (gatadelafuente) | 9851 comments Mod
Nisha wrote: "Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "I read a book a long time ago where the heroine was 2 inches taller than the hero, but they were both fine with it. He was five, ten, and she was six feet, from..."

I wish. It was a Silhouette Special Edition. The hero was a cop, and his name was Tony. He was pretty hot. I read so many back in the day, it's hard to remember all of them. Sorry. :(


message 21: by Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal (new)

 Danielle The Book Huntress  (gatadelafuente) | 9851 comments Mod
Generally, I like the hero to be at least six feet tall. But I have some faves from books that aren't six feet.


message 22: by Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone (new)

Pamela(AllHoney) (pamelap) | 1706 comments Mod
I prefer the hero to be taller but not necessarily a giant. I can't recall any books I've read with a short hero but surely there have been. My personal hero (hubby) is 5'11 to my 5'3 and its perfect for me. I can snuggle and lay my head on his shoulder quite comfortably :) I too seem to prefer them over 6 feet in my stories but not too much more than that.


message 23: by Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal (new)

 Danielle The Book Huntress  (gatadelafuente) | 9851 comments Mod
Yes, I think any taller than 6'4" and it's kind of outrageous. All the Brothers (Black Dagger Brotherhood) are enormous, and it's weird to think of men that huge in real life, although I love the Brothers to death!


message 24: by Bekah (new)

Bekah (bekah317) | 93 comments UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~* wrote: "I'm weird, but in my mind, the heroine isn't vulnerable enough if she is taller. I know it's antiquated thinking, but what can I say?"

I'm with you Dhestiny - she needs to be shorter. It's just not attractive to me otherwise. I feel horrible about it, but I've been trained that way!
:-)


message 25: by [deleted user] (new)

I prefer the hero taller. My own hero(my hubby is 6'3"....6'6" on his hockey skates.) I am 4'11'. quite a difference. To me the man should be taller...HOWEVER...if you ask my dad, who is almost 5'2" he will say its much better to have a taller woman!


message 26: by Melissa (new)

Melissa (jedisakora) | 25 comments In honesty i don't really care. I'm a rather short person myself and so many people are taller than me. Therefore when i'm reading i naturally assume the heroine to be shorter than the hero unless otherwise stated so. Sounds weird, but it's where my mind naturally goes too. ^^


message 27: by Jess (last edited Feb 02, 2010 07:00PM) (new)

Jess I don't think I've ever read a story where the heroine was taller than the hero. The most I've ever seen is that when the heroine is really tall, like 6 foot, the hero always manages to top her off at 6'3 or something. So even when they are tall, the hero is still taller.

I think I like when the heroine is shorter though. I don't care how tall she may be, as long as she's even just a tiny sliver shorter than the hero. lol. It would just be weird for me for the opposite to be true. In real life my bf is taller than me, but he's not a giant. He's 5'10 and I'm 5'7, so it's rather perfect actually. When I had a bf who was over 6 ft, it felt awkward all the time.


message 28: by Kelly (new)

Kelly I'm 5'9", so I've always been sensitive about the height thing. I definitely like the guy to be taller, and I agree that the female is more vulnerable when that is the case. I had a boyfriend who was about an inch shorter than me, and it felt so weird and akward. 6'4" is the perfect height IMO! but anything over 5'11" is fine.


message 29: by Karen (new)

Karen (karmolina) | 7 comments I like for the hero to be taller than the heroine...guess that comes from RL where nearly everyone older than 12 is taller than me. LOL

In Suzanne Brockmann's Bodyguard, the hero is about an inch shorter than the heroine (although I think that that may have been when she was wearing heels). In any case, he had to look slightly up at her.


message 30: by Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal (new)

 Danielle The Book Huntress  (gatadelafuente) | 9851 comments Mod

That's the one I couldn't remember. I love that book, Karen.


message 31: by Karen (new)

Karen (karmolina) | 7 comments Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "
That's the one I couldn't remember. I love that book, Karen."


Me too. He was confident enough to pull it off...his teenage son was quite a bit taller than him as well.


message 32: by Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal (new)

 Danielle The Book Huntress  (gatadelafuente) | 9851 comments Mod
I know. He had a great personality. That's actually one of my favorite SB books.


message 33: by Cinquetta (new)

Cinquetta (darkfaer) | 18 comments I find it more romantic heroine is shorter than the hero. The story flow better when hero is over 6 feet and heroine is under 5'9". I have read a story, secondary charcters, wife was 6 feet and husband was 5'8".


message 34: by Sans (new)

Sans Still resurrecting old threads here...

I've dated only one guy that was "taller" than me and that was only when I was barefoot and he was wearing shoes (I'm 5'11"). The others have been a touch shorter than me and it always bothers me a little bit. All my friends are shorter than me and it'd be nice to have to look up for a change. ^_^;

As for books? I haven't read any where the hero was shorter but would love to. There is a manga with a very tall girl and a short guy called Love*Com (Lovely*Complex), Volume 1. I haven't read it but a friend on another group loves it.

I'm agreeing about the vulnerability factor. It helps the story along, especially with a strong hero.


message 35: by Ez (new)

Ez (ezrah-rah) Eh, I don't think I'd mind it if the heroine was taller. I don't know that I've come across this in a romance novel yet, though I've read some where the heroine was maybe the same height as the hero. I've known several couples IRL where the guy was a bit shorter than the girl and I thought it was kind of cute. LOL. For me, being only 5'4", I definitely wouldn't want to be with a guy who was shorter. Heh. My husband is 5'11" and my ex-boyfriend was 6'4" so I'm used to being with taller guys.


message 36: by EvaS (new)

EvaS (evikes) | 20 comments For a romantic hero, he absolutely must be taller - preferably somewhere in the 6'4 area to be sufficiently imposing as well as striking... and sexy. The heroine's height is irrelevant as long as she is shorter. I don't think vulnerability is affected whether she is 5'6" or 6' tall. Personally I love tall men (I was always the tallest girl in school and most of the boys were shorter than me, so I LOVE tall men!!!) I just could not relate otherwise since it's something I can't get over in real life either. It may be superficial, but I could never even be attracted to someone shorter than me. It's a deal breaker.


DarkHeart "Vehngeance" (darkheart) I've read a few books of late where a guy was described as 5'9" or 5'10" and I was disappointed by that. In real life I've dated a guy who was probably only about 5'9" but he was cute I didn't care about the three inch height difference. However, books are escapism and I want that guy to tower over me. So I've found that I have to ignore guys described as under 6' and mentally pretend they're actually at least 6'1" - author description be damned. ;)


message 38: by Arch (new)

Arch  | 4246 comments Mod
My heroes in my stories are always taller than the heroines.


DarkHeart "Vehngeance" (darkheart) Of course, I want the heroines to be tall too - this all stems from my envy of all of the shorter girls who seem to attract all of the tall guy away (I swear, if I had a dollar for all of the guys over 6' I know that end up with girls at least 6" shorter, I'd go and buy myself something shiny). ;)


message 40: by Arch (new)

Arch  | 4246 comments Mod
I'm 5ft1", I don't want a tall, tall man.


DarkHeart "Vehngeance" (darkheart) Ah... a kindred spirit. ;)


message 42: by Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone (new)

Pamela(AllHoney) (pamelap) | 1706 comments Mod
Arch wrote: "I'm 5ft1", I don't want a tall, tall man."

I'm 5'3" so not much taller :)
My hubby is 5'11" and just the right height. wouldn't feel right if he were any taller.
Ideally I'd like to see a hero at least a couple inches taller but I'm not crazy about the ones that are well over a foot taller. Seems a bit awkward to me personally.


message 43: by Arch (new)

Arch  | 4246 comments Mod
No, 6ft plus men for me. up to 5ft10 is okay.


message 44: by Ez (new)

Ez (ezrah-rah) Pamela wrote: "Arch wrote: "I'm 5ft1", I don't want a tall, tall man."

I'm 5'3" so not much taller :)
My hubby is 5'11" and just the right height. wouldn't feel right if he were any taller.
Ideally I'd like..."


My ex was a foot taller than me (I'm 5'4", he was 6'4") and it did make the kissing/hugging a little awkward when we were standing. Sitting or laying down, it was fine, though.

My husband is 5'11", which is a good height for me, but I wouldn't mind him being bit taller.


message 45: by EvaS (new)

EvaS (evikes) | 20 comments It IS all relative... if I were 5'1", I would consider a 5'10" man to be quite tall.... I'm 5'9" and ideally I would like someone 5 inches taller. My hubby is only 6' though, but he squeeked by on his charm :-)
As DarkHeart "Vehngeance" said... books are about escapism, and we all project out personal beliefs and ideals into the story and characters.


message 46: by Arch (new)

Arch  | 4246 comments Mod
Eva wrote: "It IS all relative... if I were 5'1", I would consider a 5'10" man to be quite tall.... I'm 5'9" and ideally I would like someone 5 inches taller. My hubby is only 6' though, but he squeeked by on ..."

Yes, 5ft10" would be a little too tall for me, but I can handle that than a man like 6ft3 plus.

If I wear my heels, I wouldn't be that much shorter than a 5ft10" man. A few inches shorter.

I'll probably wouldn't go that far to 5ft10". I don't want to feel too short against my man.

I feel real short when I stand against tall, tall people.


message 47: by EvaS (new)

EvaS (evikes) | 20 comments In my heels, I'm 6' so I would like someone who is still taller than me at that point - like you said.. 6'3" plus would be ideal.... which is why I cannot relate to a story where the hero is shorter... it loses it's appeal for me.


message 48: by Arch (new)

Arch  | 4246 comments Mod
Eva wrote: "In my heels, I'm 6' so I would like someone who is still taller than me at that point - like you said.. 6'3" plus would be ideal.... which is why I cannot relate to a story where the hero is shorte..."

You like tall men Eva and there's nothing wrong with that.


message 49: by Melanie (new)

Melanie (melaina) | 411 comments Lol Eva, I'm in the same basket as you: I'm closer to 5'10'' than 5'9'', and all the guys I dated were taller than I was: I dated ONE guy who was just my height (when in flats) and with a lean build, and as I'm not petite, I didn't feel as attracted to him as I should have (needless to say, it didn't last long): call me old-fashioned, but I like my guys to be taller than me, and more muscular (as I'm athletic, I'm no feather, lol): I like to feel feminine, what can I say!

My boyfriend of 3 1/2 years is 6'1'', which is perfect unless I wear more than 2 inch heels, lol.. But he's really buff, so it more than compensates:-)

Like Eva says, stories with short heroes lose their appeal for me too.. 5'10'' heroes are the minimal minimum for me (I prefer them over 6')!! No offense to anyone! ;-p


message 50: by Kathy Anne (last edited Apr 30, 2010 03:47PM) (new)

Kathy Anne (kathyanne) I`m 5`2" and my husband is just under 6`3".
No problems with height differances,in fact it sometimes comes in handy.
I love heels-at least 3 in. and that takes up a lot of the diff,and all my other shoes have at least 2" heels too.


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