Which story...

Which story appeals to you most?
Which story is more widely read?

Once upon a time…and they lived happily ever after.

Once upon a time…and they bitched, moaned, accused, lied and denied ever after.

I prefer the first.

The second is probably more widely read.

Romance novels are the biggest sellers and have to follow the formula of the second.

I don't read romance.

Somewhere between the extremes.

A realistic story with with realistic people dealing with their inevitable problems in a way that is psychologically satisfying.

Well, neither, actually. I find it hard to take too much sugar coating, for that's like eating nothing but chocolate.

On the other hand, a steady diet of rancid fish isn't altogether satisfying either.

That is to say, I like Cormac McCarthy better than Nora Roberts.

Malcolm

Who's Nora Roberts?

I guess my problem is I don't read romances and rarely ficton. The newspaper works for me.

and there's a problem with too much chocolate???
Who knew...

I'm a romantic at heart, so I love happy endings--but they aren't realistic. I usually tend toward stories with a lot of drama, a mix of humor, and hopeful endings.

Key is HOPEFUL.

I go for open endings.
I like stories that conclude but don't end leaving open the possibility of a sequel.
"And they all lived happy ever after." is not a realistic conclusion to a story.
I prefer "they all lived together and tolerated each other until they got bored cheated on each other got divorced and ended up bankrupt."
Or how about "Tex rode off into the sunset and was fried by a solar flare. His horse however escaped to run a successful detective agency on Sunset Strip."

I like a little mystery. I do not like a lot of blood and guts. Great writing does not need every drop of blood spewed out in great description for the reader to know that it was there.

Intrigue. I like a complicated story, subtle revelations that lead to the reader coming to conclusions and then having to re-think that thought.

The other writing I love is beautiful poetry. Words that expound the profound. A story in syncopated rhythm. Poems that are stories condensed.

Ann and I have a love of T.S. Elliot.

Paste his words in context or out on a wall in front of you. You feel that you have finally connected with another mind. I love that.

Love,
Betty

From the comments to the question, middle of the road is dominant.
It is more true to life. A writer needs a blend of both.