Hi friends, I know I should have asked this question last month, but a friend suggested it to me when we were brainstorming prompts after Valentine’s Day. Honestly, though, it’s always a good time to talk about:
Love stories can turn up anywhere, from romance novels to the classics to sci-fi. My favorite is in Ursula K. Le Guin’s novel ‘The Left Hand of Darkness.’ Don’t get me started about Genly Ai and Estraven out on the ice! What about you? What’s your favorite book that perfectly captures love? It can be between characters, among friends, people and their pets—whatever speaks to you.
Also, since I’ve never featured a romance novel in the newsletter, I am very open to your recommendations about where to begin.
I am thinking of Anna Karenina. It shows us all of types of love with three couples as the main characters. It also shows as the realities of marriage that I rarely read in books. Like the differences that arises during the first few weeks or months of co-habitation.
Thanks, Jam! Anna Karenina is a novel I've been meaning to read for a long time. I started it once, but had to put it aside for reasons I'll explain when I eventually review it. But it's exciting when a book takes a powerful emotion like love seriously, exploring it from different angles. Looking forward to picking it up again.
Hmmm, I think it's really difficult to perfectly capture love, but there are definitely books that made me reflect on it more. Off the top of my head:
- Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors (which I just reviewed on Friday, and subtitled 'a book on how not to love')
- Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Parton (breaking away from our pedestalisation of romantic love, as opposed to other forms)
- Conversations on Love, an essay collection edited by Natasha Lunn (similar in general message to Dolly's book)
- Disability Intimacy, an essay collection edited by Alice Wong (about intimacy rather than love per se, but incredibly informative and thought-provoking on how disabled people experience many forms of intimacy)
This is a great list, Alicia! I saw your review of Cleopatra and Frankenstein while I was traveling last week and set it aside to read today now that I'm back. Looking forward to reading it and to checking out the others, too. Thanks!
Hope it helps a bit, Mike! Ahhh thank you, I hope my review of Cleopatra and Frankenstein is clear enough if you’re thinking of reading it. So much of the book frustrated me (hence I think it’s more about how not to love), but I enjoyed it so much too.
Jane Austen's Persuasion is a perfect love story. When we are young, girls want to be loved by Sense and Sensibility's Willoughby. As we get older we appreciate Colonel Brandon! Edith Wharton's Age of Innocence is love from a man's point of view, and The Jewel in the Crown has a wonderful affair between Hari Kumar and Daphne Manners that breaks my heart.
Thanks, Sarah! It's embarrassing to say that I've never read Jane Austen, and that I had a bad experience with Edith Wharton back in high school and never returned to her work. I need to fix this, pronto! All of these you listed look really great, and I'll check them out!
If you’re looking to dip your toes into romance I recommend Leigh Bardugo’s novel The Familiar. It’s actually a standalone fantasy novel, but it features a hefty romantic b-plot (I would not characterize this novel as Romantasy though).
Thanks, Eliza! I didn't realize that Bardugo had standalone novels. I thought her work was part of one or several series, and I'm always daunted by getting involved in a series. Last time I tried, I accidentally bought the second book in the series first--actually, now that I think of it, this has happened twice. See, I am no good with series lol! But I will definitely check out The Familiar!
I think it’s her only standalone to date, but I could be wrong about that! Even though the tone is pretty different from her other stuff I still think it’s a good introduction to her writing. I haven’t read her early works but am a big fan of the Ninth House series.
My favoritism is colored by nostalgia and primacy, but it remains my favorite: The Leopard, by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. The main love story is woven among a number of threads in an incredible historic backdrop, when Sicily was being incorporated into what would become Italy at the turn of the 1900s. The language is both floral and simple, and the story sketched out by it is vivid and real. And the main love story goes through the stages of young love and old love. The sad and famous takeaway is that politics remains the same. As one petty mafia don puts it "everything has to change so nothing changes." But lives can be lived, and sometimes sacrificed, and things do get marginally better as time passes.
It makes me so happy whenever you, a person I love very deeply, leave a comment here. And I'm so glad it was about this subject! I really need to re-read The Leopard. It's caught my eye on my shelf several times recently, which I interpret as the universe also telling me I need to read it again soon. I love the way you describe it, and also that quote you highlighted. A profound insight, and one worthy of lengthy reflection, especially these days.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, I read your reviews with your kind, thoughtful voice in my head, and it makes them really good. It's very therapeutic for me to hear your thoughts and insights so regularly. I love you very much too.
You already know my answer(s) - any and all by Austen! 😊 I will second Sarah's point that Persuasion is possibly Austen's most soulful and deep love story, and it contains the hands-down best love letter in literary history. And - you make me want to check out the ice scene immediately! Perhaps it's time for me to tackle the great Ursula Le Guin! Happy Sunday and thanks for the question about romance. 💘
Thanks, friend! I definitely need to get this book on my list and plug my unsightly literary gap. And you've got to, got to, got to read The Left Hand of Darkness! It's my favorite of the few books of hers that I've read. Many people seem to gravitate toward The Dispossessed, which I thought was good, but it didn't move me like Darkness did. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it!
Thanks, Maya! I've definitely got to add this one to my list! I feel like all the gaps in my reading are getting exposed today, lol! What did you love about it? What does it say about love?
I think the Russian writers depict love so deeply. Anna Karenina, (my favorite) , War and Peace and even Crime and Punishment have love expressed in all the possible permutations.
Thanks, Sylvia! I agree. And I am planning to read Anna Karenina later this year. I tried reading a digital version before, and was enjoying it, but I got distracted and did not return to it. But I recently picked up a physical copy of the book and am looking to reading it again, and to finishing it this time!
Another novel by a Russian, Gary Shteyhgart’s Super Sad True Love Story. It is a novel about true love, also a satire about the near future, in which the author (NYT review) “extrapolated every toxic development already at large in America to farcical extremes.” An unforgettable read for me. Sad but hilarious. Social media has triumphed, there is no privacy, and you can point your device at anyone and look up their “fuckability” rating, 1-10 based on wealth, status and looks.
Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin is not only the most beautiful book I've ever read, hands down, period, no competition, but it's also a great book about love.
The Left Hand of Darkness is such a good answer to this question. Sort of along those lines, I recently read Sirius by Olaf Stapledon, about a dog (Sirius) genetically modified to have human-level intelligence and raised alongside a human child (Plaxy). Sirius and Plaxy form a deep but troubled bond, a love and intimacy that last their entire lives, despite being plagued by their fundamental differences. I found it deeply moving.
For fully human love, I think Mrs. Dalloway beautifully captures the various kinds of romantic love one can experience—from the excitement of young love, to the illicit thrill of homosexual romance, to the dutiful, mellow love of middle aged marriage.
Thanks, Lillian! I'm glad you also liked Left Hand. I think about that book a lot even though I read it long ago. I need to read it again. And I definitely want to check out the books you mentioned as well.
I suspect that you may enjoy Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley, if you have not already read it. It is a classic, humorous, book about books and includes a romance between two mature, gumption-filled, quirky characters.
I am thinking of Anna Karenina. It shows us all of types of love with three couples as the main characters. It also shows as the realities of marriage that I rarely read in books. Like the differences that arises during the first few weeks or months of co-habitation.
Thanks, Jam! Anna Karenina is a novel I've been meaning to read for a long time. I started it once, but had to put it aside for reasons I'll explain when I eventually review it. But it's exciting when a book takes a powerful emotion like love seriously, exploring it from different angles. Looking forward to picking it up again.
Hmmm, I think it's really difficult to perfectly capture love, but there are definitely books that made me reflect on it more. Off the top of my head:
- Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors (which I just reviewed on Friday, and subtitled 'a book on how not to love')
- Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Parton (breaking away from our pedestalisation of romantic love, as opposed to other forms)
- Conversations on Love, an essay collection edited by Natasha Lunn (similar in general message to Dolly's book)
- Disability Intimacy, an essay collection edited by Alice Wong (about intimacy rather than love per se, but incredibly informative and thought-provoking on how disabled people experience many forms of intimacy)
This is a great list, Alicia! I saw your review of Cleopatra and Frankenstein while I was traveling last week and set it aside to read today now that I'm back. Looking forward to reading it and to checking out the others, too. Thanks!
Hope it helps a bit, Mike! Ahhh thank you, I hope my review of Cleopatra and Frankenstein is clear enough if you’re thinking of reading it. So much of the book frustrated me (hence I think it’s more about how not to love), but I enjoyed it so much too.
Jane Austen's Persuasion is a perfect love story. When we are young, girls want to be loved by Sense and Sensibility's Willoughby. As we get older we appreciate Colonel Brandon! Edith Wharton's Age of Innocence is love from a man's point of view, and The Jewel in the Crown has a wonderful affair between Hari Kumar and Daphne Manners that breaks my heart.
Thanks, Sarah! It's embarrassing to say that I've never read Jane Austen, and that I had a bad experience with Edith Wharton back in high school and never returned to her work. I need to fix this, pronto! All of these you listed look really great, and I'll check them out!
If you’re looking to dip your toes into romance I recommend Leigh Bardugo’s novel The Familiar. It’s actually a standalone fantasy novel, but it features a hefty romantic b-plot (I would not characterize this novel as Romantasy though).
Thanks, Eliza! I didn't realize that Bardugo had standalone novels. I thought her work was part of one or several series, and I'm always daunted by getting involved in a series. Last time I tried, I accidentally bought the second book in the series first--actually, now that I think of it, this has happened twice. See, I am no good with series lol! But I will definitely check out The Familiar!
I think it’s her only standalone to date, but I could be wrong about that! Even though the tone is pretty different from her other stuff I still think it’s a good introduction to her writing. I haven’t read her early works but am a big fan of the Ninth House series.
My favoritism is colored by nostalgia and primacy, but it remains my favorite: The Leopard, by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. The main love story is woven among a number of threads in an incredible historic backdrop, when Sicily was being incorporated into what would become Italy at the turn of the 1900s. The language is both floral and simple, and the story sketched out by it is vivid and real. And the main love story goes through the stages of young love and old love. The sad and famous takeaway is that politics remains the same. As one petty mafia don puts it "everything has to change so nothing changes." But lives can be lived, and sometimes sacrificed, and things do get marginally better as time passes.
It makes me so happy whenever you, a person I love very deeply, leave a comment here. And I'm so glad it was about this subject! I really need to re-read The Leopard. It's caught my eye on my shelf several times recently, which I interpret as the universe also telling me I need to read it again soon. I love the way you describe it, and also that quote you highlighted. A profound insight, and one worthy of lengthy reflection, especially these days.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, I read your reviews with your kind, thoughtful voice in my head, and it makes them really good. It's very therapeutic for me to hear your thoughts and insights so regularly. I love you very much too.
❤️🙏
You already know my answer(s) - any and all by Austen! 😊 I will second Sarah's point that Persuasion is possibly Austen's most soulful and deep love story, and it contains the hands-down best love letter in literary history. And - you make me want to check out the ice scene immediately! Perhaps it's time for me to tackle the great Ursula Le Guin! Happy Sunday and thanks for the question about romance. 💘
Thanks, friend! I definitely need to get this book on my list and plug my unsightly literary gap. And you've got to, got to, got to read The Left Hand of Darkness! It's my favorite of the few books of hers that I've read. Many people seem to gravitate toward The Dispossessed, which I thought was good, but it didn't move me like Darkness did. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it!
A room with a view :)
Thanks, Maya! I've definitely got to add this one to my list! I feel like all the gaps in my reading are getting exposed today, lol! What did you love about it? What does it say about love?
I think the Russian writers depict love so deeply. Anna Karenina, (my favorite) , War and Peace and even Crime and Punishment have love expressed in all the possible permutations.
Thanks, Sylvia! I agree. And I am planning to read Anna Karenina later this year. I tried reading a digital version before, and was enjoying it, but I got distracted and did not return to it. But I recently picked up a physical copy of the book and am looking to reading it again, and to finishing it this time!
Another novel by a Russian, Gary Shteyhgart’s Super Sad True Love Story. It is a novel about true love, also a satire about the near future, in which the author (NYT review) “extrapolated every toxic development already at large in America to farcical extremes.” An unforgettable read for me. Sad but hilarious. Social media has triumphed, there is no privacy, and you can point your device at anyone and look up their “fuckability” rating, 1-10 based on wealth, status and looks.
Thanks, Brian! I read it many years ago, but should look into it again.
Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin is not only the most beautiful book I've ever read, hands down, period, no competition, but it's also a great book about love.
Thanks, Justin! I'll definitely check it out.
The Left Hand of Darkness is such a good answer to this question. Sort of along those lines, I recently read Sirius by Olaf Stapledon, about a dog (Sirius) genetically modified to have human-level intelligence and raised alongside a human child (Plaxy). Sirius and Plaxy form a deep but troubled bond, a love and intimacy that last their entire lives, despite being plagued by their fundamental differences. I found it deeply moving.
For fully human love, I think Mrs. Dalloway beautifully captures the various kinds of romantic love one can experience—from the excitement of young love, to the illicit thrill of homosexual romance, to the dutiful, mellow love of middle aged marriage.
Thanks, Lillian! I'm glad you also liked Left Hand. I think about that book a lot even though I read it long ago. I need to read it again. And I definitely want to check out the books you mentioned as well.
I suspect that you may enjoy Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley, if you have not already read it. It is a classic, humorous, book about books and includes a romance between two mature, gumption-filled, quirky characters.
Thanks! I'll check it out for sure!