Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Love stories on my TBR shelves


I seem to love to collect love stories. I'm guessing it's not just me who's drawn to them. Only, some of these love stories, when it comes time to choosing which to read next, get passed by again and again. I decided to have a look on my shelves of unread books and share with you some of the love stories I've 'been meaning to read' for several years now. Only I still haven't.

If you've read any of them, maybe you can suggest any I should bump up the pile - or skip entirely!


Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres - I remember when I bought this. I was still working in the book department (so at LEAST 8 years ago!) and one of the ladies who worked the front tills raved about this one. I thought I'd take her up on the recommendation but when I started it later that week, I couldn't really get into it. I struggled with the first 50 pages or so and gave up. When the movie came out, I thought I'd watch that instead, but I never did that either! This is the story of love on a Greek Island, in the time of WWII and love gets complicated by family and politics. Still sounds good to me, so far!



Possession by AS Byatt -
Now I did see the film version of this, but I was on an aeroplane at the time, and I think I missed a bit in the middle. The only thing that's really putting me off this one is the length of the book. I feel like chunky books like this need more levels of concentration than I currently have. But I really love it when books include letters, diaries and poems into the narrative. I eat that stuff up, especially when it's love letters between two people. As far as I can tell (and remember from the movie?) it's a modern-day couple and an old-timey couple falling in love in this one. It won the Booker, and has kind of mixed reviews someplaces, but I still think it'd make for an interesting love story to read. Size aside.



The Host by Stephenie Meyer -
Just to throw something different into this list, I thought I'd add The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I hear it's very different from Twilight. It seems a little too sci-fi-ish for me and I'm not sure I quite grasp the plot, with someone else's memories of the man she loved implanted into another person. Perhaps that's why it's stayed on my shelf for so long. I'm afraid and wary of that which I do not fully understand. But I've heard some good things about it. There are those that rave about it. I sit comfortably on the fence.



Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez -
I hear this one's not a usual love story. I hear that the pace is slow and filled with detail and the two love interests don't get together until really late in the story. That together with the fact that I haven't been able to finish a book by Gabriel Garcia Marquez before has meant that this book has absolutely languished on my shelves for years. Very nearly a decade at this point, but I'm not ready to give up on him just yet. I'm just waiting for that right time, you know? And, oh. I've just seen this is another book from this list that has been adapted into a film. I had no idea.



So there we have it, four very different love stories that have been occupying my to-be-read shelves for too long. Which one should I read? Do you have any long-time romance stories taking up residence unread on your shelves?

7 comments:

  1. I am absolutely dying to read Possession. I know it's one of those books that people either love or hate, but I really, really, really want to read that one. Actually, all the books on your list are books that I have also yet to read.

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  2. I have all three of these, but haven't yet read Possession. Love In The Time Of Cholera is one of my all time favourite books and Captain Corelli's Mandolin is beautiful - just don't watch the awful film.

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  3. I keep meaning to read Possession too. I have such wonderful things about it. Must read it soon.

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  4. I have tried twice now to get through The Host, once in book form and once in book on tape form. I couldn't get past the second chapter. I've had people tell me its good, but I guess its just not for me..

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  5. The Host is actually a very enjoyable read, the scifi stuff is not really as important as the love story, so I think you'll like it.

    I've been meaning to read possession too, as I loved the film. I'll read it if you do ;)

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  6. Tammy - Really, people hate Possession? I'm only put off by the length of it :(

    Sya - I think I've already seen the awful film! But it's been so long that I don't quite remember it. Your love of Love in the Time of Cholera makes me extra excited to read it!

    Vivienne - You and me both! :)

    Becca - Really? Just not working for you? What a shame.

    mariel - You're ON! How about a read of Possession sometime this summer? :)

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