Best Love Story of All Time

[azmuse]

What is your favorite? Anna Karenina , Romeo and Juliet, something different?

As much as I adored the former, I wouldn't list AK (nor R & J)- The Far Pavilions by M. M. Kaye is my All time favorite, for reunion, spiriting one's love away from death as a suttee, and so much more intrigue/romance set in post "John-Company" India. Have read it at Least! 4 times.

How about you all? And why?

[azmuse]

Can't believe! I almost left out my second fave - The Prisoner's Wife by asha bandele - parts of it were annoying - like her neuroses ( found them uncomfortably similar to mine) and railing against the prison system, but as a love story, it was incredible. I couldn't read it unless I was at home, 'cause at school or anywhere similar - doctor's office, etc. it was ridiculous; I cried and cried. It was so gutsy, painful, and beautiful.

[Robert E Lee]

Originally posted by azmuse
What is your favorite? Anna Karenina , Romeo and Juliet, something different?

As much as I adored the former, I wouldn't list AK (nor R & J)- The Far Pavilions by M. M. Kaye is my All time favorite, for reunion, spiriting one's love away from death as a suttee, and so much more intrigue/romance set in post "John-Company" India. Have read it at Least! 4 times.

How about you all? And why?

Definitely not Anna Karenina. I would go with Of Human Bondage.

[IWilKikU]

I hate to sound cliche', so I really wish I could think of a better one than R&J... but I cant .

[den]

Oh! Of Human Bondage would be my pick too, though it's so much more than just a <barf> `love story.

[Robert E Lee]

Originally posted by den
Oh! Of Human Bondage would be my pick too, though it's so much more than just a <barf> `love story.

Yeah, it is. And I like the whole realistic aspect of it how Philip Carey's near-girlfriend (I forgot her name... the waitress) is a total ***** and ends up being a prostitute with venereal diseases.

[sloegin]

Lolita

[Sindhu]

Originally posted by azmuse
The Far Pavilions by M. M. Kaye is my All time favorite, for reunion, spiriting one's love away from death as a suttee, and so much more intrigue/romance set in post "John-Company" India. Have read it at Least! 4 times.

azmuse, I'm still in shock!!! The Far Pavillions is No:1 on my books I love to hate list- it's not even a successful thriller/ soap opera, which in my opinion is all it claims to be! And you read it FOUR times Tastes DO differ(Ok, I admit there's a cultural context operating as subtext here, I get sick of John Company's adventures in a supposedly barbaric Mother India, but the least the author could do is to provide a modicum of verisimillitude )
Ok, back on topic- Favourite love story- I have two- Pride and Prejudice (bring the astounded exclamations on) and Much ado about Nothing.

[Dick Diver]

Notre-Dame de Paris.

[den]

Oh, The Remains of the Day, by Kazuo Ishagiro is great too; bittersweet unrequited love... great movie too.

[crisaor]

Originally posted by azmuse
What is your favorite? And why?

There's a lot of these around. I think I like the one of Dante and Beatriz best. I mean, be willing to go through hell to see your love, that's something.

[Jay]

Don't read too much love novels, but I remember one, not the writer though , it's The Notebook... I think the critics were saying something about "byebye Bridges of Madison (spelll?)"... even though I do NOT know The Bridges of Madison", just recently found out there's a sequel to it and it's been filmed. But I really enjoyed The Notebook, and if The Bridges of Madison is something alike, I might read that too, WHEN I have some time to lol.

[ajoe]

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.

[nothingman87]

Dante's Divine Comedy

Hey, if you go through hell for a woman, that's gotta be love.

"And a fair, saintly Lady called to me,
In such wise, I besought her to command me.
Her eyes were shining brighter than the Star."
(The Inferno, Canto II)

[poeboy]

Orpheus and Eurydice for me is the best love story. The Greeks knew about love, hate and war and incorporated them into classic myths that will live forever. Its the artist who charms the god of the dead so that he may bring his beloved back to life that resonates with meaning for me.