Best Love Story of All Time

[azmuse]

What is your favorite? Anna Karenina :D :D :D, 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 :D ( 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 :D :D :D, 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:confused: 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.

[crisaor]

But he looked back, and then she was lost.

[star blue]

the greeks also believed that love was a slight variation of hate.

[crisaor]

I don't recall that. Care to elaborate?

[Anselmus]

Translation by Brian Hooker (some other translations aren't so hot)
Of course, I haven't read many of the others listed here... Though I can't imagine I'd like any other story like this one. Always gets me on the verge of tears.
Afraid I can't speak for the original (french?) text :( I'm sure it's worthwhile.

[Hope`]

Wuthering Heights and Great Expectations

[mono]

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)
The Divine Comedy would have to prove as my choice too - an entire terza rima poem dedicated to Beatrice.

[Ia Nabu]

I loved Pride and Prejudice as sappy as that sounds. Then there's also the ending of His Dark Materials, I just found it infinitely sad how they agreed to 'meet' every midsummer's day on that one bench ... :(

The Notebook, by the way Jay, is by Nicholas Sparks, the author of A Walk to Remember which I've heard praised very much. It's apparently just about as romantic and touching as they get. The other book you were referring to is I think The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller (Ia knows how to use her Amazon ;) :thumbs_up ), which is described as "the romance classic of the 1990's".

[mandy_pal]

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. Who can resist Rhett?

[durbin]

I can't decide Rhett or Heathcliff - Scarlett or Catherine? Gone with The Wind or Wuthering Heights

[Hope`]

Catherine and Heathcliff--> Wuthering Heights!

[simon]

the greeks also believed that love was a slight variation of hate.

It wasn't really that love was a type of hate. They were seperate things, but love was something that should not be seen. It was for the private sphere and anyone who released their passions, or spoke them was subject to hubris, wildness, arrogance, and most horribly of all tyrany or tyrannos, so I suppose that in that sense tyrannos being a hated thing by the gods love was a hated thing, but not really a variation of hate. Probably the best example of this is in the Phadrea, where she loves her husbands son, her step-son and struggles thorugh the play trying to hide her passions.

Basically to the Greeks love should be kept private, not spoken, not observed.

But if your looking at great loves look at all the male relationships in Greek Literature. Patrocolus and Achilles for example, what else could have spurned Achilles to drag Hector behind a chariot than the killing of his boytoy.

[slipperyyoke]

"The White Gauntlet" by Captain(Thomas) Mayne Reid.

[imthefoolonthehill]

while definately not the best book on love (i think... haven't finished it yet so i can't be sure) Atlas Shrugged has a very insightful line which I love.

It is something to the effect of "those men think the flowers, lights, and decorations should make them romantic, instead of the other way around"

Obviously it should be the other way around, the character of men making the peripheral romantic.


*gets off soapbox*

[baddad]

'Evangeline'......by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. But it is an epic poem, not a story. It is about the banishment of a people, and the seperation of lovers that this causes. Tremendous stuff!

The village idolizes the 'fairest maiden', and Longfellow comments that the villagers seeing her in the street feel this merely by her presence; "After she has passed, it is like the ceasing of exquisite mucic."

[frozenlight]

to be honest, i can't think of a love story i really loved :D wuthering heigts was quite enjoyable, but only for the atmosphere, not for the love part of the love story... and i kindo liked scarlett from gone with the wind.

[subterranean]

Anyone likes The Age of Innocence (sp)?

[skydiverhpc]

P&P & Much Ado... are also 2 of my favs. I'd add Chekhov's "Lady with the Dog."
Susie

[MrsCoulter]

My favourite would have to be Will and Lyra from His Dark Materials. Now THAT'S love!

What about the suckiest romance? I reckon Harry and Ginny from HP and the Half Blood Prince was pretty bad, but that's just my opinion...

[SleepyWitch]

What about the suckiest romance? I reckon Harry and Ginny from HP and the Half Blood Prince was pretty bad, but that's just my opinion...

i couldn't agree more :lol:
if Ginny was in love with Harry all along, why did she have this whole assembly of boyfriends? can't she be stand being single for 2 days in a row?.... it is and accurate portrayal of English (and other) kids' behaviour, I'm afraid, but that's not necessarily something I want to read about in a novel....

hm... i don't know many love novels... out of those I know, my faves are The remains of the day and Love in the Time of Cholera.. plus Unwiederbringlich by Theodor Fontane

[Bastet]

Anyone likes The Age of Innocence (sp)?


I do, I think Edith Wharton did a great job in portraying the love triangle in the middle of New York's 19th cent. society. I did a paper on May and on the social and moral code existing in the middle class society of that day and what different things implied.

[MrsCoulter]

i couldn't agree more :lol:
if Ginny was in love with Harry all along, why did she have this whole assembly of boyfriends? can't she be stand being single for 2 days in a row?.... it is and accurate portrayal of English (and other) kids' behaviour, I'm afraid, but that's not necessarily something I want to read about in a novel....


I agree!

Not to mention the poor buildup and the lack of emotion other than lust. This is meant to the be Hero's story - so why is the romance so cheap? Why doesn't Harry trust Ginny enough to tell her about the Prophecy? Why don't they ever talk about how they're feeling...I mean, we don't even see Harry or Ginny caring for the other!

Also, I hate how they bring out the worst in each other. And just curious, what pairing were you hoping for?

[SleepyWitch]

I agree!

Not to mention the poor buildup and the lack of emotion other than lust. This is meant to the be Hero's story - so why is the romance so cheap? Why doesn't Harry trust Ginny enough to tell her about the Prophecy? Why don't they ever talk about how they're feeling...I mean, we don't even see Harry or Ginny caring for the other!

Also, I hate how they bring out the worst in each other. And just curious, what pairing were you hoping for?

hehe, Ginny would have been alright with me if it hadn't turned out the way it did... i mean, if it wasn't that cheap and everything it would have been fine... actually, i didn't take much interest in the 'pairing' issue before.... maybe he could have talked to Cho and they could have been a couple... that would have showed some maturity.....

[MrsCoulter]

hehe, Ginny would have been alright with me if it hadn't turned out the way it did... i mean, if it wasn't that cheap and everything it would have been fine... actually, i didn't take much interest in the 'pairing' issue before.... maybe he could have talked to Cho and they could have been a couple... that would have showed some maturity.....

I preferred Ginny with Neville, because in OotP it appeared that she had gotten over Harry. And she came out stronger because of it, and I thought, wow, this is someone that girls could really look up to, y'know? But then we find out in HBP that her "being stronger" was just an act to get Harry, and I just thought..."where's the dignity and moral in that?".

I wanted Harry with Hermione, because I thought that if there was one person who's been there for Harry, time and time again, it would be Hermione. And also, there are some really lovely passages from the books that just SCREAMS Harry/Hermione to me :) And if it weren't Harry/Hermione, my second choice would've been Harry/Luna. There are some really neat Harry/Hermione essays out there that I could link to - I know that JKR has said no to the pairing, but I just can't help but feel that it still has a chance :)

[grace86]

You would think that Hermione and Harry would end up together, because there were some interesting parts in the book that looked that way. I like Ginny, but not with Harry. She seems too childish for him in a way. Where do you see the Harry/Luna thing going on? I wouldn't have thought of pairing them together.

My favorite love story is Mary Webb's "Precious Bane." I don't know of too many people who have read it though. Anna Karenina, Wuthering Heights, and Age of Innocence are actually on my shelves right now...

[MrsCoulter]

You would think that Hermione and Harry would end up together, because there were some interesting parts in the book that looked that way. I like Ginny, but not with Harry. She seems too childish for him in a way. Where do you see the Harry/Luna thing going on? I wouldn't have thought of pairing them together.

I don't mind Ginny either, just not with Harry.

Harry/Luna? There isn't much canon evidence from OotP, but what there was far more than Harry/Ginny had in OotP. When Harry was under the mistletoe with Cho, the first thing he said was something that Luna had told him (about the nargles). At the end OotP, Luna indirectly is the only person who can comfort Harry. Remember how after they talked, and she was walking away, Harry felt his sorrow lessen slightly? Something like that...I'll get the canon quotes later. :)

I prefer Harry/Hermione, though.

[ishicourt]

i'm afraid that i must be antagonistic and reveal that i don't care much for the harry potter characters. i enjoy the books enough, but certainly not for the characters, whom i find to be shallow with the exception of perhaps snape. best romance is undoubtedly the one between Heathcliff and Catherine in Wuthering Heights. i read that book until it fell apart at the seams. :)

[Mustardseed]

Persuasion by Jane Austen, I think. I just love that book...

[Azazello]

'Le Roi s'amuse' by Victor Hugo,
'Master and Margarita' by Mikhail Bulgakov,
'The Thorn Birds' by Colleen McCullough,
and 'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Bronte.

S.

PS. Am new here, still getting used to the site so excuse the brevity of my first message.

[EAP]

Hermione and Harry are just friends. It really works better that way. :)

[Pensive]

Ginny and Harry are fine with me but I would have prefferred any other new girl.

I can't bear Harry's romance with Hermione and Luna because Hermione is suitable with Ron and Luna with Neville. Cho was not very bad too.

To me, the story would have been better without any girl friends and boy friends because it started as a children book but JK Rowling can't do anything because Harry and trio are growing.

[fatsaint]

Ginny and Harry are fine with me but I would have prefferred any other new girl.

I can't bear Harry's romance with Hermione and Luna because Hermione is suitable with Ron and Luna with Neville. Cho was not very bad too.

To me, the story would have been better without any girl friends and boy friends because it started as a children book but JK Rowling can't do anything because Harry and trio are growing.
HAHAHAHAHAHA Good one :lol:

I would actually prefer Jane Austen for a romantic book. R&J is too deep! Whereas P&P and Emma are romance with something else in it!

[WaxDoll]

Isn't it interesting that a lot (not all, but a lot) of the books chosen here end in tradegy? I dunno, that just striked me as a kinda trend as I was scanning through. Thoughts?

My favorite is Villette (Charlotte Bronte), followed by Persuasion (Jane Austen) and Tess of the d'Urbervilles (Thomas Hardy).

[optimisticnad]

classic: Pride and Prejudice, Love Story, uh...so many more...mind is blank...

more recent ones: P.s. I love you by C. Ahern, High Tide by J. Deveraux and 'The Time Traveller's wife'-like music most of modern stuff is rubbish, but 'Time Traveller's wife...' is fantastic.

[optimisticnad]

& pride and prejudice has happy ending, and High Tide and Time travellers and Ps. I love u have a sort of happy ending, uplifting?

[Cormeister37]

Good love stories are quite difficult, that which really portray the feeling of love. I would argue Anna Karenina does not do it, because if Vronsky and Anna are the best representation of love out there, I'd be scared...

Anyway, good love stories I've read, though I haven't found one I thought really typified love in an essential way: Love in the Time of Cholera by Marquez or Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, but I'm still not impressed with these as seminal love stories.

[wooo]

I love 'love stories' and havent the chance to read that many. But whenever i cry or feel jealous of a character, i know the book must be good. mind you, i like Georgette Hayers and loads of people think they are trash, but im a romantic. i love Gone with the wind, that has really stuck with me above all else i think!!!!

[cateye515]

sry but phantom of the opera takes the cake for me! ;)

[Scheherazade]

I think The Gift of Magi by O. Henry is one of the sweetest love stories; short and sweet without too much drama or tear-jerking (ie no enemies, eternal obstacles for them to overcome, no deadly illnesses, no third parties). It just shows how much two people can love each other.

[Jamilah]

Wuthering Heights is the best love story ever written. -Toronto, Canada

[Sindhu]

sry but phantom of the opera takes the cake for me! ;)

Yes- The Phantom of the Opera is really SOMETHINg else! And I rather think I'd have made a different choice from the heroine's- but then one can't tell until one really experiences a particular situation, right?

And I just had a thought- "Love Story" need not be interpreted as male female Romeo Juliet Love, Does It? In which case The Two Absolutely best "Love stories I have read would come from Children's Literature and Science Fiction.The First One actually belongs to both categories- Why Weeps the Brogan by Hugh Scott- Love of a mother for her Children during a Nuclear Holocaust. It will set me off howling if I even attempt to summarise the plot. Next one would be Adult Science Fiction- On The Beach by Nevil Shute. Again, read it! Oh, actually that would be no: 4 - My numbers Two and Thre would be Oscar Wilde's Fairy Tales "The Birthday of the Infanta" and "The Nightingale and the Rose. No:5 would be a tie between Dicken's "Tale of Two Cities" and Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby".
I do confess to a weakness for happy endings however, so that despite all theorising, my all time favourite favourites would be Austen's Pride and Prejudice!

[Nossa]

Nicholas Sparks - A Walk to Remember :D

[Pensive]

Nicholas Sparks - A Walk to Remember :D

I found the movie (which I watched earlier than the book) as well as the novel amazing! It was sweet as well as sour.

[Midas]

To answer such a question it needs to be clearly defined on what criterion such a story has to be judged'

For example, is it the actual 'story' based on the 'facts' we are given - either on fictional romance, or one based on real life - as much as is known?

Or is it on the literary ability of the writer in the telling?
By this I mean, the actual account could illustrate a true, definitive, display of an all consuming love between two people, but in the telling, it could lose much of its ardour, or not even be seen as 'love' by most.

Some people may require that both characters must have wholesome appeal - sort of 'prince and princess' aura - if only metaphoric.

Yet, women have been known to show great attraction, and passion, for a partner whom history tends to define as of an evil persona. In the extreme, for example, by the couple who chose to die together in a war-torn bunker at the end of WW2 in Europe, when, at least, the female could have easily continued to live had she chosen to do so. That is a truly 'undying' love, paradoxically displayed by both choosing to pay the 'ultimate price', together.

Of course, no writer so far has taken this up to present as a great 'love story', and I guess, for obvious reasons, never will.

Not going to such extreme, there is the ' love story' based on two characters where one of the characters, while not 'evil', is engaged in some questionable pursuit, or means of providing a living. For example, one that comes to mind is a favourite of mine, 'The World of Suzie Wong', written by author, Richard Mason, born not far from where I first saw light of day.

Suzie is a Hong Kong prostitute, forced to take up the profession through circumstance, but her mind is never where her body lies (no pun intended).

She creates for herself an illusionary world. A love developes with an Englishman of 'good background' who has left his well paid job in Malaya to take up as an artist in the Hong Kong of the 1950's. I don't want to recount a complete synopsis, but, as you should be able to imagine from the background, and the era, the true love that blooms is at the expense of much inner, and outer, struggle to overcome many prejudices, including racial, both from self and from others.

It was slightly changed in the movie version, but though the story, both in the novel, and the movie, plays out in a world of vice, it is never an issue, and is without any seamy, or 'steamy,' emphasis.

Perhaps that is why it never reached the higher rating, I felt it deserved - the public's expectations based on such a theme, no doubt, were never met. Also, perhaps at that time, the Chinese were not seen by Western eyes as people of much consequence - certainly in the romantic stakes. The story was also on stage before the movie, though I never was privileged to see it.

I bring this attention merely to highlight the considerations that must be addressed in order to make a judgmental answer. Questions need to be fine tuned
in order to elecit meaningful, as in relative, responses.

We should also question just how much influence is exerted upon us by opinions of others such as critics, media comment, and teachers, on books which have become generally accepted as of classic status, or a works of literary merit with which we can quote, or admit to, without fear of adverse reflections, and comment, by others, on our literary tastes.

Just as I have occasionally seen greater dispalys of artistic talent in many advertisements than hanging on the wall in some aclaimed gallery, I am sure there is the odd great love story buried in the prolific turn out by Mills and Boone - though I have never read these books myself. I am not into love stories per se.

In 'The World of Suzie Wong' it was mostly the period, and the part of the world in which it is set, which attracted me, I drank in the atmosphere. The, relationship, and romance, and how it is portrayed by the author, grew with me as casually as it grew with the characters, while I wandered with them through the streets, and venues, of Hong Kong.

When I later visited that corner of the world, I spent many an hour finding the places in the book, seeing what they, and the author, saw, reliving again all the pleasure the book had given, and continues to give me if I only re-read the odd chapter. What better accolade can I give a writer, and his work.

Later, when teaching English in Taiwan to university level students, I used it as a reader, I was surprised that not one had ever heard of the book before, or the movie.

They amused me, however, by picking up a catch phrase of Suzie's, embedded in the first chapter, she used when being questioned on something she didn't wish to, or couldn't, answer: 'No talk!'

[Bii]

classic: Pride and Prejudice, Love Story, uh...so many more...mind is blank...

more recent ones: P.s. I love you by C. Ahern, High Tide by J. Deveraux and 'The Time Traveller's wife'-like music most of modern stuff is rubbish, but 'Time Traveller's wife...' is fantastic.

The Time Traveller's Wife definitely gets my vote, has me in tears every time, it's so lovely.

Other than that, Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel, Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres, A Room with a View by E M Forster, Love in the Time of Cholera or Of Love and other Demons by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. All great love stories.

[Annamariah]

Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre are my favourites.

[SnowQueen189]

well, of course Pride and Prejudice! but people, what about The Princess Bride?!? yeah it's a little cheesy, but you already know that going into it! oh, and The China Garden is pretty good too...

[chasestalling]

the real life of sebastian knight

[Idril]

Wuthering Heights is the best love story ever written. -Toronto, Canada


I have a hard time accepting them as a great romantic couple. Both Heathcliff and Cathy were incredibly selfish and ill-tempered people, their love was more obsession than love, they destroyed everything and everybody they touched. I have problems holding their relationship up as any kind of ideal or admiring it in any way. I loved the book, I just didn't come away from it thinking it was a love story, it was more a story of obsession, deception and self-destruction.

I don't read a lot of romantic stories so my choices are limited. I tend to read books with relationships that are marred in some way, indifferent or end badly. Someone mentioned Love in the Time of Cholera and I would whole-heartedly agree with that, that's probably the most positive love story I've read. There's a couple of good love stories from Trollope, he usually has at least one couple that ends tragically and one that ends up blissfully happy, The Duke's Children is the one that springs to mind right away because I loved the dialogue in that one but I could pick any of the 10 Trollope books I've read and find evidence of a great love story. And Dr. Zhivago is a great love story...if you can ignore they were both married to other people and really, why shouldn't you be able to ignore something like that. ;) :p

[Bakiryu]

Stardust by Neil Gaiman, Anansi Boys, also by Neil Gaiman (I love Neil Gaiman :blush:)

and Happy Endings by Katherine Stone.

[Pensive]

I have a hard time accepting them as a great romantic couple. Both Heathcliff and Cathy were incredibly selfish and ill-tempered people, their love was more obsession than love, they destroyed everything and everybody they touched. I have problems holding their relationship up as any kind of ideal or admiring it in any way. I loved the book, I just didn't come away from it thinking it was a love story, it was more a story of obsession, deception and self-destruction.

I exactly feel the same about the relationship of Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff. That never seemed admirable to me; Destructive love (if it was love which I doubt). 'Extreme obsession' would be a good word to use. But this destructive love is what makes Wuthering Heights Wuthering Heights. I don't like it, but I like the way it held me to the book. :)

[hedbanger]

Hop on Pop.

I'm not kidding.

[Dickens59]

A Room with a View. E.M. Forster.

[Turk]

One of the best French poets; Louis Aragon says about Jamila by Chingiz Aytmatov; "This is the best love story ever written".

[Idril]

I exactly feel the same about the relationship of Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff. That never seemed admirable to me; Destructive love (if it was love which I doubt). 'Extreme obsession' would be a good word to use. But this destructive love is what makes Wuthering Heights Wuthering Heights. I don't like it, but I like the way it held me to the book. :)

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who feels that way. Sometimes I feel like such a spoil sport because I just don't see the romance in that book, it left me feeling more disturbed than anything else.

[SnowQueen189]

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who feels that way. Sometimes I feel like such a spoil sport because I just don't see the romance in that book, it left me feeling more disturbed than anything else.

trust me, you're not alone. though i did enjoy the book as a whole, i felt that the levels of obsession and deceit for the period in which it was written explain why emily bronte was an outcast...yeah, it's a bit harsh, but true...

[Sindhu]

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who feels that way. Sometimes I feel like such a spoil sport because I just don't see the romance in that book, it left me feeling more disturbed than anything else.


trust me, you're not alone. though i did enjoy the book as a whole, i felt that the levels of obsession and deceit for the period in which it was written explain why emily bronte was an outcast...yeah, it's a bit harsh, but true...

Yes, Idril, as Snow Queen says, you are certainly not alone! I love Wuthering hehts and think its a fantastic novel, but if you need to talk about the romance alone, it is not romance but obsession. At least in Phanton of the Opera and Hunchback of Notre Dame , both high on my list of books with Romance, though the Romance IS obsessive, there is always the element of sacrifice to redeem them. Here you have selfishness on Kathy's side and senseless vengeance on Heathcliff's. I get a real thrill when Reading the famous " Nelly, I AM Heathcliff" speech, but in real life I would kind it as a kind of psychotic condition which will destroy personalities if not treated.
The reedimg feature i would find is the blossoming relationship between Cathy and Hareton, which gives indications of being a constructive and co-operative rather than obesessive and selfish romance.

[aabbcc]

La Divina Commedia for me.

[Garnet01]

I much prefer romance with a darker twist, Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, Anthony and Cleopatra, Taming of The Shrew, Phantom of the Opera and Othello. I feel they show love for what it is, an overpowering and blinding emotion. Of course there's obsession and bitterness, there's deception and desperation. At the end of it all though there's the will to give up everything for that one person. I'm not a cynic and I am in love (In fact I have my own Mr Rochester.) I don't think love is evil I just don't think it should be portrayed without showing the minefield of emotions that entail.

Also (I'm probably going to get hung for this) I find Romeo and Juliet one of the most pathetic and tedious love stories ever!!! I don't feel it was one of Shakespeare's best at all!!! How can anyone talk about Shakespeare's love stories and not talk about Othello or Twelth Night (which also has the whole unrequited love)

Ooook rant over.....sorry.

[Jamilah]

I take all of your points about Wuthering Heights. I can appreciate why many would not see this as story of romantic love. To me, it is. The book was written during the age of the Industrial Revolution when times (lifestyles and ideas) were changing and evolving faster than the British could make sense of the new age. Commonly held ideas about religion were challenged too. Anyhow, to me Healthcliff represents the turmoil and confusion of the day. He's one of the most deeply layered characters I've come across in literature. He is not anyone's hero, including Catherine's. He's deeply flawed but his one moral credit is how deeply he loves Catherine. I don't think he's obsessed. He's just stuck. They can't regress back to their childhood and the only option seems to be death for them both. Catherine admits they are twin flames (sorry to be corny here) and that their essence (soul) is the same. So, when they break the bonds of this earth and their earthly bodies, they are free. Their love is elevated to a spiritual plane and you feel that throughout this book that they only want to live out this existence. They are elemental forces, like the wind, clouds, thunder, or even ghosts. No they are not likeable, but I'm compelled to move past their flaws and value the experience they have together. They can't fight their destiny and they don't know how to deal with it. It's not perfect love, but it's eternal. Just my thoughts. Thanks.

[JBI]

The Kreutzer Sonata




Just kidding, probably the Divine Comedy, or Orpheus and Eurydice.

[Midas]

I find it difficult to equate some of the 'love story' suggestions here, in particular, that referred to in 'Wuthering Heights', set in an area of the country with which I am very familiar, as being 'love' in a true sense.

In fact, it probably is difficult to write an 'interesting and gripping' novel based on real love. Writers know that a good novel, movie, and TV program has to involve a good deal of conflict. A good source of this stems from strong emotions such as jealousy. Writers of 'soaps' know this only too well and over indulge to the extreme.

Jealousy comes from insecurity, and/or over concern with self esteem, rather than a deep sincere, unselfish, love of another person. True love requires unquestioning understanding, and unhesitating forgiveness, if, and when necessary.

When novelists introduce such mediating factors, we find there is a large measure of 'conflict' if only within the mind of the offended parties. They have to struggle, and sometimes emerge as a metaphorical martyr to the cause, in their process of reconciliation of their 'love.' It is this 'inner conflict with which we 'sinners' can relate, and stimulates our emotions and interest.

If we are honest, most of us can't really stand purity, and goodness, it makes us uncomfortable. But we are not really honest, and will refute that in the same way as we will always find an excuse for our misdemeanours.

When I have heard accounts of those rare marriages, especially these days for instance, of a couple who have brought up a 'loving' family through providing the right example to their children; a couple having reached old age and are still as happy, and comfortable with each other, as the day they took their vows, I have reflected that none would have made the best sellers list if their lives were recounted by no matter how famous an author.

But then, all this is just my simple opinion.

[Dori]

Notre Dame de Paris (aka The Hunchback of Notre Dame) by Hugo. I don't usually enjoy reading romance, but this book was exquisite. My least favorite was The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant.

[xaqxit]

Midas, I agree, but don't you think the conflict could exist not between the two characters but between forces that divide them? We see this time and time again... say for example in Romeo & Juliet. Then again my thoughts on that play are that it's merely a satire on the ridiculous notion of love and first sight, and it's really more of a comedy than a love story or a tragedy, especially as the families come together at the end... though perhaps my reading of that text is a bit unconventional.

[xaqxit]

Oh, as for my favorite love story, it would have to be Lolita.

[Debrasue]

Phantom of the Opera...but then...I'm obsessed...Mysterious Masked Geniuses will do that to a girl...what was Christine's problem again?...oh..yeah...Raoul...well, I guess being a Vicompte has it's allure...And Erik...obsessed with beauty/Christine...Hmmm...maybe if Leroux hadn't given him those darn blazing yellow eyes......

Victor Hugo's Notre Dame de Paris....my second fave...
Why do I love the hopelessly tragic ones? Why???

[Annabel Lee]

I think the best love story would be something like Pride and Prejudice because its something that could actually happen; its not some fantasy or fairy tale.
Although I haven't read Lolita which seems to be a favorite for a lot of people.

[Tasartir]

For me it's either "The Wild Palms" by William Faulkner or "The Sound of Waves" by Yukio Mishima.

[booksbuddy]

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin

[Midas]

Quite a number here appear to include the works of Jane Austin in your 'lBest Love Story' selection. However, it seems her works would be rejected by many leading publishers and literary agents if submitted today.

Here is the link from which the following was extracted

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/13972/Pride+and+Prejudice?+Just+not+good+enough+to+publi sh

Among much this tells us, or convinces us, is just how hard it is for a new writer to get even read by a publisher, never mind accepted.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE? JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO PUBLISH

".....Astonishingly, only one out of 18 publishers or literary agents recognised that the opening chapters were copies – word for word – of Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. Only the titles and the characters’ names had been changed by prank*ster David Lassman, 43.

Quite apart from not recognising these classic novels, the publishers also rejected them – turning down flat the offerings of one of Britain’s finest ever woman novelists............"

[Midas]

Sorry, the link will not reproduce in full from the pre-submit

If interested just go the Daily Express on line, and in the search window type
'Publishers reject Jane Austin' or, perhaps just Jane Austin may bring it up.

It is quite interesting and revealing, so its worth the effort.

[Dorian Gray]

It's Jane Austen, not AustIn. God....

And I'd nominate Romeo and Juliet.

[Midas]

Sorry, you are perfectly correct. I have a close friend who's last name is Austin, so it came naturally.

[ThousandthIsle]

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

What is Of Human Bondage about? The title is certainly intriguing!

[tulysg1982]

Yes "The gift of the Magi" by O'Henry is also my favourite love story.Another is "cupid and Psyche".

[Midas]

XAQXIT

Midas, I agree, but don't you think the conflict could exist not between the two characters but between forces that divide them? We see this time and time again... say for example in Romeo & Juliet. Then again my thoughts on that play are that it's merely a satire on the ridiculous notion of love and first sight, and it's really more of a comedy than a love story or a tragedy, especially as the families come together at the end... though perhaps my reading of that text is a bit unconventional

Yes the conflict is sometimes not between the two main characters but in the forces acting upon them. However, when the 'love' is condensed between the cover of a novel and presented as a story, perhaps our focus is moved to, and emotions stirred by, the conflict, rather than the sincerity of the love. Infatuation can often appear like love, and by the very young often is mistaken for 'the greatest love ever'.

For example, when family is against the marriage, and tries to break it up - a common plot, this can often push the couple closer for a number of reasons - they have a common resolve to fight this thing together.

But will it last once the battle has been won and they settle down in real life with two or three kids to bring up, and a mortgage to pay? In the case of Romeo and Juliet, for instance, we will never know.

Just a thought.

[Elinor Dashwood]

I think Louis de Bernieres' Captain Corelli's Mandolin is a beautiful love story, although i know there is a lot about the war too it did make me cry at the thought that Correlli and Pelagia werent together for most of their lives.

Still have not seen the film either.

[Poorni]

Gone with the wind is my first choice and the second one is Pride and Prejudice. Those two were really classics!!

[Fen]

Persuasion by Austen the love of Anne and Captain Wentworth is so enduring,quiet and dignified

[Gadget Girl]

I think "A Walk to Remember" by Nicholas Sparks is great, too. :)

[amalia1985]

Catherine and Heathcliff's relationship in "Wuthering Heights"

[xlxlauraxlx]

All of my favourites have been said but i will just agree with you all with,

A Walk to remember
Pride and Prejudice
Persausion
Wuthuring Heights
The Notebook
Romeo and Juliet
ect
ect
lol unfortunately i cant bring anything new to the table.

[Hunnii]

From the number of stories that I am familiar with (which is not many), I consider Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, Nicholas Spark's A Walk to Remember , Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and the Notebook as the best love stories of their times.

[Igetanotion]

OK. I hate to do this. BUT..
Love In the Time of Cholera-Gabriel Garcia Marquez. (I feel like his cheering squad, he's in almost all of my posts! :lol:) I do read Marquez alot so of course this would be natural for me as I am well read in him.. BUT....
I'm not alone. It Is considered one of the greatest love stories ever told, and not only by me, but more widely. Don't ask me who or to site anything. All I can say is that it is in Pengiuns "Great books of the 20th century" eddition.
And even though Oprah book clubbed it, its still one of my favorites. Read it if you haven't. It is fabulous. (though unfortunatly the movie was not :bawling: )

In fact.. I think I'll give it another re-read :idea:

[Zeruiah]

Probably Aeneas and Dido's love story in The Aeneid. I like it because it hit home with Dido's unfortunate infatuation with Aeneas. I don't want to go too in detail about this, but I've been in a similar situation where I have a really, really bad crush for someone that I couldn't act on due to time and circumstance. It's actually quite a miserable experience. :(

[bouquin]

My favorite is Jane Eyre.

[Bethany_Argyros]

Eros and Psyche

its beautifully romantic, Psyche is so loyal... I wish that was the way it is today.

and by Eros and Psyche i mean the version in which Eros is sent to kill her, but falls in love with her instead. They marry, but she is never allowed to see him. Her sisters, jealous, convince her that he is a hideous monster, so she sneaks a peak but drips candle wax on his skin and he awakens. Psyche is given tasks she must do before she can win him back such as sorting hundreds of seeds and fetching items from the land of the dead. Eventually Aphrodite sees her loyalty and allows the couple to be together.

It is so beautiful. SOOOOO beautiful. I love it. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

[happyeverafter]

I would have to say that Jane Austen wrote the best love stories of all time. Now, i am not a great reader when it comes to classics, but i firmly believe there is no better romance writer than Austen. Every single story she told was timeless, and i loved all of them (i had a J.A. class last year) but if forced to choose....i would have to only go down to three and say Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice, and Emma. I love how the same basic plot is in all three books (actually in all of Austen's Novels) but plays out differently every time. And, i also think that these 3 novels have the best male characters.
Always,

[livelaughlove]

I'm a fan of Jane Austen, too. I haven't read much of her stuff besides Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, and Persuasion, but I have a couple more so I'll pick those up soon.

I think my favorite love story is between Jane Eyre and Love in the time of cholera. Though, Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenenger is waay up there too. So I guess it would be a three-way tie. :)

[rachel_bookworm]

I have to agree with whoever wrote it above but Bronte's Wuthering Heights by far.

The only book to make me cry, beautiful love story between Heathcliff and Cathy - a must read

[Luce]

How about Anna Karenina?

[bazarov]

How about Anna Karenina?

You mean Kitty and Levin?

[Mockingbird_z]

I like Pride and Prejudice, i think this is the kind of love i would like to experience.

[trippy star]

I think I'll have to forward "The Sun Also Rises".
It's hardly conventional, but is, concurently, absurdly touching.

[betzen]

I would have to say that Jane Austen wrote the best love stories of all time. Now, i am not a great reader when it comes to classics, but i firmly believe there is no better romance writer than Austen. Every single story she told was timeless, and i loved all of them (i had a J.A. class last year) but if forced to choose....i would have to only go down to three and say Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice, and Emma. I love how the same basic plot is in all three books (actually in all of Austen's Novels) but plays out differently every time. And, i also think that these 3 novels have the best male characters.
Always,

I agree with so many posts here that Jane Austen wrote classic romances--some of the best. She was so true to her time, but also so timeless. Pride and Prejudice is my favorite.

I also like Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights.

[miss_chau]

My pick would be The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje. It took 2 readings over a span of 5 years for me to appreciate the poetic prose of the novel, but once I "got it," I have loved it ever since.

What I love about it is that it shows different types of love and how they evolve due to changes in circumstance and personal values. The fact that so many love stories happen during the period of the ending of WWII creates a contrast that I find very poignant (sorry if this sounds like one of those book reviews).

[kelby_lake]

probably either lolita, the great gatsby, or giovanni's room. I can't decide! :)

[ben.!]

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)

It's a bit of an old post, but a classic! :D

In terms of love stories...I haven't read many, but I must say R&J is up there in favourites, or Pride and Prejudice, as much as I loath the BBC version...but the recent one with Keira Knightley was great! Have yet to read the original novel though.

[kelby_lake]

I like the BBC version. The recent film was a bit boring.

[susanprice]

I think Pearl Buck's The Good Earth has stood the test of time. what an incredible story. But my favorite book (since I was 12) is To Kill a Mockingbird

[kelby_lake]

Um, is that a love story?

[Lady Raven]

My absolute favorite love story is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. A close second and third are The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley (the love between Sir Lancelot and Guinevere), and Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters.

[Mockingbird_z]

but Tristan and Isolde has so many versions.
the very first one is not that much lovely. i must say.

[Mockingbird_z]

2 Antiquarian
Gillian Anderson - agree. she is a very good actress.
though her best role is Dana Scully, i would like to watch some other films where she starred.

[Mockingbird_z]

i like the way love was described in "Granet brecelet" by Kuprin
a very sad story but true unrequited love

[Nurse Ion]

...To me it would definately be Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series. I just LOVE the relationship between Edward and Bella.
And I also really love Neil Gaiman's Stardust. That was amazing too.

:blush:

[susanprice]

Mea Culpa, Kelby! You are correct, To Kill a Mockingbird is not a Love Story in the sense that it is not about the love between a man and a woman (or woman and woman, man and man). Therefore, I change my "vote" to Persuasion, another of Jane Austen's wonderful love stories.

[islandclimber]

"Tess of he D'Urbevilles" by Thomas Hardy.. Though excessively tragic... it is still a beautiful love story.. and one that inspires many tears..

[Mockingbird_z]

Antony and Cleopatra, why not?

[Lulim]

My favourite love story is between Will Ladislaw and Dorothea Casaubon in Middlemarch: The way he adores and loves her just the way she is and how she gradually realizes that she loves him because he doesn't restrict her in any way. And yes, I know, the book is not a proper love story, actually; it contains much more than that …

[Mockingbird_z]

O.Henry The Gift of the Magi =)

[Negar]

Without doubt Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte ;)

[bounty]

i wouldnt call either of the books im about to mention "love stories" in the strictest sense but they are what come to mind nevertheless...

i am a big fan of hardy, austen and bronte who seem to be mentioned often but...

its been many years since ive read it---i remember being struck by the incredible dangers the male characters faced in dracula, for the love they had for the women in the book (particularly lucy if i remember rightly).

i also remember enjoying agnes' love for david copperfield after his first wife, dora, died.

[bounty]

Two books I've been meaning to read, but have yet to do so. I do love Dickens, though. So far, Great Expectations has been my favorite. I received the Masterpiece Theatre version DVD for Christmas. :) I still haven't watched that! Shame on me.

I, too, love Jane Austen, the Brontes, and Thomas Hardy.

My favorite love story is Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights and Thomas Hardy is one of my all time favorite authors. I'm on a quest to read everything he ever wrote, even his poetry. I have a long way to go with that, but am anticipating loving the journey as I've loved all of his writing so far.

hi antiquarian---im a big dickens fan also and have pretty much enjoyed everything of his ive read. have you read a tale of two cities yet? i can put that book into a similar sort of way i gave in my post above---its not a love story proper but when it gets right down to the very end, what one of the former rivals does is incredibly powerful.

i enjoy hardy quite a bit too. i think tess was my first hardy novel---probably because i used to like nastassia kinski!

yes---you must read david copperfield and dracula! smiles...

[bounty]

I hate to admit it, but I haven't read A Tale of Two Cities, either, but it's high on my list to read, as is David Copperfield. One I love is Bleak House.

I love everything about the writing of Dickens and Thomas Hardy, especially Thomas Hardy. I love his tragedy and bleakness, probably because he does it so well. If I had to choose one all time favorite author, it would definitely be Thomas Hardy, though I think Tolstoy's Anna Karenina is my all time favorite book.

Since you're a big fan of Dickens, you might like the book I just finished - The Quincunx. It took me a long time to read it, but it was worth it. It's very reminiscent of Bleak House and the author even chose "John Huffam," Dickens' middle names, as the name for his protagonist.

ive got a small handful of dickens' and hardy books at home, still unread, bleak house being among them. maybe i'll make a point of reading it this summer. i read hard times not too long ago. although, ive also got anna karenina at home too, and since youre saying its your all time favorite, perhaps i'll give that one a shot first. smiles...

ive not heard of quincunx, i'll keep my eyes peeled for it...thank you.

[islandclimber]

I love that one, too, islandclimber. I think it's my favorite Thomas Hardy novel.

mine as well... "Jude the Obscure" is just far too sad and tragic, and hopelessly depressing... and his other works, though amazing, just don't quite stand up to these two... Though "The Mayor of Castorbridge" is wonderful... and "Far From the Madding Crowd" is one of my favourites because it is so light hearted, and not so tragic, even has moments of comedy... as well, I don't know about you, but I find his short works to be completely overlooked and underrated... they are great.. same with his poetry... he is just an exceptionally versatile writer...

[islandclimber]

I think The Quincunx was published about ten years ago. Maybe more. But when it was published, it made quite a stir in the literary world. It's a neo-Victorian mystery on the order of Bleak House. Set mainly in Victorian London and revolving around five branches of a family, a purloined will, a suppressed codicil, and lots and lots of mystery. I finally finished it last night, so no more long books for me for awhile. I need a break. LOL

I highly recommend the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation of Anna Karenina. I think their translations are so much more readable.

I do like the Pevear and Volokhonsky translations of Russian works... I have all their translations of Dostoevsky as well as AK and several others... but sometimes I just like to slip back into the comfortable Victorian style of a Constance Garnett translation... I just find she has a certain power, and stylistic approach that suits the time period... Overall I do like Pevear and Volokhonsky much more, but on occasion reading a Garnett translation can be quite wonderful...

[ksotikoula]

Mine is Jane Eyre all the way. Unforgettable heroes and a love story that combines romantic love with sexuality. Who can resist that? ;)

Ps: you should also have made this question a poll. It would be easier to see the results.

[hoope]

Without doubt Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte ;)

I was gonna say that .. diffinately Jane & Rochester..

i can also say Edward & Bella in Twilight

[Emil Miller]

I was gonna say that .. diffinately Jane & Rochester..

i can also say Edward & Bella in Twilight

Hoope,

For God's sake don't confuse Jayne Eyre with Twilight.

Love you anyway.

[Scheherazade]

Hoope,

For God's sake don't confuse Jayne Eyre with Twilight.y not? Cuz Jane Eyre can't come NEwhere close 2 Twilight's gr8ness?

:D

[Emil Miller]

y not? Cuz Jane Eyre can't come NEwhere close 2 Twilight's gr8ness?

:D

Sheherezade,

You do Hoope a disservice. She is not a native English speaker and, unfortunately, seems to have absorbed the current American vernacular into her writing. Because I have been in contact with her as a friend, I know that her main concern is to help disadvantaged people, and that is why she is studying nursing. Compared to myself, she is very young but her sincerity reaches beyond considerations of age or nationality and I have great respect for her. As for her literary concerns, she is a great supporter of Charles Dickens and has read more of his works than I have.

[PoeticPassions]

I would vote for the following three:

Love in the Time of Cholera
Lolita (yes, it is a love story in my opinion)
The Age of Innocence

[Wilde woman]

Cyrano de Bergerac for me. He is the ultimate romantic hero.

Also Persuasion and Their Eyes Were Watching God.

"The Gift of the Magi", as so many have mentioned, is THE warm and fuzzy little love story of the century.

I haven't read Love in the Time of Cholera yet, though I'd like to. I just read my first Gabriel Garcia-Marquez in January and adored it.

[kelby_lake]

I was gonna say that .. diffinately Jane & Rochester..

i can also say Edward & Bella in Twilight


Not Twilight!

I'd add Lolita, not because it is a romance, but because it is a story of love. Lolita doesn't have any and Humbert has the wrong sort, but that scene right near the end...it made me cry it was so beautiful.

A Tale of Two Cities! Silly Darnay!

[Lokasenna]

I'm not going to read through the whole thread, but I did notice R&J crop up near the beginning. I can I therefore add Beatrice and Benedick from Much Ado - infinitely more credible, and, I think, deeper!

[seanlol]

Romeo and Juliet. No doubt.

[Geronimo1999]

Won't give scores, but try "Simon and Hiroko," by Marius Hancu. Contemporary, Japan and US. E-book only for now. Starts sweet, ends big drama. Found at Goodreads.

[Big Dante]

Hmmm, I'll just list a few interesting love stories off the top of my head, refering to the story of the characters, not the novel in its entirety.

Marius and Cosette - Les Mis.
Catherine Barkley and Frederic Henry - A Farewell to Arms
Yuri Zhivago and Lara - Doctor Zhivago

[Geronimo1999]

Hmmm, I'll just list a few interesting love stories off the top of my head, refering to the story of the characters, not the novel in its entirety.

Marius and Cosette - Les Mis.
Catherine Barkley and Frederic Henry - A Farewell to Arms
Yuri Zhivago and Lara - Doctor Zhivago Can't but approve:-)

[YesNo]

The story that comes to mind as the best for me at the moment is Isaac Bashevis Singer's Gimpel the Fool, but there are so many good ones many already mentioned in this thread.

[Irishcrusader95]

my thanks to everyone for all the books so far mentioned, i will have to get around to getting some of them, i could do with something emotional for a change.
i really like romantic sub-plots to novels, they add great character development and something more to the full plot, yet i have never read a book where it was the main theme. i was today in a book store reading the first pages of 'First Love' by Turgenev. i know the basic plot and am intrigued by it yet it was way too pricey to buy just yet. anyone here read it, what did you think of it?

[qimissung]

Anna Karenina, both her story and that of Levin and Kitty. It is in watching the arc of the two stories play out that brings such depth to the novel.

I also love O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi. I cry whenever I read it. It is the best of all love stories because it shows what genuine love is. Emma, because it is funny, and also because I adore George Knightley, and Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew; I like the fiery tempestuousness of it.

[moodymozart]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Narcissus-Caravaggio_%281594-96%29.jpg

Narcissus I believe.... :wink5:

[ennison]

I would recommend these texts.
The Arrow of Gold - Conrad
The Slave - Singer
A Child Possessed - Hutchinson
Wuthering Heights - Bronte (although the comments directed against it above are tru-ish)
The Taste of Too Much - Hanley
I should pick something by Lawrence but I won't as I don't much like him
The Book of Ruth
But I want to throw in a wonderful film - In the Mood for Love
I agree about Pasternak
And for the young and uncynical The Snow Goose - Gallico and Goodnight Mr Tom - Magorian

[ralfyman]

Joyce's "The Dead"

[Volya]

Anna Karenina, but Levin and Kitty not Anna and Vronsky.

[kelby_lake]

Troilus and Cressida :) I'l third/fourth the Kitty and Levin recommendation as well.

[Buh4Bee]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Narcissus-Caravaggio_%281594-96%29.jpg

Narcissus I believe.... :wink5:

Haha!

Kitty and Levin, still make me smile thinking that they are really out there somewhere.

[Lykren]

Another vote for Kitty and Levin.

I feel like a Bella/Jacob relationship fan, haha.