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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. :)
Persuasion by Jane Austen, I think. I just love that book...
'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.
Hermione and Harry are just friends. It really works better that way. :)
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:Quote:
Originally Posted by Pensive
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!
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).
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.
& pride and prejudice has happy ending, and High Tide and Time travellers and Ps. I love u have a sort of happy ending, uplifting?
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.
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!!!!
sry but phantom of the opera takes the cake for me! ;)
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.
Wuthering Heights is the best love story ever written. -Toronto, Canada
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?Quote:
Originally Posted by cateye515
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!
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nossa
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!'
The Time Traveller's Wife definitely gets my vote, has me in tears every time, it's so lovely.Quote:
Originally Posted by optimisticnad
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.
Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre are my favourites.
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...
the real life of sebastian knight
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamilah
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
Stardust by Neil Gaiman, Anansi Boys, also by Neil Gaiman (I love Neil Gaiman :blush:)
and Happy Endings by Katherine Stone.
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. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Idril
Hop on Pop.
I'm not kidding.
A Room with a View. E.M. Forster.
One of the best French poets; Louis Aragon says about Jamila by Chingiz Aytmatov; "This is the best love story ever written".
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pensive
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...Quote:
Originally Posted by Idril
Quote:
Originally Posted by Idril
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by SnowQueen189
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.
La Divina Commedia for me.
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.
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.
The Kreutzer Sonata
Just kidding, probably the Divine Comedy, or Orpheus and Eurydice.
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.
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.
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.
Oh, as for my favorite love story, it would have to be Lolita.
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???