I draw the line at romance novels. There's something about romance novels that makes me reflexively gag.
But I can take certain kinds of romance novels. Short stories about love seem to go down more easily than an entire novel about love. I'm especially fond of short story collections that include some bitter love stories. Here are some of those short story collections I like:
Ties that Bind: Stories of Love and Gratitude from the First Ten Years of StoryCorps
My Mistress's Sparrow is Dead: Great Love Stories from Chekhov to Munro
Six-Word Memoirs on Love and Heartbreak
The Lover's Dictionary
Paris, you say? France? Yes, we can read love stories set in France. We can read anything set in France.
Paris in Love
LeRoad Trip: A Traveler's Journal of Love and France
We seem to be able to bear love stories about our animals.
Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worse Dog
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill: A Love Story...with Wings
And, finally, we can usually tolerate children's picture books about love:
There's No One I Love Like You
How Far Do You Love Me?
So, romance novels make you gag, huh? What about Jane Austen? Romance with a bite. Actually, I don't consider Austen romance, although I once had a book group read Persuasion. It had a bunch of older ladies that I thought had probably read Austen in their youth or whatever. Turns out that was a big 'NO' and then the first woman at the discussion called Persuasion a Harlequin Romance! I almost said, 'have you ever read a Harlequin Romance?'. LOL LOL
ReplyDeleteI don't really consider Jane Austen to be a pure romance novel.
DeleteGreat list & book choices! I was eyeing the My Mistress's Sparrow is Dead but then figured I may have read a good chunk of the stories featured in it so decided against it. I love the idea of the compilation though!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT
I think MMSID would surprise you.
DeleteI'll definitely check out some of these stories, thanks :)
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for stopping by my blog @ Swissbookworm :D
The stories are amazing.
DeleteI love that title. Not a huge romance reader here (obviously) but a good book's a good book, and I see some here that look nice. Paris in Love looks cute (cause Paris) and Marley and Me I heard was a good movie but a tearjerker (didn't know it was a book). The Wild Parrots looks interesting too!
ReplyDeleteSo glad I was able to share. I often get titles from you!
DeleteGreat post! Thanks for stopping by my blog.
ReplyDeleteAwesome list! :) Although I'm not going to lie - I can't handle books about pets. I can't. I have a ridiculously hard time watching movies about pets. They make me so emotional, lol. Books are pretty much impossible!
ReplyDeleteOh dear. Then you should probably steer clear of most pet love stories. Pets aren't known for their longevity.
DeleteMarvelous variation on the love theme.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteTastes vary from person to person, and that's okay. I won't touch coffee or anything with a coffee flavor and most of the people I know live by it. I enjoy a good love story. I definitely fall into the camp that prefers them clean rather than steamy. There was a time I avoided them like the plague. There's no way I'll start drinking coffee though--as I know some things won't change. Haha
ReplyDeleteMarley & Me is one I won't touch with a ten foot pole. I do not like to read books that end in the dog's death. The Lover's Dictionary is one I've been wanting to read.
I like a bit of romance sprinkled in. Just not overly sweet.
DeleteI don't mind romance IN novels, but if it can billed as a romance novel, it doesn't bring out my gag reflex so much as my snobbishness. So I love your take on this topic! The short story collections all look very interesting.
ReplyDeleteAgree.
DeleteNice list, not everyone loves traditional love stories.
ReplyDeleteLike your selection especially the one about the animals.
ReplyDeleteOoooh I don't gag on romance novels, but they are by far my least favourite genre. The Lover's Dictionary, though, is awesome. I've never read it front to back, but I have read bits and pieces of it.
ReplyDeleteFun little list. I've been meaning to read The Lover's Dictionary forever.
ReplyDeleteAh, Marley and Me was a fantastic read, and not NEARLY as heartbreaking as the movie--in fact, much better than the movie, IMHO. I love StoryCorps so should check out Ties That Bind! Love your graphics!
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