What is your all-time favorite love story? I’m torn between two, which I posted in the comments.
What is your all-time favorite love story? I’m torn between two, which I posted in the comments.
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Either Jamie & Claire or Elizabeth & Mr. Darcy. I can not chose, don’t make me!
Which story are Jamie and Claire in?
@Tamara Outlander
@Tamara Outlander
Ohhhhhh it hurts!!! I’d have to agree, with Henry and Claire from Time Travelers Wife.
Jamie & Claire or Lizzy & Mr Darcy.
Gone with the Wind – didn’t even have to think about it!
Corelli’s Mandolin
Been on my TBR for about 10 years!
Dr Zhivago
Another book on my TBR. I think it sounds wonderful and since I’ve never seen the movie, nothing has been spoiled for me.
For me it’s a toss up between Anna Karenina and Gone With the Wind.
I love Anna because Tolstoy does a great job of capturing the heat between Anna and Vronsky and juxtaposing it against the happiness (that even he admits is dull because “every happy family is the same”) of Kitty and Leopold. I also like that it shows all different kinds of love and marriages through this intense heat that you don’t expect in 1800s Russia (apologies to stereotypes everywhere). Downside is that Tolstoy also had a political agenda and so about 1/3 of the text is a separate story about the plight of farmers that should’ve been a different book.
Gone with with Wind is nearly perfect except for all that frustrating time Scarlett spends chasing everyone who is not-Rhett only to realize Rhett is all she wants. And to end not knowing whether she gets him back is deadly! Part of me says of course she does but the whole attraction of a man like Rhett is that he means what he says, so 50/50 chance. I don’t think Mitchell wrote a sequel because I don’t believe she knew in her own heart of hearts which way it would go. Never read Scarlett because for me, only Mitchell knew the true answer.
I believe you are right about Mitchell.
I read Scarlett and I thought it was terrible. Supposedly Mitchell did start the sequel, but died before she could finish it/flesh it out. I think it’s best left as a standalone for the reasons you stated.
Following!
Jane Eyre!!
Ginny and Harry? Christian and Ana? I’m due for a public stoning. I like YA and trashy smut. Let’s throw in Peeta and Katniss and Edward and Bella too. ?♀️?♀️???
I’ve not read Twilight. I don’t mind YA or erotica, and I can see Ginny and Harry and Katniss and Peeta. For me Ana and Christian don’t work because she has to give up too much of herself to save him.
No public stonings, though! I asked because I was curious not to judge!
I probably should take some time to read British classic literature. It all seems so in depth. I own several. Maybe during bedrest
You made me laugh. I read some just to see the hype.
Samantha – I am right there with you!! ?
@Samantha, unfailingly the first third of any British classic I just can’t believe I’m reading a British classic. “What are you reading?”
“Jane Eyre,” she says half boasting, half apologetic.
The second 1/3, I’m just flat out impressed with myself that I, of all people, am actually reading Bronte!
The last 1/3, I’m so carried away by the story that I forget I’m reading something “important” and just hope it won’t end.
I keep telling myself that one day I’m going to remember that a story is a story is a story. Classics have staying power but that doesn’t mean I’ll like it. I can get as lost in the hopelessness of Tess of the d’Urbervilles’ situation as I can Katniss Everdeen’s and I’m better if I forget that while I’m reading Tess’s story I’m also reading THOMAS HARDY.
They’re just stories. Some better than others. I like them when I remember that. Otherwise they scare me or I feel pretentious reading them. 100+ years after the fact, I still think Austen and Hardy and Bronte would just like to be read.
Tatiana and Alexander is high on my list! I love Jamie and Claire but find Alexander sexy in a more primal way.
Which book has Tatiana and Alexander?
It’s a series, The Bronze Horseman is the first. There’s a lot not to like about both of them in that book (which is also brutal about the siege at Leningrad) but I find the way they mature over the course of three books and into grandparent age to be very engaging.
I really enjoyed The Bronze Horseman. I was a little frustrated with the story by the 3rd book, but I did enjoy watching their relationship develop.
Janie and Tea Cake from Their Eyes Were Watching God
Outlander
Is Outlander a series?
@Samantha yes it is!! And it’s also a series on Starz!! Season 4 starts in November!
Awesome!
Jamie and Claire from Outlander
Persuasion
Ahhh, one of my favorite books!
I was looking through the comments for this one. THAT LETTER. It literally made me swoon. Nothing has ever topped it for me.
Jaimie and Claire for sure!
Rebecca bloomwood and luke Brandon! ? that’s all I can think of on This Sunday am pre-coffee!
Persuasion
I love a second chance.
Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy
Elizabeth Bennett and Darcy!
Henry and Clare … The Time Traveler’s Wife
This!
Austen’s novels have stood the test of time. I love both P&P and Persuasion. If you’ve never seen the movie version of the latter (I think there’s only one)…..highly recommended.
Oh I loved that movie!
George Emerson and Lucy Honeychurch. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
What novel?
@Cynthia A Room with a View. E. M. Forester.
Jennifer McMillan, oh yes! I read that so long ago, I’d forgotten the characters’ names. ?
The Fault in our Stars- Hazel Grace and Gus, of course Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, and as an college kid in the day The Thorn Birds – Meggy Cleary and Father Ralph.
My teenage daughter read Fault in Our Stars probably 25 times. I did not read it, but I finally asked her why she liked it so much that she was getting to the last page and going straight back to page 1. She told me the premise and had me read one Hazel Grace/Gus scene toward the end. I was ugly crying in 3 paragraphs and said, “Get your witchcraft away from me!”??? I bet I’d love it if I was a braver soul!
Would you believe The Thorn Birds is STILL on my TBR? I tend to stay away from what everyone is reading and for a while that’s the only thing people were reading. Then Barbara Stanwyck played the older woman in the miniseries and being a big fan of Old Hollywood, I got really interested but college came along and I didn’t get to choose many books for four years and I forgot about it until it comes up again and I promise it’ll be the very next read and something calls me away over and over.
@Tamara so well written. Many lines I would have highlighted to come back to and ponder. Read it!
Also Marco and Celia from The Night Circus.
@Jennifer yessssss
Jamie and Claire from the Outlander series.
I have two favourites: Jamie and Claire from Outlander and Eve and Roarke from JD Robb’s In Death Series ❤️
YES to Eve and Roarke! I love how Eve keep growing.
Me too. That’s my favourite thing about the series – all the characters grow and develop and change because of their experiences.
I just can’t finish a series where the characters never change and do the same things over and over again (**coughStephaniePlumSeriescough**).
@Holly – OMG EXACTLY! I stopped reading Stephanie Plum somewhere around #19. I just can’t take the fact that she’s still the same! Shoot, Lula and her grandmother have grown – why not her?!?! And I swear, she needs to choose already. (Team Ranger!)
I gave up after #16. I just couldn’t read it any more! I’m Team Ranger too ?
@Holly – I think it’s harder for Team Ranger to watch her keep leaving that perfection! *swoon*
Outlander, early books
Jamie and Claire!! ❤
Richard and Elise McKenna from Somewhere in Time
Did you like the movie? I do recall there was more to the book, but I watched the movie many times in the 80s. Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour were so lovely.
@Kristin yes loved the movie and watched probably more than 10 times
Outlander. Jamie and Claire, all the way.
Elizabeth and Darcy as well as Edmund and Mercedes from The Count of Monte Cristo. ❤
God! The Pressure!!!! Ok. Henry and Claire from Time Travelers Wife and Elizabeth and Darcy. BUT!!!! If I could do 3 Outlander would be there too.
Well, most mothers don’t have favorite children, I suppose there’s some wiggle room ?
That’s funny. I tell my River(5yr old girl) that she’s my favorite all the time, but that we have to keep it a secret lol.
Thorn birds…
Lizzie and Darcy 🙂
Noah and Allie hurt my heart with him having to remind her of their love. I also adore Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.
Which book are Noah and Allie in?
Tamara Castleman The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks.
Hands down Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.
Henry and Claire – so complex and despite the time traveling element, their love story felt real. There were plenty of fights and problems – it wasn’t all idyllic.
Rhett and Scarlet
Definitely Outlander!
Meredith Bancroft and Matt Farrell, “Paradise”, Judith McNaught.
Also Florentyna Rosnovski and William Kane of Sir Jeffrey Archer’s “The Prodigal Daughter”.
Oh there’s so many with Judith McNaught, idk if I could choose just one!
The Notebook
Rhett & Scarlet
Elizabeth & Mr Darcy
Billie and Moss in The Texas Series by Fern Michaels. It’s a fabulous trilogy.
The Texas series are so good,
Dougless Montgomery and Nicholas Stanford from A Knight in Shining Armor.
It is one of the best books I’ve ever read! Jude Deveraux is simply an amazing author and this book doesn’t need to be read in line with the series. The love story is great. Makes me cry every single time.
That was my favourite book for a long time. I haven’t read it 20 years or so. I should reread! I stopped reading her books when they started being all witchcrafty…
I usually read her older books only. ?
I read most of her older books when I was a teen. My mom got me hooked!
My mom got me hooked too!
PS I Love You
Johnny & Baby
I’m still a sucker for Anne & Gilbert
Atonement
I had to Google who Elizabeth and Darcy are. ? Guess I’d better add that to my TBR list!
Tell me you are kidding!?!?
*shame*
/faints
I hope I don’t get my book club membership revoked! I’ve read Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights… just never Austen, apparently.
Then that better be the very next book you pick up little lady! (Using my best scolding mommy voice! ?)
@Lisa I hated and dnf Wuthering Heights, so if you get booted, I probably do too.
Have you at least seen any of the movies/miniseries?
Have you at least seen any of the movies/miniseries?
@Amanda Not a darn thing!
I knew who they were because so many of my friends are Austenphiles. I’d never read anything by her so I picked up Sense and Sensibility for an alphabet challenge and (whispers: I wasn’t at all impressed.) I don’t get the whole Jane Austen thing. The writing was Ok. The plot was contrived. I get she was doing unusual things for a female at the time but I didn’t think she did it particularly well. Maybe I picked the wrong book to start and should give her another try, but I really don’t feel the need. (Hangs head in shame and hands in membership card)
@Miranda, I started Wuthering Heights, and 35 pages in I was freezing and had no idea where I was headed, so I put the book down and enjoyed summer. I’ll hand it to Bronte for making me understand I NEVER want to live on a moor!
Keep promising myself I’ll give it one more try but haven’t got my mittens yet.
I will openly admit, I saw a movie before I read the book. And even more openly admit that I like the characters better in some of the spin offs and sequels. But Elizabeth was one of my favorite characters in literature, so much so that one of my daughters is named after her.
I actually liked Wuthering Heights!
Here’s the thing about Wuthering Heights – if you buy it thinking it’s going to be some grand, epic, sweeping love story, you’ve got the wrong book. It’s pretty dark and messed up.
And here’s the thing about Austen – it makes a LOT more sense if you understand the social commentary she’s making in most of/all of her novels (I’m still making my way through some of them, so I guess I shouldn’t say ‘all’ of them just yet). She was pretty biting at the time, but since our vernacular has changed so much it can be easy to lose that. I thought she was flowery and a bit boring when I tried to read her in high school. I had to read parts of Northanger Abbey for a college class and ended up finishing it on my own because I enjoyed it so much (warning, it ends very abruptly and is kind of a giant ‘f*%& you’ because it ends ‘happily’ the way all novels written by women ‘should’). Then I read Persuasion and, hot damn, THERE is a love story. It was only then that I could pick up Pride and Prejudice and enjoy it for what it was truly meant to be.
Jane and Edward
Eve and Roarke from the In Death series by J.D. Robb
Noah and Allie
Eleanor and Park
Jen & Ebenezer 😉
My all-time faves have already been mentioned here (Persuasion, Jane Eyre) but one of my modern faves hasn’t been mentioned, and that’s Love, Rosie. It was so sweet and wonderful <3