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This Week's Question
What is your favorite
Valentine's Day read?
(Submitted by Kristin @
My Answer
This is a question for the true, hopeless romantic!! And that's me! After Christmas, Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday of the year!
Of course I can't pick just ONE book. There are several books that I consider my favorite Valentine's Day reads. Yes, they can be read at any time during the year, but these books do seem to shine around Valentine's Day.
So here are my faves!!
This is my favorite classic of all time! The story of Jane Eyre and Edward Rochester is a timeless one, because it's not only a romance, but also a feminist tale. I will never get tired of re-reading it! Although it has been filmed several times, I don't think any screen adaptation (or TV adaptation, for that matter) has yet done this great novel justice.
Of course I can't pick just ONE book. There are several books that I consider my favorite Valentine's Day reads. Yes, they can be read at any time during the year, but these books do seem to shine around Valentine's Day.
So here are my faves!!
This is my favorite classic of all time! The story of Jane Eyre and Edward Rochester is a timeless one, because it's not only a romance, but also a feminist tale. I will never get tired of re-reading it! Although it has been filmed several times, I don't think any screen adaptation (or TV adaptation, for that matter) has yet done this great novel justice.
This is the lovely white edition of my beloved Twilight Saga! I will never get tired of the romance between Edward Cullen, vampire, and Bella Swan, human. I LOVE all four books!! And I've read them all 3 times. I've read the first one, Twilight, 4 times -- once in Spanish!
Of course I've watched all the movies several times, as well. I LOVE them just as much as the books!!
I really wish this novel were more widely known! It's such a sweet, wonderful story.... Sabrina Archer is a human girl, and Hillary Shenstone is a ghost. This is not scary AT ALL. Instead, it's wildly romantic, and I also wish Hollywood would discover this one already! It was first published in 1939, but is a timeless story!
This is another hidden gem! It tells the beautiful story of a young Amish woman and a jaded Hollywood producer, and, contrary to the Harrison Ford film, "Witness", does indeed have a happy ending! Alan Wilde and Susan Peachey are just GREAT together! This is another novel Hollywood should get a hold of!
Yet another huge plus for me is that this book was penned by a husband and wife team -- Sharon and Tom Curtis. If that's not romantic, I don't know WHAT is!!
This novel combines elements from Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera, and the fairy tale, "Beauty and the Beast". The story is set in modern times. Eric D'Anton and Marisa Crane meet in a Connecticut suburb, and their beautiful, poignant romance develops from there. Not to be missed!
Do I think this one would also make a GREAT movie? Naturally I do!!
Another hidden gem! This is a quintessentially American novel, as it vividly evokes a certain period in American history -- the years immediately after World War II. Something about the writing -- which is luscious -- makes me recall Steinbeck, and the romance is just AMAZING. Elaine Menutis and Hugh Littleton are just PERFECT for each other, even though they have a very rocky romance. This one is a REALLY big-screen event waiting to happen!!
So these are my very FAVORITE Valentine's Day reads, which I HIGHLY recommend to any romance addict! Although they were not published recently (except for The Twilight Saga, and Jane Eyre is readily available, as it's a classic), they're all definitely worth reading! If you can't find them on Amazon and/or eBay, then try Alibris and Abebooks. Failing all of these, your local library should have the books. You absolutely WILL NOT regret the search!
Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!!
What are your thoughts on
this topic?
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Thanks for visiting!!!
Great post as always Maria.
ReplyDeleteAs you know I also think That Jane Eyre is a great book. I like that you picked it for a good Valentine's Day read. Though an extremely romantic book, it also illustrates some of the darker sides of life. That type of story is not always highlighted on Valentine's Day. But I think, by showing a bit of this dark side, the Romantic and positive may be even more emphasized.
Have a Happy Valentine's Day!
Hi, Brian!
DeleteThanks for the good word!! :)
I'm SO glad you love this novel, too!! And it's such a romantic book, of course! Jane is such a PASSIONATE character, and so is Rochester!! However, as you have pointed out in your comment, the book has some dark elements, as well, and these do indeed serve to highlight the romantic and more positive ones. Great point!
I think you're also right in stating that this novel would not normally be associated with Valentine's Day. I think it should be! The love shared by Jane and Rochester is so noble and inspiring.....And the fact that this novel has a happy ending also makes it PERFECT for Valentine's Day, too, I think.
Of the other books I mentioned, I think you'd enjoy reading "Dansville". Yes, it's a romance novel, but is also so much more. I read it a long time ago, and have forgotten much of the plot, but I do remember that the romance was INTENSE. I also remember that the setting was very vividly described, and there were some great secondary characters, too.
Thanks for the GREAT comment!! Hope you have a Happy Valentine's Day, too!! :) :) :)
Another great answer, Maria.
ReplyDeleteLove coming by every Friday to see your answers.
I don't have a Valentine's Day book!!
Have a great weekend.
Happy Hopping!!
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My Blog Hop Answer
Hi, Elizabeth!
DeleteThanks for the compliment!! :)
Aw...gee! You don't have a Valentine's Day book? I LOVE romance, especially at this time of year! And I have read some really good ones, as you can see! You might want to pick up "Dansville", though. I think you'd really like that one! And there's an inexpensive hardcover edition on Amazon. too.
Thanks for the nice comment!! Hope you have a great weekend, too, and Happy Hopping!! Also, Happy Valentine's Day!! <3 :)
:) :) :)
DeleteI'll have to look up Tryst. I'd never heard of it until now.
ReplyDeleteHi, Nicki!
DeleteI know this book is available on Amazon and eBay, as well as Alibris and Abebooks. I was lucky to get a copy in excellent condition for a VERY low price. Just check out these websites, and you might get lucky, too. However, if you're unable to get a reasonably-priced copy, or you're not interested in buying one, then check your local library. I'm sure they will have this book.
Thanks for commenting! Happy Valentine's Day!! :)
As always, Maria, you provide such a thoughtful response to the blog hop question. Jane Eyre is among my all-time favorite novels, although I tend to think more of Jane Austen when I think of Valentine's Day. I adore her books just as much as I do Charlotte Bronte's.
ReplyDeleteWe aren't big Valentine's Day celebrators in our house. It's more for my daughter that we do anything.
I hope you have a good week!
Hi, Wendy!
DeleteAw...thank you for such a nice compliment!! You're so sweet!! <3 <3
There's no other classic I love as much as "Jane Eyre"!! So of course I had to feature it for this question. I prefer Chatlotte Bronte's books to Jane Austen's, although, to be fair, I have only read "Pride and Prejudice".
Hubby and I do celebrate Valentine's Day. He usually gives me red roses and a beautiful card, and we go out to dinner. I would also love getting a book, right along with the flowers, but heck, I give myself books all the time! Lol.
Hope you and your family have a good week, too! Thanks for the lovely comment!! <3 :)