Many girls would swoon at John Keats, whose sonnet was his declaration of affection to Fanny Brawne. It was young love, pure and full of passion. They would have made a fine couple, but the poet succumbed to tuberculosis at a young age. Not even the Mediterranean weather saved him, which drove poor Fanny into seclusion. It was a good thing that she kept his letters, which became the basis of a movie about their short-lived romance. But this would be another thing.
Love is a common theme in literature, but authors would look at it differently. Someone like D.H. Lawrence could use his background to show another viewpoint. It was rather controversial to some readers, but it would be better than still water. Many would be drawn to the stillness of a river (or lake) and wondered what could be found beneath the surface. If you haven't figured it out, then it would allude to a person. No need to be alarmed, though.
Reading a few books on February 14 won't be a bad idea. It can teach you a thing or two on empathy (unless you have a date and schedule it after the weekend). Here's a sample:
Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1934) by James Hilton. This was far from a romantic story, as Mr. Chipping had been a schoolteacher at Brookfield Grammar School for 43 years. He witnessed the tumultuous events of his lifetime, from the Franco-Prussian War to Hitler's rise to power. He met different kinds of people who were influenced by the happenings, but he wouldn't look at them differently. Hilton didn't shy away from sentimentality. It wasn't hard to think of Mr. Chipping as an open-minded individual, who rather looked at the good side of people. Maybe this could be a start of a good relationship, but trust would be another thing.
Cyrano de Bergerac (1897) by Edmond Rostand. He was a gifted writer and a duelist, but Edmond Rostand thought of something else. He knew how to make a woman fall in love. Alas, his (huge) nose was a distraction. This was the bittersweet element in the play, which could make some readers shed tears. Love hurts, life is unfair to some people. But those who are willing to take a chance would be rewarded. If you have no idea, then it would be better to find it out.
Sense and Sensibility (1811) by Jane Austen. Anyone who have seen Ang Lee's faithful adaptation of the novel would agree that Alan Rickman was perfect for the role of Colonel Brandon. He was 35 years of age, which was deemed old during that time. And he loved the eagerly expressive Marianne. There was not one encouraging sign from her, but he was patient with her. It seemed like an eternity, but this would be true love.
Do you have other suggestions? Share it with us.
