Tag Archives: Romance

The Song of Achilles- Madeline Miller

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I’ve always been a fan of classical mythology, though this tends to manifest itself through adaptations because having tried reading translations of The Iliad and They Odyssey, I found them a little dull… I would never cut it as a classicist.

I was quick to buy The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, but delayed reading it because a friend whose opinion I trust made the book sound like Fifty Shades of Troy, all action (if you know what I mean) and no plot. This time they were off the mark.

The Song of Achilles is primarily a love story, yes, but I thought that any sexual allusions were actually pretty tame and completely sympathetic to the story. Miller’s prose is clear and controlled, and the use of Patroclus’ narrative is a masterstroke in characterisation, allowing the reader to grow close to the apparently unremarkable Patroclus who earns the love of a flawed demigod and the wrath of his ambitious mother. As our affection for Patroclus grows, we see each character through his eyes, and share his discomfort as he witnesses the man he loves distorted by his quest for heroism and recognition. As the novel draws towards its inevitable conclusion, the reader is pulled along, unable to resist, wondering which will triumph? Destiny, glory, love?

It comes as no surprise to me that this novel won the Orange Prize for Fiction, it is a stunning debut novel and, for me, a far more accomplished adaptation that the likes of Margaret Atwood’s The Penelopiad.

I highly recommend it.

Day 21 – Favourite romantic relationship

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I’ve delayed in posting this for a day or so in order to avoid coming up with the obvious, but surely it has to be Edgar Linton, Cathy and Heathcliff?

I intentionally include the three, because Edgar Linton adds an extra element to the relationship, without him they would be two children running around on the moors outside of society. It’s his socialising influence which brings the concept of marriage and propriety to their relationship. I wrote a whole essay at university about how Heathcliff is the id, Cathy the ego and E. Linton the super ego and the two men tear her apart between them to the point that she can no longer recognise herself.

Not pretty, but amazing reading and way ahead of its time.

Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living! You said I killed you — haunt me, then! The murdered do haunt their murderers. I believe — I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always — take any form — drive me mad! Only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! it is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul! Heathcliff

It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; so he shall never know how I love him; and that, not because he’s handsome, Nelly, but because he’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same, and Linton’s is as different as a moonbeam from lightning, or frost from fire. Cathy

Fallen and Torment- Lauren Kate

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Fallen

My older sister bought me Fallen and Torment by Lauren Kate for my birthday back in December, and though I’d like to think that I’m generally not very snooty about which books I will or won’t read I have to admit that I was wary- like much of the world I have been suffering Twilight Sickness, and these books are in a similar vein.

In Fallen, Lucinda Price is sentenced to time at a school for young offenders having been implicated in a terrible accident. Her strange testimony about shadows gathering has everyone thinking that she’s crazy, or worse, has something to hide. Once there she finds herself torn between two handsome men (as all good heroines in teen romance books seem to do…) the dark and edgy but considerate Cam, and the aloof and somewhat unfriendly Daniel. Now, to most women that would seem like an obvious choice, but Luce has a feeling that she has known Daniel for a very, very long time. Torment is the sequel to this story, in what will be a four part deal.

So, the comparisons to the Twilight books are inevitable. Intelligent young heroine is placed in an unfamiliar environment and relies upon the charms of two supernatural (oh come on, you saw it coming) young men to help get her through. We also have the Twilight love triangle going on, and the character of Daniel is a lot like the character of Edward (an annoying, controlling know-it-all). They’ve even pre-empted the Edward Cullen effect by having some blonde weightlifter pose for promotional material, which I found quite funny. The young man was more a pretty teen than eternally beautiful angel, but I suppose you have to work with what’s available.

Torment

Despite this, I think that the Fallen books are infinitely superior. Luce is a lot less annoying than Bella, challenging Daniel’s decision to establish himself in the role of authority figure instead of playing the insipid little wife. I also like the way that the author has made the lines between good and evil a lot more blurred than they are in Twilight making elements of the books less predictable than they might otherwise have been.

Having said this, I suspect that parts of the books might just be a little predictable. And I can’t wait to read the next book to find out how the author will unfurl the story to prove me right!

Oh, and in case you wondered? I’m team Cam. I’m starting that bandwagon rolling.

Desire Denied, Poems About Dissatisfaction

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The guardian books section today had a subheading instructing us, “Steel yourself for romantic disappointment as the poet considers the literature of desire, from Marvell’s coy mistress to John Betjeman’s lovelorn subaltern.” In the article, poet John Stammers picks out his top ten love poems in which Desire is unsatisfied or denied. I was certainly disappointed, but not by thwarted desire, but the staid and predictable selection of poems, many of which had nothing to do with unsatisfied desire.

Why is it, of all the poems in the English language Sonnet 116 has to be stuck on every list of romantic poetry? It’s not even Shakespeare’s best. And perhaps I’m being slow here, but isn’t it about steadfast love and not desire unsatisfied or denied? Likewise Betjeman’s A Subaltern’s Love Song may reflect Betjeman’s feelings for the lovely Miss Hunter Dunn being unrequited in real life, but in the poem they sit in the car ‘til twenty to one and are engaged after… I wonder what went on in the car, between the lines. Nudge nudge, wink wink and all that. Not exactly unsatisfied or denied.

I agree that Donne’s The Flea deserves its place on the list; I would have put it at number one. Likewise, I love Wyatt’s Whoso List to Hunt though I suspect that has to do with the Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII love triangle that was going on, not just the poem itself. But To His Coy Mistress? This is why people say they hate poetry. The same boring tat trotted out again and again. It’s like people stop reading poems when they finish their school career or at the very latest their undergraduate degree and churn out the one cannon of poetry-that-was-considered-worthy-thirty-years-ago.

So for anyone who has made it through that rant and cares, here’s my alternative selection:

1. Correspondents- Carol Ann Duffy

A highly erotic description of a chaste and futile love affair between a married man and woman, who do not touch, but send letters and conceal their love for fear of shocking polite society.

2. Go Now- Edward Thomas

The bliss of unsought love bleeds into the shock and pain of unexpected rejection.

3. Love Songs in Age- Philip Larkin

An elderly lady looks back at her collection of love songs, and realises with sadness that the idea that love will sustain and heal all has never been true, and will not be true.

4. For Desire- Kim Addonizo

What can I say? She wants to be desired. Definitely a poem about unsatisfied urges…

5. The Bath Tub- Ezra Pound

Have you ever anticipated something so much, that when it doesn’t live up to your expectations you feel the most disappointing anticlimax? Ezra Pound tells it like it is…

6. Porphyria’s Lover- Robert Browning

When obsessive love goes wrong. A cautionary tale ladies, about what happens when you toy with your lover but don’t give him the adoration he desires. That or a warning about what happens when you hook up with a psycho.

7. Libido- Rupert Brooke

Desire is portrayed as a pestilence and it’s fulfilment as death.

8. Nothing-James Fenton

“Nothing I give, Nothing I do or say,

Nothing I am will make you love me more.”

 

9. The Flea- John Donne

How can you not include this playful petition?

10. The Toilet- Hugo Williams

You meet an attractive stranger on the train, but what will happen when you decide to make your move?

Valentine’s for The Bookish

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In case you’re stuck for Valentine’s gifts for the book worm in your life, I have included the following for your perusal. Please feel free to buy any of these for me. My boyfriend doesn’t “believe in” Valentine’s day, so I won’t be getting presents!

Valentine’s Cards

The Alternative Card- A Book of Ten Love Poems

 

 

I’m not sure who really goes for the crude humour of Valentine’s jokes (you know, let’s try a different position, ha ha he does the ironing) but people must because every year the shops are infested with them. Take a stand with this sophisticated card/book. Or get creative. Make your own!

 

 

 

 

Valentine’s Gifts

Splash out on the book lover in your life and get them the Penguin Great Loves Series. Penguin are offering a 20% discount when you buy the complete set from them, so you get 20 books for £79.80. And with titles like Deviant Love, Forbidden Fruit, The Seducer’s Diary and Bonjour Tristesse how could you not? If you could afford to that is…

Cute Bird Bookmark

 

So if, like me, you find yourself three weeks from pay day and having to face up to your own little budget deficiet (my father’s and boyfriend’s birthdays both in February) I don’t think it gets much cuter than this little bird book . A thoughtful gift for anyone like me who ends up using their bus ticket to keep their page. It will be treasured for years.

Golden Snitch Necklace

 

Another great budget find, which will make any Harry Potter geek’s day is this amazing golden snitch necklace which I discovered on Etsy last night. It costs about £10.2o and it is pretty much guarantueed that they will be pleasantly surprised! I have never seen a necklace like this before and think it is amazing.

100 Years is a Very Long Time

Want to demonstrate your commitment but without the pressure or cost of an engagment ring and wedding? Why not give this 100 year diary to show you’re in it for the long haul. You could even include some sickeningly soppy note to that effect. Slushy love aside I think that this would make a cool and unusual Valentine’s present. It has world maps, maps of the body, notes for every season of your life. It’s an autobiography in the making!

 

Finally, for Wuthering Heights fans like me there is this amazing Wild Heather Scented candle which will undoubtedly take you back to the days when you ran wild with Heathcliff before you sold out and were cooped up on The Grange with the bloodless Lintons. Feel free to buy this for me. I will graciously accept bulk deliveries.

Out on the winding windy moors...