Thursday, September 6, 2012

Let's Talk: Favorite Literary Romances

Let's Talk Friday is a weekly feature hosted by Melissa at i swim for oceans


What are your favorite literary swoon-worthy romances?

Sean and Puck 
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Sometimes my favorite love stories are the subtle ones. They're not about how much kissing happens or in loud declarations love. But they're made up of small moments and actions that say big things about how the characters feel about each other. Sean and Puck are that kind of romance. Sean shows it in how much he wants Puck to like his horse Corr. Puck declares it when she confronts Malvern. Everything they thought they wanted changes when they meet each other and that speaks loudest of all.  

Diana and Matthew 
A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

What isn't swoon-worthy about a couple that does yoga together? Yes, Matthew Clairmont is a possessive vampire. And Diana Bishop, although intelligent, starts off a bit naive and stubborn (not a happy combination for her). But what I love about their romance, is the way it grows through both A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night. Although they are a fantasy couple, their relationship is tested in real human ways. And don't worry, there are plenty of sweet and blush-worthy moments between them as well. 


Margaret Hale and John Thornton 
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell 

What happens when an intelligent parson's daughter from the green south of England moves to the north and has to endure life in an industrial town, including the company of self-made mill owner Mr. Thornton? Besides discovering a passion for social justice, she finds love of course. I love the way that Margaret and Mr. Thornton's relationship develops throughout the story, because they really do seem to clash about everything. But underneath all those arguments a strong attraction is building, and it develops into a sweet romance. BONUS: If Victorian literature isn't your thing, watch the BBC production staring Richard Armitage. It's an excellent adaptation. And one of the few times I'll say that the film is (nearly) as good.   


Celia and Marco
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Okay clearly I can't get away from these "subtle" romancesAlthough Celia and Marco are another couple that seem to only share small moments together, when you pay attention to the details, you realize that their relationship is in fact grand and complex. (This part gets spoilery, sorry:) I love that Celia and Marco don’t meet for years, and yet they are bound to each other from when they are children. I love that each magician creates for the other, Celia making tents for Marco before she even knows who he is. Marco says to his instructor, “Everything I have done, every change I have made to that circus, every impossible feat and astounding sight, I have done for her.” I’m just happy that they’re together now, traveling with the circus of dreams. 

Although I have tons more picks, I'm going to stop there. But I'd love to hear from you. What couples in literature make your heart swoon? Do you prefer a quiet romance or do you say the more kissing the better? 


16 comments:

  1. Yes, yes, yes to Sean & Puck! I absolutely adored THE SCORPIO RACES, and their romance was one of the most beautiful, simple and perfect that I've ever seen. I can't believe I forgot it!

    Great choices all around. Thanks for linking up! :)

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    1. I got excited when you posted more topics! I love your Let's Talk series. It's always a lot of fun.

      And YES. I don't have enough good things to say about The Scorpio Races, and Sean and Puck.

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  2. Diana and Matthew. Couldn't agree more!

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    1. Thanks for reading book two with me! That was a lot of fun. We'll have to do it again for #3.

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  3. I'm with Melissa, the quiet, subtle romance between Sean and Puck is just beautiful. I love EVERYTHING about that book (as you know:)

    Another subtle romance I loved that reminded me a lot of Sean and Puck was the one between Kenzie and Esteban in Beth Kephart's Small Damages. Have you read that book yet, Lauren? It's absolutely stunning. I talk it up to everyone I know. I reviewed it a couple of months back and still have the ARC if you are ever interested:)

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    1. YES YES. I just adore The Scorpio Races. I'm getting super excited to meet Maggie in a few weeks.

      I've ordered Small Damages from the library and can't wait for it to arrive for me! YAY.

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  4. Margaret and John...Celia and Marco...Diana and Matthew...YES!! All some of my very most favorite literary romances! (and I totally love the blush-worthy moments in ADoW - swoon!)

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    1. We have such similar tastes! I'm excited to read the River of Time series now.

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  5. Margaret and John - my favourites. And your right, in this case the movie (series) is almost as good. Great choices.

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  6. Oh dear gracious I can't even. Celia and Marco. That one - when I read the book it was just leaping off of the pages, the chemistry and tension. Amazing. But then I listened to the audio for a re-read (of course, you know me!) and I loved it even more and felt it even more. They are one of my favorite couples, or maybe my favorite couple. Definitely at the top. I'm VERY GLAD to see them on your list.

    The other couple that I put up there with Celia and Marco is Karou and Akiva from Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Good gracious. When chemistry leaps off of a page and the couple barely even touches, it is a good one. That is all.

    Celia & Marco, Karou & Akiva - I love them together so much it makes my heart hurt if that makes any sense at all.

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    1. Oh yes. Karou and Akiva! Oh how beautiful and heartbreaking is their story. I totally agree with the chemistry between them. All of their interactions were just so gorgeous it makes my heart hurt - I can still picture Akiva asleep on the small chair in Karou's apartment, with his wings spread around him. But their story isn't resolved yet - and my heart is broken for them. So I just couldn't put them here (yet). I can't believe the obstacles those two have to overcome!

      I really want to do The Night Circus on audio. I've read it twice in the past year (once on my own and then for a book group - and I almost never have time to re-read). I loved it more the second time through.

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    2. OH MY GOODNESS, JIM DALE DOES THE AUDIO. YOU MUST. He's the HP guy!
      I requested that my library buy it just so I could listen to it.
      (Daughter of Smoke & Bone is a great audio too. I know people get tired of me saying that.)

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    3. I have DoSaB on audio! I got it for free this summer. But have yet to listen. I LOVE the story, but it also makes me sad (the end hurts my heart). I'm expecting even more ripping in the next book.

      And JIM DALE??? OMGGG I need to get myself a copy of the audio book. I know my library has it. ASAP!

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  7. Scorpio Races and North & South would definitely make my list too, and I STILL need to read Discovery of Witches. Guess I should get on that, huh?

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    1. YES! Read it. It is a bit of a dense book but SO WORTH IT. And I thought the story got BETTER in Shadow of Night. I hope you love it!

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