Be aware that Amazon links on this page are affiliate links. As part of the Amazon Associate program, qualifying purchases made through these links may result in us earning a commission. However, you don’t have to make a purchase to read these titles. With a library card, you should be able to borrow them all for free through the Kent District Library. You may also be able to find them for sale at Lowell’s used book store, Bettie’s Pages.
February means Valentine’s Day, and that makes love the natural theme for this month’s edition of the Reading Club. None of us are into the bodice rippers that seem to most commonly be considered romance reading although we each have had brushes with books that were a bit “oh my!” (Note: don’t listen to Outlander on audiobook around the kids.)
However, love comes in all forms, and we’ve each read and enjoyed books on the subject. Here are a few of our favorites.
Amanda’s Book about Love
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
4.0 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. For some it may be considered too *scandalous* but I can’t say why without giving away a major plot point which could be considered a spoiler.
Evelyn Hugo is a famous Hollywood star. She wishes to tell her story to Monique, a magazine reporter. Evelyn will reveal all when it comes to the seven husbands she has had and how she made it to and in Hollywood. Monique is unsure why Evelyn picks her for the task of telling the story but is intrigued both with the prospect and the story of Evelyn.
Evelyn starts at the beginning and how her first marriage allowed her to leave behind a life she did not want. She concludes with her final marriage but along the way we realize that Evelyn should not be defined by the number of husbands she has had or even the fame she has created for herself.
Her story weaves, twists, and turns throughout the book. She tells of decisions she has made, both good and bad, and how she learned from her choices. Her character is likable as her life is retold up until the end of the book.
Maryalene’s Book about Love
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
5 out of 5 stars
My GoodReads review of this book simply says: “I wish I could give this 10 stars. I loved it so much.”
Interpreter of Maladies isn’t a novel but a collection of short stories by Jhumpa Lahiri. They all center on Indians and Indian-Americans (of Asian descent, not to be confused with Native Americans) as they navigate love and loss. It’s hard to neatly sum up the book because the stories all have such different arcs. However, there is something magical and touching about Lahiri’s writing.
This book was hard to put down, and I breezed through it in four days. I’m not the only one who loved Interpreters of Maladies. It also won the 2000 Pulitzer Prize in fiction.
Maryalene’s Book about a Different Kind of Love
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
5 out of 5 stars
Is there any form of love more pure than that of the love between a boy and his dogs? That’s really the underlying premise of Where the Red Fern Grows as it follows the story of Billy who saves and saves to buy two redbone coonhounds. Those dogs, Old Dan and Little Ann, become his faithful companions, and the book highlights their adventures in the Ozarks.
Originally published in 1961, Where the Red Fern Grows has turned into a children’s classic and is generally recommended for third grade students on up through middle school. I forget exactly how old I was when I read it, but I remember thinking the book was so perfect that I’ve refused to watch any movie adaptation of it, lest that ruin the magic. I picked it up again about a year ago and found it every bit as enjoyable as an adult although it didn’t have the same emotional punch.
Make sure you’ve read it yourself before handing it off to your son or daughter. I don’t want to go into too much detail or give away the ending, but Old Dan and Little Ann are hunting dogs and some of the descriptions might be upsetting to very young or sensitive children. Plus, they might just want to talk it over with you once they are done.
What about you? Do you have a favorite book about love? Share your pick in the comments below or on our Facebook page.
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