Book ♡ Tag

My husband and I have been together for almost eight years now.
It’s wonderful and weird at the same time. Eight years seems so long and yet it feels like no time at all.

We don’t really do Valentine. The past years, he was always working on Valentine’s day and I don’t like crowds so when all the restaurants are super busy, I’m pretty happy just staying at home.

Next to my family, the thing I love most is books. So, I thought why not celebrate the day of love by talking about my love for my bookshelf.

I found this TAG and I don’t think I’ve answered it yet. It was created by Sanne (@booksandquills) and Jean (@bookishtoughts) last year.

Q U E S T I O N S

1. Who is your favourite literary couple?

Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy. Pride and Prejudice is such a wonderful book and snarky, pompous Darcy is amazing. I love the bickering between the two and how they eventually get together. I still kick myself mentally for waiting so long before I finally picked this book up.

2. What’s your Top 3 of fictional boyfriends/girlfriends?

Three: James Fraser (Outlander). I enjoyed reading this book so much. Jamie is strong but also a bit naive at some points. The way he cares for Claire, up to the point where he’s willing to let her go so that she can be happy even if it destroys him, is swoon-worthy. (But if he picks up his belt, I’m out..)
Two: Draco Malfoy, I can’t help it.. he was my crush when I was young and I will love him always. 😉
One:  Mr. Darcy… dark and brooding but ultimately a very loving character. What’s not to love?

3. What’s a romantic trope you wish people would stop using?

Like it was said in the original video: “You’re not like the other girls” Really? What does that even mean? My thoughts are beautifully summed up by Leena (@justkissmyfrog) here.

4. Which literary couple are terrible for each other?

Tom and Daisy Buchanan (The Great Gatsby). Of course, you want Jay Gatsby to find happiness but from the first moment you see Tom and Daisy as a couple you know they’re bad for each other. They have no respect for their other half, they both cheat.. Seriously, why are these two even together at all?

5. Best romance book to movie adaptation?

I’m a difficult person to please with book to movie adaptations so there are not a lot of contenders here. I love the BBC mini series of Pride and Prejudice and I love The Great Gatsby movie with Leonardo Di Caprio (although it’s not a happy happy romance).

6. What is the best book to read to your boyfriend/girlfriend?

The first thing that comes to mind is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It’s a story consisting completely of letters. So that seems like a good book to read out loud. It has history (based on true events after the second world war) and a bit of love. Sounds perfect, no?

7. Which book would you say is your favourite on a first date?

Harry Potter… because, why lie?
(My husband knows how much I love HP. He’s never read the books but has seen the movies and he’s okay with me getting upset about all the things they left out and crying over the deaths…)

8. Best book to read after a break up?

I’d say either something funny or something very depressing depending on your mood…
Funny? Maybe Bridget Jones’s Diary? It has a lot of awkward moments and some post-breakup sulking. It also has a happy ending and if you don’t want to read anymore, you can  just skip to the movie.

Depressing? Wuthering Heights?

9. What is your favourite same sex or queer couple in literature?

Achilles and Patroclus in The Song of Achilles. Oh, how I love their relationship. It’s so delicate and it builds beautifully. They respect each other and.. just thinking about it gives me aaaaaaaall the fuzzy feels. I’m seriously thinking about reading that book again this year. Maybe during the summer…

10. Which book would you give to someone as a symbol of your affection?

I’m giving my husband the sixth Dexter book. Not for Valentine (because, like I said, we don’t do Valentine) but because he mentioned wanting to continue the series… So yes, the symbol of my affection is a serial killer… hmmm…

 

There you go..
A little bit of love thrown at you for Valentine.
You’re welcome.

Love

Ellen