I’m Booked: Love in Literature

Written by Ally Abruscato. Graphic by Anna Porter.

I’ll be the first to admit that I can’t stand romance novels. I hope this doesn’t get me any hate mail because I know they have a large following these days. I just find their formulaic structure and routine happy endings not to my taste. However, it is the day of love and, of course, I still love love. Dedicated “I’m Booked” fans know that I wrap up a review with one of my favorite quotes from the book. Because of this, I’ve developed a pretty serious Notes app entry with book quotes that are perfect for the occasion. So, let’s talk a little bit about some of my favorite examples of love in literature!

“A mind might ponder its thought for ages, and not gain so much self-knowledge as the passion of love shall teach it in a day.” – “Nature” by Ralph Waldo Emerson

We might as well start off the list was some Transcendentalist thinking from Ralph Waldo Emerson. This quote reminds us that there is only so much we can force. Endless work and thinking can sometimes lead to nothing in comparison to true experience and love. 

“Grief is just love looking for a place to land.” – “The Collected Regrets of Clover” by Mikki Brammer  

I think about this quote a lot because I think it is a beautiful way to explain grief. That feeling can be quite isolating and daunting and, at times, it feels like grief is all there is and all there ever will be. But missing someone so heavily is a privilege because it means that there was so much love there. Since the love needs somewhere to go, we turn to grief. 

“She has said the words I need a drink one hundred and thirty-two times so far this year. That’s more than she’s said I love you in her entire life.” – “Blue Sisters” by Coco Mellors 

It is harder for some people more than others to say, “I love you.” I grew up in a family where we said it every time someone left the room. I know that it is a very personal and vulnerable thing, but I still hope that everyone gets the chance to utter those words as often as possible. 

“Maybe we’re just born to love and worry about the people we know, and to go on loving and worrying even where there are more important things we should be doing.” – “Beautiful World, Where Are You” by Sally Rooney 

This quote reminds me of Andrew Scott’s monologue in “Fleabag” about love being awful. If you haven’t seen the show in its entirety, that’s a perfect way to spend Feb. 14! But here is a snippet of it because I can’t get it off my mind now, “Love is awful. It’s awful. It’s painful. It’s frightening. It makes you doubt yourself, judge yourself, distance yourself from the other people in your life.” Even though love is so awful and makes us anxious and worrisome beyond belief, it is a pleasure to be able to feel so deeply. 

“You remember your first love because they show you, prove to you, that you can love and be loved, that nothing in this world is deserved except for love, that love is both how you become a person and why.” – “Turtles All the Way Down” by John Green 

Ahhh, there’s nothing like young love, ammiright? In all seriousness, it is a great lesson in being a human. I don’t want to get too cheesy and say “what are we without love?” but I guess I already said it anyway. No matter how we find love, it works to make life worth living. Love is my mom sending me three different doctor recommendations after I told her my head felt weird. Love is coming home to my roommate having “The Bear” cued on the tv after I told her I had a long day. Love is my dad sending me endless TikToks about national parks because he knows I love hiking. Love is my brother and I brushing our teeth next to each other anytime we’re back in the same house (and him making us watch the “Talk Tuah” podcast). Love is my friends saying “this is soooo ‘Sex and the City'” anytime we tell a story. I love love and am so thankful for the ability to love and be loved.

Happy Valentine’s Day, everybody! I’ll be back soon with another book review, but until then, I’m Booked.