AN UNCONVENTIONALLY ROMANTIC READING LIST: SUDDENLY LOVE, A CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, ETHAN FROME AND ANNA KARENINA

While I was thinking about what to post today, I had an interesting idea. Why not post an unconventionally romantic reading list? After all, what we find romantic is quite relative, isn't it? I've never cared for romance novels as such, but I can think of a number of books whose love stories have moved me deeply. Today I'll share four classical reading recommendations with you: Suddenly Love, a Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Ethan Frome and Anna Karenina. Only one of these comes with a happy ending, two of them are quite tragic and when it comes to the Cat- I don't think we can tell for sure how that one is going to end.  I always felt that this play had an ambiguous ending. What do you think? The reason why I'm choosing these love stories with sad and sometimes quite tragic elements in them (apart from the fact that they are great literature) for this list is because they seem more genuine. Love is often idolized, but what does it really means? I love how all of these book made me think about different variations and definitions of love.  Scroll down to read my book reviews. 
LOVE ACTUALLY, A NOVEL BY AHARON APPELFELT, 5/5
Aharon Appelfelt was an Isreali writer and a Holocaust survivor. I actually read this novel while he was still alive and I was sad to read about his death in 2018. He didn't die young, but still I feel a sense of loss for he was such a beautiful soul. This novel of his in particular is very dear to me. It features a  strong protagonist Ernst who shares many characteristics with the author himself.

Ernst is a Red Army veteran, a former partisan and a communist who gave up his Jewish identity while fighting the Nazis. Ernst found meaning and a will to go on in the Red Army. For him the Soviet army must have been a way to fight back, but during the war he also turned into a devoted communist. This in turn meant turning his back on his religion and identity. It is perhaps not a well known facts that the post war communists were quite opposed to any religion including Judaism. Often they persecuted Jews, suppressed their culture and in some countries even demolished synagogues. Just because they had a common enemy, doesn't mean they were friends. This novel shows this through recollections of an old veteran whose health is falling. I think he is torn between his loyalty for the Red Army that achieved so much and there is much to be proud of and his identity. For Ernst personally somehow being a part of it all and becoming lost in it, he  lost his identity

The novel takes place in Israel, but it often travels back in time to Europe. When novel opens, Ernest is a seventy year old man living in Israel. He is haunted by his past and tries to make things right labouring on his writing. However, he is desperately lonely. Suddenly, a gentle thirty something woman comes into his life. Like himself, Irina lost everyone she loved. Ernst's wife and child were killed by the Nazis, Irina lost her parents. They were Holocaust survivors so there is a link she shares with Ernst. Slowly, these two fill the void in each other life. With her help, Ernest learns a great deal. Irina learns to voice her opinion.

I absolutely loved these two. Their love story is so delicate and precious. I'm not much of a romantic, but I fell for it. When I find the time, I might even write something more about it. One of the most beautiful love stories I have read for sure. Suddenly, Love was the second book I've read by this author, the first was autobiography, this one is a novel. Somehow these two merged in my mind. I think there are definitely some autobiographical parts in this book, the author must have drawn on his experiences and it makes the book seem even more real. I do recommend it.
CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, A PLAY BY TENNESSEE WILLIAMS 5/5
Maggie the cat is such a strong female protagonist, isn't she? Her husband is an emotionally detached alcoholic but she just won't give up. While her love story might not seem all that romantic, there is something about its realness that appeals to me. After all, love is not all happy ever after, is it? Sometimes we need to be strong for one another. Sometimes love means not giving up. Not that Maggie herself is perfect. In the play in the particular she has quite a negative side to her as well. In the film version, this 'secret' from their past never truly comes out, but why the play is quite shocking in ways. Besides questioning the feelings of her husband, the reader must wonder about the nature of Maggie's feelings towards him. Is it true love or just a selfish obsession? It is obvious Maggie is willing to fight for her marriage and not for material reasons. However, is it truly real love?

 I'm a big fan of Tennessee Williams. While I love all of his plays, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is especially dear and meaningful to me. There were times in my life when I felt like a cat on a hot tin roof. Who hasn't? Williams was a master of characterization, especially of female characterization. He did an amazing job with bringing alive 'the cat' in the play. She as a character is one of my personal all time favourites.

As I think of this play, I think of a film version as well. It is not often that I can say this but, I love both the play and the film. Despite the fact that the film is different in many ways, I still liked it. Nevertheless, I have to say that the film failed the convey the ambiguity, suppleness and depth of the play. I guess that homosexuality wasn't something that Hollywood was ready to face at that time. I'm not saying that the protagonist is gay, but in the play they're allusions to it, and the film ignored them, not to mention that it makes some significant changes that pretty much take a lot from the story. Why do I like the film then? The acting. Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman played the roles of their lives. Enough said. This play is a masterpiece. It really is.

I'll always remember the strange feeling I had reading this book, like I've suddenly found myself in an unknown and dark place, yet somehow familiar. A reverse fairy-tale of sorts, this novel tells a love story that doesn't end too well. The narrative is framed and told by an unnamed narrator who visits the fictional town this novel is set in and there sees Ethan Frome, the unfortunate hero of this novel. The narrator becomes interested in his fate. Ethan accepts the narrator in his home (during a storm) and so the first chapter starts and the narration switches to Ethan. As the first chapter one opens, Ethan is waiting for his wife's cousin Mattie to give her a ride home. At that point, Ethan is living with his difficult wife Zeena and her young and beautiful cousin Mattie. The novel takes us further back and we learned how Ethan married Zeena who came in to help with his sick mother (if I recalled well) and he only married her because he was terrified of facing the long winter alone in his home. This novel speaks volumes about loneliness and isolation. That's what think that stayed with me. Anyhow, soon it becomes apparent that Ethan and Mattie have feelings one for another.


This novel is great literature,no doubt about that. The writing is very powerful and so is the imaginary. I absolutely loved the rich symbolism of it. However, this book was quite painful to read, and not because of the structure of the novel but rather for the strange quality of sadness it evoked. The writing is so good, perhaps even too good, because being caught in a world of such pain and depression as depicted in novel was heartbreaking. Perhaps it just echoed with some lonely part of my soul. The story is tragic and maybe due to that fact, extremely believable. This novel broke my heart, but I still remember it fondly after all these years. How can a sad story like this one be romantic? Well, it made my unconventionally romantic reading list because it feels so genuine. Perhaps it is true what they say- that the greatest love stories are often tragic. 
ANNA KARENINA, A NOVEL  BY LEO TOLSTOY, 5/5
Anna Karenina is a masterpiece. That is what I thought when I first read it at the tender age of 15 and my opinion of it hasn't changed the slightest. I remember how moved I was by the story when I first read it. I remember how every description of her has lingered in my mind-up to this very day. I remember illustrations I used to make of Anna Karenina. I'm so mesmerized by this book. Every reading experience had been such an intense reading experience for me. I wasn't the only one. Most of my classmates were into Anna Karenina back then too- and many of them still are, just like myself.

What is the genius of Anna Karenina? This novel definitely has a lot of literary merit, from an excellent portrayal of both Russian society and individuals to its more philosophical parts and spiritual dilemmas. While it is true that on a second (and third and etc.) reading, I noticed some new details and with years one naturally develops more opinions and views on things, I perhaps prefer that first reading because that is when I felt the closest to the novel and to Anna herself.

There is something very universal about this novel, sometimes very human at its core, something that touches us on a very emotional level. This is a great novel. Personally, I think that Tolstoy deserves even more attention and merit than he gets. It saddens me to see that some literary critics call this novel anti-feminist. If anything this is a novel that supports women. As the title would suggest, this is first and foremost a novel about a woman! In my view, it is not just Anna that Tolstoy's describes warmly and intimately, the other female characters are created with feeling and care as well. I once wrote an essay about the characterization of female characters in Anna Karenina a few years ago and I really enjoyed writing it.

Tolstoy admits in one of his letters that he has fallen in love with Anna while writing the novel. Perhaps Tolstoy didn't plan to take her side. However, he did and it made all the difference. It is ironical then that The Awakening (a novel that is basically a rip-off of Tolstoy's Anna Karenina- a good rip-off though- I'm quite fond of it) that has its own literal value but a rip-off nevertheless), should be considered a feminist novel and Tolstoy anti-feminist. But then again, I'm not sure I like what gets called feminism these days so I shouldn't be annoyed. Long story short, the portrayal of Anna Karenina, the protagonist of this novel, is beautifully done.

I lost time how much times I've reread Anna Karenina since that first reading. I have several copies of this book. I gifted some of them too. I make people read this book. While it is true that this novel tells a tale of a tragic love story, I still find it to be quite romantic. One can find faults in both Anna and Vronsky, accuse them of selfishness and what not, but at its core the love and the passion they felt for one another feels real enough. If love ends, it doesn't mean it wasn't true while it lasted. All things must come to an end, one way or another. Sad love stories can be quite inspiring and romantic in their own right. 
As always, thank you for reading and commenting. Have a lovely day. 

Comments

  1. I'm sorry to say that I haven't read any of these! I'd be one of those people you'd be giving a copy of Anna Karenina to, I think! You have a lovely place - that sofa was made for reading! Coincidentally, I just posted some books that I read/am going to read. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. That's my 'real' home in Mostar. We decorated and designed many of the furniture ourselves. Not this sofa, though. This was a lucky find.

      Delete
  2. Liz Taylor must be play it wonderfully! No doubt about it :)
    Thank you for reviews, Ivana!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Excellent Post - Dig The Boat Paintings - Have A Fabulous Weekend

    Cheers

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. I painted this paintings myself.

      Delete
  4. Hey dear Ivana, how you doing? Hope you have a good weekend ahead at home :)

    Ooooh I haven't read any of these, I feel ashamed to say that, specially about Anna Karenina that is a classic and it has been on my Good Reads to read list for years haha!

    I really like the topic of these recommendations: love as a universal topic but treated in many different levels. I don't know what can I add to this list... maybe my obsession with My Brilliant Friend that talks about love from the perspective of friendship :)

    PS: I love how you styled this post, your house looks nice and that cup of tea is warm enough to calm mind in these weird days

    Stay safe and thank you always!
    Pablo
    www.heyfungi.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anna Karenina is a classic.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Zanimljivi predlozi za čitanje, mada se ne slažemo po pitanju Ane Karenjine. Jedini razlog tome (moram priznati da je knjiga sasvim lepo napisana i da njoj kao književnom delu ne fali ama baš ništa) je to što su me uvek odbijale knjige koje su imale izuzetno veliki broj strana, a ja sa 15-16 godina apsolutno nisam bila raspoložena da pamtim svaki detalj iz te knjige zbog profesorske srpskog koja je to u svakom momentu zahtevala. :D


    http://www.couture-case.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Di tutti questi titoli, l'unico che conosco (e che ho letto) è Anna Karenina, che tra l'altro anche io ho amato moltissimo!
    Di solito i romanzi romantici non sono la mia prima scelta, preferisco i fantasy , le avventure o gialli, magari se c'è anche una storia romantica all'interno non mi dispiace affatto, però difficilmente vado a scegliere storie in cui l'amore sia l'argomento principale .
    Tra questi quello che mi incuriosisce di più è "cat on a hot tin roof", non lo avevo mai sentito ma già ho intenzione di vedere il film con Elizabet Taylor: adoro i film di quell'epoca!
    Sempre interressanti i tuoi consigli di lettura!
    Baci!
    S
    https://s-fashion-avenue.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. excellent list! you rock for reading Anna Karenina. I couldn't get through it, the language is way too overlycomplex

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have not read any of these these but I have seen really nice movies with great lessons
    https://www.melodyjacob.com/

    ReplyDelete
  10. A great review indeed. The pictures are amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I know only Anna Karenina ;)

    ReplyDelete
  12. They sound like interesting books, although I haven't read them before I have heard of the cat on a hot tin roof one. I really should try read more classics! time is hard to find for reading at the moment though, haha!

    Hope that you are having a nice weekend :)

    Away From Blue

    ReplyDelete
  13. Talk about classics that I've never read. You inspire me to get out of the rut of reading the same type of books over and over. Thanks Ivana, and have a great weekend,
    XOXO
    Jodie
    www.jtouchofstyle.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Your home decor is so beautiful and light. Love it!
    Reading is currently a live saver. Can help you transport to another place.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love all of these suggestions! I haven' read any but the titles have definitely drawn me in. I have been reading so many books during this quarantine but they're all adventure books and I've been getting a little bored of it. So I will definitely give some of these a try! Thank you for suggesting them.

    How is the quarantine treating you? I hope you are well!

    amy x wandering-everywhere.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Being an avid Tennessee Williams fan, I've obviously read Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Time for a re-read, surely, as I cannot even remember its end now. I've read some Edith Warton, but not Ethan Frome. Personally, I just grab whatever's next in my reading pile right now. Some of it is romantic, which is fine especially during these times, when we can all use some degree of distraction and/or escapism. My current read, The Fountain Overflows, by Rebecca West, is a bit more gripping, weaving a fascinating cultural, historical, and psychological tapestry of the first decade of the 20th century, as seen through the eyes of a 10 year old girl. I'm only half-way, but I have a feeling it might be something you'd like. xxx

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh wow I have not read nothing historical so that souns good darling
    Thanks for the recommendations and the review
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great reviews Ivana. I've seen the movies Anna Karenina and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof a few times. Pretty good!

    ReplyDelete
  19. NON HO LETTO NESSUNO DI QUESTI =(

    ReplyDelete
  20. Your reviews are so touching!
    I have not read all of them, but I love the movie, Anna Karenina.
    Cat On A Hot Tin Roof is so romantic title, so I would love to read soon!
    I didn't know about Edith Wharton, so I googled and found her wise saying :)
    Thank you for always sharing, Ivana!

    akiko

    ReplyDelete

  21. It's been so long since I read the cat on the hot tin roof and Anna Karenina. Both works are really world literature. Thank you for your review of love actually and Ethan Frome. Both books sound very interesting.
    xxxxx Nadine

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hello Ivana
    Congratulations on the post, you are a master at reviewing books !!
    I also don't like love stories very much, it's not my kind of literature. But you chose masterpieces from literature! I confess that I didn't read any, but I saw a Cat on a hot tin roof on TV and I saw Anna Karenina in a tv series!
    I liked your white house !!
    xoxo

    marisasclosetblog.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi Ivana,
    I'm glad I found your post! I have been searching for books to read now that
    I have so much free time. I'm interested in reading Ethan Frome, I like how you
    described it as a reverse fairytale.

    Perla Lifestyle Blog

    ReplyDelete
  24. Not read either :-O. You have lovely photos once again :-D

    ReplyDelete
  25. Such a great reading list you've compiled! I sadly never got nor was encouraged to read when I was younger so I've been playing catch up this last decade or so, so this is such a great list for me to get stuck into. I've always wanted to read Anna Keranina, and also a cat on a hot tin roof. I saw the movie ages ago and promised myself to one day read the book. I haven't made good on that promise yet so thank you for the reminder!

    Sxx
    daringcoco.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi dear,

    All of those positions are classic - it's worth to reach for this kind of literature from time to time. Right now I am reading " The grapes of wrath" by Steinbeck :-)

    Stay safe hon xx

    ReplyDelete
  27. I have read Anna Karenina and I agree that it's a masterpiece! Wonderful list, thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Ah, how interesting That you read Tolstoy. After reviewing the comments, I was surprised that this book is so popular not only in Russia. I read it several times and each time I found something new. I have also read "War and Peace" several times in Lev Nikolayevich's work, which is no less magnificent, despite the fact that there are too many scenes of war that are usually boring for girls. But of course my main love from the classics is Dostoevsky

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it is an extremely popular book. In Croatia, most Russian 19th century classics are mandatory reading during high school so one cannot avoid reading them.

      Delete
    2. I'm reading Idiot at the moment. A great book. I also found the series, it's wonderful.

      Delete
  29. Dear Ivana, I really like your comfy but elegant look you wear at home. Such a great idea to style leggings! I have to admit I neither have a weakness for romantic novels but at least I read already Anna Karenina, and I liked it. So why not to give the other books you share here a chance?
    xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
    www.dressedwithsoul.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. The only one I've read of these is Anna Karenina and I agree with you that it is a masterpiece. There is a depth to it that you get something new each time you read it. I have only seen the film of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and it was brilliant. Now that I have some time I should try to read the original play.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. so true. The original play is also great, a bit different from the movie but perhaps even more fascinating.

      Delete
  31. I always love your book reviews, although Anna Karenina is the only one I have read! You've inspired me to try some of the others though!
    Julia x
    https://www.thevelvetrunway.com/

    ReplyDelete
  32. Dearest Ivana,
    I thank you once again for your book descriptions. I have never read any of these books. I have never known the novels LOVE ACTUALLY and ETHAN FROME. I actually might like Love Actually - not the other one: There are very few sad or tragic books / movies that I like despite the sadness. I am a big friend of happy ends, even though I know that real life is different. That's why I never had the need to read ANNA KARENINA or see a film version of it. And CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF couldn't tempt me to read either. I saw the film of that many years ago, mainly because I always loved to see Paul Newman, but there is something in the story that I call "snake pit"... But I was very happy about your loving presentation of the novel by Aharon Appelfelt - I can well imagine reading this book too.
    Warm rust rose spring greetings,
    Traude
    🌷🐝☘️🌸🦋🌿🌹🌱
    https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2020/04/corona-extra-3-ein-thema-das-polarisiert.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you dear. Thank you, Appelfelt is a wonderful writer, I think you might enjoy him.

      Delete
  33. I love your reading recs! Now is a great time to get some reading done. :)

    -Ashley
    Le Stylo Rouge

    ReplyDelete
  34. Jooj pa ja uopce nemam vremena za citanje! I ovih dva mjeseca sto smo u karanteni i ne radim, svejedno nis od toga, malisan, kucanski poslovi, ostatak vremena odvojim za youtube i ponekad blog i eto, proleti! Svidja mi se tvoj interijer, ne znam je li to tvoj stancic, ali super je uredjen, pogotovo ove morske slike! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hvala ti, ovo su slike iz naše kuće u Mostaru, baš smo se istrošili za uređenje, ali vrijedilo je, a morske slike sam sama naslikala.:)

      Delete

Post a Comment

All your comments mean a lot to me, even the criticism. Naravno da mi puno znači što ste uzeli vrijeme da nešto napišete, pa makar to bila i kritika. Per me le vostre parole sono sempre preziose anche quando si tratta di critiche.

Popular posts from this blog

Jadrolinija ferry ride, travelling from Split to island Hvar (outfit post)

REPAINTING AND REPAIRING AN OIL ON CANVAS, A PAINTING OF ASSISI ( ITALY)

FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY:A SUMMER DRESS (STAEDTLER PENCIL WATERCOLOURS)

TIPS FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE EASTER CELEBRATION

How To Wear Yellow In Summer? + Mostar's panorama + Goranci restaurant

FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: LBD AND VINTAGE VIBES

CIRCUS THEMED CREATIVE ARTS & CRAFTS ( DIY ) IDEAS FOR BOTH KIDS & ADULTS

HOW TO STYLE A BROWN FAUX LEATHER COAT?

BOOK REVIEW: MURDER IN THREE ACTS, A NOVEL BY AGATHA CHRISTIE