by The Central Branch Staff

The library side of your beloved Well & Wise is maintained by two fairly awesome ladies: one happily married, the other happily subscribing to the philosophy of “books not boys” for the time being. They also aren’t all that interested in Valentine’s Day beyond the possibility of acquiring free candy.

But to those less happily single, or unable to be with the people they love, Valentine’s Day is a day you simply endure. If the person you love is nearby, the day is basically a relationship minefield and we wish you all the best in finding the appropriate way to mark the day and emerge with your relationship intact.

We consulted the staff of the Central Branch for their favorite stories about love (be it true, unrequited, or tragic) to help you manage to survive the day.

Cristina
84 Charing Cross, 
Miss Potter, 
The Sunflower, An Affair to Remember, Doctor Zhivago, and Wuthering Heights

John

Movies: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,  Zombieland, Blue Valentine, Back To The Future 3, Annie Hall, Groundhog Day, High Fidelity, 500 Days of Summer, that one where the guy falls in love with the girl but she’s an alien? Or maybe he’s an alien and she’s a mermaid? Starman

TV:  Simpsons! (Any of the Homer and Marge episodes (The Way We Was, I Married Marge, I Love Lisa, Bart’s Friend Falls In Love),  The British Office or the first few seasons of the US one before they got married. I just watched a Twilight Zone from season 5 called “The Long Morrow” where this astronaut meets a lady scientist right before he goes to space for 40 years, that was pretty great.

Comics: Blankets! ,  The Scott Pilgrim comics are kinda Valentiney.

Books: I Love You Beth Cooper is romantic-ish and Simpson-y. King Dork. I haven’t read Never Let Me Go, but I saw the movie and didn’t like it that much but I liked the concept so the book is probably great! Let The Right One In might count too.

Single and awesome: Batman!

Jinelee
Loved Vicky Cristina Barcelona and it captivates both the truly romantic and tragic sides of love in a nutshell, so it’s perfect!

Nancy H.
Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith These devoted lovers faced a terrific crisis of faith vs reason – one that would have broken a weaker bond They determinedly struggled to stay together as each faced family crises from seemingly antagonistic approaches.

Roberta R.
My current favorite movie and favorite book – and all time favorite love story: Sense and Sensibility. 


Here are two nonfiction (historical) love stories that I’m especially fond of: 

A Venetian Affair and The Pearl. Other interesting nonfiction: 

Parallel Lives, 

Uncommon Arrangements

, and  The Skeleton in the Closet.

Jen L.
I know they aren’t literary gems, but while going through a funk a friend recommended Jennifer Crusie‘s books to me. Again, no Jane Austen, but her stuff is pretty good with self-acceptance and zany love stories (especially Bet Me).

Debbie R.
Waiting. Excellent book about a time in China with women having bound feet. This married couple live in the country. He becomes a doctor and practices in the city. This is where he meets the woman,that intersects his marriage. It’s also a time in life that the communist don’t allow outwardly physical contact. Their love for each goes on for long time. Meanwhile his wife and daughter come to the city. The wife changes with the city ways. This now plays into the love triangle.

Wendy
 The Thorn Birds (book or movie), When Harry Met Sally, Wuthering Heights, 
Bridget Jones’ Diary.

Beth H.
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See (who will soon be appearing at Stacks)–Love among friends. The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey–Love in the 90′s (age 90). A Prayer for Owen Meany –Love and sacrifice. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings –Learned love of self. Love in the Time of Cholera –Love and a lifelong obsession. Taking Chance –Love of country; love of comrades in arms. Climbing the Stairs –Love of independence. Sins of the Mother –Maternal love. Tender is the Night –Destructive love. Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All –Just about every kind of love one could imagine. The Lost Pet Chronicles: Adventures of a K-9 Cop Turned Pet Detective –Love of companion animals. The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise –Love endures (in this case, by one family member through five generations). Alive! Airplane Crash in the Andes Mountains –Love of life. Madea –Love gone horribly wrong. Rose Madder –That ain’t love!. The Emperors of Chocolate: Inside the Secret World of Hershey and Mars –Love of chocolate! And marital love of Milton and Kitty Hershey
Music: Breezin’. John Hadamuscin’s Enchanted Evenings: Dinners, Suppers, Picnics & Parties –Menus for romantic dinners.

Debbie B.

Sleepless in Seattle a classic with references to a classic; funny, touching, hopeful. 
Practical Magic is all around delightful; about the things we do (or wish we could do) for love, both familial and romantic
. The Princess Bride a campy cult classic that is all about “twoo wuv.” Maybe a little violent for the kiddies, but great characters spouting marvelously quotable and funny dialogue. Take it or leave it “as you wish.” 
Hellboy  don’t laugh! I recommend this all the time as “the perfect date movie”; plenty of guns and action for the guys, plus a sweet puppy-love crush thing happenin’ as well as a found-family bond between the main characters for the gals.
 Thelma and Louise the ultimate girls-gone-wild -cause-men-are-pigs movie
. Love Actually a little melancholy, a little funny, and a lot true-to-life; love of various kinds, so it’s adult fare; much imitated, never equaled.

Rita S.
More of a tragedy lover, so here are 3 books that come to mind. They are all in the “what not to do” category unless you want to experience great love and crushing loss: Madame Bovary; Anna Karenina; Bridges of Madison County.

Rick
Wedding Singer Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore have amazing chemistry in this movie. I love it!

 Love and Basketball Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan have a great connection that lasts throughout the years of their up and down friendship that blossoms into a real love at the end.

 An Affair to Remember Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr have a great and snappy back and forth as strangers who meet on a cruise ship and develop and quick and lasting bond. It’s a tear jerker. That is all I have right now!

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