"Top Ten Tuesday" is an original feature/weekly meme created on the blog "The Broke and the Bookish". This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists at "The Broke and the Bookish".
It is now hosted by Jana from That Artsy Reader Girl.
Since I am just as fond of them as they are, I jump at the chance to
share my lists with them! Have a look at their page, there are lots of
other bloggers who share their lists here.
This week, our topic is a Love/Valentine’s Day Freebie.
We don't celebrate Valentine's Day in Germany, although the florists, chocolate shops and restaurants have been trying to push it very hard in the last decade or so. Personally, my hubby and I like to go out on our wedding anniversary, preferably with our two sons. Valentine's Day seems so artificial.
And I don't read romantic novels but I still found a couple of novels that have the word "Love" in the title and that are worth promoting.
García Márquez, Gabriel "Love in the Time of Cholera" (E: El amor en los tiempos del cólera) - 1985
Grjasnowa, Olga "All Russians Love Birch Trees" (GE: Der Russe ist einer, der Birken liebt) - 2012
Hislop, Victoria "Those Who Are Loved" - 2019
Huston, Allegra "Love Child" - 2009
Morrison, Toni "Love" - 2003
Schami, Rafik "The Dark Side of Love" (GE: Die dunkle Seite der Liebe) - 2004
Segal, Erich "Love Story" - 1970
Soueif, Ahdaf "The Map of Love" - 1999
I have heard a little about All Russians Love Birch Trees. From reading your review, I think it might be something I'd like.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm glad you say that, Deb. I hope you will get to it. Enjoy.
DeleteIt is completely artificial. St. Valentine is worth honoring, but V-Day has just become some couples-focused version of Christmas, with the same excess and the same wretched emotional blackmail.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, Stephen. Not over here, not really. I mean, florists like to sell their flowers, supermarkets have special Valentine's Day chocolates etc. and restaurants offer speical meals sometimes, but I don't know anybody who celebrates it.
DeleteI knew that Halloween isn’t a thing in Germany, but I didn’t realize Valentine’s Day wasn’t traditionally celebrated there either.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what holidays you celebrate that Canada doesn’t? :)
Lydia
Oh, we have tons of celebrations, Lydia, but they are not necessarily linked to a certain day. I mean, the kids go out at St. Martin or around that day, young people celebrate their 25th or 30th in a certain way when they aren't married, yet, we bring a special, long bread when a baby is born. I have reported about some of our traditions from time to time in my New Month posts, I might have to do a special post just about that.
DeleteValentine's Day is very artificial. We don't really celebrate it as a couple. I do get my daughter candy, but that's about it. Happy Valentine's Day!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Deanna. I saw a funny post on Instagram this morning. "Valentine's Day"? I don't care about it that much. But today: chocolate at half price! LOL
DeleteI'm not a big Valentine's Day fan either, it does seem very artificial. Makes more sense to me to celebrate your love on a day that's special to just you, like your anniversary or something rather than a day just designed to get people to buy more stuff.
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2023/02/14/top-ten-tuesday-407/
It's funny, how many here don't celebrate it either, JJ. Honestly, when I was a teenager, I wouldn't have even been able to say what day Valentine's Day is, it was such a non-topic here.
DeleteWe don't really celebrate Valentine's day either. I usually get my kids a little something. Great topic for today.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure your kids like that, Cindy.
DeleteLove the variety in the books you found for this week's TTT!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lark. I don't really read romantic stories and none of them is.
DeleteI like your post featuring books with the word 'Love' in the title!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lisa. And that is all they have in common.
DeleteThose Who Are Loved is on my TBR, I've loved other Hislop novels. Happy reading! My TTT https://readwithstefani.com/my-top-10-romances/
ReplyDeleteSo do I, Stefani. I have read all of Victoria Hislop's books and hope she will write more.
DeleteNice list! I enjoyed a lot your first title.
ReplyDeleteMy husband (American) and I don't celebrate it either. But our wedding anniversary is very important.
I've been wanting to do a post for this, highlighting the blogs I lov, but I didn't have time again this year. I should just create this post when I do have time and schedule it for that date!
I'm not surprised, Emma. García Márquez was a great author. No wonder he was awarded the Nobel Price.
DeleteI haven't published many TTT challenges this year, same as you, so many books, so little time. And why not just create a post with that title at any time of the year.
I'm not a big fan of Valentine's Day, to be honest. I mean, it's great to celebrate love, but I feel like the holiday itself puts more pressure on people than there needs to be to show it in a big, flashy way. I prefer showing love in subtler, day-to-day ways. It is fun, though, to make heart-shaped cookies, give the kids little treats, and see people giving each other flowers, balloons, teddy bears, etc.
ReplyDeleteHappy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
That's exactly what I think, Susan. I once saw a movie where they celebrated "I hate Valentine's Day" or something like that. Yes, there must be a lot of pressure on people who don't have a significant other. And I prefer that my husband shares our household duties rather than giving me flowers once or twice a year.
DeleteAs my idol Buffy once said in one of the show's best episodes (Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered), "Valentine's Day is just a cheap gimmick to sell cards and chocolate." She's not wrong. Even when I was in relationships, it was not something important.
ReplyDeleteI've never watched Buffy, Sarah, but I totally agree with her. That's how most people over here see it, as well, because we didn't grow up with it.
DeleteBuffy was everything to me in high school, and remains my favorite show of all time. While I completely refuse to acknowledge the show creator because of his shit behavior being a disgusting human, the characters these actors brought to life are with me forever. I've shown Eleanor the first three seasons, when they were in high school. When she is a little older we will start watching seasons 4-7, but not 6 because it is trash (again, thanks to the show creator).
DeleteI think I was a tad too old when it first came out and magic/fantasy stuff has never been my thing, so I might have missed out on a good show but there are so many other good ones.
DeleteIt's so sweet to celebrate your anniversary with the kids as well. My partner and I don't have children but we also like to celebrate our anniversary when we can. Sometimes he's on deployment though so we have to wait until he comes back. Great take on this freebie :)
ReplyDeleteWell, Leelynn, it has become some sort of a tradition. We never lived near family so couldn't just dump them with some relatives if we wanted to go out together, so we usually took them. And they loved going to restaurants and always behaved quite well. When they started studying, they weren't all that far away, so we often went to their university town (Maastricht) to have dinner together. Now, they come when they can.
DeleteA good choice of books about LOVE! It should be promoted.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a good idea, Lisbeth.
Delete