Classic Novels to Read to Your Loved One This Valentine’s Day

Ain’t love grand! And love will certainly be in the air this coming February 14th as Valentine’s Day makes its way into our calendars and into our hearts. But this year, rather than just the usual roses and chocolate or romantic dinner, why not share the intimate act of reading with your loved one? Here are three classic novels that make for the perfect read this coming Valentine’s Day.

Romeo and Juliet. No list would be complete without Shakespeare's classic, and surprisingly violent tale of forbidden love, family feuds, and death. The Montagues and the Capulets may mess things up with their hatred for each other, but ultimately who can help but swoon for the love our two heroes share.

Gone With the Wind. Perhaps the two most famous lovers since Romeo and Juliet, Rhett and Scarlet capture our hearts thanks to Margaret Mitchell’s captivating tale of love in the time of the Civil War. A Pulitzer Prize winner, and adapted into one of the most celebrated movies of all time, Gone With the Wind makes for the perfect Valentine’s Day read.

Pride and Prejudice. Sticking with classic couples (have you noticed a theme?) Jane Austen throws some wit into her telling of Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet’s courtship. It’s well worth spending Valentine’s Day finding out why this is one of the most popular novels of all time...

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Famous Last Words of Famous Authors

They certainly had their way with words, even when they were their last. We’re seldom capable of choosing how and when we die, and more often than not our final words are a matter of happenstance. Sometimes, however, it just seems to fit, as is the case with these three authors.

François-Marie Arouet, better known by his pen name Voltaire, was deeply critical of Christianity and the Roman Catholic Church and openly advocated for the separation of church and state. Although unconfirmed, as legend has it Voltaire was visited by a priest at his death bed and was asked to renounce Satan, to which he replied, "This is no time to be making new enemies."

Edgar Allan Poe managed to establish a career in writing and live off his writing alone at a time where it was nearly impossible to do so in America. Particularly known for his short stories and poetry, Poe often focused on tales of mystery and the macabre. It is perhaps appropriate, then, that circumstances surrounding Poe’s death remain mysterious and uncertain to this very day. Reportedly, Poe uttered the words "Lord help my poor soul." before his passing in 1849.

Although Jane Austen is widely recognized as an essential English novelist, her works were largely ignored during her own lifetime. She wrote anonymously, and was largely disregarded to the point of living in poverty. Her final words to her sister before her passing were a tragic "I want nothing but death."

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Celebrate Family This Christmas With These Books Featuring Siblings

Christmas is the ideal time to reunite and get reacquainted with family. In that spirit, why not check out this list of tremendous books that feature strong sibling relationships. Even if it’s not always smooth sailing, especially in those troubled teen years, a sibling bond can be something special, a friendship deepened by love. And Christmas is always a time for setting aside a day or longer to really catch up and get the band back together. These books capture the essence of what makes that bond so unique and strongly forged.

And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

From the author of the acclaimed books ‘The Kite Runner’ and ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’, this generational epic really captures the bonds of family and the strength they provide. With a sense of the personal and the intimate that somehow runs through a book that takes in time and distance on a grand scale, this is a book that will pull at anyone’s heartstrings.

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Another book that tackles multiple perspectives, this time amidst the conflict and turmoil of the Biafran War, this stunning and insightful work from acclaimed Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. This book tackles one of the most common and relatable sibling dynamics, the similar and yet opposite. With exceptional characterization and a strong sense of identity, this is a must-read book.

No matter what themes, or style you’re looking for this Christmas. You’ll be sure to find it at www.craveread.com where they have a comprehensive and varied selection of eBooks and audiobooks to suit every reader.