I usually let a few more days pass between posts, especially when my previous post was SHERLOCK!!!!!!!! … but once again, I couldn’t resist the topic.
Books that make me swoon! I wasn’t sure at first if this was romantic swooning, or just “I adore this” swooning, or swooning over characters, or what. But I glanced at a few of the other posts, and it seems people are interpreting it however they wish, so I will too. Ha! It’ll be mostly “I adore this” swooning, but occasionally romantic swooning over characters as well.
1. Gaudy Night, Dorothy L Sayers It’s no secret that I am head-over-heels for Lord Peter Wimsey. Talk about swooning! But it’s this book, where the stormy relationship between Lord Peter and Harriet Vane comes to a conclusion, that gets me the most. Not just the characters, but the way they settle their struggles, and the overall relationship and respect between them. The scene at the river’s side? *Faint*
2. Rilla of Ingleside, LM Montgomery I don’t care so much about the romance in this one, though as a kid I always had a crush on Walter. But the sad goodbye to one era, the hopeful looking toward a new, the slow, sorrowful, strong growing-up of Rilla, has always made me very swoony over this book.
3. The Castle of Llyr, Lloyd Alexander Taran Wanderer is my favorite of the Prydain Chronicles, but this one is definitely the most swoon-worthy. A quest to save Eilonwy, who in the end has to make the most gut-wrenching choice to save those she loves. Ah … perfection.
4. North & South, Elizabeth Gaskell Margaret Hale. John Thornton. This book is incredible, you guys. The mini-series BBC did was pretty darn good, too. Richard Armitage as John Thornton? Please excuse me while I go faint quietly in the corner.
5. Persuasion, Jane Austen I adore Anne Elliot. Captain Wentworth’s letter is pretty much the best romantic gesture ever. The scene between Anne and Wentworth at the concert in Bath is one of my favorite scenes between two romantic leads I’ve ever read. I love this book.
6. King of Attolia, Megan Whalen Turner *Do not read this entry if you’ve not yet read the Queen’s Thief books. PLEASE. I’m as fond of spoilers as anyone, but don’t, don’t ruin this for yourself. Just trust me on this.* It’s not just the relationship between Gen and Irene that I love in this book (although that alone would be enough!). It’s the relationship between Gen and Costis. The relationship between Costis and Teleus. Between Teleus and Irene. Irene and Relius. Relius and Gen. So many relationship, you guys. And all of them heart-rending.
7. Howl’s Moving Castle, Diana Wynne Jones Sophie. I love Sophie, and I love Howl, and I love Sophie and Howl, and I love this book. Love, love, love.
8. Betsy’s Wedding, Maud Hart Lovelace This picture of the first few years of marriage between Betsy and Joe has always filled me with great joy. And them coming back from their honeymoon? Yes, definitely swoon-worthy.
9. Seaward, Susan Cooper Far less known than her Dark is Rising series, this book is eerie and lovely and sad, and just beautifully written.
10. Paladin of Souls, Lois McMaster Bujold ISTA. Ista is the best. I love Ista. I want to be Ista. Well, no, because her life was horrible, but her strength and courage and humor are amazing. And her romance, while secondary to her adventures, is highly satisfying.
There you have it! My top ten swoon-worthy books. Head over to The Broke and The Bookish to see what others picked!
YES YES YES Gen and Costis and Costis and Teleus. YES. And Teleus and Relius (say that three times fast!). So much agree! Also Gen and his father in QoA. Also all the relationships.
Gen and his father, YES. And of course, Gen and Eddis. MWT is so, so good at writing complex and beautifully complicated relationships and people.
Yay! So happy to see someone else put Gaudy Night on their list. The King of Attolia is a favorite of mine too. All those complex characters and their relationships are what make those books such perfect rereads. I do love Howl’s Moving Castle as well.
The Queen’s Thief characters are such a complicated woven tapestry, their threads crossing back and forth with dizzying skill. SO GOOD.
Gaudy Night makes my heart beat faster each time I read it, no matter how many times I’ve read it before. And Howl and Sophie are just amazing.
I love Persuasion and Gaudy Night too! To your list, I’d add The Horse and His Boy (CS Lewis), Haroun and the Sea of Stories (Salman Rushdie, yes, that Salman Rushdie), Rebecca (Daphne du Maurier), and My Name is Asher Lev (Chaim Potok).
I’ve never read Haroun and the Sea of Stories or My Name is Asher Lev – I’ll have to add them to my to-read list. Love the romantic feel, even if there isn’t any actual romance, of HHB, definitely. Sadly, I didn’t care too much for Rebecca when I read it. Just not my style.