Quite profound, really
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I must admit, I don't think am quite as overcome as the other 2 reviewers... in fact, some of the letters in here struck me as pretentious - bordering on emo - as seems to be our wont when we're falling in love. Then there are a fair few which simply freak me out - there's both love and hatred on these pages, and being confronted with a genuine, searing example of the latter is uncomfortable reading.
There's the bids to sound casually indifferent (coupled with thoughts of "Did I sound that obvious, too?"); the attempts to sound like it wasn't just cheap, meaningless sex and yes, yes, of course you'll still respect them in the morning... there are letters after years of marriage; letters written in the throes of new love, and letters that chronicle the end when it came.
All of the letters in here will give you *some* degree of reaction. After all, these are real letters, from real people, experiencing real joy/pain/love/insanity, and we can't help but feel a shock of recognition when we see those feelings in others. But, as I said, the degree of pretentious Byronesque navel-gazing prevented me from becoming truly affected by it all.
Until I read one specific letter:
"Anna, I figured there had to be something 'auspicious' about your first birthday as my wife, but I couldn't figure it out. That is, until I thought about how every birthday of yours hereafter, I will be next to you celebrating it - as we grow old together in love. Yours..."
The writee and myself being namesakes isn't what did it. It was the simple, honest, unassuming love that came off the page from this new husband to his new wife. No flowery words or insincerity; no claims of cutting her name into his flesh; no scrawls and aching song lyrics - just simple, honest love. After that, there were several others.
And that is this book's strength, I think. Humans are inherently voyeuristic - there's a frisson of excitement at being able to read the thoughts that are written down in private. There's much enjoyment in that, yes. But, equally, I really believe every person who reads this will stumble across at least one letter that will truly, deeply and profoundly resonate, for whatever personal reason, and that's something special.
I want to add that I write this as someone who is relatively newly single, and I ordered this 6 months ago, when I wasn't. I was half expecting reading this to cause great pain and sadness - but it doesn't. If you're afraid of reading it for that reason, please know that this won't hurt you, and it may even warm your heart a little.
So, way I see it, given there are 150 letters in here, there are 150 reasons to buy this book. What is turgid, pretentious nonsense to me will be someone else's letter to new wife Anna - there's something magical in here for all of us, and there are another 149 insights into how we work as a species when we feel this funny thing we call love.
This book is fascinating, affecting, and really quite profound.
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Fabulous!
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I purchased this book on the strength of the review above and I was certainly not disappointed. This beautifully crafted book contains a collection of letters, notes and even texts of not only romantic exchanges but sometimes painful break ups. I particulary loved this book as it is very modern - no Jane Austin here - so it felt much more relevent. Highly recommend it - although have the tissues handy!
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Absolutely outstanding
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This is an outstanding book that make me laugh, made me smile and made me sob. Some of the letters in this book are just heart-breaking. Some of the letters are quirky, others are just for fun. There is a 'what happened next' section at the back of the book that explains what happened after some of the love letters were given. Without giving any of the book's secrets away, all I can say is that this is one of the most beautiful books I have ever owned and had the pleasure of reading. I literally couldn't put it down.
Buy this book. You will not be disappointed.
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