Elizabeth Barrett is essentially a recluse. Although she is a published poet and has close relationships with her immediate family, she never ventures out of the house. Relationships with others outside of her family are almost non-existent.Until a letter from Robert Browning arrives and changes her entire world.
Over the course of letter writing and eventual face-to-face meetings, a deeper relationship blossoms that threatens all that Elizabeth is familiar with in life. She stands to lose all that she has held dear ~ is their love worth the price?
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How Do I Love Thee? is the first book that I've read by Nancy Moser even though I've seen her books before. Having been an English major I was intrigued to read 'more' of the love story between the two poets Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning. Moser uses actual text of the letters between the two to help build the story ~ and their story is one that shows Divine intervention from start to end. I loved getting a deeper look into their lives and love and understanding more behind some of their well-known works.
Generally I'm able to read a fiction book quickly but for some reason I had a harder time with this one. Even though I was interested in the overall plot and storyline, it is written in the first person point of view ~ something I've only recently realized I don't enjoy reading. Overall though, the book provides a wonderful look into the romance of Robert and Elizabeth and it's so much easier to understand the Sonnets from the Portuguese after reading the book!
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I have a few books sitting next to my bed that I'm excited to read too!!
- Blue Like Playdough ~ Tricia Goyer
- The Carousel Painter ~ Judith Miller
- That Certain Spark ~ Cathy Marie Hake
- Dawn's Prelude ~ Tracie Peterson
Be sure to stop by and visit 5 Minutes for Books and their monthly meme called "What's on Your Nightstand?" and also the Saturday Review.
Thanks for sharing. I've been looking for a good book and this sounds perfect.
ReplyDeleteThanks-
Linda
I have always been a fan of the romantic love story between Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning. Ah to be romance by letters and poetry. One can dream can't we???
ReplyDeleteLove and Hugs ~ Kat
I can remember enjoying their poetry in HS. I think it would be interesting to learn more about them. WIll have to check this book out.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really interesting! I'll have to keep it in mind for one of my nursing-Shav-in-the-middle-of-the-night reads. :)
ReplyDeleteThe other thing that came to my mind as I read this was how pretty they're making book covers these days! It seems like the books you've reviewed recently have all had such beautiful covers. :)
I can't comment on Nancy Moser's books personally because book-reading is not something that comes easily anymore (long story) but my mother and sister have read her other historical fiction books. (Washington's Lady and Mozart's Sister, etc.) I was told repeatedly that Washington's Lady is a must-read and is excellent.
ReplyDeleteI passed your review on to the readers in my family... :)