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This past week I read Crucible of Gold by Naomi Novik. It was book number seven of the Temeraire series. In these stories dragons love their Captains and it raises the question of is it love they feel or obsession? Of course, each dragon is different. Temeraire seems to want what is best for Laurence and as a reviewer says:
Temeraire is a wonderful creation, full of the exuberance of his youth, eager to learn about his world, while Laurence instills in him concepts like duty and responsibility. The bond that builds between him and Laurence is likely to make for one of fantasy's most beloved character duos since Frodo and Sam or Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser. Neither is sidekick to the other, though. What Laurence and Temeraire endure, whether terrifying aerial battles with the French over the roiling Channel, or quiet evenings where Laurence sits and reads to the dragon under the waning sun (and I knew I was into a truly special novel when that happened), they do as friends and equals.
http://sfreviews.net/...
As the novels go on from the first one and the relationship grows, Laurence has to be very careful how others treat him because Temeraire will take notice and might do something foolish to save him.
Some may call it a bond between the dragons and their Captains, but with Temeraire, I call it love as much as a dragon knows of love.
What is love then? From the books, I would say:
Being concerned for the other person
Allowing the other person to be themselves
Being equals
Helping each other when in trouble
Communicating their needs to each other
Listening to each other
Understanding they are different from each other
Giving meaningful gifts to each other
Sharing their thoughts
Of course, there is a selfish dragon in the pack that wants her own way and does not care what it costs her Captain. For her own aggrandizement, she is willing to cause him to obey a tyrant and marry unhappily. She keeps secrets from him.
I am also reading the true story Lake with No Name: A True Story of Love and Conflict in Modern China by Diane Wei Liang. In this story two men treat Diane very differently. I have reached the chapter where she is unhappily parted from the one who seems to understand her best and has separated herself from the one who seems to be a tyrant.
What went wrong? So far it is lack of communication. Also, there was a very real sense of obligation on the one man’s part to another woman. That, too, was love.
In books and films we see so many different kinds of love. I have already done a diary about famous lovers for Valentine’s Day, but talking about characters and love is fun at any time of year. People who have real affection for each other don’t have to be married. Eudora Welty shared her thoughts with many others and loved them. She had a special friend who was married and was very close to her, and she had close relationships with her agent Diarmuid Russell and also with William Maxwell her editor at the New Yorker. She loved their wives and families. It was real love and caring.
One of the central questions in Andrea Camilleri’s mystery series is does Inspector Montalbano love his girlfriend Livia enough to marry her? He keeps trying to find the answer. What if he retired and went to live with her? What would life be like? Would he be happy or feel strangled?
In Dana Stabenow’s mystery series set in Alaska, Kate has started to question her relationship with her lover. Why doesn’t she trust his love for her? It makes the story more interesting because we ask such questions of our own relationships.
In many books the loved one is lost though separation or death. Then we watch the protagonist struggle. It hurts, but it also teaches us how to live and try again to love.
I just finished watching the dvd called Case Histories based on the first three books written by Kate Atkinson. There are six episodes and some of it is very painful to watch, but all kinds of love are shown. Jason Isaacs does a wonderful job as Jackson Brodie. In the film, Jackson has to part with his young daughter who is moving to New Zealand with his ex wife. That is worth the price of the dvd by itself. It is very poignant, but so full of love.
Some unusual love stories were recommended to me here by friends. Limelite has often spoken of Natural Flights of the Human Mind by Clare Morrall and it is very good. GussieFN got me to read Mama Day by Gloria Naylor which was also very good.
What are your favorite books with characters in love?
Diaries of the Week
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http://www.dailykos.com/...
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Dear readers…we need more eyes for this wonderful weekly series. Please read this diary about a wonderful book. Thank you!
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by The Book Bear
http://www.dailykos.com/...
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