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The course of love by Alain De Botton
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The course of love (original 2016; edition 2016)

by Alain De Botton

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8283726,193 (3.81)5
Fiction. Literature. HTML:"An engrossing tale [that] provides plenty of food for thought" (People, Best New Books pick), this playful, wise, and profoundly moving second novel from the internationally bestselling author of How Proust Can Change Your Life tracks the beautifully complicated arc of a romantic partnership.
We all know the headiness and excitement of the early days of love. But what comes after? In Edinburgh, a couple, Rabih and Kirsten, fall in love. They get married, they have children??but no long-term relationship is as simple as "happily ever after." The Course of Love explores what happens after the birth of love, what it takes to maintain, and what happens to our original ideals under the pressures of an average existence. We see, along with Rabih and Kirsten, the first flush of infatuation, the effortlessness of falling into romantic love, and the course of life thereafter. Interwoven with their story and its challenges is an overlay of philosophy??an annotation and a guide to what we are reading. As The New York Times says, "The Course of Love is a return to the form that made Mr. de Botton's name in the mid-1990s....love is the subject best suited to his obsessive aphorizing, and in this novel he again shows off his ability to pin our hopes, methods, and insecurities to the page."

This is a Romantic novel in the true sense, one interested in exploring how love can survive and thrive in the long term. The result is a sensory experience??fictional, philosophical, psychological??that urges us to identify deeply with these characters and to reflect on his and her own experiences in love. Fresh, visceral, and utterly compelling, The Course of Love is a provocative and life-affirming novel for everyone who believes in love. "There's no writer alive like de Botton, and his latest ambitious undertaking is as enlightening and humanizing as his previous works" (Chicago T
… (more)
Member:HColquhoun
Title:The course of love
Authors:Alain De Botton
Info:London : Hamish Hamilton, [2016]
Collections:Read but unowned
Rating:***1/2
Tags:Fiction, Romance, Marriage

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The Course of Love by Alain De Botton (2016)

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English (33)  Spanish (2)  Italian (2)  All languages (37)
Showing 1-5 of 33 (next | show all)
Beautiful book. Should be required reading for all. ( )
  taylorc113 | Jan 27, 2024 |
"Love is a skill, not just an enthusiasm" - This is my key takeaway from this beautifully written novel.

In many passages, it felt like Alain de Botton was spying on me and writing about me. It is a simple story with profound commentary, from the modern-day philosopher Alain, that makes it a great read. We all think that we are unique, but from a therapist's point of view, we fall under specific patterns. It is nothing to be scoffed about, but many of our anxieties, frustrations and disappointments, can be well answered by the modern discipline of therapy.

A fitness coach (or therapist) can help you to be in your peak physical self. After reading this, I firmly believe, a mental coach (or a couple's therapist) can be of great help to strengthen your relationships with others and your self. ( )
  Santhosh_Guru | Oct 19, 2023 |
Thoughts about love and marriage illustrated by the story of Rabih and Kirsten. De Bottom covers the flash of romance to the work of marriage, children, infidelity and therapy. His main message that love is not an enthusiasm but a skill. Insightful as far a it goes. Told through the eyes of Rabih, it ends some 15 years into marriage.
  kropferama | Jan 1, 2023 |
Wise and well written. Sometimes predictable. Overall a nice read. ( )
  oblivius | Nov 13, 2022 |
Rabih and Kirsten, a couple living in Scotland, fall in love, marry, and have children. The storyline follows the ups and downs of married life. The novel is a unique mix of story, philosophy, and psychology. The narrator alternates between what is currently happening in the lives of the couple and commentary about this stage in their relationship. The latter is indicated in italics. The narrator challenges romantic idealism, and the story portrays how a deeper knowledge of human behavior (and more realistic expectations) can help relationships flourish.

The writing is lively, full of insightful observations and witty asides. The tone is optimistic. The author points out that love is not something that “just happens.” It requires active commitment to sustain it. He points out underlying causes behind disagreements, many of which have to do with worldview or events that occurred long ago. It is profound in places. Though it is a novel, it could, perhaps, help people with their own relationships. I found it delightfully engaging.

( )
  Castlelass | Oct 30, 2022 |
Showing 1-5 of 33 (next | show all)
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Fiction. Literature. HTML:"An engrossing tale [that] provides plenty of food for thought" (People, Best New Books pick), this playful, wise, and profoundly moving second novel from the internationally bestselling author of How Proust Can Change Your Life tracks the beautifully complicated arc of a romantic partnership.
We all know the headiness and excitement of the early days of love. But what comes after? In Edinburgh, a couple, Rabih and Kirsten, fall in love. They get married, they have children??but no long-term relationship is as simple as "happily ever after." The Course of Love explores what happens after the birth of love, what it takes to maintain, and what happens to our original ideals under the pressures of an average existence. We see, along with Rabih and Kirsten, the first flush of infatuation, the effortlessness of falling into romantic love, and the course of life thereafter. Interwoven with their story and its challenges is an overlay of philosophy??an annotation and a guide to what we are reading. As The New York Times says, "The Course of Love is a return to the form that made Mr. de Botton's name in the mid-1990s....love is the subject best suited to his obsessive aphorizing, and in this novel he again shows off his ability to pin our hopes, methods, and insecurities to the page."

This is a Romantic novel in the true sense, one interested in exploring how love can survive and thrive in the long term. The result is a sensory experience??fictional, philosophical, psychological??that urges us to identify deeply with these characters and to reflect on his and her own experiences in love. Fresh, visceral, and utterly compelling, The Course of Love is a provocative and life-affirming novel for everyone who believes in love. "There's no writer alive like de Botton, and his latest ambitious undertaking is as enlightening and humanizing as his previous works" (Chicago T

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