Bill Shapiro

This collection of actual love letters is not as cringe-inducing as say, Gov. Sanford's overwrought e-mails to his Argentine lover. There are some such moments but on the whole, these letters are quirky, cute, ordinary and mostly thoughtful. There are also breakup letters, ultimatums and confused revelations of the heart. There's a voyeuristic thrill to reading other actual love letters but it will also inspire you to dig up your old love correspondence. I did!

I used to teach a "significant object" unit - a favorite - for examining the meaning attached to things. wish this book was around then! This is a fascinating compilation of people and the 1 thing that matters to them, above all else. There are famous people (Ta-Nahisi Coates, Tim O'Brien, Cheryl Strayed, Joss Whedon, Melinda Gates, Travon Free) and important people, and average people, and anonymous people and they all have an object that is of immense value to them alone. Some have family show more history, some are probably valuable in the market, some have sentimental value: quite a few related to faith, military service, cultural heritage, history, but some total outliers that you wouldn't look at twice at Goodwill. A great browse book that allows you to be a little bit nosy and a whole lot of imspired - the reminder that everyone has a story comes through loud and clear. Great photos too of the objects and sometimes the people they belong to. show less

I found this hard to put down in the same way it's hard not to look at an accident on the side of the road. Some of the letters brought tears to my eyes (especially when reading the backstory), but others left me oddly desensitized to the concept of love letters. I could have written a few of these myself--though they were so very in the moment, reading them in a collection made them lose a little of their individuality. Still think I'd rather get my own than read someone else's!

There is something unmistakably exciting about reading something that doesn't belong to you. Maybe it goes back to childhood when we read our sister's diaries? This collection of love letters gives you that "I shouldn't be reading this" feeling as they are photocopied love letters sent between real people. Each letter tells a story or reveals something personal and special about the couple. Some are old (1910's) and some are recent. Some are long and descriptive and some are brief ("How do show more you feel about chains"?) . I read a few every night before I fell asleep because all of them gave me a feeling of hope and a sense of romantic, heart-tugging joy... Make sure you get the hardcover because this book would never be as good in e-book format... you wouldn't get to see all the stains and scratchmarks of the writers! show less