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Love Begins in Winter

By Simon Van Booy

(2)

| Others | 9781905636495

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Critics

'Love Begins In Winter' by Simon Van Booy

"From the opening line he grabs the reader's attention and maintains focus," said one of the judges of the Frank O'Connor Award. "His language is lyrical and sings off the page. His stories are full of the most exquisite insights, aphoristic without ... (read full critics)

readingmatters published on Tue, 28 Sep 2010

Love Begins in Winter by Simon Van Booy: review

"To try to write love,” the French philosopher Roland Barthes once wrote, “is to confront the muck of language.” Language can seem too crude and imprecise to represent the fine gradations of the feeling we call love, so it is little wonder that when ... (read full critics)

telegraph.co.uk published on Thu, 16 Sep 2010

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2 Reviews

Such tender and sophisticated words, I just love them.

A novel based on Szymbroska's Love at first sight . Such tender and sophisticated words, I just love them.
Love at First Sight
by Wislawa Szymborska
They're both convinced
that a sudden passion joined them.
Such certainty is beautiful,
but uncertainty is more beautiful still.
Since t ... (continue)

A novel based on Szymbroska's Love at first sight . Such tender and sophisticated words, I just love them.
Love at First Sight
by Wislawa Szymborska
They're both convinced
that a sudden passion joined them.
Such certainty is beautiful,
but uncertainty is more beautiful still.
Since they'd never met before, they're sure
that there'd been nothing between them.
But what's the word from the streets, staircases, hallways--
perhaps they've passed by each other a million times?
I want to ask them if they don't remember--
a moment face to face in some revolving door?
perhaps a "sorry" muttered in a crowd?
a cut "wrong number" caught in the receiver?
but I know the answer.
No, they don't remember.
They'd be amazed to hear
that Chance has been toying with them now for years.
Not quite ready yet
to become their Destiny,
it pushed them close, drove them apart,
it barred their path,
stifling a laugh,
and then leaped aside.
There were signs and signals,
even if they couldn't read them yet.
Perhaps three years ago
or just last Tuesday
a certain leaf fluttered from one shoulder to another?
Something was dropped and then picked up.
Who knows, maybe the ball that vanished into childhood's thicket?
There were doorknobs and doorbells where one touch had covered another beforehand.
Suitcases checked and standing side by side.
One night, perhaps, the same dream,
grown hazy by morning.
Every beginning
is only a sequel, after all,
and the book of events
is always open halfway through.

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chih said on Mar 30, 2012 | Add your feedback

I find that as I get older, more cynical, the less chance a book has to truly impact my view of life. But this one, this one moved me to tears in honest revelation. And rather than dissect it, pick apart each story until there's nothing left but bare bones, I think I'll keep this one to myself.
Wi ... (continue)

I find that as I get older, more cynical, the less chance a book has to truly impact my view of life. But this one, this one moved me to tears in honest revelation. And rather than dissect it, pick apart each story until there's nothing left but bare bones, I think I'll keep this one to myself.
With that said, this review on the book was the best I've read so far. Go check it out.http://blogcritics.org/books/article/book-review-love-begins-in-winter/

Is this helpful?

Clementine said on May 20, 2011 | Add your feedback