Fall in love with literature this February

By Hadley Medlock     2/13/24 10:35pm

While Valentine’s Day may be nearly over, it doesn’t mean the season of love, or reading about love, has to be. If you’re feeling literary this February, the Thresher has rounded up a list of must-reads for every hopeless romantic, relationship cynic and everyone in between.  

“Everything I Know About Love”

By: Dolly Alderton

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If you’ve had countless friends tell you to read Dolly Alderton’s memoir on love, it’s probably because you should. With a comedic voice and funny anecdotes, Alderton explores what she’s come to know about love in her 30 years through bad boyfriends, countless drunken nights and good friends. Coming to the conclusion that love doesn’t always have to be romantic to be important, “Everything I Know About Love” is a great read if you’re feeling sentimental about your besties this Valentine’s Day. 

“If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho”

Translated by: Anne Carson

When someone’s work is so good that their words are renowned even though fragments, it may be worth reading. Easily one of the most famous lyric poets to have existed, Sappho’s work finds its heart in musings on love and desire. With a voice that somehow transcends time, Sappho is essential reading in love poetry and love literature as a whole. As a poet herself, translator Anne Carson also brings a careful, thoughtful hand to her translation of Sappho’s work. While it’s often difficult to feel connected to all of the work in fragments, the beautiful moments make this read worth it. 

“Payback’s a Witch”

By: Lana Harper

If you’re looking for an easy read and are a lover of all things witchy, this rom-com by Lana Harper should be your next February read. “Payback’s a Witch” follows Emmy Harlow, a witch with a complicated family who left her magical town years ago post-heartbreak. Now returning home for a town event, she and two other witches decide to get revenge on the boy that broke all their hearts. Even though this is easily the most un-literary book on this list, and possibly a bit cheesy, it’s at least cute and rather mind-numbing.

“Felicity”

By: Mary Oliver

If you’re looking for a short, thought-provoking read, check out this collection of poetry by Mary Oliver. A renowned poet who has won the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, Oliver writes mainly on nature. This collection, though, is more of a rumination on love while still grounded in images of the natural world. Oliver’s poems find their beauty in simplicity, and this is a great collection for those just getting into poetry or people in love. 

“A Certain Hunger”

By: Chelsea G. Summers

If you’re not necessarily looking for a feel-good novel on love, Editor-in-Chief Riya has your back with this recommendation. This novel follows Dorothy Daniels, a food critic who loves food and sex, unable to find a long-term partner she feels can keep up with her. Oh, and she soon discovers she likes to cannibalize men as well. Happy Valentine’s Day, I guess. 

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