My Mistress's Sparrow is Dead by Jeffrey Eugenides

This kind of love story describes how things are in the real world. This is the kind of story which seems to be favoured by literary magazines these days. Stories like ‘ Romeo and Juliet‘ or ‘ The Gift of the Magi‘. This is the kind of love story most of us like. They might end up in a high pressure dangerous situation which brings them together and opens their hearts to each other. There are variations of this plot – the two people might be from different communities, ethnicities, and even different generations. Or sometimes they don’t and the story has a sad ending.

It describes two people falling in love at first sight, having good romantic times together and then they face challenges – rival suitors, disapproval of parents and community – and our two lovers fight it out and find happiness in the end. In my experience, there is one kind of love story, which most of us like. It took me a few days and I finished reading it yesterday.īefore I continue with the book, I want to share some thoughts on love stories. But, after I read two stories, I decided to read one more, and then another, and then I decided to read the whole book. This year on Valentine’s I did what I did every year – took out this story collection and thought I will read one or two stories. Across the years, I had finished reading the other love story collections. One of the books I dipped into was this one – ‘ My Mistress’s Sparrow is Dead‘ edited by Jeffrey Eugenides. I try to read one or two stories, typically the shorter ones. I take out some of my love story collections and dip into them. 826 Chicago is part of the network of seven writing centers across the United States affiliated with 826 National, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.I have a Valentine’s Day tradition every year. Let everybody else suffer.' -Jeffrey Eugenides, from the introduction to My Mistress's Sparrow Is DeadĪll proceeds from My Mistress's Sparrow Is Dead will go directly to fund the free youth writing programs offered by 826 Chicago. Read these love stories in the safety of your single bed. I offer this book, then, as a cure for lovesickness and an antidote to adultery. It is perhaps only in reading a love story (or in writing one) that we can simultaneously partake of the ecstasy and agony of being in love without paying a crippling emotional price. Love stories, nearly without exception, give love a bad name. Love stories depend on disappointment, on unequal births and feuding families, on matrimonial boredom and at least one cold heart. A love story can never be about full possession. But when it comes to love stories, things are simpler. “'When it comes to love, there are a million theories to explain it.

My Mistress's Sparrow is Dead by Jeffrey Eugenides