In particular, here are five of the best among the best -

　　The Princess Bride by William Goldman. If you liked the movie, youll love the book. If you loved the movie, youll adore the book. It goes into a lot more detail about Buttercups childhood, and of course you see her relationship with Westley through the characters eyes, not the filmmakers. A thoroughly enjoyable read!

　　Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell. If you dont think this is one of the more romantic books of all time, you have ice water for blood. How many of us can relate to the pain of an unrequited crush? And how many of us have pursued an unattainable love only to destroy the love we have but dont even notice? I dont know about you, but I can definitely plead guilty to that, just ask my husband Alex! Some cynics say that Gone With the Wind isnt a love story at all, that Scarlett represents Southerners at the time of the Civil War, Ashley is the Old South they dont want to let go of, and Rhett is the New South that theyre going to have to learn to love. Bull paddies. Let go of the English major mentality, and just enjoy one of the best love stories of all time!

　　Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bront?. Wow. Just, wow. Who doesnt love a rags to riches story? Yes, the plot is improbable and the prose can get weighty at times, but the love of a rich man for a poor girl is classic, just classic. And the end, when shes, well, not rich but definitely comfortable, and hes destitute and blind and she still loves him - makes even cynical little me a little snuffly. I never read Jane Eyre until I was well into my thirties. Im sorry I waited so long. If youve never read this book, or havent read it in a while, you might want to grab a copy and snuggle down in your favorite chair for a while.

　　The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. If you abstained from bookstores and the arts section of your favorite local newspaper or national news magazine in the mid 1980s, you may have missed hearing about this book. Its the story of King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, and the rest of the Knights of the Round Table, but told from the point of view of the women in the story: Arthurs mother Ygraine, Guinevere, Morgan Le Fay , and Vivianne, the Lady of the Lake. The love between Guinevere and Lancelot has never been more beautifully told, and some interesting subtle details have been added. And dont forget, Ygraine fell in love with Uther Pendragon, Arthurs father, when she was still married to another man. You know, I havent read that book in at least a decade, maybe longer I think its time to pull it off the shelf for an enjoyable re-read.

　　Lady of the Forest by Jennifer Roberson. What Marion Zimmer Bradley did for Arthur and Guinevere, Roberson did for Robin Hood and Maid Marian. The book is long, but the timeframe of the story lasts maybe a week. And its all in there: how Robin and Marian met, their instant infatuation, and, of course, lots of complications thanks to the Sheriff of Nottingham. Hmm. I havent read that one in a while either...

　　In particular, here are five of the best among the best -

　　The Princess Bride by William Goldman. If you liked the movie, youll love the book. If you loved the movie, youll adore the book. It goes into a lot more detail about Buttercups childhood, and of course you see her relationship with Westley through the characters eyes, not the filmmakers. A thoroughly enjoyable read!

　　Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell. If you dont think this is one of the more romantic books of all time, you have ice water for blood. How many of us can relate to the pain of an unrequited crush? And how many of us have pursued an unattainable love only to destroy the love we have but dont even notice? I dont know about you, but I can definitely plead guilty to that, just ask my husband Alex! Some cynics say that Gone With the Wind isnt a love story at all, that Scarlett represents Southerners at the time of the Civil War, Ashley is the Old South they dont want to let go of, and Rhett is the New South that theyre going to have to learn to love. Bull paddies. Let go of the English major mentality, and just enjoy one of the best love stories of all time!

　　Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bront?. Wow. Just, wow. Who doesnt love a rags to riches story? Yes, the plot is improbable and the prose can get weighty at times, but the love of a rich man for a poor girl is classic, just classic. And the end, when shes, well, not rich but definitely comfortable, and hes destitute and blind and she still loves him - makes even cynical little me a little snuffly. I never read Jane Eyre until I was well into my thirties. Im sorry I waited so long. If youve never read this book, or havent read it in a while, you might want to grab a copy and snuggle down in your favorite chair for a while.

　　The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. If you abstained from bookstores and the arts section of your favorite local newspaper or national news magazine in the mid 1980s, you may have missed hearing about this book. Its the story of King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, and the rest of the Knights of the Round Table, but told from the point of view of the women in the story: Arthurs mother Ygraine, Guinevere, Morgan Le Fay , and Vivianne, the Lady of the Lake. The love between Guinevere and Lancelot has never been more beautifully told, and some interesting subtle details have been added. And dont forget, Ygraine fell in love with Uther Pendragon, Arthurs father, when she was still married to another man. You know, I havent read that book in at least a decade, maybe longer I think its time to pull it off the shelf for an enjoyable re-read.

　　Lady of the Forest by Jennifer Roberson. What Marion Zimmer Bradley did for Arthur and Guinevere, Roberson did for Robin Hood and Maid Marian. The book is long, but the timeframe of the story lasts maybe a week. And its all in there: how Robin and Marian met, their instant infatuation, and, of course, lots of complications thanks to the Sheriff of Nottingham. Hmm. I havent read that one in a while either...