Review: Oh, My Love Is Like a Red, Red Rose...
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 12, 2012
The title of this perticular review is taken from a poem written by the great Scottish bard, Robert Burns, who became famous worldwide for writing countless poems and ballads in Scots dialect. A Romantic poet and inherently sympathetic to the common man (he was a hardscrabble farmer and was largely self-taught), he harnessed the basic humanity he witnessed in the average person he met throughout his short life (he died of rheumatic fever at age 37) and channeled it into countless writings that celebrated love and all its variances---love of man; romantic love; love of nature; love of country.Such paeans to this much-written and debated topic are nothing new. Love is found in varying degrees within all people and can be expressed in numerous ways.In "Love Quotes For Her: Make Her Melt and Fall For You," Stephen Williams addresses a near-universal observation (as general as it is) among women in our society---men simply are not predisposed to express Shakespearean warblings of passion and l'amour to their significant other. This does not mean to insinuate that men are classless clods; rather, the environment in which most men are raised influences them to regard expressions of emotion as being somehow weak or even effeminate. This has proven to be a terrific handicap for them when it comes to maintaining sound emotional health with their loved ones, and Williams's book seems to provide a tonic for some men (myself included) for assisting them in expressing their true feelings for the women in their lives.Williams acknowledges the inherent differences in the average male-female relationship, and reassures his male readers that being able to demonstrate love and affection to their partner in various constructive ways contributes mightily towards long-term satisfaction and contentment, which, in turn, can spread to other facets of their lives---work; recreation; family; friends, etc.Any relationship worthy of long-lasting love and respect needs to be nurtured and pruned, much like trimming a tree of dead branches and other assorted flotsam. "Love Quotes" is indicative of the pervasive sense of desire that many couples want in their love lives. As anyone in a long-term relationship knows, a humdrum status quo eventually arises, and with its ascendancy comes frustration and ennui. Each starts taking the other for granted; work and relaxation patterns become crystallized; the small and innocuous become embroiled in unnecessary drama as the dissatisfaction grows between both parties.Being able to recite Lord Byron's love poems or John Mayer's song lyrics is all fine and dandy, but as with any endeavor, a lot of practice is involved in this area if a guy wants to become more adept at demonstrating his verbal affection. Providing complementary action such as a nice kiss or a massage, or even helping out around the house, adds a deeper sense of commitment to your partner and backs up all those nice, sensitive words you have expressed so succinctly to her."Love Quotes" certainly does not expect a guy to suddenly go all emo and abandon their basic sense of themselves and how they relate to others. Williams provides his (male) readers some sound examples of expressing their affection to their lover with sensitivity and tact, which are always nice to employ when communicating with their partner.And really, isn't that what relationships are all about?