The End (kind of)

Does Leo die? Does Leo find out about his book? Does Alma ever meet him? Does Leo reveal the truth about his friend? All of these questions are probably racing through your mind at the moment as you sit on the edge of your chair waiting for me to reveal the last few pages. Well, all I am going to share is that it doesn't read "they lived happily ever after" and that I felt a bittersweet mixture of closure and sorrow. The ending truly is the bow that ties all the pages and stories together. I highly recommend you pick up a copy and experience the heartfelt ride of this novel for yourself. Oh, and boys, don't let the title dissuade you!

If you are still on the fence about whether this book will be worth your while, however, I have one final bit tell you: it will most likely be of help to you on the AP exam. I bet that caught your attention. Question 3 on the exam asks you to select a book of "literary merit" and develop an essay using the novel to support your response. The History of Love is applicable to many free response prompts, here are a few examples.

2010: Select a novel, play, or epic in which a character experiences such a rift and becomes cut off from “home,” whether that home is the character’s birthplace, family, homeland, or other special place. Then write an essay in which you analyze how the character’s experience with exile is both alienating and enriching, and how this experience illuminates the meaning of the work as a whole. 

2007: In many works of literature, past events can affect, positively or negatively, the present actions, attitudes, or values of a character. Choose a novel or play in which a character must contend with some aspect of the past, either personal or societal. Then write an essay in which you show how the character's relationship to the past contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole.  

2007B: Works of literature often depict acts of betrayal. Friends and even family may betray a protagonist; main characters may likewise be guilty of treachery or may betray their own values. Select a novel or play that includes such acts of betrayal. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze the nature of the betrayal and show how it contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole.

In addition to the fact that this novel is applicable to many AP prompts, it is also of sufficient "literary merit" due to its various stylistic elements and development of underlying themes. Therefore, I feel this book should be added to the AP curriculum and studied closely in a group setting, because the intricacies may be glanced over if not paid close enough attention to. It would generate a lot of discussion about the way in which the story is written, the major themes of love, loss, and identity, and the unique personalities of the main characters. Even after reading the book, I feel I need to go back and take a second read, the way I have often felt after reading other books included in the AP curriculum. That is a sign that the author carefully crafted the novel, weaving in clues and hints along the way, and making subtle comments that long for more attention. For these various reasons, it is fair to regard this book as "AP worthy".

Now I know you are dying to read The History of Love, so here are some tools that will help you along the way: a map to keep track of where the characters are and a glossary for all the foreign words. Also, it might be handy for you to have a summary of The Street of Crocodiles and North by Northwest. Trust me, you'll understand. Happy reading!