200 Love Lessons from the Movies

Book excerpt: Romantic movies—no matter how fluffy or fanciful—contain some kernel of truth about real-life love. These films are fictionalized accounts of the collective romantic experiences of everyone involved in the filmmaking process, so even average movies can provide spectacular insights for every stage of romance from first dates to wedding planning. No one knows this better than Leslie C. Halpern, a respected entertainment journalist who was a stringer for The Hollywood Reporter for 13 years and has contributed to Variety, the Orlando Sentinel, Markee, and many other publications. She is also the author of Reel Romance: The Lovers’ Guide to the 100 Best Date Movies, which earned her a reputation as an expert on the subject of romantic movies, and Dreams on Film, which is used on college campuses around the world. Her book Passionate About TheirWork: 151 Celebrities, Artists and Experts on Creativity was named one of MyShelf.com’s Top Ten Reads for 2010. Now in her new book, 200 LOVE LESSONS FROM THE MOVIES, Leslie C. Halpern helps make our favorite movies even more enjoyable by showing us the nugget of relationship wisdom in them. Whether the movie features an unforgettable date (My Date with Drew), odd first meetings (Wimbledon), or a particularly stormy breakup (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), Halpern steers the reader toward a valuable lesson to be learned, for example: 45. Don't Let Anger Obscure The Thoughtfulness of a Gift. 46. If You Broke It, Lost It, or Damaged It, then Replace It. 47. Make Sure You Really Want to Say Good-Bye When You Give a Good-Bye Gift. 48. Words May Deceive, but Facial Expressions Don't Lie. Reel Romance made Leslie Halpern a popular speaker at film festivals, book clubs, bookstores and campuses, and she has appeared in signings around the country, in addition to American television, Canadian television, radio, and print. 200 LOVELESSONS FROM THE MOVIES is sure to attract an equally large and enthusiastic movie-loving audience.