Written By Susan Barranca

There is a brand new book out, and it is being marketed as love stories for Valentine's day. However, these stories aren't what the average reader thinks of as romantic. We see happily-ever-after endings as romantic and sweet: these stories are be filled with disappointment and heartbreak.

The collection is entitled, "My Mistress's Sparrow is Dead: Great Love Stories, from Chekhov to Munroe." The editor, Jeffrey Eugenides warns that these stories aren't fluffy love stories; instead, these stories, "depend on disappointment, on unequal births and feuding families, on matrimonial boredom and at least one cold heart."

You can find a more detailed list of contents and some words from the editor about his take on love stories - It looks like an interesting read.

For those of you who would rather read some more traditionally "romantic" versions of love stories, You should really check out our Valentines Excerpts on DJR.

Happy Valentines Day!