The Sharp Hook of Love

by Sherry Jones

The first retelling of the passionate, twelfth-century love story since the discovery of 113 lost love letters between Heloise d’Argenteuil and Pierre Abelard—the original Romeo and Juliet.

"While I sleep you never leave me, and after I wake I see you, as soon as I open my eyes, even before the light of day itself." —Abelard to Heloise

Among the young women of twelfth-century Paris, Heloise d’Argenteuil stands apart. Extraordinarily educated and quick-witted, she is being groomed by her uncle to become an abbess in the service of God.

But with one encounter, her destiny changes forever. Pierre Abelard, headmaster at the Notre-Dame Cloister School, is acclaimed as one of the greatest philosophers in France. His controversial reputation only adds to his allure, yet despite the legions of women swooning over his poetry and dashing looks, he is captivated by the brilliant Heloise alone. As their relationship blossoms from a meeting of the minds to a forbidden love affair, both Heloise and Abelard must choose between love, duty, and ambition.

Sherry Jones weaves the lovers’ own words into an evocative account of desire and sacrifice. As intimate as it is erotic, as devastating as it is beautiful, The Sharp Hook of Love is a poignant, tender tribute to one of history’s greatest romances, and to love’s power to transform and endure.

• ISBN10: 1451684800
• ISBN13: 9781451684803
• Publish Date: 7 October 2014
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Imprint: Gallery
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[Lianne]

I received an ARC of this novel as part of a book blog tour that I participated in. This review in its entirety was originally posted at caffeinatedlife.net: http://www.caffeinatedlife.net/blog/2014/10/20/review-the-sharp-hook-of-love-giveaway/

The Sharp Hook of Love invites the reader into the story of Abelard and Heloise and the world they live in from the very first page. I love how the story is narrated from Heloise’s perspective as her backstory and circumstances were interesting and has potential for drama and obstacles (namely in the form of her uncle, Fulbert (insert groan here)), not to mention a bit of mystery and intrigue (who was her father? Why did her mother abandon her and left plans that she be an abbess someday?). Through Heloise’s perspective, the reader also gains a sense of what it’s like for women living in this time perio. Heloise is also a very intelligent and thoughtful woman, and while her opportunities for furthering her education and making a career out of her brilliance are few, the education and discourse that she was able to receive is still impressive. The reader is also exposed to the prevalent ideas and philosophers that were studied at the time, which were all really informative.

As for her relationship with Abelard…the feels! Her love for Abelard, coupled with quotes at the start of each chapter from their letters, is really all-compassing, passionate, sweet, even as they go through the ups and downs, the moments of passion and the moments of hardship and separation and all the other trials that go through. It’s honestly a bit of a difficult read, knowing how their story pans out, and all of the problems they have to face along the way. And in the end it’s utterly heartbreaking how these two people who found each other, respect and admire each other’s intellect and opinions, and who love each other despite of the other’s faults and circumstances, just can’t live the rest of their lives together and in peace.

The Sharp Hook of Love does a lovely job in bringing Abelard and Heloise’s story to a narrative outside of the letters that have survived between them. Secondary characters that populate this novel were also interesting, from the loyal Jean to the brutish Fulbert, and medieval French life–both in the city and in the countryside–is wonderfully brought to life through these pages. You may have to be in a particular mood to read their story (lest you end up flailing over their circumstances and what drives them apart in the end), but it’s a deeply-felt romance that also raises some interesting and philosophical questions about the nature and impact of love.