"Tales of strange bedfellows, odd couplings, and love gone bad"

In "Weirdly Beloved: Tales of Strange Bedfellows, Odd Couplings, and Love Gone Bad" Cynthia Ceilan shares the real-life stories she has collected about the sometimes demented things we do in the name of love.

"I set out to show that there is never one way to fall in love, to endure or nurture a love, to celebrate and cherish a love, and most importantly, that there is no method too weird or outlandish to finally end a love gone bad," writes Ceilan. In chapters with such fetching names as "Strange Bedfellows", "Alternate Realities", and "Byte Me", the reader will meet some fascinating people and discover some odd "facts".

For example, you'll meet two Montana college students who, as a professional bride and groom, have been married hundreds of time. For $50 apiece, the duo act as proxies for couples wishing to get married but who can't "make it to the church (or courthouse) on time".

You will also discover that while many countries ban same-sex marriages, there are a few that are more than happy to let a person marry his or her dog! Even more bizarre is the story about a young man who developed very strong romantic feelings for his acoustic guitar. The poor fellow realized this was not normal but he couldn't help himself.

An entertaining look at the indignities of love gone wrong, this highly unusual book will not only have you occasionally shaking your head in disbelief, but it should elicit a few chuckles as well.

Reviewed by Bob Walch
Posted May 7, 2009

Summary

The author of Thinning the Herd turns the spotlight on love and the crazy things we do in its name. Inspired by the romantic misadventures she's witnessed in her own family, Cynthia Ceilán takes us jauntily through real-life stories about love: what demented things we do in its name, the wildly unusual choices people make in their selection of a mate, and the joys and horrors of saying goodbye to a relationship that has long overstayed its welcome.