Linda | 
08 3rd, 2009| 
Two of my favorite books when I’m down on a relationship or trying to move on are both written by Alain de Botton, one is called On Love (I think in Europe it’s called Essays in Love) and the other is called the Romantic Movement. I haven’t read any of his nonfiction. The reason why these two books helped me through break ups is they both have the same plot. Boy and Girl meet, fall in love, break up. In the end, both books end with a new beginning in a new relationship. He presents love as a cycle. They’re not good books to read while you’re happy in love but when you’re feeling blue, it’s a bit uplifting. You will love again and again until you meet that last person. Now I’m sure there are plenty of books with that plot but Alain de Botton peppered On Love with a lot of philosophical references and as a philosophy major, the references were recognized and appreciated by me. Some people may find his writing cynical, but I find it quite matter of fact.
So yesterday I watched 500 Days of Summer with Jamie. As I’m watching, I start to think about Alain de Botton’s two novels about love I read. It had all the Alan de Botton pieces. Boy and Girl meet. Boy falls in love. Boy gets his heart broken. As I’m sitting there, and am thinking about Botton, Boy, also known as Tony much to my utter surprise and delight, gave one of Alain de Botton’s books to Girl (her name is Summer hence 500 Days of Summer). He gave her, Architecture of Happiness. I’ve been meaning to read Botton’s nonfiction. Maybe I will start with Architecture of Happiness.
Anyway. I really recommend this movie. I’m completely taken by it. Very sweet. Kim, watch it. You’ll love it. Also, you Juno lovers would enjoy this movie too. I actually want to watch it again.
If interested in checking out any of the aforementioned books, please consider using my links from this entry.
Related Blog Entries:
April 5, 2008- Romantic Movement excerpts
Mar 24, 2008- Romantic Movement and On Love excerpts
Texas native. Living and working in Austin, TX. Twenty something. In hot pursuit of good food, adventure, and laughter. Dreams of owning her own place with a big giant library.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Great movie! I actually saw it on a date haha (date’s recommendation). I don’t know if that’s a good or bad sign, but I definitely laughed and was a little, just a little bit touched.
//A.J.
August 4th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
glad you liked it :)
i’m smitten.
August 16th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
i’ve been wanting to see that movie. but i’ve been so busy/have no friends, so it hasn’t happened yet. maybe i’ll go by myself tomorrow since i have the day off!
August 17th, 2009 at 12:26 am
kim, let me know if you see it!
September 4th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
I also thought that this movie was like essays in love. VERY simuilar about the minuature and tiny moments that create a love story between two people. Glad I am not alone on this!
September 4th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Lisa, didn’t it surprise you that it wasn’t based off of Essays in Love?
Thanks for sharing! I’m happy that we’re not alone.
December 23rd, 2009 at 1:44 am
i just watched it and had already been thinking of “on love” when i saw tom was reading “the architecture of happiness.”
googled 500 days of summer + de botton and yours was the first site to come up.
great minds think alike.
December 23rd, 2009 at 1:46 am
Hi Jordan! Thanks for the comment and On Love is one of my favorite books. Helped me get through a bad breakup!
December 23rd, 2009 at 1:53 am
i also saw this movie 3 times in theatre hahaaha
January 20th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
For the last two months i’ve been reading all of Alain de Botton’s books. i’m finishing ‘Essays in love’ right now. I stumbled by accident on this movie this morning and just watched it. I couldn’t believe how much it resembles the book. I believe that the ‘Architecture of happiness’ scenes we’re put in to confirm the suspicions of all the people that connected de Botton to the movie.
P.S. I came across this blog by googling “500 days of summer alain de botton” too
January 20th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Mihai,
hello! Thank you for coming by and commenting.
500 days is my favorite movie of 2009. I watched it three times in theatre, something I’ve never done before. My boyfriend got me the dvd for christmas and I cannot wait to watch it again.
It’s cool to see I’m not the only one who saw the resemblance between the movie and his books.
January 25th, 2010 at 4:33 am
I was googling about this movie and Alain de Botton, cause I thought just like you. I think this movie looks like ‘On Love: movie version’
Meanwhile, the Title of ‘On Love’ in Korea is ‘Why do I love You’. haha.
January 25th, 2010 at 7:33 am
Theo,
That’s awesome about the title in Korea! Are you Korean?
Thanks for coming by and commenting!
January 25th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
Linda.
Yeah, I’m Korean and It’s my first comment writing in English , which is someone native American’s Blog.
There are many good articles in your blog so, it’s my pleasure to reat them. Thanks!
January 27th, 2010 at 11:43 pm
i am IN LOVE with this movie!! i bought this and the soundtrack. zooey is a wonderful actress and joseph is a cutie pie<333