A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True

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A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True

by Brigid Pasulka (Goodreads Author)

3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 · rating details · 760 ratings · 210 reviews

Late-20th-century Kraków, where every stone and every brick is dear, and whose walls, when gazed upon by Pope John Paul II, inspired a heartfelt tribute. But many years earlier, a young man courted the beautiful Anielica Hetmanska with the promise that his "golden hands" could renovate her family's cottage from the ground up. With patience and persistence, he won her heart...more

Hardcover, 368 pages

Published August 12th 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Co (first published 2009)

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Mar 27, 2012 Rosie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm going to admit, I got this book at a borders going out of business sale specifically because I liked the cover art. I think subconsciously, the title and art reminded me of "everything is illuminated" and "extremely loud and incredibly close" I didn't realize this might be why i picked it up until i got to the second chapter and thought "hmm, two different time periods this sounds familiar". Initially, foolishly, I thought "this seems like a rip off, I'm sure I'm going to hate it" and to be...more

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Sep 02, 2009 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-fiction, contemporary, historical, wwii

This book appealed to the "-zewski" part of my family's former last name. Being of part Polish heritage, but not knowing anything about it, I sometimes yearn to know more about my family's history and culture. That's what drew me to Pasulka's debut book.

Two stories of very different Polands appear in alternate chapters. We see the rural Poland of World War II and those wrapped up in the Resistance, and we also see a modern young Polish woman struggling with her identity and culture.

I loved the l...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Erin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Brigid Pasulka’s first novel, A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True, alternates two chronological settings by chapter. The “long, long time ago” follows Pigeon and Angelicia in Poland just before and during World War Two in third person omniscient, and the “present” is narrated in the first person perspective of ‘Baba Yaga’ (a poorly explained nickname with little apparent significance). It isn’t until a good way into the narrative that the relationship between the two chronologies becomes...more Brigid Pasulka’s first novel, A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True, alternates two chronological settings by chapter. The “long, long time ago” follows Pigeon and Angelicia in Poland just before and during World War Two in third person omniscient, and the “present” is narrated in the first person perspective of ‘Baba Yaga’ (a poorly explained nickname with little apparent significance). It isn’t until a good way into the narrative that the relationship between the two chronologies becomes clear, and even later into the narrative that the relationship between Angelicia/Pigeon and Baba Yaga is explained. I suspect this mystery is meant to be intriguing; however, for this reader it was only frustrating and confusing.

Perhaps I missed the pay-off of the big reveal of how the two story lines relate because I was preoccupied with working out how the writing in the ‘long long time ago’ sections could be good, while the writing in the ‘presen’t could be terrible. What circumstances allow the same writer to simultaneously write well and write terribly? I’m going to hazard that it’s point of view that got in the way. The first person sections couldn’t sustain the kind of magical, fairytale quality aimed for (and achieved!) in the “once upon a time” of “long long ago,” and instead fell somewhere between dull and convoluted. Without the motivation to care about Baba Yaga I found myself plodding through her chapters, waiting to return to the intrigue and romance of the world war two narrative. And when the two chronologies eventually merge (as we know from the beginning they are bound to do, because it is that kind of story) the whole thing falls to pieces, as Pasulka can’t seem to find a unified point of view to allow the merged chronologies to read as anything other than stilted.

So… what did I find redeeming? I suppose there’s something to be said for a narrative that takes a longer view of history and introduces readers to the temporal scope of suffering experienced by ordinary villagers between the outbreak of World War Two and the fall of the iron curtain (do we capitalize Iron Curtain? Maybe it ought to be Iron. Curtain. Or Iron! Curtain!). Makes me think of the new history out - Bloodlands - that aims to capture just this kind of prolonged suffering. In any case, I admire the ambitious scope, even if I find the writing itself terribly uneven and without a decided thematic focus (rather a frustratingly contradictory thematic interest: is this a book about breaking from the past? about making choices? about confronting and learning from history? about accepting the immeasurable affect/effect the past has on individual decisions in the present? about the need to commit to one’s history or the need to disavow it?).

(Or are all of my disparaging remarks a consequence of my current scepticism about soul mates?)(less)

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Jun 30, 2012 Jill Furedy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Yes, the cover did make me pick up this book. A fairy tale kind of title, with little drawings of sheep and musicians and film and planes among vines and flowers...I had to see what this book was. And the blurb mentioned war, romance, all stuff I've read before, but the fairy tale-esque description inside "a place called Half Village...a girl fabled for her angelic looks...his "golden hands" made me think it wouldn't be the typical tragic war romance novel. But the book didn't read quite as fair...more Yes, the cover did make me pick up this book. A fairy tale kind of title, with little drawings of sheep and musicians and film and planes among vines and flowers...I had to see what this book was. And the blurb mentioned war, romance, all stuff I've read before, but the fairy tale-esque description inside "a place called Half Village...a girl fabled for her angelic looks...his "golden hands" made me think it wouldn't be the typical tragic war romance novel. But the book didn't read quite as fairy tale as I anticipated. The story of the Polish family during the war had fairy tale moments, but the story of Beata (or Baba Yaga as she is unfortunately called by almost everyone) seemed like a possible Ugly Duckling tale, but never really took on the fairy tale edge.. But even without that element, I became engrossed in both tales. Beata's story was somewhat contemporary (I don't think they pinpointed the year, but there are references to American companies/politcs etc to reference), but Polish modern life and American modern life do have discrepencies so I had a hard time keeping the time period aligned in my brain! I could keep track of the war/post war story more easily, but I did lose a little interest in the family's story when they make it to Krakow after the war, for some reason. And towards the end of the book, I started worrying that both stories were going to end up terribly depressing. I don't need a happy ending with all the ends tied up neatly, but I also didn't want to be devestated when I set the book down either. So that slowed me up a bit. But enough was redeemed at the ends of the book to connect the stories and to give Beata and her family some options. And it tied up enough of the stories, while still leaving me wondering about some details we never heard anymore about: Irene's story, Pani Bozena, the film interviews, the rest of Nela's story. But it wasn't that anything was left out totally, so I was still satisfied with the ending. It wasn't exactly what I expected when I picked up the book, but it still turned out to be one that I enjoyed. (less)

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Jan 02, 2012 Melinda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: audio

I am reviewing the Audible.com. version of this book.

I didn't know what to expect from this book....but I truly loved it. It goes back and forth between the WWII years in Poland and the immediate aftermath and Poland in the 80's and 90's where change is still on the brink as they shed off their Soviet clothing and remember who they are as Poles. It flows easily between the two eras and the two eras are brought together in the end in a most beautiful, soft and complete way... the author didn't ha...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Stacy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really, really enjoyed this book. Firstly, I'm a history nerd, so I loved reading the story of Poland from it's (brief) independence between the two world wars, to it's struggle for survival during WWII, to it's suppression and subversion during the Soviet era, to the ""New Poland"" that is struggling to find itself during the post-Cold War world. This book is told in two different eras--one in pre-during-post WWII Poland and one in the ""New Poland"" of the 1990s. To be honest, it took me a f...more

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Jul 15, 2010 Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love when you read a book thinking that it will probably be just a decent read but you begin to read and realize that you have a gem in your hands--a gem that you end up really loving. A Long Long Time Ago & Essentially True was that kind of experience for me.

Pasulka skillfully intertwines the two threads of the story until they become one--inextricably bound by Poland's history and the hope of a better future. The stories are told in alternating chapters. I've read books where the transit...more I love when you read a book thinking that it will probably be just a decent read but you begin to read and realize that you have a gem in your hands--a gem that you end up really loving. A Long Long Time Ago & Essentially True was that kind of experience for me.

Pasulka skillfully intertwines the two threads of the story until they become one--inextricably bound by Poland's history and the hope of a better future. The stories are told in alternating chapters. I've read books where the transitions feels awkward and jumbled and I find myself forgetting or getting bored with one storyline. Pasulka delicately handled these transitions in a way that made sense. She ended the chapters right where they needed to end and I was able to effortlessly glide through the book. I really appreciated this.

The first of the story lines revolves around Pigeon and Anielica Hetmanski and their love story which is sweet and innocent but tragic in ways. The progression of their relationship was one of my favorite parts of the story. Their love story is forever changed by World War II (this isn't a war story, I promise) as they must deal with the immediate dangers of war along with the rebuilding in the aftermath. The second storyline springs forward to modern Poland with Baba Yaga (the granddaughter of Anielica) as she comes to the city after the death of her grandmother and tries to grapple with her culture and finding her place in Krakow. Baba Yaga is a endearing heroine in my mind as she grows. I found her so relateable as a young woman--she isn't strong in a traditional sense, she isn't sure about herself or her future, and she sells her self short time and time again.

My only major qualm with this gem of a book is this: I don't mind when an author sprinkles the native language of the characters into the narrative as long as I am able to deduce the meaning of the word from the "context clues." (oh hey there 5th grade language lessons.) I feel like the author used way too many Polish words and it wasn't always clear what they meant.

I would highly recommend this debut novel. Her writing is magical in itself and her characters are alive and complex. There are beautiful little mini love stories throughout but not in the mushy gushy way--so real you could mistake them for the stories of your own grandparents or great grandparents. This book is full of wit, wisdom, and hope--all needed to balance the heartbreak and tragedy. It pays homage to the lives of those who had to live through the War/Communist regime and the generation who had to move forward with those pieces.

You will be moved. I'm just warning you.

**reviewed this on my blog too** www.perpetualpageturner.blogspot.com (less)

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Mar 14, 2010 Jennyreadsexcessively rated it 3 of 5 stars

Winner of the 2010 Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award for first novel. The reviews have been glowing. For me, however, I honestly felt that the first half dragged. The chapters alternate between the fairly standard story of a young woman making her way in modern Poland and the story of her grandparents in 1950's rural "Half-Village". I couldn't find enough story here of the NAZI invasion. And dare I say, the author is almost overindulgent in her use of authentic Polish words. (If only the publisher...more

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Oct 31, 2011 Pamela rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fiction about WWII seems to be a dime a dozen, and so whenever a new one catches my imagination and presents a new, different side of the war and how it impacted people, I’m impressed. This is the story of a family of Poles living in a mountain village when the Nazis arrive, and it is interwoven with the story of their 2nd and 3rd generation relatives in post-communist Poland. It is beautifully written, and is magical in the manner that the author interlinks the two stories of relationships, des...more

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Dec 17, 2010 Deana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Those interested in Poland, languages, or life after WWII

Shelves: 2010, owned-me, wwii, 4-5stars

I honestly chose this book because I was bored while in San Fransisco - I went out exploring and found a book store, a great way to cure boredom. I stayed there for about an hour trying to choose a book to take back with me to help me stay less bored for the next few days. But this book kept drawing me back. I think it was the cover that did it; the cover is wonderful. And I couldn't escape the feeling that if I chose something different I'd be missing out.

I wasn't disappointed. I really enjoyed...more

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Mar 18, 2011 Diane rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks

World War II is looming, and a young man nicknamed Pigeon, from a place called Half-Village, falls in love with the most beautiful girl of the mountain village. Pigeon knows a bit about women, growing up with eight sisters of his own. To prove his sincere intentions about the beautiful, Anielica Hetmanski, he offers to transform her family's hut-like home into something beautiful. Pigeon is said to have “golden hands” and is an extremely talented craftsman. As a result, his accomplishments and s...more World War II is looming, and a young man nicknamed Pigeon, from a place called Half-Village, falls in love with the most beautiful girl of the mountain village. Pigeon knows a bit about women, growing up with eight sisters of his own. To prove his sincere intentions about the beautiful, Anielica Hetmanski, he offers to transform her family's hut-like home into something beautiful. Pigeon is said to have “golden hands” and is an extremely talented craftsman. As a result, his accomplishments and sincerity win his way into Anielica's heart, and the couple falls in love. When war arrives, their marriage plans are delayed, and they eventually leave their life in Half-Village for the promise of a new and better life in Kraków.

Nearly fifty years later, their granddaughter, Beata, (Baba Yaga) follows in the footsteps of her grandparents, leaving the Village for a better life in Krakow. There, in the new Poland, she lives with acidic, yet funny aunt Irena and her flashy cousin Magda. She discovers that Kraków is caught somewhere in between its future and its past.

A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True, spans three generations, and gives the reader a good sense of the German and Soviet oppression. From the beginning, the story alternates between the grandparents life in old Poland during WWII and the years that followed, and their grandaughter, Beata's life in new Poland - Krakow in the mid 1990s. Both stories are good in their own way, but I was more drawn to the almost fairy tale like feel of the Anielica and Pigeon story, and life in old Poland.

The story was sad and even tragic at times, but I was amazed at the many times the author was able to make me laugh or at least smile throughout this novel. The characters were genuine and their struggles were realistic. I connected with the characters early on, and felt like they could have been family members from generations, now long gone. Ms Pasulka, a debut author has real talent. The way the two stories were woven together, was seamless and the love story aspect of this novel was quite touching as well. This is a novel that should appeal to many readers.

4.5/5 stars(less)

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Feb 03, 2013 Renee rated it 3 of 5 stars

"A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True" flips back and forth between 1930s/40s Poland and 1990s Poland. In the 1930s in Half-Village, a boy known as the Pigeon falls in love with the most beautiful girl in town— Anielica Hetmanska. Their love story is first very sweet as the Pigeon tries to prove himself a worthy suitor by actually rebuilding her family's shabby house with his "golden hands," then rough as WWII keeps them apart and delays their marriage. In (near)modern-day Krakow, their gr...more

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Jan 31, 2010 Mark rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

Charming, funny, sad, witty, moving...all these describe this gorgeous first novel by Brigid Pasulka. Set in both World War II and present Poland (and the times in between), A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True is a ringing affirmation of the value of sacrifice of one generation for the next, whether for the building of a family or a nation.

The story is built in alternating chapters. One set tells the tale of a family in a remote Polish mountain village starting just before the German inva...more Charming, funny, sad, witty, moving...all these describe this gorgeous first novel by Brigid Pasulka. Set in both World War II and present Poland (and the times in between), A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True is a ringing affirmation of the value of sacrifice of one generation for the next, whether for the building of a family or a nation.

The story is built in alternating chapters. One set tells the tale of a family in a remote Polish mountain village starting just before the German invasion, and in particular the love story between the beautiful Anielica and her heroic suitor, "The Pigeon." The other set of chapters brings us to present-day "New" Poland and the humdrum existence in Krakow of three women all descended from that mountain village family. As the novel progresses, the story of the war-time family races forward on a collision course with the contemporary story, and we more and more come to understand how much the present is rooted in the past. The challenge: will the present-day characters rise to the challenge of living lives worthy of the amazing sacrifices made for them by the generation before?

Pasulka often portrays village life with effective humor, but never at the expense of the characters' dignity and worth. The humor helps soften the reader to the characters, and in some way prepare for the suffering that is to come.

A personal note: A number of years ago, while teaching at an English-language summer camp in Hungary, I had the opportunity to visit Krakow for a few days. Though the visit was short, I fell forever in love with the Old City, particularly the Rynek square and Wawel Castle, both of which play prominent roles in this novel. The author did an excellent job of capturing the spirit of this marvelous city.

One note about the title. It appears from the acknowledgments at the end of the book that Pasulka based her story on interviews with very real stories of survivors of World War II and the subsequent years of Russian occupation. Thus, I think, the "Essentially True" part of the title.(less)

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Nov 03, 2009 Christine Rebbert rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ash and I were at the library and she picked this up because of the cover art -- then when she read the jacket, handed it to me. Yep, another WWII memoir, but a novel this time, and it has two alternating-by-chapter voices -- what happened in the late 30's, early '40's, in Poland; and then the granddaughter of the main characters from the earlier days living in a different, modern-day Poland. Having just read "Clara's War", and now this, I feel I certainly know a whole lot more about WWII in Pol...more

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Jun 02, 2012 Iceduck rated it 3 of 5 stars

Interesting plot lines. The back history of the grandparents during WWII was much more compelling than the story of the main protagonist Baba Yaga in 1990’s Soviet-ruled Poland. I wish that the author would have described more about life under the communist regime so the reader could have better understood the economic issues that the Polish people were struggled against.
Writing was good but not great. Except that the WWII characters happened to be the grandparents of the modern protagonists, th...more

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May 17, 2010 Ala rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: to-buy

I felt a kinship to this book and it had an interesting effect on me due to my heritage. There were a lot of Polish words at the beginning which I understood, and were usually explained in context, but they may not be as easy to understand for a non-native speaker. The story line was touching and seemingly historically accurate. (My knowledge being based on certain first-hand accounts from family members.) There was a section in the middle that seemed, I don't know, inconsistent maybe? Not from...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Renata Barcelos rated it 5 of 5 stars

~~Review of Audible Edition~~

"Can I give it thousand stars?"

Oh my, what a book! This story is so absurdly well written, well told, well constructed and well read that I cannot remember anything better.

Really, I can't imagine how my commute will happen tomorrow without Baba Yaga's and Anielica's company. It's hurting me not to have them anymore in my ears all the time.

I've said before--Cassandra Campbell is amazing, but she outdone herself here. This is a work of art! There were moments I wasn't...more

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Oct 05, 2009 Mary McCoy rated it 3 of 5 stars

The book is really two stories that eventually come together. The first is set in Krakow in the 1990s, newly democratic and out from under Soviet rule. Beata is a young woman who moves to the city to live with her aunt and erstwhile cousin, and is trying to figure out how to avoid living her life as just a Polish barmaid.

The second story is set in Poland during World War II, and it's one of the sweetest, saddest, most beautiful love stories I've ever read.

Pasulka stumbles a few times with plot d...more

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May 04, 2011 Shannon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Another story from my favourite genre: stories set in WW2. This book sets every second chapter as the courtship of two lovers living in a mountainside village and the onset of the war. Every other chapter is their granddaughter who is living in the postwar city. I absolutely loved the chapters about the Pigeon and Half-Village but the chapters surrounding Baba Yaga in Krakow had their charm too. The end was a heartwarming reunion, good thing to because I could use some warm fuzzies after a few h...more

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Feb 01, 2010 Bonnie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction

I have a hard time picking out good books just by browsing at the library but this time I hit a home run. I'm not ashamed to say that it was just the cute cover design that drew me to it, but by the first couple of pages I was hooked. The novel follows two parallel stories, both of which take place in Poland. The first is the love story of a beautiful village sweetheart and her unlikely suitor: big-nosed and awkward but willing to go to the ends of the earth and beyond for her. The second story...more

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Dec 28, 2011 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, fiction, book-club

As an American of Polish ancestry I was intrigued when my book club picked this book. It took me a little bit to get into it, but once I did I thought it flowed really well. I especially enjoyed the story of Pigeon and Anielica. Their story was so sweet, but also really sad. I did not enjoy Baba Jaga, Magda, and Irena's story as much. It was really rather depressing. They just all seemed so lost. I kept hoping with all the earlier generations struggles that their life would be better, but it see...more

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Jan 01, 2010 Jess Haines rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Jess by: The Rejectionist

Shelves: historical-fantasy

Won this particular book in a contest. Wouldn't have picked it up on my own (I'm more a SFF gal), but I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was.

It's a very moving tale. It blends the stories of two families in old and new Poland, and shows how their lives are intertwined. I won't go into much detail, but this book evokes some very powerful emotional responses. The failures and triumphs of the cast of characters are so real and impactful, you can't help but be drawn in to see where fate lead...more

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Jul 15, 2010 Greg Perciak rated it 5 of 5 stars

"History is not dead – it is just fascinating to see it at work in the present.” (The Times UK). Pasulka toggles back and forth between WWII/Stalinist Poland and present-day Krakow. Binding them together somewhat magically is the living memory of her grandmother Anielica and her romance with "the Pigeon." The narrator, who goes by the nickname, Baba Yaga, pulls it all together in a remarkable 8 pages near the end, in two identically named chapters. Pasulka is actually quite a comic, at least in...more

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Sep 20, 2010 Richelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: polska

This was a wonderfully touching story which weaved together the lives of two Polish families over the course of fifty years while telling the history of Poland at the same time. My family is extremely proud of our Polish heritage, so I was drawn to this book mostly for that reason. There aren't many contemporary works of fiction set in Poland, so I really enjoyed reading about Poland in the 90s. Plus, the many Krakow references reminded me of my sister's and my magical trip to Poland. My only ne...more

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Jul 14, 2010 Tera rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-10

A well woven story that is two stories in one. Just when one story started to get slow for me the other would pick up the pace. I alternated between wanting to read the story long long ago and the modern day story. I thought the author did a great job of creating a fairy tale and a modern story and connecting them over the course of the book. The one thing I would change was the over use of polish words. Nearly every paragraph had a polish word in it and while I understand that it lends itself t...more

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May 20, 2010 Lauren rated it 3 of 5 stars

The story of a family in Poland at two different points in history (World War II and the end of Communism), this book has all the pieces for a wonderful book. Together, though, the two stories do not quite mesh, and the entire book feels off, as if something is missing to fully unite everything. It's honestly driving me slightly crazy that I can't put my finger on what about this book didn't work, because I feel like I should be talking about how this book knocked my socks off instead of how the...more

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Feb 28, 2010 Lizzy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Pasulka tells a charming tale of intertwining lives that tugs at the place of one's heart that has ever yearned for a better life. Juxtaposing the lives of the Pigeon and Anielica and their hardships through World War II alongside Beata (Baba Yaga) and her challenges through modern day Poland, provide a poignant picture of what our ancestors struggled to grasp, which is the same that we seek out: love, purpose, and companionship. The stories are not contrived; rather, I felt as if Pasulka could...more

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Jun 21, 2011 Carrie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: beach-reads, historical-fiction

Picked this one up on a whim thinking it would be a good book to read at the pool - something light. What I got was a moving story of a grandmother and granddaughter, alternately, trying to live through wartime Poland and post-communism Poland. The author does a beautiful job in expressing the feelings of her characters - I really felt the push/pull of their situations. I also agree with many other reviewers that a glossary would have been a very welcome addition, as would a pronunciation guide....more

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Jul 20, 2010 Anderson's Bookshops rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: carols-shelf

Carol K. said: "Ah, so much about this book reminded me of my Polish grandmother, Busha. I loved the subtle humor in this novel, but mostly I loved reading about the lives of "Pigeon" and his beloved Anielica & the hardships they endured under the Germans and their stubborn resistance to Russion occupation. Modern day Poland is described through the life of Baba Yaga, granddaughter of Pigeon & Anielica, & the story alternates & contrasts these different lifestyles. Excuse me. I'm...more

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Nov 27, 2009 Hannah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Beautiful, poignant, sad, yet hopeful - this book is going on my yearly reread shelf. The writing is warm and personable, the characters entirely believable. Early on, I predicted where the story was going only to be proved wrong many times. But really the plot is only another character in a story of humanity. Never have I felt more attached to my little amber heart I wear everyday bought from a street vender in Krakow.

Thank you for the recommendation, Lydia. I couldn't put it down, and it's no...more

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About Brigid Pasulka

The descendant of Polish immigrants, Brigid spent most of her childhood in a farming township in Central Illinois, population 500. After graduating from college, she arrived in Krakow in the summer of 1994 with no contacts, no knowledge of the language, and only a vague idea of Polish culture. She quickly fell in love with the place, learned Polish, and decided to live there for one year. Fifteen...more

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“The stupid things you do in life are the most beautiful.” — 6 people liked it

“[The Pigeon had learned something about [women] from his eight sisters, and if over the years he had absorbed only this one thing, it would stand as vindication that a boy does not suffer needlessly from growing up in a house with eight sisters. That thing was that a woman's heart is not bought by the currency of a man's emotion for her. A woman's heart is won over by her own feelings for herself when he just happens to be around ...” — 4 people liked it

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