Where Love Lives

Next to heroically-exploding robots, Hollywood's favorite story to tell is that of "love at first sight." The staple of chick flicks and rom-coms, love at first sight is as much a myth as the concept of non-exploding robots, isn't it? In this time of Facebook stalking and Tweet-ups, nobody meets their soul mate sight-unseen and then falls head-over-heels in love because of this first, chance encounter. Or do they? Inspired by the true story of his parents bumping into each other in Washington Square and going on to make a life together, Ariel Sabar researched other instances of couples who were strangers when they met. His book, The Heart of the City: Nine Stories of Love and Serendipity, chronicles nine of these true romances, from the 1940s to the hyper-connected present, and examines the possibility that some locations lend themselves to strangers making a love connection. Sabar discusses his findings at 1 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center (2 Millstone Campus Drive, Creve Coeur; 314-442-3299 or www.stljewishbookfestival.org) as part of the 33rd annual Jewish Book Festival. Tickets are $15.
Mon., Nov. 7, 2011