Submarine by Joe Dunthorne
Regardless of the epic film that inspired many of us to go out and buy red duffle coats and have our hair cut into bobs, many people forget where the idea for the film came from. Submarine by Joe Dunthorne propels the reader into the average life of an average teenage boy and how he falls in and out of love. Why is this my favourite love story in literature? Because unlike many other love stories, Submarine is relatable to any reader, whether they are looking back on their teenage love life or just starting theirs.
Submarine goes into the life of Oliver Tate and how he battles with GCSEs and being in love. This is why the story is so powerful. No traumatic deaths. No battles. No ‘you can’t marry her because she isn’t from the right family’. Just simple love from a teenager’s perspective. A love story that everybody can relate to. A powerful love story and one of my favourite novels of all time.
Words by Brigid Harrison-Draper