Like his earlier book, Essays in Love, this is a philosophical novel that examines a romantic relationship in forensic detail. Rabih and Kirtsen, meet, fall in love, get married, have children, and so on. The author uses their relationship for a wider rumination on love – what forms it takes, how it works (or doesn't work) at various stages, and what it means to be a couple. The book is at its best when it most closely follows the novel form – for example, he expertly captures the petty and awkward nature of arguments. However, there are regular italicised passages in which the somewhat dry, cold "philosophy voice" takes over, and these brief commentaries interrupt the flow. That's obviously intentional – for some reason he doesn't want you to become fully absorbed in this as a work of fiction – but it does tend to make the book less effective.
Ultimately there’s a message of kindness behind The Course of Love – a subtle suggestion that we might be able to become better people over time if we survive the obstacles life throws at us.
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