Maira Kalman Illustrates The Sweetness Of Young Heartbreak In 'Why We Broke Up' (PHOTOS)

Remember Your First Break Up?

Valentine's Day is nearing and L-O-V-E is on the brain. But even for those of us who choose to celebrate Singles Awareness Day on February 14, that is not to say you can't get a little mushy over the idea of romance, even if it's in the past. To help illustrate this we recommend "Why We Broke Up", a sweet look back at adolescent heartbreak written by Daniel Handler (better known as Lemony Snicket) and illustrated by Maira Kalman.

The book takes the form of a goodbye letter from one ex-lover to another, explaining, well, why they broke up. Each chapter beging with an illustration of a common object endowed with great significance through their love. For instance, it could be a movie ticket from their first date, a bottle cap from the night they met, or something else imbued with sentimental meaning.

Kalman's illustrations of the romance's debris are rendered with a hint of retro nostalgia. A bittersweet respect runs throughout both the language and images, recognizing the importance and passion that can grow and erupt within a mere 38 days.

See a glimpse of Karan's illustrations below and, if you're feeling inspired, contribute to Handler and Kalman's blog "The Why We Broke Up Project" with your personal breakup story.

If you're in need of relationship advice, look no further than Handler's tweets on HuffPost Books here.

'Why We Broke Up'

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