Why Shakespeare’s Sonnets?

I’m not really sure I can say why I’m so drawn to The Sonnets. I suppose at first it was just their amazing diversity. The beauty of Sonnet 18, the somber gracefulness of Sonnet 29 (my wife’s favorite), the joy of Sonnet 52 (my favorite—well, maybe, if I have to choose), the charm of Sonnet 128 (my son’s favorite). And then there’s the indescribable mood of Sonnet 107, the vicious passion of Sonnet 129, and the metaphysical intensity of Sonnet 146. But even more than this, I’ve come to appreciate their complexity. How their artistry, charm, emotion, playfulness, seriousness, wordplay, rhythms and moods all interact with the vague story of the characters and relationships running through them. It’s a story that’s not told as a narrative so it’s rarely discussed. But it’s a great story. (Of course it is—Shakespeare was, above all, a great story teller.) That’s why I wrote my forthcoming book, Shakespeare’s Sonnets Among His Private Friends. (I’ll tell that story later.)

I had read just a few sonnets long before I ever read all of them. It’s an entirely different experience. So I wonder of those of you interested in The Sonnets, how many have you read? Have you read all of them? Do you have a favorite or favorites? If you do, can you say why?