Title: The Lover’s Dictionary
Author: David Levithan
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication Date: January 4, 2011
Pages: 211
Source: Purchased at author signing
From Goodreads:
A sweet and touching modern love story, told through dictionary entries.
How does one talk about love? Do we even have the right words to describe something that can be both utterly mundane and completely transcendent, pulling us out of our everyday lives and making us feel a part of something greater than ourselves? Taking a unique approach to this problem, the nameless narrator of David Levithan’s The Lover’s Dictionary has constructed the story of his relationship as a dictionary. Through these short entries, he provides an intimate window into the great events and quotidian trifles of being within a couple, giving us an indelible and deeply moving portrait of love in our time.
***
What a completely refreshing and unique book! The fact that it is written purely in dictionary format was so different to read and had me hooked from the first page.
I was lucky enough to attend David Levithan’s signing in Chicago during the blizzard a few weeks ago. He read a good chunk of the book to the group and it made the book THAT much better. I didn’t want him to stop reading it – to the point where I contemplated crowd surfing to the front of the room and grabbing a book to pick up where he left off.
One of the best things about this book is that you have no idea who the characters are – are they a man and a woman, two women, two men, etc? The element of ambiguity was genius with this format because it didn’t matter what gender they were. The book was simply a journey about the love and turmoil in a relationship.
I seriously can’t get enough of David Levithan. I am now on a quest to read every single book this wonderful man has ever written. He continues to amaze me and I cannot recommend his books enough!
Rating:
I would have paid money to see you crowd surf at his book signing! HAHA I really like David Levithan too. I've only read one book of his, but I'm going to change that very, very soon!
ReplyDeleteI need to get reading some more work of his to. I just love the sound of this, it sounds so different from everything else!
ReplyDeleteI've never read any of his books and I've been meaning to. Thanks for the review, I'm going to add this one to my wish list!
ReplyDeleteI just love David Levithan. He is truly a genius! I think this book sounds so unique and different, and I'd love to get my paws on it haha fabulous review :)
ReplyDeleteI actually cried at some of the passages, and others I was laughing out loud because that's totally how my relationship is! It was so real!
ReplyDeleteI've read similar reviews praising the book, but don't think I new about the ambiguous aspect. I like that. It sounds so good!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tara.
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ReplyDeleteI've heard great things about this book! I haven't read anything by David Levithan, so I'm excited to start this one :)
ReplyDeletePS - Picturing you crowd surfing made me laugh out loud in class. I just thought you should know!
I loved how you got snippets of the relationship during different times and you had to try and piece everything together yourself! Great review!
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting for this one to arrive from B&N. He is coming to Texas in April so I'm really excited to meet him.
ReplyDeleteI love the sound of this and can't wait to read it. Great review, and cute story about the signing :)
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