(Review) The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan

Title: The Lover’s Dictionary
Author: David Levithan
Pub Date: January 2011
Pages: 240

Source: I borrowed this book from my local library.

Publisher Comments:
A sweet and touching modern love story, told through dictionary entries

basis, n.

There has to be a moment at the beginning when you wonder whether you’re in love with the person or in love with the feeling of love itself.

If the moment doesn’t pass, thats it you’re done. And if the moment does pass, it never goes that far. It stands in the distance, ready for whenever you want it back. Sometimes its even there when you thought you were searching for something else, like an escape route, or your lovers face.

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 Levithans The Lovers 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.

For some reason I thought this book came out sooner then it was. I guess thats one of the things about being a book blogger is getting to read and review before the book comes out which wasn’t my case because I have been eyeing it since I first heard about it and I was actualy waiting for it to come out in paperback (January 2012).

If you are a YA reader you already know who David Levithan is, but if this is your first time hearing about him, he is a famous (must read) YA author that has written some great books such as Will Grayson,Will Grayson and Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares. Both books I have sitting on my TBR shelf. This is David’s first adult book.

This is actually my very first book I have read by David (yea I know) and I enjoyed it. This was a super quick read and was written in the format of words like in a dictionary and the “definitions” are either a single sentence or a paragraph of the situation that the narrator feels that goes with the word.

The book is about the narrator meeting a person (both are unnamed and non gender specified) who they have met through a online dating services (Did you know that 1 out of 5 people have used a online dating service?). As in any typical relationship couples hit rough spots and this is covered in the book but as you read you wonder if they will stay together or break up.

There was so many entries that he wrote about the I could relate to and I am sure many people could to. I even have to say some of the entries are funny and though provoking.

This was a nice read and break from my regular reading. So if you are looking for a quick read or something to break up your regular reading then this is the book for you.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:

autonomy, n.
“I want my books to have their own shelves,” you said, and that’s how I knew it would be okay to live together.

deciduous, adj.
I couldn’t believe one person could own so many shoes, and still buy new ones every year.

tenet, n.
At the end of a French movie, the lover sings, “Love me less, but love me for a log time.”