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Wednesday 22 October 2014

Every Day - David Levithan

Source: Goodreads
Title: Every Day
Author: David Levithan
Series: Every Day
Publication Date: August, 28th 2012
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A is unidentifiable. Ever since he could remember, he has been waking up in a different body every day. He makes sure to not make attachments, interfere or draw attention from the people around him. Then he wakes up in Justin's body and things change. Rhiannon is Justin's girlfriend and she draws out emotions in A that make him go back on all his rules.

A strays along a dangerous line just to follow the one person he wants to spend together, every day.


Review


The concept of Every Day is every bit intriguing and thought-provoking, but whilst it produced some really good content, it also left me wanting more. This really frustrated me because I prefer to read and have answers delivered than waiting and waiting, without any knowledge in the end. Still, there were some positives that I picked up along the way. 

I found that the overall message of the story was what made the read worthwhile in the end. It is a love story but the emphasis was on how love can overcome obstacles and unite people in ways unimaginable. Clearly in Every Day the situation is basically impossible, but because the emotions between A and Rhiannon was so strong it broke down the barriers that contained them. I don't entirely believe A's intense feeling for Rhiannon, only because it happened very quickly but for the story to progress and deliver its message I just went along with it. I took it as relaying hope and think it portrayed that well.

However, A's body transitions were something I was interested in a lot more than the story between A and Rhiannon. I found it fascinating to hear about every person's live, how much A could know and the influence he held over their body. I don't agree to his recklessness with people's lives after meeting Rhiannon, it's not ethically right, but it made for an interesting read. It also reflects how deeply one person can influence someone, whether it be personal encounters or, in A's case, a literal take over. I think my interpretation to him - and yes I'm gendering A despite not carrying a gender in the novel - moving from body to body is almost like a calling. It could just be coincidental but he did manage to help some people when it really came down to it.

The ending was bittersweet and a little lacklustre for me. I had so many questions built up, questions that A tried to answer for Rhiannon but it didn't satisfy my curiosity. I guess it really conveys how puzzled A is about the whole situation as well, but I just wanted to know. This is just my personal feelings though and I don't fault Levithan for being vague. It actually makes the story realistic and the possibilities that came up for A at the end built on the hope that surrounded the plot.

I do think it was an enjoyable read, I finished it a short amount of time. It was sweet at times but I just don't think it was right for me. I know there's a companion novel coming out in Rhiannon's perspective, but I don't think I'll be reading it. I can just see myself getting bored reading the same story again. Check it out though, it might be the book for you.





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