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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Counting Down: My Top Five

4. Will Grayson, Will Grayson - John Green & David Levithan


Plot: 

Meet Will Grayson and will grayson. Yes, they are two different people, unknown of each others existence. Will tries to float through life without being noticed - a feat that is barely manageable considering his best friend is name Tiny, but is larger than anything and very much gay. will has no reason to really live, besides a developing online relationship.

Their coincidental meeting one night leads to a story of maturity, acceptance and identity.

Reason:

As a collaborative novel,  I find that Will Grayson, Will Grayson provides a bit more than what John Green usually has in his novels. I am a big fan of his writing and do enjoy his other novels but I think WG, WG  is probably the best.

Whilst Green wrote the chapters for Will, Levithan was the brain behind will. Their writing really complimented each other though, with the transitions being seamless yet, able to differentiate between both characters. I found though, that both Will's acted only as a vehicle for the meaning of the story. Instead, it's Tiny - Will's best friend - that really stole the "show" and became my favourite character. Tiny embodied the values and morals that readers will learn once finishing the novel, and he was such a vivacious character. Probably the one most memorable character out of all of Green's novels is Tiny.

I would have to say the reason why I loved WG, WG so much is because of its story. As a coming of age story, WG, WG is very much relatable for high schoolers. Both Wills experience identity crisis although in their own ways and struggle to really fit in somehow in their life. If you don't identify with one "Will", you might with the other.

The concept of parallel lives is also quite interesting. I mean its not that easy to walk down the streets and find someone with the same name as you. Is it?

Overall, WG WG has a message that should speak volumes to YA readers. It's touching and has great characters. (Although in this novel the female characters aren't that great, so that's a minor problem). I loved the ending and would have to say Tiny is an inspiration to live by.

Also, just a minor warning. If you're quite conventional in regards to homosexuality then I have to tell you now, this novel does cover that issue quite a bit. If you're not okay with it then maybe this isn't for you.

Favourite Quote:

“In my kind of falling, there’s no landing. There’s only hitting the ground. Hard. Dead, or wanting to be dead. So the whole time you’re falling, it’s the worst feeling in the world. Because you feel you have no control over it. Because you know how it ends.”

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The Lover's Dictionary - David Levithan

Plot:

The tale of two lovers in a dictionary styled diary. The novel boasts a simple context: boy meets girl who fall in love but hit rough surfaces throughout their relationship. The emphasis of the imperfection of love is scattered throughout the story, leading readers on the same path they are destined to walk.

Review:

The structure of the novel was definitely something I liked. True to it's title, Levithan has expressed the emotions and experience of love through single words, much like a dictionary. It changes up the traditional form of novels and makes for an easy and interesting read. Levithan is so focused on setting out the novel as a dictionary that the sequence of events is lost in the story. Instead, readers are given different snippets of the relationship between the two characters according to the words. The moments aren't chronological but adds up to create a beautiful and raw love story. By doing this, Levithan also gives a little more edge to the plot. He can switch the pace and leave a parts unfinished only to revisit it with an unexpected twist later on. 


However, the selection of words in the novel play as a disadvantage. Half of the words don't belong in everyday language and only people with a large bank of vocabulary would be able to know the meanings. If you could be bothered, read it with a dictionary. If not,  good luck. It's possible to get the jist of the word through the context from the passage but it would be nice to not feel so confused sometimes with words such as: libidinous, stanchion and vagary - just to name a few.

Looking past that though, The Lover's Dictionary certainly demonstrates the inability to define love with one explanation. Instead, Levithan must scour the dictionary and give readers a selection of words that add to the meaning. Just one simple word can hold so much and I love that this novel creates that feeling. Also, whilst Levithan provides different words to explain love they don't necessarily have to make sense for every single person out there. That's why, even though I was slightly distracted by the use of "big" words I could also understand that sometimes love just won't make sense. If that was done on purpose than props to Levithan for conveying such a strong emotion just through words.

It's also a great way to convey the flaws that come with relationships. It's never a smooth ride and readers can experience that from the narrator's recounts. There's love of course but also frustration, dislike and just exhaustion.

The Lover's Dictionary is an easy read. It provides an insight into the life of two people in love but that's about it. I breezed through it and there were moments when I felt warmed by it. However, I can say it's probably not for everyone. I've read other reviews and can agree that people who are in love would appreciate it more. It makes for a great place to get quotes from though (just saying). I liked it though. It's realistic enough and certainly doesn't raise hopes of leading a perfect love life.

Rating: 3.5/5

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