The Lover’s Dictionary
Author: David Levithan
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication Date: January 4, 2011
Pages: 211
About the Book: 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, that’s 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 it’s even there when you thought you were searching for something else, like an escape route, or your lover’s 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 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.
My Thoughts: Okay, I know this isn’t YA but it’s David Levithan so I figured I could get away with it! He writes YA and works in YA publishing so you’ve gotta love him 🙂 Also, I just loved the physical book… the shape, the size, the feel, the cover, the page layout… it just made me want to hold it! Add to that the fact that I am a TOTAL word-nerd (www.freerice.com is probably my favorite website!) and you have a book I could not pass up! I mean, cataloguing a relationship with dictionary entries? Best idea EVER!
The Lover’s Dictionary is brief but it packs a punch! You can read a few entries at a time or, as I did, sit down and devour the whole thing in one sitting. I admit that I had to look some of the words up, but that didn’t take away from the impact at all. Some entries were entertaining, some thought provoking, some heart breaking. As a whole they create an emotional portrayal of love. I really enjoyed that we don’t have concrete descriptions of the narrator and his love. It could be anyone, any type of romantic relationship. I also liked that the entries are alphabetical (dictionary… duh!) but not chronological. It was interesting to see the relationship build and change. ***sigh*** This book just really worked for me! It was unique and fun and THE WORDS!!! I LOVE THE WORDS!
Jacinda (The Reading Housewives)
I loved that you got parts of their relationship our of order and you slowly pieced together the story yourself! Great review!
bibliophile brouhaha
I had only read one other review on this one, and it was negative – so glad to hear you thought otherwise! Thanks, from one word nerd to another! PS – that website is AWESOME!
Alex (A Girl, Books, OtherThings)
I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I’ve actually read a book in a similar format once before, but this one sounds much better than that one did. 😀
Jasmine (The Reading Housewives)
I really liked this one, too! I got teary eyed a few times…some of those entries were so emotional!