This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:
The Lover's Dictionary: A Novel
by David Levithan
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
January 4, 2011
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. (from Amazon)
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. (from Amazon)
Nice teaser! This seems like a more interesting book than the dictionary! Haha...must put this on my to-read list! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
Is this the new spin after the verse novel trend? Definitely different. A nice, fresh choice. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOh I just finished Dash and Lily's Book of Dares, which was co-authored by Levithan and I am ready for more of his writing this sounds awesome. Thanks for sharing this. Another one for the wish list.
ReplyDeleteGreat choice! I think we have similar tastes! Thanks for stopping by Attack of the Book & Lady Reader's Bookstuff!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!
Amy
This sounds great! I'll have to check this out.
ReplyDeleteMy WoW is Last Sacrifice
Wow sounds great! I have this newfound love for David Levithan ever since I read Dash & Lily's Book of Dares. I'm very much interested in his upcoming release! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI remember hearing about this book a few months ago, but I completely forgot about it. Thanks for reminding me!
ReplyDeleteThis makes me think of two other titles: Xiaolu Guo's A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers and The Dictionary of the Khazars: A Lexicon Novel by Serbian author Milorad Pavić. The first ties in more with the love story, as it's ostensibly the practice English writings of a young Chinese woman in Britain to learn the language. It's focus is on the difficulty of communication in relationships and across cultures. The Dictionary of the Khazars is really a kind of encyclopedia that invents a culture. Fun if you're in the mood to be toyed with a bit.
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I can't believe I just found out about this book yesterday! I've been devouring all of Levithan's books this year. I'm saving Dash and Lily's Book of Dares for the holiday readathon which starts tomorrow. I am so excited!
ReplyDeleteAshley - Thanks for those suggestions. Not too sure if I'm in the mood to be toyed with though!
Thank you all for stopping by and your comments. I love reading them and finding out that we are all excited about the same books!
Oh, what an interesting premise. Thanks for putting this one on my radar!
ReplyDeleteI agree with others. Interesting premise! I've not hear of this book before, but I'm going looking.....
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