Love, n. I’m not going to even try. —David Levithan, The Lover’s Dictionary

I don’t know what to say but I LOVE THIS BOOK. David Levithan never fail to amuse me. I am impressed on how he [Levithan] wrote this book! Very creative and unique to tell a story about an unnamed couple in a dictionary form (though it sort-of reminds me of Daniel Handler’s Adverbs).  The first time I saw this, I know I have to read this. I know this is something good and enjoyable; something that I can relate. Something that will make me fall in love again (or be sad about it). This book is something about love and relationships, how can one be happy or be sad with it, the changes, the evil thing called expectations, pain over heartbreaks, the scary future, the decision to stay together or be better of without each each other.

It makes me happy but it makes me sad, too.  Some made me kilig (WHAT’S THE ENGLISH WORD FOR KILIG!!! Ineffable feeling? Giggle? Butterflies in the stomach? Shudder? What?) and reminisce memories with this certain guy I love. Those romantic gestures, sweet nothings, and random precious moments. Some made me oh, so sad. The most painful of them all is after all they’ve been through, they are still unsure if they’re going to be together in the end.

Anyway, this book is something you can just pick up right away, look for a random word, and read what the narrator has to say. Some say they can relate, some don’t, but I think anybody can relate to this book because I know there’s a little part of you that loved somebody *wink wink*

To those who haven’t read the book, let me give you some entries from the book:

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.

lover, n.
Oh, how I hated this word. So pretentious, like it was always being translated from the French. The tint and taint of illicit, illegitimate affections. Dictionary meaning: a person having a love affair. Impermanent. Unfamilial. Inextricably linked to sex.
I have never wanted a lover. In order to have a lover, I must go back to the root of the word. For I have never wanted a lover, but I have always wanted lover, and to be loved.
There is no word for the recipient of the love. There is only a word for the giver. There is the assumption that lovers come in pairs.
When I say, Be my lover, I don’t mean, Let’s have an affair. I don’t mean Sleep with me. I don’t mean, Be my secret.
I want us to go back to that root.
I want you to be the one who loves me.
I want to be the one who loves you.

See other reviews:

Monique of Bookish Little Me / Tina of One More Page

10 Jan This entry was published on 10.01.12 at 1:26 pm. It’s filed under In Which I Write About Books and tagged David Levithan, love, Lover's Dictionary, YA novel. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post.