Books 136: The Lover's Dictionary

Author of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist David Levithan's newest novel caught my eye while browsing Barnes & Noble the other day. I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, and still haven't had a chance to start reading it yet, but the inner book jacket description certainly sounds promising.

"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 every day lives and and making us feel a part of something greater than ourselves? Taking a unique perspective on the universe, 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."

I personally am rather intrigued by this, and can't wait to start reading. Perhaps you'll feel the same!