The Lover's Dictionary

Hello Lovelies!

So this month, love is on everyone's mind! It's at the grocery store, on the radio, in the theater. So my good friend Loretta from Between the Pages , and I decided to do a little something special! We read and discussed The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan. The book was incredible and we had a total blast! So keep on reading to find out my thoughts on the book in my mini review, and make sure you scroll down to my Q&A with the lovely Loretta. Don't forget to stop by her blog as well to see what her thoughts on the book were, as well as to read my Q&A answers.

The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan

   

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.

When Loretta approached me with the idea of doing this review, I was really excited! I have been dying to read this book, and it sounded like so much fun!

I honestly did not expect to fall in love with a book about love, but I did! This book was short, but sweet and to the point. It expressed through a unique style of writing, the true meaning of love! Love with all of it's ups and downs, pro's and con's. It wasn't just a story of love and happily ever after. It was so real, everything from that first time you meet, to the crazy butterflies the size of elephants in the pit of your stomach, to the first time you say I love you and are frightened the other person doesn't feel it too, to the first fight, and everything else in between!

I loved David' Levithan's style of writing and his unique approach and style he used when writing this. At time's things got a bit confusing when he'd jump from the present to the past to tell a story. And yes, there were many time's when I had to look up a word in the dictionary to get the real meaning of it, but who couldn't stand to expand their vocabulary a little?

All in all, I loved this book! It was a super fast read, that I found to be extremely refreshing! It captures the true meaning of love in it's entirety and I highly recommend it!

The Lover's Dictionary Q&A with Loretta from Between The Pages

Did you learn some new words from reading The Lover's Dictionary?

Oh yeah. I learned a slew of new words I never even knew. Honestly, I was dumbfounded (haha, yes this was used, & I KNEW what it meant ;]) at some of the words that were used. I had to GET a dictionary to read some words & figure it out. I know after you read the passage after the word you kinda get it. BUT, I wanted to know how to SAY the word. Yeah, it was crazy.

What do you think the meaning of the book was?

TO teach us new words?

No, I am kidding.. kinda! I think the meaning was to show you the different ways love works. The different phases. Love is love. To get a vision of how love is at times. 

The book also leaves you wondering how it ends.. but we never really know in our own love how it is going to end. Right?!

What were your feelings on the character's both as a whole, and also individually?

The MC was very into the relationship. I thought that he was sweet. Oh course he has his hesitations. But, what love don't. After sleeping alone for some times it is quite annoying to have someone in your space.

The girlfriend on the other hand was rather.....different. Yes, different. Things she did, said & how she acted was rather annoying. Her as a person I could not like as an individual. She just didn’t seem to really BE in the relationship.

As a whole I think it was how love is at times. I mean I cannot sit here and think people do not fight. They do. Who wants someone all in there space 24/7? Not me. But, I feel at times that their relationship was real. And at times, even I felt uncomfortable when they did in certain situations.

What was your favorite quote from the book?

“corrode v.

I spent all this time building a relationship. Then one night I left the window open and it started to rust.”

There were so many, but this is the one that stood out to me the most. It was that moment of realization for the MC, that his relationship maybe wasn't what he thought it to be.

Has this book changed your definition of love?

It hasn't. I have always been a believer in love. I mean come on. I married my High School Sweetheart.. BUT, I am not blind either. Love does not stop you from hurting someone. Love does not stop you from making mistakes. But, Love does make you want to change all of them things..

The book shows you how love really is. RAW

 With love being on everyone's mind right now, what are some of your favorite romantic reads?

A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young.

Maybe this is not your average "Happy Ending" book. But the love between the MC & her boyfriend (Harlin) was real. So real. & not over.

Thank you so much Loretta for stopping by. I had a blast reading this book and discussing it with you! Don't forget to hop on over to Loretta's blog to read her thoughts on it, as well as to find out my answers to the Q&A!