Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

Will Grayson, Will Grayson
John Green and David Levithan
Publisher: Dutton
Released: April 10, 2010
Genre: Contemporary, LGBT
Pages: 310
Source: Bought

One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens—both named Will Grayson—are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the Will Graysons find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most fabulous high school musical.

Hilarious, poignant, and deeply insightful, John Green and David Levithan’s collaborative novel is brimming with a double helping of the heart and humor that have won both them both legions of faithful fans.

Every once in a while, something truly great happens. Like when your two most favorite authors team up and write a book together. Crazy, right? I mean, who doesn't want that to happen? You can imagine my excitement for this book. I went to the bookstore the week it came out... and bought something else. The next several times I shopped for books I picked it up... but then set it back down. I broke down and finally bought it February, nearly a year after its release, and STILL waited weeks before finally reading it. Why am I so crazy? There's a reason for the madness, I swear.

What if it wasn't good?

What if John wasn't funny or David wasn't poetic or their individual brilliance clashed when brought together? Crazy talk, I know, but it could happen! I was so afraid of this book. Afraid of it not living up to my expectations, afraid of never being able to relive that first time experience if it did.

If there is anyone else out there feeling like I did, just pick the damn book up already! There's a reason it was a NYT bestseller and YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults pick! It's John Green and David Levithan! Do you really think they're capable of not delivering? Didn't think so. So save yourself any added grief by just reading it already.

Chapter one opens with John Green's Will Grayson: "When I was little, my dad used to tell me, "Will, you can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's nose."

Chapter two opens with David Levithan's will grayson: "i am constantly torn between killing myself and killing everyone around me."

After reading the first two chapters I breathed a sigh of relief and got comfortable. I don't think I've ever laughed as much while reading as I did with this book. John in particular is so good at making the tough, uglier aspects of life funny. This is so important, because if we can't laugh at ourselves, even when things are bad, then it's a lot harder to trudge through the crap.

Will and will are great on their own, but it's after they meet and Tiny becomes their link that the story really gets going. I wish I could describe Tiny Cooper for you, but words won't do him justice. He is a character you will never forget, but you really need to read it for yourself to understand.

This novel is, in a word, stellar. It is brilliantly funny yet poignant, and I wish I hadn't waited so long to read it.

Do Bloggers Sell Books?

There's been a lot of talk lately about the good vs. bad of book blogging, and I have to say that it's made me sit back and think about why I started blogging, what I mean to accomplish, and what kind of effect (if any) my blog has on readers. It appears there are industry professionals who believe bloggers don't sell books. They are certainly entitled to that opinion because they're probably right. I'm sure many bloggers don't sell a single book, but I bet a lot of them do.

I know because I'm one of them.

One of my greatest strokes of luck since I began blogging - and I truly believe it was sheer luck - was being approached by my local indie bookseller. They found my blog, liked what they saw, realized I was local, and said, "Hey, we should team up!"

Since partnering with Cavalier House Books I've had the opportunity to participate in their school book fairs. I spent two days back in November talking to high school kids about books. It was amazing. I'm sure the majority of kids who bought books those two days would have made their purchases regardless of my being there, but there were several who actually took my recommendations.

There was one kid whose friend was obviously a bookworm, and she picked up several books while he just stood there watching her. I asked him if he read, and he said he didn't like to but thought it was because he never found the right book. I pointed him over to John Green telling him it may be a good place to start. The friend then told me - and I'm sure this will embarrass him to no end if he reads this - that he and his girlfriend had just broken up so she was trying to help him find something that might make him feel better. I told him to go with An Abundance of Katherines (because it seemed fitting), and I said I was so sure he would like it I'd buy it back from him if he didn't. True to my word, I'm happy to refund his purchase. Except I haven't heard back ;)

There were several highlights from that day, but that one kid was my favorite. I hand-sold several books including every copy we had of Before I Fall and nine If I Stays, but I'm most proud of that one John Green. I really hope Colin speaks to that guy the way he spoke to me.

Another dream-come-true has been my display. CHB has graciously given me a space inside their bookstore to showcase some of my favorite books. And I don't know how many people pay attention to the title of the display or what John and Michelle tell them about me, or if they ever even visit this blog. But it gets their attention, and the books sell. And the books are constantly changing. The display features new titles, old titles, whatever I want people to notice. One of the last times I checked on it Michelle told me a girl stopped in front of the display, picked up Boy Meets Boy, and left the store with it clutched to her chest. Picturing that literally brings tears to my eyes. I love knowing that someone else is getting to experience the wonder of David Levithan's writing because of me. Sure she may already be a fan. Maybe she's even read it and just wanted her own copy. Or maybe the cover caught her eye, and had it not been right in front of her she may have glanced over it and missed out on the beauty of Paul's story.

As a book blogger, I know I don't have much push or pull when it comes to book sales. In the immense world that is the internet, I play an infinitesimally small role. However, regardless of the influence I have, I will always, first and foremost support literacy, and one of the ways I do that is by supporting the books and authors I love. I will always read, I will always buy, and I will always recommend. So it may not mean a whole lot to John Green himself, but selling that one copy of An Abundance of Katherines means the world to me.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Publisher: Knopf
Released: May 23, 2006
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 192
Source: Library

So you're a guy; you're at a band show and your ex, the girl who dumped you, walks in with the new guy. Looking for a safe exit, you ask the girl you happen to be sitting with to be your girlfriend for five minutes.

You're a girl; you're at a get-together and your least favorite female strolls in. The stranger sitting next to you asks you to be his five-minute date. So what do you do? You lock lips.

Nick and Norah's instant connect begins a roller-coaster "first date" that takes them through Manhattan and into themselves. A novel concept that works.

Confession: I never really read YA when I was a YA. I didn't read much at all when I was in high school, and when I did it was usually a Nicholas Sparks novel. Then came college, and as a religion major, I didn't have much time for reading anything that wasn't required. It wasn't until I was in my early twenties and out of school that I started to read for pleasure again, and then it was mostly adult titles. Until I picked up Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist.

I was shocked by how much I loved it. Rachel and David are so freaking amazing at capturing the essence of being a teenager - all the angst and drama and heartbreak and confusion. And you don't need to be a teenager to get it. Granted my teenage years weren't all that long ago, but I'm sure everyone must remember what that time in life was like. Reading Nick and Norah is sort of like reliving all the best parts.

Nick and Norah takes place in a single night, and oh, what a night it is. It is a whirlwind of clubs, exes, and emotions in the city that never sleeps. The dialogue is witty and snarky and funny, and I still, two years later, can't believe how spot on it is. David Levithan has this way of saying everything you've ever thought or felt but could never convey. Never have I loved the written word as much as I have since discovering David's writing.

This novel was made into a major motion picture back in 2008. I saw the movie before reading the book, so I  really enjoyed it. Many people who read the book first were very disappointed in the film due to plot changes, casting, etc. I can definitely see where these people are coming from (Memo to Casting Director: Did you read the book!?! Michael Cera is NO Nick.), but I believe if you can look at the book and movie as two separate entities you can enjoy them both. But hey, that's just me.

There are few I know who've had negative feelings toward this book. The few who have were mostly put off by the casual cursing and sexual situations. Neither of these things bothered me in the least, but I will warn those who admittedly have a problem with these things. That said, never did I feel anything to be inappropriate or unrealistic.

I've revisited this book twice since I originally read it, and each time is just as fun as the first. I'm really hoping to make BEA this May and my list of things to do in New York includes dining at Veselka's and visiting Electric Lady Studios all while keeping an eye out for a yellow Yugo.

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

Boy Meets Boy
David Levithan
Publisher: Knopf Books
Released: September 9, 2003
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 192
Source: Library

This is the story of Paul, a sophomore at a high school like no other: The cheerleaders ride Harleys, the homecoming queen used to be a guy named Daryl (she now prefers Infinite Darlene and is also the star quarterback), and the gay-straight alliance was formed to help the straight kids learn how to dance.

When Paul meets Noah, he thinks he’s found the one his heart is made for. Until he blows it.

The school bookie says the odds are 12-to-1 against him getting Noah back, but Paul’s not giving up without playing his love really loud. His best friend Joni might be drifting away, his other best friend Tony might be dealing with ultra-religious parents, and his ex-boyfriend Kyle might not be going away anytime soon, but sometimes everything needs to fall apart before it can really fit together right.

This is a happy, meaningful romantic comedy about finding love, losing love, and doing what it takes to get love back in a crazy, wonderful world.

I love David Levithan. He is, to me, one of the most important figures in young adult literature. Not only is he the author of a dozen YA novels, but he is also the editorial director at Scholastic and the founding editor of the PUSH imprint. Rather than gush over his amazingness, which would literally take days, I encourage you to visit his website so you can see for yourself. Or, you can just pick up a copy of Boy Meets Boy.

In what was originally a Valentine's Day gift for friends, Levithan has accomplished in his first novel what most authors spend their entire careers working toward - creating an alternate universe readers wish they could live in. I think a fellow blogger friend of mine, Jessica of Forever YA Lit, said it best, "I wish Paul's world existed. But since it doesn't, I'm glad this book exists."

Boy Meets Boy is the sweetest of love stories, and Paul is the sweetest of characters. While his world can only be described as a fantasy by most real life gay teens, Paul's problems with life and love are very conventional. Readers of any sexual orientation can relate. Maybe that's what is so special about David Levithan. His stories are so realistic and emotionally uplifting, readers can't help but be inspired by his words. If you're a stranger to Levithan or haven't picked this one up yet, I will advise you buy your own copy because this is a story you will want to own. I bet you can find one for your shelf at Cavalier House Books, and you should check out the rest of David's books while you're there.

Waiting on Wednesday (1)

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It features upcoming releases we can't wait to get our hands on.

This is my first week participating, and I'm super excited to be talking about...

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Coming October 26, 2010 - Preorder it below

IndieBound | BN | Amazon | Borders

From Goodreads:

“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

My thoughts:

I cannot freaking wait for this book. For me, Cohn and Levithan are my favorite writing duo. They are amazing enough on their own, but when they get together it's magic. I just loved their previous collaborations Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist and Naomi & Ely's No Kiss List. (In fact, you should totally keep an eye out during this year's BlogFest because I have it on good authority that someone will be giving away paperback copies of both.) Dash & Lily sounds like another great adventure brought to us by the brillantly sharp and funny Rachel and David. Theirs are two of my favorite voices in YA, and I'm so glad they have another story to tell.