Sunday, May 4, 2014

5/4/14: Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

Cover: A perfect representation of what to expect in the book. 
Author: David Levithan
Genre: Romance, Realism, LGBT
Goodreads Blurb: New York Times  bestselling author David Levithan tells the based-on-true-events story of Harry and Craig, two 17-year-olds who are about to take part in a 32-hour marathon of kissing to set a new Guinness World Record—all of which is narrated by a Greek Chorus of the generation of gay men lost to AIDS. 

While the two increasingly dehydrated and sleep-deprived boys are locking lips, they become a focal point in the lives of other teen boys dealing with languishing long-term relationships, coming out, navigating gender identity, and falling deeper into the digital rabbit hole of gay hookup sites—all while the kissing former couple tries to figure out their own feelings for each other.

Published/ing: August 27th 2013 Knopf Books for Young Readers
Rating: 5/5



Review:

This is the first LGBT book I've read in a while, and I have decided that I need more.

So I was a bit lazy at first in getting into David Levithan. I had a lot of other things on my plate (like finally reading the Kane Chronicles) but I still decided to start it. And I am really glad I did.

This book gives you a whole new outlook on the LGBT society and how you can help. It shows different sides of the story. It shows the abstract of their relationships. It shows how they suffer.

What I really enjoyed about this story is how realistic it was. You have all these characters with only a single thing in common, but leading different lives. In the end they all crossed over, but wow. It was so raw. At points I wanted to cry. At points I wanted these characters to come alive so I could just give them all hugs. Especially Cooper, because I believe he struggles the most in this book.

Cooper's character illustrates what it's like to be alone. To have no where to go and no point to life. He shows what it is like to not have someone to lean on; to not have parents, friends, or authoritative figures to go to. I love his bit of redemption in the end though, when he is saved. 

Harry and Craig show the more public view. They were inspiring to do what they did in the book (and the real boys who actually did break the record). Their experience also showed the cruelty in humanity, and I believe that was an important aspect to highlight.

Peter and Neil were the bystanders. They show what its like to live a completely normal life and to be totally in love with your significant other. And then they are there to watch Harry and Craig to break their record. They witnessed the story.

And then Avery and Ryan's relationship is probably my favorite because it shows all these aspects, but how they slowly reveal themselves to each other. They have the same problems of the other characters, but they don't have the same extremities as the others. And they were really cute and quirky and that was great (I loved the blue haired boy and the pink haired boy descriptions).

Overall, this book is extremely inspirational. It is told from the point of view of the Greek Chorus of gay men who died of AIDS, and I didn't know that while reading it, but now that I do know that, this book means so much more to me. I feel like it is something everyone should read just so they know. They get an idea of the LGBT community before they act, whether that be a good action or bad one.

It was amazing. Go read it now. 

Future News:
David Levithan is currently writing a sequel to his book Every Day called Rhiannon. 

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