"The Lover's Dictionary" by David Levithan is a unique love story told through dictionary entries, each word representing a moment or aspect of a couple's relationship. The narrative unfolds through alphabetically arranged definitions, offering glimpses into the ups and downs, laughter and tears, fights and betrayals of the couple's journey. The writing style is poetic, raw, and emotional, capturing the essence of love and relationships in short, poignant entries that paint a vivid picture of the characters' experiences.

Characters:

The characters are unnamed and gender-neutral, making them relatable and allowing various interpretations while showcasing their flaws.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is sparse yet lyrical, utilizing a unique dictionary format that delivers emotional and relatable insights on love.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot features a non-linear narrative told through dictionary-style entries that capture significant moments in a relationship.

Setting:

The setting revolves around modern contemporary life, focusing on the dynamics of a relationship through everyday scenarios.

Pacing:

The pacing is quick, with short dictionary entries enabling swift reading and capturing moments succinctly.

I was so nervous to meet Kathryn. You’d made it clear she was the only friend whose opinion you really cared about, so I spent more time getting dressed for her than I ever had for you. We met at that...

Notes:

The Lover's Dictionary is structured in an unorthodox way, using dictionary entries to tell a love story.

The book is organized alphabetically, exploring themes of love through various words.

The characters in the novel are unnamed and their genders are often ambiguous, allowing for a more universal interpretation.

Each entry in the book functions as a snapshot of the relationship, reflecting different emotional states and experiences.

Readers often experience deep connections with the themes of love and relationships portrayed in the book, even if they feel distant from the romantic aspects.

The narrative is presented in a non-linear fashion, creating a sense of mystery and requiring readers to piece together the story.

While the book contains heartwarming moments, it also delves into themes of heartbreak and struggle within relationships.

The writing style is noted for being sparse yet emotive, often capturing complex feelings in just a few words.

The unique format has been compared to poetry and has resonated with many readers for its beauty and honesty.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains themes of heartbreak, infidelity, and emotional conflict, which could be triggering for some readers.

Has Romance?

There is a significant presence of romance in The Lover's Dictionary, showcasing the highs and lows of a relationship.

implied steam level

From The Publisher:

How does one talk about love? Is it even possible to describe something at once utterly mundane and wholly transcendent, that has the power to consume our lives completely, while making us feel part of something infinitely larger than ourselves?

Taking a unique approach to this age-old problem, the nameless narrator of David Levithan's The Lover's Dictionary constructs the story of a relationship as a dictionary. Through these sharp entries, he provides an intimate window into the great events and quotidian trifles of coupledom, giving us an indelible and deeply moving portrait of love in our time.

Ratings (5)

Incredible (2)
Loved It (2)
It Was OK (1)

Reader Stats (9):

Read It (5)
Want To Read (4)

1 comment(s)

tamevans12825

Loved It

1 month

A quick and concise unconventional novel telling the story of a relationship presented in the form of dictionary entries.

To me, each entry is strong enough to stand on its own but also is an integral piece of the larger bigger story. As someone who lovers words and their definitions, it was a delight to read how the author connected an experience to a particular word.

Overall, this was an enjoyable book I could see myself reading again at some point in the future.

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About the Author:

David Levithan is the author of many acclaimed young-adult novels, including the New York Times bestselling Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (with Rachel Cohn), which was adapted into a popular movie. He is also an editorial director at Scholastic.

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The Lover's Dictionary

David Levithan