Friday, July 24, 2015

BOOK REVIEW: Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

This is a book review for Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan.

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. 

Wow . . . this book. There are not enough words to describe how incredibly beautiful this book is. I do believe it is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. This book is about way more than two boys attempting to break a record for longest kiss. It is about coming to terms with who you are, it's about falling in love, it's about family and friendship and so much more. Yeah, I am going to be a sap over this book. I'm not even sorry.

I loved every single character in this book. There were so many different types of relationships. There were Peter and Neil, who have been together for several months. They are in love and spend all of their time together. Neil's parents know he is gay, but never ever talk about it. The kiss between Harry and Craig forces that important conversation in a very touching scene. That was one of many scenes that brought tears to my eyes. Then there are Ryan and Avery, who meet at a gay prom. Avery is transgendered and struggles with when to tell Ryan and whether their relationship will continue once he does. Then there is Tariq, a gay black kid who gets beaten up because he is gay. It is that story that prompts Harry and Craig to do this. They don't know Tariq well until they learned of his assault. Then they realized how easily that could happen to any of them and they become closer. Harry and Craig do this test and stream it online, partly to show everyone that there is nothing wrong with two boys kissing. Finally, there is Cooper. Ahhh, Cooper . . . the most heartbreaking of them all. No one knows Cooper is gay, no one except the men he chats with online. He starts chats with older men in gay chat rooms, lying about his age and having very sexually explicit conversations. These men are the only ones he feels he can be honest with and he even lies to them. But then his father finds out about these chat conversations and I just got so angry and so sad. Cooper's father called him horrible names and even hit him. Then Connor runs away and becomes suicidal. I won't give away whether he actually commits suicide or not, but I will say that I think I cried more for his character than any of them.

Now I have no idea how David Levithan was able to so beautifully describe Harry and Craig's kisses for pages and pages, but somehow he did. It wasn't just about the physical act of kissing though. There was so much communicated between these boys without ever saying a word. And can I just talk about the narration? You wouldn't think that narration by a group of men would be very good, but it just worked. Everything about this book just worked for me. The ending was just perfect. With everything that happened with all of the relationships, there needed to be a good conclusion and there was. The conclusion was so hopeful and had so much meaning. And now, if you'll excuse me, I think I need to go and devour everything David Levithan has ever written. 

Notable Quotes:

"Love is so painful, how could you wish it on anybody? And love is so essential, how could you ever stand in its way?"

"We wish we could show you the world as it sleeps. Then you'd never have any doubt about how similar, how trusting, how astounding and vulnerable we all are."

"The first sentence of the truth is always the hardest. Each of us has a first sentence, and most of us found the strength to say it out loud to someone who deserved to hear it."

"Some of our parents were always on our side. Some of our parents chose to banish us rather than see us for who we were. And some of our parents, when they found out we were sick, stopped being dragons and became dragonslayers instead."

"The phrase rush to judgment is a silly one. When it comes to judgment, most of us don't have to rush. We don't even have to leave the couch. Our judgment is so easy to reach for."

"There is the sudden. There is the eventual. And in between, there is the living. We do not start as dust. We do not end as dust. We make more than dust. That's all we ask of you. Make more than dust."

Buy/Borrow/Skip: Buy!!!

22 comments :

  1. I just read this one for the first time a couple of days ago and I couldn't agree more. Such a stunningly beautiful book, I was completely wrapped up in it and ended up crying at several points. Lovely review!

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    1. Thanks Rosy! Oh I cried so many times too. It was just so beautiful.

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  2. Oh I think I need to read this. I just read Boy Meets Boy not to long ago and I liked it and it was cute but this sounds like more. Great review!

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    1. Thanks Grace! I really need to read other works by this author. This book was just something else . . . so amazing.

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  3. Argh! My comment just disappeared! Trying again...
    Lovely review! I absolutely loved this book, and agree that the writing is just so beautiful. I really love this author. I also recommend the books he co-wrote with Rachel Cohn, as well as Every Day (which is just incredible -- and the sequel/companion comes out next month!). I really should re-read Two Boys Kissing. I'd read it as a library book, but I think I need my own copy!

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    1. Thanks so much bookshelffantasies. Immediately after reading this one, I went online and purchased Every Day, mainly because it gets great reviews and it has the companion book coming out soon. I can't wait to read that one. I am going to read every book he has ever written now. And I am sure I will reread Two Boys Kissing at some point. I have it on my Kindle, but it may be one of those books that I really need a physical copy of . . . you know, in case there is an apocalypse or something and I can't use my Kindle. Ha

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  4. Okay, then :) You haven't been this vocal about a book since Black Iris, so I'm definitely buying this one. Delightful as ever to read your thoughts. Have a great weekend!

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    1. Thanks so much Ramona! And yeah, you are probably right about me not being as vocal about a book since Black Iris. This one is less intense than Black Iris, but it is just so beautiful. I hope you enjoy it!

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  5. Kissathon? Never have I thought this book would be about two boys in a kissing contest. Lol. Gosh. I tried reading this book when it first came out, but I just couldn't get into it. David's writing has never been one that I could easily get into in the past, so I don't know why I'm surprise. Holy Hannah. I think I'm missing out on this book, though.

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    1. Joy, I can completely understand why you couldn't get into it at first. By the time I actually read this, it had been on my Kindle for a while and I honestly couldn't remember what the synopsis was. It took a few chapters for me to understand the narration and how all the boys were connected. Once I did I loved it!

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  6. This is wonderful that you enjoyed this diverse book Cynthia! I thought Harry and Craig were so cute and it was great seeing the support for them as well. The tone of the book wasn't my style though.

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    1. Thanks Jeann. I do get that. The writing style and even the narration in third person is not for everyone.

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  7. This book isn't something that I would usually read, but I think I may have to pick it up after reading your review. I often need a reminder that even though a lot of people like to judge others, there are still those out there that are open minded and accepting of their fellow humans, regardless of their status. Great review girl, you talked me into it!
    Morrighan @ Elysian Fields Reviews.

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    1. Thank you so much Morrighan! I am so happy that I talked you into it. I have been really trying to diversify my reading this year. I really loved the tone of this book. There was so much talk about acceptance and love. I loved it!

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  8. I've never read LGBT :( since I'm not allowed Waaaah I really want to try this but ughhh my strict parents will kill me. Thanks for the quotes, Cynthia!

    www.lite-rate-ture.com

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    1. Chyna, oh man that sucks! That is why I love my Kindle. It's awesome for disguising what I read from others. ;)

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  9. Gorgeous quotes! I'm definitely loving that writing style and I think I would absolutely love these characters and the message that goes along with this book. I'm so happy you liked it so much!

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    1. Thanks Alise! Yes, it is an amazing book. So happy that I read it!

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  10. I've had my eye on this book for such a long time, but I'm now convinced that I need to pick it up! Thanks for your review!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. Thanks Nicole. Yes, please read it soon! It is amazing!

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  11. I've been seeing this on Netgalley, but until now, I wasn't sure whether I should pick this up or not. Great review!!

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