A sweet and touching modern love story, told through dictionary entries

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.

Are you a word junkie? Do you love books just about as much as you love breathing? How about romantic tales told through words that only other bookish types appreciate the way you do? Through David Levithan’s most recent publication he does exactly this, but of course, more eloquently. From words such as cadence to ubiquitous to kerfuffle each delves deeper into the life and meaning behind the words on the page. Examining them not for the Webster’s Dictionary meaning, but a living breathing example, all of which revolves around love.

It hasn’t been long since my last review of a Levithan book here on Chick Lit Reviews. Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares was one of my favorite reads last year and not only that it exposed me to a new set of authors I am now seeking out actively. When I heard about The Lover’s Dictionary I immediately looked into when it would be out and soon discovered I could possibly review it. This was truly an indulgence read. But not entirely. I think that though the book lacked in actual names to the characters it still carried a story and meaning with each word I encountered. Like this one for example…

posterity, n.

I try not to think about us growing old together, mostly because I try not to think about us growing old at all. Both things - the years passing, the years together - are too enormous to contemplate. But one morning I gave in. You were asleep, and I imagined you getting older and older. Your hair graying, your skin folded and creased, your breath catching. And I found myself thinking: If this continues, if this goes on, then when I die, your memories of me will be my greatest accomplishment. Your memories will be my most lasting impression. (p. 161, The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan)

Isn’t it beautiful? There is so much more to it than merely a short definition on the “meaning” of the word. More of a feeling, a history that the word expresses and David Levithan does an excellent job in this account of words. In this way the book is easy to savor, reading it over a lengthy time period and getting to know the imaginary characters in your mind. Or perhaps you, like me, will be to engulfed in the book to let it go with a few words and end up finishing it in a couple of hours. No matter how you choose to devour this fantastic new addition to Levithan’s library it’s sure to be enjoyed.

Most of all what I loved about this book were the stories. I’m not sure if anyone else really does this, maybe it’s a bookish-geeky thing, but I tend to make up stories about words. For example, in the last book I read by Levithan, Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares, the two characters spend time making up “fake” stories about what was going on during the creation of the word. It’s quite hilarious actually, especially considering many of the words are quite old. For me, this was the first time I’d seen an author put in writing what I do quite a bit on my own. So, when I discovered that The Lover’s Dictionary was basically that, but centered all around love I knew I had to read it. This story could be about a couple you know, it could be you, it could be a completely made up set of people, but no matter who it is there’s still a connection there. And it’s absolutely lovely.

The Lover’s Dictionary isn’t quite a story, but it is. A history, of whomever you’d like it to be but always centered around love. Words from a dictionary become love letters, stories, arguments and complications with every turn of the page. This is a story that’s often heart-breakingly honest, but humorous at the same time. Perfectly good fun for the bookish soul!

Thank you so much to the publisher, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, for sending me a copy for review!

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