Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

authors : John Green & David Levithan

pages [paperback]: 310

memorable quote: Some people have lives; some people have music.

favorite characters: will grayson

summary:

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.

review:

I bought this book a while ago and decided that it was finally the right time to read it! I love John Green (and have been meaning to read more of his books, as otherwise I feel like a bad nerdfighter) and I’ve read some of David Levithan’s work as well, so I figured the two together was nothing short of amazingly awesome.

And I was right! Thankfully. I loved the story just from the first few pages. What with Tiny and Will Grayson’s hilarious description of his only friend and his life and general, I couldn’t get enough. Then I figured out that the other Will Grayson spoke in alternating chapters (which I happened to like reading more, if only because I liked reading it all in lowercase . . . ) because I didn’t actually read the back before buying this book. Yes. I have a horrible habit of doing that, but it makes everything more interesting when I know I’ll like the writing and have absolutely no expectations whatsoever. Except, you know, for the fact that there’ll be two Will Grayson’s in there somewhere.

I think that everyone, at some point, has wondered what it’d be like to meet someone with the same name. It’d be a completely odd and weird and wonderful experience, because on paper they are you, but if real life they’re definitely not. I liked how the novel dealt with that, with all of the characters problems (and they all-even the minor ones-had flaws. Yay! Because I hate it when they’re all perfect) and with high school. And that musical. It sure was something.

This book took me only a few days to read because it was so completely enjoyable. It made me laugh, gasp, cheer them on, want to throw things. Everything that a book should do and then some. I like it when a hilarious book can also have some really great messages thrown in there. And have amazing plot twists.

You should definitely check this book out! Everyone. Go go go!

DOUBLY DELIGHTFUL. 5/5 stars

p.s. much thanks to the nerdfighter who left a post-it in the copy I bought inviting me to join nerdfighteria! even if I already know all about it, it’s still nice to know there are local nerdfighters. ^^

Gone, Gone, Gone by Hannah Moskowitz

Gone, Gone, Gone

Author:
Hannah Moskowitz

Pages: 288

memorable quote:

favorite characters:
lio & craig

summary:

In the wake of the post-9/11 sniper shootings, fragile love finds a stronghold in this intense, romantic novel from the author of Break and Invincible Summer.

It’s a year after 9/11. Sniper shootings throughout the D.C. area have everyone on edge and trying to make sense of these random acts of violence. Meanwhile, Craig and Lio are just trying to make sense of their lives. Craig’s crushing on quiet, distant Lio, and preoccupied with what it meant when Lio kissed him…and if he’ll do it again…and if kissing Lio will help him finally get over his ex-boyfriend, Cody. Lio feels most alive when he’s with Craig. He forgets about his broken family, his dead brother, and the messed up world. But being with Craig means being vulnerable…and Lio will have to decide whether love is worth the risk.

This intense, romantic novel from the author of Break and Invincible Summer is a poignant look at what it is to feel needed, connected, and alive.

review:

This is my first Hannah Moskowitz novel and I can’t wait to look at her other two novels, which look positively fabulous. I’ve already fallen in love with her wonderful writing style, ability to draw forth her characters and present them for better or for worse, and accomplishments in twisting a plot into something both moving, suspenseful, and addictive.

Lio and Craig were awesome and frustrating and unique and full of problems and quirks and little things that made them them. I like it when characters are out of the ordinary and express them in ways that people would normally steer away from, like Lio with his hair and Craig with his animals. I loved how each was obsessed with their respective thing for their own personal reasons. Random traits weren’t just thrown at them in an attempt to make them better. They just were.

 I think the pacing could have worked better for me because there were moments when I was so drawn into the story I couldn’t pull away and others where I was sitting back, itching for something else to happen. Everything was in clusters of action, for practically the entirety of the novel, and though most of the time that worked well enough, it needed a bit more . . . oomph.

But, that said, it’s the only negative thing that I can come up with to say, really. All of the important elements were right on target. I don’t usually read LGBTQ material-not by choice, just by fault of availability-but this is one of my favorites. For anyone who is looking to branch into that, enjoys reading it, wants a good book, likes great characters, or wants to fall in love with another author’s writing, this is the book for you.

GOING, GOING, GONE. 4.5/5 stars