Dash & Lily's Book of Dares - Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
Synopsis:
“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”
So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?
Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.
I think I will begin reading this novel every year around Christmas time - It's filled with the warm fuzzies that come with Christmas cookies and falling in love. I was so excited for Dash & Lily because I loved Nick & Nora's Infinite Playlist, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan's first collaboration. Both of these books I devoured in a sitting and both sit on my shelf constantly begging me to read them again. These two incredible authors get together and they each create the most vivid characters and bring them together in the same way two people would come together in real life.
The way that the book is written contributes to the authenticity of two people meeting and then getting to know one another. I believe, and you can correct me if I'm wrong, but Rachel and David don't talk about where the book is going to end up - one writes a chapter, sends it to the other, who then writes his/her chapter in response. The chapters alternate between Dash's point of view and Lily's. Because not everything is planned out and each author knows their own character inside and out, but is trying to figure out the other character, the story just feels so real.
But at the same time it's perfectly magical. I love the idea that they meet through a notebook that Lily (with the help of her brother) places in a bookstore on The Strand - and Dash finds it and they begin to write back and forth through this notebook. In the internet age, where this type of thing happens all the time, this is a great twist and an awesome step back towards the nostalgia of letter writing. This coupled with New York City at Christmas time just sets up the illusion that anything is possible.
Like I said, it's heartwarming, its real and magical - it's everything a book should be. I hope Rachel Cohn and David Levithan create many more collaborative novels in the future, because they have this great rhythm and collective voice that makes their stories unique, alive, and so hopeful.
Here's a great video of Rachel Cohn and David Levithan reading at the Strand - a prominent location in the novel (where they also announce that this book will be a featured film! Yay!) (also, this is just the first part, and it actually only has David reading the first Dash chapter. There is a part two with Rachel reading Lily's first chapter.)
Dash & Lily's Book of Dares - Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
Synopsis:
“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”
So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?
Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.
I think I will begin reading this novel every year around Christmas time - It's filled with the warm fuzzies that come with Christmas cookies and falling in love. I was so excited for Dash & Lily because I loved Nick & Nora's Infinite Playlist, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan's first collaboration. Both of these books I devoured in a sitting and both sit on my shelf constantly begging me to read them again. These two incredible authors get together and they each create the most vivid characters and bring them together in the same way two people would come together in real life.
The way that the book is written contributes to the authenticity of two people meeting and then getting to know one another. I believe, and you can correct me if I'm wrong, but Rachel and David don't talk about where the book is going to end up - one writes a chapter, sends it to the other, who then writes his/her chapter in response. The chapters alternate between Dash's point of view and Lily's. Because not everything is planned out and each author knows their own character inside and out, but is trying to figure out the other character, the story just feels so real.
But at the same time it's perfectly magical. I love the idea that they meet through a notebook that Lily (with the help of her brother) places in a bookstore on The Strand - and Dash finds it and they begin to write back and forth through this notebook. In the internet age, where this type of thing happens all the time, this is a great twist and an awesome step back towards the nostalgia of letter writing. This coupled with New York City at Christmas time just sets up the illusion that anything is possible.
Like I said, it's heartwarming, its real and magical - it's everything a book should be. I hope Rachel Cohn and David Levithan create many more collaborative novels in the future, because they have this great rhythm and collective voice that makes their stories unique, alive, and so hopeful.
Here's a great video of Rachel Cohn and David Levithan reading at the Strand - a prominent location in the novel (where they also announce that this book will be a featured film! Yay!) (also, this is just the first part, and it actually only has David reading the first Dash chapter. There is a part two with Rachel reading Lily's first chapter.)
