Book Review - Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

Completed: January 5, 2014
Length: 208 Pages

Synopsis from Goodreads:

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.

I always pre-order David Levithan. He is quickly becoming one of my favourite young adult authors. I have started working on getting his back-list as well. This doesn't mean I love everything I have read by him, but he is a solid author and an almost guarantee that I will love what he has written. But, 2013 was a bad reading year and his book just sat on my shelves. Then I started seeing it on 'Best of 2013' lists and kicking myself for not getting around to it. On Sunday I decided to drop everything else planned and finally get around to it and, yep, read it in one sitting.

Fiction or non-fiction? Genre?: Contemporary Young Adult Fiction.

What Lead You to Pick Up This Book?: I pre-ordered it because it was David Levithan, but hearing lots of good things about it at the end of 2013 made me read it now instead of waiting even longer.

Summarize the Plot: The story is narrated by a 'Greek Chorus of the generation of gay men lost to AIDs'. They follow around young adult gay men and watch what is happening and then tell it to us. They have their opinions, but they are silent observers other than from a book-narrating point of view. The focus of the story is two guy men, Harry and Craig, who have a bit over 32 hours marathon of kissing. This is to set a new Guinness World Record and takes place on the front lawn of their high school. This very public location leads to both support and outrage, but the boys decide they can overcome. While the book is not visiting with them it focuses on other gay boys who are dealing with typical teenage problems mixed in with the sometimes trauma of being gay. There are many emotional scenes for all of them.

What Did you Like Most About the Book?: The Greek Chorus. I really think they added an element to the story that made it just that much more compelling. While the 'modern' story was going on, they were also sharing their history. It made the story more through-provoking because it showed what it was like before and the progress that had been made. It also showed that yes, being a teenager is hard, but we died in a very painful manner and envy your experiences. I really liked them as part of the story.

What Did You Like Least?: Man, I don't even really think anything bothered me about this book. It was done really well.

What Did You Think of The Writing Style? I loved it! David Levithan wrote a very powerful book and it was only just over 200 pages. The emotion and style that he portrays in every word packs such a punch and amazes you that he can cover so much in so few pages.

What Did You Think of the Main Character? hm... I am not even sure who to say the main character is. The Greek Chorus? Harry and Craig? They were all important in their own way. Then there is couple Peter and Neil. They both have their story to tell. There is Avery and Ryan who have just met, but all ready have a story to tell. And then there is Cooper who is having a hard time dealing with who he is. All of these characters are important and all of them have an important story to tell that relates to the overall book. I think they all make the story and enjoyed learning more about them all.

What Did You Think of the Ending? Well, without really giving anything away, I think the ending really wrapped things up nicely. I will let you read it to see just how everything played out.

I Strongly Recommend this book!

This book counts for Long-Awaited Reads Month and What's in a Name for the category: A Number Written in Letters.

Some House-Keeping AKA More Plans for 2014...

Hosted by The Indextrious Reader

January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014

There are a few ways to participate in this challenge:

Postcard Level:   Read and review 4 books with a postal theme.

Snail Mail Level:   Read and review 8 books with a postal theme.

Parcel Post Level: Read and review 12 books with a postal theme.

Air Mail Express Level:   Read and review 12 books with a postal theme AND commit to sending more old fashioned letters this year. At least 12 pieces of mail (or more!), and you can share numbers or even images of your mail art in the quarterly roundups.

The key is to read and review books with a postal theme. These can be non-fiction on the subject of letter writing, collections of real letters, or epistolary fiction of any era. Be creative! Review each one and link back to the challenge -- there will be quarterly roundup posts for you to link reviews and posts to as you create them.

My Thoughts: um, yeah, this is so me! I love this and I am so excited and I have all ready been hunting down books! In a more coherent sentence format, I would love to reach the Air Mail Express Letter because I love sending mail! My Christmas cards alone, which some may be after Christmas cards, are more than 12... It will just depend on how my reading for the year goes. It also works out that two books I was considering for January fit the challenge.

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Literature and War Readalong 2014

Hosted by Caroline at Beauty is a Sleeping Cat.

The Books:

January: The Black Flower by Howard Bahr

February: The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

March: March by Geraldine Brooks

April: Toby's Room by Pat Barker

May: Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo

June: Fear by Gabriel Chevallier

July: The Lie by Helen Dunmore

August: Undertones of War by Edmund Blunden

September: My Dear, I Wanted to Tell You by Louisa Young

October: Phoenix and Ashes by Mercedes Lackey

November: Flight Without End by Joseph Roth

December: Letters from a Lost Generation by Vera Brittain and Four Friends

My Thoughts: I really hope I can stick with this because I would love to finally participate! I all ready have The Black Flower. I had to get an audio copy from Audible because it is out-of-print in Canada and my library didn't have it. There are a couple others I can't get easily either, but I will take it a month at a time. I own March and Phoenix and Ashes. I actually read My Dear, I Wanted to Tell You in 2012, I think, and liked it. I hummed and hawed but decided to get rid of it in my most recent purge. I guess it will be coming back for a reread! (I bought it for a few people after I read it, so someone will just have to lend it to me!) The book I am most excited about is Letters from a Lost Generation because I was saving it to read this year for the centennial and am tempted to buy it now instead of waiting... But, well, I have to wait...

Hosted at The Worm Hole.

January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014

During this time you choose a book to read from each of the following categories (examples of books you could choose are in brackets):

• A reference to time (Eleven Minutes, Before Ever After)
• A position of royalty (The People’s Queen, The Last Empress, The Curse Of The Pharaoh)
• A number written in letters (The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, A Tale Of Two Cities)
• A forename or names (Rebecca, Eleanor & Park, The Unfinished Work Of Elizabeth D.)
• A type or element of weather (Gone With The Wind, Red Earth Pouring Rain)

Extra information

• Books can be any format (print, audio, ebook).
• It’s preferred that the books don’t overlap with other challenges, but not a requirement at all.
• Books cannot overlap categories (for instance my first example, Eleven Minutes, could be used for category 1 or 3 but not both).
• Creativity for matching the categories is not only allowed, it’s encouraged!
• You don’t have to make your list of books beforehand, you can choose them as you go.
• You don’t have to read your chosen books in any particular order.

My Thoughts: I wasn't going to do another challenge and I probably won't complete most of these goals I am setting for myself.... But, I am going to try another because it is fun. I have joined before but I forget about it. I need to do better!!

A Reference to Time: 

A Position of Royalty:

A Number Written in Letters:

A Forename or Names:

A Type or Element of Weather: 

Reading Challenges for 2012

I have made my decisions for what Reading Challenges I am going to sign-up for in 2012. I am having some issues with Blogger that seem to only be affecting me, so let's hope this doesn't turn into a formatting disaster!

The Sir Terry Pratchett Reading Challenge

January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Hosted by Hannah at Once Upon a Time.

What She Says:

I have been thinking about this challenge for a few months now and it seems that this is the perfect time to get it out there. You see, I need to read more Pratchett. I adore the man, I adore Discworld, yet everytime it comes up in conversation, “I’ve only read as far as Guards, Guards and I can’t even remember what happened, I definitely need to read more.” So I have been dutifully collecting Pratchett books when I’ve spotted them in the charity shop in the hopes that I’ll finally live up to that. But I haven’t. Thus the Pratchett reading challenge 2012 is born.

Any format, any book, so long as it’s Pratchett. Re-reads are also perfectly acceptable! Books need to be started and finished between January 1st 2012 and December 31st 2012. You can set your own goals, whether you want to read 5 books or go for the whole Discworld series, that is entirely up to you. Be realistic or go crazy, there are no penalties if you don’t meet your goal, in fact the only real goal is to read some Pratchett. All you need to do is sign up below and steal the button. Stick it in a post, in your sidebar, on a separate page, wherever you like. I’ve made the button pretty big so please do feel free to resize it as fits.

My Thoughts: I will just be happy to read more from Terry Pratchett. I have several books by him on my TBR pile.

My List:
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Reading Shakespeare: A Play a Month in 2012

January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2012

Hosted by Risa at Breadcrumb Reads.

The Plays:

January — A Midsummer Night’s Dream - Completed January 16, 2012
February — Macbeth
March — Henry V
April — Much Ado About Nothing
May — Antony and Cleopatra
June — Richard III
July — As You Like It
August — King Lear
September — Cymbeline
October — Twelfth Night
November — Othello
December — Pericles

My Thoughts: I will probably not participate every month. I will basically just have to see what happens.

My List:
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What's in a Name 5

January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Hosted by Beth at Beth Fish Reads.

What She Says:

Between January 1 and December 31, 2012, read one book in each of the following categories:

A book with a topographical feature (land formation) in the title: Black Hills, Purgatory Ridge, Emily of Deep Valley
A book with something you'd see in the sky in the title: Moon Called, Seeing Stars, Cloud Atlas
A book with a creepy crawly in the title: Little Bee, Spider Bones, The Witches of Worm
A book with a type of house in the title: The Glass Castle, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Ape House
A book with something you'd carry in your pocket, purse, or backpack in the title: Sarah's Key, The Scarlet Letter, Devlin Diary
A book with a something you'd find on a calendar in the title: Day of the Jackal, Elegy for April, Freaky Friday, Year of Magical Thinking

My Thoughts: I have seen this challenge around for ages and never joined. I think I will this year. It's a bit fun and I will curious to see if I can come up with books for all the categories.

My List:
1. A book with a topographical feature (land formation) in the title:
2. A book with something you'd see in the sky in the title:
3. A book with a creepy crawly in the title:
4. A book with a type of house in the title:
5. A book with something you'd carry in your pocket, purse, or backpack in the title:
6. A book with a something you'd find on a calendar in the title:

War Through the Generations Reading Challenge: WW1

January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Hosted by Serena and Anna at War Through the Generations.

They Say:

War Through the Generation’s 2012 reading challenge will be World War I. The challenge will run from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2012.

Rules:

This year you have options when reading your fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, etc. with the WWI as the primary or secondary theme.

Books can take place before, during, or after the war, so long as the conflicts that led to the war or the war itself are important to the story. Books from other challenges count so long as they meet the above criteria.

Dip: Read 1-3 books in any genre with WWI as a primary or secondary theme.
Wade: Read 4-10 books in any genre with WWI as a primary or secondary theme.
Swim: Read 11 or more books in any genre with WWI as a primary or secondary theme.

Additionally, we’ve decided that since there are so many great movies out there about WWI, you can substitute or add a movie or two to your list this year and have it count toward your totals.

My Thoughts: I have wanted to do this challenge every year since it started. It is about time I joined in! I am going to go with Dip and start of with a goal of 1-3 books. I am not sure how many WW1 books I own.

My List:
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The Telling Tales Challenge

January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Hosted by Bex at An Armchair by the Sea and Esther at Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.

They Say:

Rules:
· Challenge runs from January 1st 2012 to December 31st 2012. You may sign up to participate at any point between these dates.
· Any genre counts as long as it is related to fairytale, folklore, or mythology in some way. If you’re not sure if it counts – as long as you can make a case for why it should, then it does!
· You can re-read books for this challenge as long as the reviews you link are written during 2012, and the challenge can also overlap other challenges.
· Whatever you read must either be a version of a fairytale or myth, or contain fairytale or mythological characters, settings, or sequence of events.
· Every month there will be update posts either here or on my sister’s blog. Please link up your reviews for that month on this post.

My Thoughts: My goal is to read 5 books from Mix n Match. To see all of the categories it is easier to go to the blog here. I will probably read more if I join in for the Once Upon a Time challenge.

My List:
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Essay Reading Challenge 2012

January 1, 2012 - November 30, 2012

Hosted by Carrie at Books and Movies.

She Says:

~ This challenge runs from January 1, 2012 through November 30, 2012.

~ If you read a book of essays, that book can also apply to any other challenges you are working on.

~ Choose a goal of reading 10, 20, or 30 essays, and then write a challenge post, linking back to this post. Feel free to copy and paste the above image into your challenge post.

~ Copy your challenge post’s link into the Mr. Linky below or on the main challenge page.

~ You don’t have to list your essays ahead of time – just have fun reading throughout the year.

~ I will put up a page for the challenge in my header, and add a Mr. Linky for essay reviews and wrap-up posts as the year goes on.

~ Everyone who completes the challenge and writes at least one review will be eligible for the giveaway prize: A copy of Best American Essays 2012.

~ I will put up a wrap-up and giveaway post sometime early in December – that’s why the challenge only runs through November.

My Thoughts: I generally have fun with this challenge, so it made sense to join in again this year. I will be signing up to read 10 essays. I always aim low because I never have any idea what I will wind up reading.

My List:
1. 'chipped beef' by David Sedaris- Read January 1, 2012
2. 'a plague of ticks' by David Sedaris - Read January 8, 2012
3. 'get your ya-ya's out! by David Sedaris- Read January 8, 2012
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Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Hosted by Historical Tapestry.

They Say:

Each month, a new post dedicated to the HF Challenge will be created. To participate, you only have to follow the rules:

everyone can participate, even those who don't have a blog (you can add your book title and thoughts in the comment section if you wish)

add the link(s) of your review(s) including your name and book title to the Mister Linky we’ll be adding to our monthly post (please, do not add your blog link, but the correct address that will guide us directly to your review)

any kind of historical fiction is accepted (HF fantasy, HF young adult,...)

During these following 12 months you can choose one of the different reading levels:
Severe Bookaholism: 20 books
Undoubtedly Obsessed: 15 books
Struggling the Addiction: 10 books
Daring & Curious: 5 books
Out of My Comfort Zone: 2 books

My Thoughts: Since I am one of the co-bloggers at Historical Tapestry I figure I should sign-up for this challenge again this year. I will do Struggling the Addicition this year and read 10 books. It would be nice to read more, but judging by this year it might not...

My List:
1. The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: A Novel in Pictures by Caroline Preston (HF) (Completed January 13, 2012)
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My blog is working right again, so I just edited this to add pictures, fix formatting, and add some links.