Saturday, November 27, 2010

Book Review: Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Title: Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares
Author: Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publishing Date: October 2010
Length: 260 pages
Genre: YA, Romance

4/5 **** Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares- A light comedy about books, holiday spirit, books, finding love and more books. A fantastic holiday read to warm your heart!  


 
~ The Authors ~

Rachel Cohn grew up in the D.C. area and graduated from Barnard College with a B.A. in Political Science. She has written many YA novels, including two that she cowrote with her friend and colleague David Levithan. She lives and writes (when she's not reading other people's books, organizing her music library or looking for the best cappuccino) in New York City.

Author profile by Goodreads 

David Levithan (born 1972) is an American children's book editor and award-winning author. He published his first book, Boy Meets Boy, in 2003. Levithan is also the founding editor of PUSH, a Young Adult imprint of Scholastic Press.

Author profile by Goodreads 


~ The Novel ~

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written three books together, the first books being Nick Norah’s Infinite Playlist and Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List. Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares was published October 2010. David wrote Dash’s chapters and Rachel wrote Lily’s chapters. Although they did not pass the chapters back and forth in a red Moleskine notebook, they did email them to each other without planning anything out beforehand. That’s the way they work.

~ The Story ~

“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?

Summary by Goodreads 

~ The Review ~

The story switches between Dash's and Lily’s point of view. Each chapter gives entertaining and insightful excursions into both of their lives and emotions. Rachel Cohn wrote Lily’s and David Levithan Dash’s chapters and although they hadn’t worked out a storyline beforehand and just passed each new written chapter on to the other so he could continue writing, the writing style doesn’t appear incoherent or cut up.

Rachel’s and David’s individual writing style, their own ideas of a good joke or a meaningful quote fits the development of our protagonists, Dash and Lily, perfectly. Dash is a down-to-earth book lover whose best method to survive Christmas festivities is ignorance. Lily, on the other hand appears as a little angel, that can’t wait to spread Christmas spirit everywhere. The very contrary opinions about Christmas and also very different character traits contribute to a lively dialogue and cause anticipation.
Secondary characters like family members, friends or curious strangers complete the picture of a rich character ensemble.

We’ve got wonderful quotations of famous authors, hilarious dares and two profound protagonists that want to spend their Christmas holidays together with us. Some would say Dash & Lily’s story is set or begins in the Strand Bookstore, I would say in heaven. As a booklover one has to love this book even more just because of its setting and various relations to books.

Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares always circles around the little red notebook and its exchange between Dash and Lily. I consider this little red notebook as a fantastic idea to create a dynamic writing style and storyline but above all it stands for so much more than having new adventures, accepting hilarious dares or getting the chance to fall in love. This little red notebook and so Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares is about writing your own story, creating your life as exciting and unique as you like it, never hesitating to write down a new so far unknown phrase.

Have you bought your little red notebook and started daring yet? If the answer is no, then Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares is the right choice to get introduced to the trendiest way of finding new companions and fellow book lovers over the holidays or any other time of the year. 

~ We love this book because… ~

1) of the miracles a certain red notebook performed
2) of a paradise illuminated by eighteen miles of heavenly words
3) Santa has never been so cosy before
4) we can vividly image being the next crimson alert victim of the WashingtonSquareMommies
5) of its delightful oxfordian excurses

~ The Verdict ~

Dash and Lily is an adorable holiday read and I fear I don’t have to dare you to put this novel up but put it down again!

19 comments:

  1. I enjoyed reading your review. I'm about half way through this at the moment. It definitely is a good, fun read.

    ReplyDelete
  2. love the layout of this review.i really can't wait to read this one - it's on my Christmas wishlist!

    loved reading this review - sounds like so much fun

    ReplyDelete
  3. Incredible review! I can't wait to read this book!!

    That's so cool that the authors actually exchanged chapters much like the characters exchange the notebook.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ich hab's gerade ausgelesen und bin deiner Meinung. Ein wirklich schönes Buch mit viel Weihnachts- und Liebesstimmung, garniert mit intellektuellen Zitaten. Ein must-read für diesen Winter ;)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've been hunting for this book for a week now, I can't wait to finally get a copy and read it!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, tolles Review!
    Ich habe von den beiden "Nick & Norah" und von David Levithan "Das Wörterbuch der Liebenden" gelesen und habe definitiv nicht vor, es bei diesen Büchern zu belassen!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great review. I am even more excited to read this now :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello,

    I am a new follower for your blog but I really like and enjoy what I see. So I have the Versatile Blogger Award for you. you can get your award here (http://j9books.blogspot.com/2010/11/versatile-blogger-award.html)

    Cheers!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm so glad you enjoyed this book as much as I did! Didn't you just love Dash!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love your review! I haven't picked up a copy of Dash and Lily's but I definitely will after reading this! I hope I enjoy it as much as you do! :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great review! This book sounds like a great holiday read. I remember having a difficult time getting into the story for Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, but this one sounds too good to pass on.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I will look for this and will definitely read it!!
    Book Channel

    ReplyDelete
  13. Great review! I'm super excited to read this book now, I put it on my to-read list but wasn't 100% sure about it. Now I'll have to pick up a copy!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Your review made me want to read this book even more! This sounds really good, plus I've seen a lot positive reviews for this book.

    ReplyDelete
  15. This one sounds so lovely... I really hope my library will get it in soon!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great review! I've heard a lot about this one!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Excellent review. Been hearing fantastic things about this novel.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Sorry for reopening this thread... I've been looking at this for a while.
    What a great review! I'm going to put it on my 'to-read' list and see if I can wait until Winter to read it! Haha.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Awww this book sounds soooo cute! I plan on reading it this Christmas! Thanks for the great review! :)

    ReplyDelete