Title: Will Grayson, Will Grayson
Author(s): John Green & David Levithan
Publisher: Dutton (Penguin)
Pub. Date: 4.6.2010
Genre: Contemporary YA
Keywords: Love, Chance Encounters, Homosexuality, Theatre, Musicals
Pages: 310
Description (from arc):
Will Grayson, meet Will Grayson.
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 towards respective romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history's most fabulous high school musical.
WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSON has been sitting on my to-be-read pile for quite some time. Other books kept pushing ahead in line until, finally, I took it off the stack and stuck it in my bag, refusing to look at another book until I'd finished it.
At first, I wasn't as enthralled as I'd imagined I'd be. I thought that John Green's Will Grayson was hilarious and I was enjoying the sections he narrated, but I simply couldn't connect with David Levithan's Will. He was just too for me. Too negative, too sarcastic, too much in general. I found him extremely annoying - until he met the other Will Grayson. I can't pinpoint the exact change that occurred, but I know that when the Will Graysons met in that "unlikely corner of Chicago," I started to like Levithan's Will, sometimes even more than I liked Green's! *gasp* Once I made a connection with both Will Graysons, my attitude towards the book changed completely. At first, I could easily set the novel down and was distracted by other things, but after, it was nearly impossible to tear my eyes from the page. So, if you've yet to read WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSON, don't give up on it if you aren't connecting with both characters. There's a chance that this will change for you, as it did for me, but, even if it doesn't, this novel is definitely worth finishing!
I can't write a review of this novel without mentioning Tiny Cooper, who is both a best friend and love interest in the novel. He was a fabulous character and, of all the characters, I'd have to say that he shines the brightest. I'd love to read a novel from his point of view!
Overall, WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSON is a hilarious novel written by two phenomenal authors. It reminded me just how amazing John Green's writing is and has encouraged me to seek out more by David Levithan.
Grade: A
*Edit: I said above that I didn't know what changed to allow my connection with Levithan's Will, but thanks to the wonderful comment below, I realized the reason! Will meets Tiny!! Now that I've realized this, I feel slightly silly, as it is actually quite obvious.
I keep reading great reviews.
ReplyDeleteI own the book.
I love John Green to the point of ridiculousness.
But this book is just too... inappropriate for me. I got to, maybe, the second chapter from Levithan's WG, and he did something, and, well, yeah. I will definitely pick this book up someday (possible soon, if I can't resist - which is really hard to do with a book by John Green), but for now, it sits on my shelf. D:
P.S. Love Tiny. Love Green's WG. :D
I love, love, love this book. I loved both Wills. I can see how Levithan's Will would be a little too negative for you, and he was for me but I kept thinking that his secret was making him this way. And, as soon as he met Tiny, his world got a whole lot brighter. (How could it not?!)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you connected with this book. I really enjoyed Levithan's Love is the Higher Law. And, I've loved every word that John Green has ever written. He's the man.
Gawd, this one looks good!
ReplyDeletei loved this one! i think i liked levithan's will a bit more, which surprised me too :p
ReplyDelete