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sandeeisreading's review against another edition
3.0
This book would not be my first encounter with David Levithan. The first book I read of his was Lover’s Dictionary which I loved completely because of how he unconventionally told the story of the lovers whose names were never mentioned (their gender was never mentioned too).
Every You, Every Me was eccentric. It was odd. It would put you on the edge of your seat. It would keep you reading until you find out what really happened.
Evan started getting weird photographs.
First when he was on his way to school and the next was a photo on the exact same spot on the first picture but this time of him.
He has no clue of who was sending these pictures.
Evan thought that the pictures were probably from his friend Ariel who had to be taken away.
He and Jack felt guilty but they knew it was the right thing to do.
The pictures were all related to Ariel which led Evan to depression and paranoia.
He believes that Ariel was getting back at them for what they did but was it really her that was really sending those pictures?
Or was there someone else in Ariel’s life that they didn’t know about that knew all her secrets too.
The whole experience of reading this book was eerie. It gave you this feeling that someone was watching you which I think is how Evan felt as well when he’s been constantly receiving those creepy photos. You’ll see those photos in the book so I’ll leave you guys to be the judge of the photographs. All I am saying is they’re unusually unusual which means that unusual is already weird which makes the photos in this book even more unusual than normal.
One thing constant although out of the book aside from the eeriness was the teenage angst. It was all over the book. There was depression, paranoia, suicide, despair, sorrow and a lot more of angst. I mean I am okay with a certain amount but for a book to really have a significant amount of angst it just gets really depressing.
I would have to say that the strikethrough on Evan’s inner thoughts were just amazing. I liked how his thoughts were hidden yet revealed at the same time. You get to feel how Evan feels despite him not wanting to divulge that side of him to anyone. But we as readers get to see his concealed thoughts through the strikethroughs. I give kudos to that!
Although I seriously loved the concept, writing style (as always) and the photographs there were a couple of things I disliked.
1. It was too depressing. It was full angst that you’d feel Evan’s depression and paranoia.
2. You get will meet Ariel but you won’t be able to really know her. For me Ariel’s character was pretty one dimensional in contrast to Evan. Ariel was pretty much a main character as Evan but we don’t get to really know her at all aside from the little snippets of her in Evan’s memories.
3. I didn’t like the ending period. I was expecting more from the ending since everything on this book has been pretty much great. It didn’t do well with me that it has such a weak ending. I would prefer if the Ariel girl was dead rather than what was revealed as to why she committed a (stupid) suicide attempt.
As much as I would like to this book more than 3 stars I couldn’t. I mean everything has been great. It was thrilling and mind boggling, I just didn’t like how it ended. I don’t always like happy ending but I want a decent ending and the ending on this book just didn’t work with me.
For me David Levithan would always be one of my favorite authors. If I would recommend a book I would recommend Lover’s Dictionary and not really this one.
Every You, Every Me was eccentric. It was odd. It would put you on the edge of your seat. It would keep you reading until you find out what really happened.
Evan started getting weird photographs.
First when he was on his way to school and the next was a photo on the exact same spot on the first picture but this time of him.
He has no clue of who was sending these pictures.
Evan thought that the pictures were probably from his friend Ariel who had to be taken away.
He and Jack felt guilty but they knew it was the right thing to do.
The pictures were all related to Ariel which led Evan to depression and paranoia.
He believes that Ariel was getting back at them for what they did but was it really her that was really sending those pictures?
Or was there someone else in Ariel’s life that they didn’t know about that knew all her secrets too.
The whole experience of reading this book was eerie. It gave you this feeling that someone was watching you which I think is how Evan felt as well when he’s been constantly receiving those creepy photos. You’ll see those photos in the book so I’ll leave you guys to be the judge of the photographs. All I am saying is they’re unusually unusual which means that unusual is already weird which makes the photos in this book even more unusual than normal.
One thing constant although out of the book aside from the eeriness was the teenage angst. It was all over the book. There was depression, paranoia, suicide, despair, sorrow and a lot more of angst. I mean I am okay with a certain amount but for a book to really have a significant amount of angst it just gets really depressing.
I would have to say that the strikethrough on Evan’s inner thoughts were just amazing. I liked how his thoughts were hidden yet revealed at the same time. You get to feel how Evan feels despite him not wanting to divulge that side of him to anyone. But we as readers get to see his concealed thoughts through the strikethroughs. I give kudos to that!
Although I seriously loved the concept, writing style (as always) and the photographs there were a couple of things I disliked.
1. It was too depressing. It was full angst that you’d feel Evan’s depression and paranoia.
2. You get will meet Ariel but you won’t be able to really know her. For me Ariel’s character was pretty one dimensional in contrast to Evan. Ariel was pretty much a main character as Evan but we don’t get to really know her at all aside from the little snippets of her in Evan’s memories.
3. I didn’t like the ending period. I was expecting more from the ending since everything on this book has been pretty much great. It didn’t do well with me that it has such a weak ending. I would prefer if the Ariel girl was dead rather than what was revealed as to why she committed a (stupid) suicide attempt.
As much as I would like to this book more than 3 stars I couldn’t. I mean everything has been great. It was thrilling and mind boggling, I just didn’t like how it ended. I don’t always like happy ending but I want a decent ending and the ending on this book just didn’t work with me.
For me David Levithan would always be one of my favorite authors. If I would recommend a book I would recommend Lover’s Dictionary and not really this one.
missbookiverse's review against another edition
4.0
Lang und breit
Every You, Every Me ist ein experimenteller Roman. Nicht nur, dass die Geschichte mit Fotos bereichert wird, auch im Textbild springen einen immer wieder durchgestrichene Wörter und Sätze an. Für manche mag das störend, gar unnütz herüberkommen, aber wer Originalität schätzt, wird begeistert sein.
Das viele Durchstreichen verdeutlicht meiner Meinung nach nur das Chaos in Evans Gedankenwelt. Die Geschichte ist aus seiner Sicht geschrieben und seit seine beste Freundin Arial nicht mehr da ist, steht sein Leben Kopf. Er vermisst sie und fühlt sich schuldig. Dann tauchen da plötzlich diese mysteriösen Fotos auf, die etwas mit Arial zu tun zu haben scheinen.
Zugegeben, manchmal fand ich es anstrengend Evans Ausschweifungen zu folgen. Er spricht seine Gedanken oft an ein gedachtes Du und ich war mir nicht immer sicher, ob es sich dabei jetzt um Arial oder eine andere anwesende Person handelt.
Dieses ganze Wirrwarr trägt dazu bei, dass der Leser an Evans Seite immer mehr dem Aufklärungswahn verfällt. Von wem stammen die geheimnisvollen Fotos? Was gab es an Arial, von dem weder Evan noch ihr Freund Jack etwas wusste? Oder ist Evan inzwischen so besessen von Arials Verschwinden, dass er sich das alles nur einbildet? Evans Gedanken haben mich so vereinnahmt, dass ich gegen Ende selbst nicht mehr sicher war, was ich glauben konnte.
Die vielen unbeantworteten Fragen halten die Spannung des Romans aufrecht. Was ist damals mit Arial geschehen? Von wem kommen die Fotos? Und was hat Arial den Menschen, denen sie angeblich am nächsten stand verheimlicht? Stück für Stück gibt es Hinweise und mögliche Lösungsansätze bis sich am Ende ein komplettes, stimmiges Bild ergibt. Dieses Bild hat es in sich, nicht was Schockmomente angeht, eher was die Emotionen betrifft und die Gedanken, die es anstößt. In Verbindung hiermit finde ich den Titel perfekt gewählt. „Every Me, Every You“ beschreibt eine Tatsache, die uns sicherlich allen bewusst ist. Niemand kann eine andere Person in und auswendig kennen. Niemand kennt alle deine „Ichs“ und du kennst selbst von der Person, die dir am wichtigsten ist nicht jedes „Du“.
Die Beziehung zwischen Arial und Evan hat mich bewegt. In Rückblicken erzählt Evan von ihrer gemeinsamen Zeit. Immer wieder wird deutlich, dass er für Arial eigentlich viel mehr sein wollte als nur ein Freund, was Arial stets gekonnt ignoriert hat. Dennoch war die Freundschaft der beiden intensiver als manche Beziehung und wurde durch intensive Gespräche und kreative Ideen geprägt.
Die Idee einen Roman mit inhaltlich passenden Fotos zu bebildern, finde ich fantastisch. Der Entstehungsprozess des Buches wird im Anhang erklärt. Demnach hat Fotograf Jonathan Farmer Autor David Levithan ein Foto gegeben; Levithan hat etwas dazu geschrieben und anschließend das nächste Foto von Farmer erhalten (ohne, dass der Fotograf gelesen hat, was der Autor geschrieben hat) und so weiter. Interessant, und wenn die Fotos alle groß und farbig gedruckt worden wären, hätte mir die Umsetzung auch besser gefallen. Stattdessen sind viele der Fotos nur sehr klein abgebildet und einige auch nur in schwarzweiß. Die Bilder an sich fand ich künstlerisch nicht sonderlich wertvoll. Inhaltlich passt das zwar, weil auch im Buch die Aufnahmen nicht von einem Profi gemacht werden, aber Augenschmaus sieht anders aus.
Kurz und knapp
Ein leicht wirrer, emotional tiefgehender Gedankeneintopf, der erst am Ende der Geschichte seine volle Wirkung entfaltet. Von den unterstützenden Fotos sollte man nicht zu viel erwarten; lieber auf den hervorragenden Schreibstil des Autors setzen.
Every You, Every Me ist ein experimenteller Roman. Nicht nur, dass die Geschichte mit Fotos bereichert wird, auch im Textbild springen einen immer wieder durchgestrichene Wörter und Sätze an. Für manche mag das störend, gar unnütz herüberkommen, aber wer Originalität schätzt, wird begeistert sein.
Das viele Durchstreichen verdeutlicht meiner Meinung nach nur das Chaos in Evans Gedankenwelt. Die Geschichte ist aus seiner Sicht geschrieben und seit seine beste Freundin Arial nicht mehr da ist, steht sein Leben Kopf. Er vermisst sie und fühlt sich schuldig. Dann tauchen da plötzlich diese mysteriösen Fotos auf, die etwas mit Arial zu tun zu haben scheinen.
Zugegeben, manchmal fand ich es anstrengend Evans Ausschweifungen zu folgen. Er spricht seine Gedanken oft an ein gedachtes Du und ich war mir nicht immer sicher, ob es sich dabei jetzt um Arial oder eine andere anwesende Person handelt.
Dieses ganze Wirrwarr trägt dazu bei, dass der Leser an Evans Seite immer mehr dem Aufklärungswahn verfällt. Von wem stammen die geheimnisvollen Fotos? Was gab es an Arial, von dem weder Evan noch ihr Freund Jack etwas wusste? Oder ist Evan inzwischen so besessen von Arials Verschwinden, dass er sich das alles nur einbildet? Evans Gedanken haben mich so vereinnahmt, dass ich gegen Ende selbst nicht mehr sicher war, was ich glauben konnte.
Die vielen unbeantworteten Fragen halten die Spannung des Romans aufrecht. Was ist damals mit Arial geschehen? Von wem kommen die Fotos? Und was hat Arial den Menschen, denen sie angeblich am nächsten stand verheimlicht? Stück für Stück gibt es Hinweise und mögliche Lösungsansätze bis sich am Ende ein komplettes, stimmiges Bild ergibt. Dieses Bild hat es in sich, nicht was Schockmomente angeht, eher was die Emotionen betrifft und die Gedanken, die es anstößt. In Verbindung hiermit finde ich den Titel perfekt gewählt. „Every Me, Every You“ beschreibt eine Tatsache, die uns sicherlich allen bewusst ist. Niemand kann eine andere Person in und auswendig kennen. Niemand kennt alle deine „Ichs“ und du kennst selbst von der Person, die dir am wichtigsten ist nicht jedes „Du“.
Die Beziehung zwischen Arial und Evan hat mich bewegt. In Rückblicken erzählt Evan von ihrer gemeinsamen Zeit. Immer wieder wird deutlich, dass er für Arial eigentlich viel mehr sein wollte als nur ein Freund, was Arial stets gekonnt ignoriert hat. Dennoch war die Freundschaft der beiden intensiver als manche Beziehung und wurde durch intensive Gespräche und kreative Ideen geprägt.
Die Idee einen Roman mit inhaltlich passenden Fotos zu bebildern, finde ich fantastisch. Der Entstehungsprozess des Buches wird im Anhang erklärt. Demnach hat Fotograf Jonathan Farmer Autor David Levithan ein Foto gegeben; Levithan hat etwas dazu geschrieben und anschließend das nächste Foto von Farmer erhalten (ohne, dass der Fotograf gelesen hat, was der Autor geschrieben hat) und so weiter. Interessant, und wenn die Fotos alle groß und farbig gedruckt worden wären, hätte mir die Umsetzung auch besser gefallen. Stattdessen sind viele der Fotos nur sehr klein abgebildet und einige auch nur in schwarzweiß. Die Bilder an sich fand ich künstlerisch nicht sonderlich wertvoll. Inhaltlich passt das zwar, weil auch im Buch die Aufnahmen nicht von einem Profi gemacht werden, aber Augenschmaus sieht anders aus.
Kurz und knapp
Ein leicht wirrer, emotional tiefgehender Gedankeneintopf, der erst am Ende der Geschichte seine volle Wirkung entfaltet. Von den unterstützenden Fotos sollte man nicht zu viel erwarten; lieber auf den hervorragenden Schreibstil des Autors setzen.
b_dav1s's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
louimcdo's review against another edition
3.0
Bit of a thriller, has you reading in wonder of what the next photograph is. Also makes you think and can have you looking over your shoulder.
A great read :)
A great read :)
creatureof_nature's review against another edition
4.0
I first read this when I was a teenager and I still love it as an adult. The mix of photography and story is so unique, and the way the author and photographer created this book is incredible. This will always be one of my favourites.
hikool101's review against another edition
3.0
Easy to fly through, which I feel like subconsciously added to the enjoyment. Other than that, it was mildly interesting and "enough". 7/10
glitterkitter's review against another edition
2.0
One of those books that I wanted to like because I really liked the idea, but in practice, there's something missing. I've really enjoyed other books by this author, but I think in this case, the writing style was too 'vague' (? I'm not too sure about how to word this) to ever really connect with what was going on. Also, there's a feeling throughout the book of a building mystery that doesn't feel properly resolved.
arundlestl's review against another edition
5.0
I didn’t just read this book; I gulped it. I read it in one day. It has it all: mysterious characters, teen angst and a stalker leaving creepy photographs. Evan is walking home from school one day and finds an envelope with a picture inside: a picture off him taken in the woods on the day that his best friend, Ariel, had a nervous breakdown. He had no idea anyone else was there with them. With the help of his semi-friend Jack, he tries to find the mystery photographer. They want to know who it is and how he or she knew Ariel. Is Evan’s paranoia making him crazy? Could HE be the photographer? Or could it be Ariel? The tag line “Every picture tells a thousand lies” is apt, but I might also use “Do you ever really know a person?”
David Levithan has written other collaborative books; among my favorites are: “Will Grayson, Will Grayson” with John Green, “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” and “Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares” with Rachel Cohn. The difference is that those books are written in alternating chapters with each author writing from the point-of-view of a protagonist. “Every You, Every Me” is more experimental. The author asked his friend, professional photographer Jonathan Farmer, to send him random photographs, one at a time. Basically, the author had no idea what he would get next: just like Evan.
This book is written unlike any other book I’ve read before. The chapters are numbered in an outline form (1, 1A, 1B, 2, etc.) which breaks down each chapter into smaller pieces and makes for a quick read. The book is written from Evan’s point-of-view, but it’s almost stream-of-consciousness, although some of his thoughts are “edited” with a line through them. The author leaves a lot of white space on the page for dramatic pause and emphasis along with the photographs that Evan finds sprinkled (in full color!) throughout the story. And let me tell you, they are extremely creepy, add to the spine-tingling story.
David Levithan has written other collaborative books; among my favorites are: “Will Grayson, Will Grayson” with John Green, “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” and “Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares” with Rachel Cohn. The difference is that those books are written in alternating chapters with each author writing from the point-of-view of a protagonist. “Every You, Every Me” is more experimental. The author asked his friend, professional photographer Jonathan Farmer, to send him random photographs, one at a time. Basically, the author had no idea what he would get next: just like Evan.
This book is written unlike any other book I’ve read before. The chapters are numbered in an outline form (1, 1A, 1B, 2, etc.) which breaks down each chapter into smaller pieces and makes for a quick read. The book is written from Evan’s point-of-view, but it’s almost stream-of-consciousness, although some of his thoughts are “edited” with a line through them. The author leaves a lot of white space on the page for dramatic pause and emphasis along with the photographs that Evan finds sprinkled (in full color!) throughout the story. And let me tell you, they are extremely creepy, add to the spine-tingling story.
glorious_talk's review against another edition
3.0
Rather stiff to read and only a halfway satisfying ending, but very good writing, deep lessons, and a resounding theme.
mkiyxxmi's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 - This book was really good! An interesting way to express mental illness / loss / grief through multimodality. I thought the way Levithan used strikethrough, spacing, and photos made the novel a million times more compelling than if it were written in a more traditional sense (or even a book in verse). Recommend!!