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verosnotebook 's review for:
Dash & Lily's Book of Dares
by Rachel Cohn, David Levithan
Re-read
“But isn't this a dance? Isn't all of this a dance? Isn't that what we do with words? Isn't that what we do when we talk, when we spar, when we make plans or leave it to chance? Some of it's choreographed. Some of the steps have been done for ages. And the rest -- the rest is spontaneous. The rest has to be decided on the floor, in the moment, before the music ends.”
Somehow, most years since Christmas 2010, I end up re-reading Dash and Lily's Book of Dares. It isn't a literary classic but somehow this book talks to me, combining colourful characters, brilliant dialogue, hilarious situations, New York during the festive season, all tied up as a light YA romance with a heavy literary taste.
“I was horribly bookish, to the point of coming right out and saying it, which I knew was not socially acceptable. I particularly loved the adjective bookish, which I found other people used about as often as ramrod or chum or teetotaler.”
“It looks like Animal and Miss piggy had sex," I said. "And this was the spawn."
"My eyes!" Boomer cried. "My eyes! I can't stop seeing it now that you've said it!”
The idea of leaving a notebook with clues in a bookshop to find a kindred spirit is just spot on for a book lover like me. Dash and Lily 'meet' through this medium and share messages and stories while compelling each other to seek out the notebook from hiding places around the city. At first, the deliciously crafted dares spur the characters on, but soon the messages become much more important. Both end up expressing their beliefs and feelings, allowing them to be more truthfull and open than if they'd met face to face, with positive and negative consequences.
“Be careful what you’re doing, because no one is ever who you want them to be. And the less you really know them, the more likely you are to confuse them with the girl or boy in your head”
This witty and quirky story is just the ticket to get you in the mood for Christmas.
PS: Yes, when I visited New York, I just had to go to The Strand and have a look...
PPS: Netflix has adapted this book into a mini series, and it is lovely. Not exactly the same, but they have kept the spirit :O)
“But isn't this a dance? Isn't all of this a dance? Isn't that what we do with words? Isn't that what we do when we talk, when we spar, when we make plans or leave it to chance? Some of it's choreographed. Some of the steps have been done for ages. And the rest -- the rest is spontaneous. The rest has to be decided on the floor, in the moment, before the music ends.”
Somehow, most years since Christmas 2010, I end up re-reading Dash and Lily's Book of Dares. It isn't a literary classic but somehow this book talks to me, combining colourful characters, brilliant dialogue, hilarious situations, New York during the festive season, all tied up as a light YA romance with a heavy literary taste.
“I was horribly bookish, to the point of coming right out and saying it, which I knew was not socially acceptable. I particularly loved the adjective bookish, which I found other people used about as often as ramrod or chum or teetotaler.”
“It looks like Animal and Miss piggy had sex," I said. "And this was the spawn."
"My eyes!" Boomer cried. "My eyes! I can't stop seeing it now that you've said it!”
The idea of leaving a notebook with clues in a bookshop to find a kindred spirit is just spot on for a book lover like me. Dash and Lily 'meet' through this medium and share messages and stories while compelling each other to seek out the notebook from hiding places around the city. At first, the deliciously crafted dares spur the characters on, but soon the messages become much more important. Both end up expressing their beliefs and feelings, allowing them to be more truthfull and open than if they'd met face to face, with positive and negative consequences.
“Be careful what you’re doing, because no one is ever who you want them to be. And the less you really know them, the more likely you are to confuse them with the girl or boy in your head”
This witty and quirky story is just the ticket to get you in the mood for Christmas.
PS: Yes, when I visited New York, I just had to go to The Strand and have a look...
PPS: Netflix has adapted this book into a mini series, and it is lovely. Not exactly the same, but they have kept the spirit :O)