'Will' power
I have grown to become a pretty big David Levithan fan, so I've been seeking out his work. His latest novel, co-authored with John Green, came out during winter 2011.
There are two teens in the Chicago area named Will Grayson, and they are two very different people. One just got excised out of his social group for defending his eccentric, song-writing gay best friend Tiny Cooper; the other is suffering from depression, not talking to his mother, and reluctantly friends with Goth girl Maura. Tiny pushes Will into a new relationship with Jane, a straight girl from the small Gay-Straight Alliance; Maura pushes Will (unsuccessfully) into admitting he's gay. Will has a strict "shut up and don't care" policy when it comes to life, and Will's only bright spot in his is Isaac, his online soulmate that he wouldn't mind meeting. These two Wills will meet when both are feeling low and vulnerable, and each will bring the other a new sense of perspective and a desire to change. At last, these two introverts will learn something about the importance of give and take in relationships, and the delicate balance of truth and love.
In a book that has so much going for it - every part of it works, fitting together like pieces of a puzzle - the only thing to do is pick what stands out the most. Normally I'd take this time to talk about the characters, like Will and Will and Tiny, the latter of which takes up a surprising amount of the plot. I could talk about the themes of appreciation and acceptance and how they are exemplified by some brilliantly portrayed character growth. I could talk about how Will and Will change from being spectators of life to happy and determined participants. Instead, though, what I'd like to focus on the most is the sense of community that is achieved in Will Grayson, Will Grayson. I love seeing how a single person's actions can resonate among others, and this book seems to spotlight the ripple effect in a particularly uplifting and bright way. The end of the book shows that the people we've been reading about can come together in an unexpected way - even though they began as relatively lonely people willingly trapped in their own bubbles. The centerpiece of the book is not necessarily the bond between the Wills, but arguably the frustrating friendship between Will and Tiny (as opposed to the relationship between Will and Tiny). Will - Green's Will, that is - has a bond with Tiny that even Tiny's selfishness and Will's wall of indifference cannot break, which leads to a lovingly rendered realization Will has on the absurdity of love. It makes a strong case for friendship being both inevitable yet unpredictable - no one knows who they'll end up befriending, but the right friendship will be an unstoppable force.
Funny, dramatic, romantic, and all-around sweet, Will Grayson, Will Grayson takes a worthwhile look at the bonds we have that are created by us and created for us. It has the added bonus of possessing a few surprises for readers up its sleeve. Read it for the Wills and stay for Tiny (and try to forgive Maura, if you can). Rating: 5 Neutral Milk Hotel songs out of 5.
In a book that has so much going for it - every part of it works, fitting together like pieces of a puzzle - the only thing to do is pick what stands out the most. Normally I'd take this time to talk about the characters, like Will and Will and Tiny, the latter of which takes up a surprising amount of the plot. I could talk about the themes of appreciation and acceptance and how they are exemplified by some brilliantly portrayed character growth. I could talk about how Will and Will change from being spectators of life to happy and determined participants. Instead, though, what I'd like to focus on the most is the sense of community that is achieved in Will Grayson, Will Grayson. I love seeing how a single person's actions can resonate among others, and this book seems to spotlight the ripple effect in a particularly uplifting and bright way. The end of the book shows that the people we've been reading about can come together in an unexpected way - even though they began as relatively lonely people willingly trapped in their own bubbles. The centerpiece of the book is not necessarily the bond between the Wills, but arguably the frustrating friendship between Will and Tiny (as opposed to the relationship between Will and Tiny). Will - Green's Will, that is - has a bond with Tiny that even Tiny's selfishness and Will's wall of indifference cannot break, which leads to a lovingly rendered realization Will has on the absurdity of love. It makes a strong case for friendship being both inevitable yet unpredictable - no one knows who they'll end up befriending, but the right friendship will be an unstoppable force.
Funny, dramatic, romantic, and all-around sweet, Will Grayson, Will Grayson takes a worthwhile look at the bonds we have that are created by us and created for us. It has the added bonus of possessing a few surprises for readers up its sleeve. Read it for the Wills and stay for Tiny (and try to forgive Maura, if you can). Rating: 5 Neutral Milk Hotel songs out of 5.
Comments
Post a Comment