Double 'dare'
I read this book almost exactly one year ago and decided to review it during this holiday season, as it takes place around Christmas and New Year's.
Dash is a cynical 16-year-old who prefers being alone on Christmas rather than spending it with either of his self-involved parents. When he finds a notebook on the shelves of his favorite bookstore, The Strand, he is intrigued by the set of imaginative instructions left for him by an unnamed writer. He follows the instructions and passes the notebook on, after which it finds its way back to Lily, who penned the whole thing. Lily is a sweet do-gooder who loves animals, soccer, and celebrating Christmas with her large extended family. Curious to know more about the unknown recipient who picked up her notebook, she gives more instructions for Dash to follow. Via members of Lily's family and Dash's friend Boomer, they pass it back and forth, making one another go on scavenger hunts around New York City - and start to bare their souls to each other. But real life interferes as Dash's past starts to catch up to him and Lily's future is suddenly uncertain. When they meet - if they meet - what could possibly be in store for them? Will they be friends-and-more, or will their expectations go unanswered?
This book is more straightforward than Cohn and Levithan's previous collaborations. Which is not to say that it is predictable or boring; far from it. Actually, its charm lies in its relative simplicity: Lily's unabashed exuberance for life is constantly put into contrast with Dash's much more negative views; Lily's inexperience with boys is pitted against Dash's somewhat complicated feelings for his ex Sophia. But they both reveal things in the notebook about him- or herself that transcend their initial characterizations: they are reflective, genuine, bold, retiring. Dash ponders, "But whether or not you are here, you are here - because these words are for you, and they wouldn't exist if you weren't here in some way."
When I reviewed Will Grayson, Will Grayson, I talked at length about the theme of community, of a sense of people coming together. A similar theme can be found here, as Lily recruits her family to help her communicate with Dash; Dash, in turn, later recruits his friends to attempt to nail down the meaning of love in flowchart form. And both characters learn something about themselves in the process: Lily, that sometimes she doesn't need to get her family's approval; and Dash, to let go of his insecurities after hearing his ex's wise advice on having integrity. These are more or less subtle moments, showing how one character's growth involves letting go while the other's involves letting in.
Dash & Lily's provides a warm, friendly atmosphere and a sweet, unassuming love story. There are some hilarious scenes involving puppet-building, Christmas carolling, and baby catching (not to mention Dash and Lily's completely different takes on a cuddly [and fake] Pixar movie). Consider it the equivalent of chicken noodle soup and a cup of hot chocolate on a snowy day. Rating: 4.5 trips to Fiji out of 5.
This book is more straightforward than Cohn and Levithan's previous collaborations. Which is not to say that it is predictable or boring; far from it. Actually, its charm lies in its relative simplicity: Lily's unabashed exuberance for life is constantly put into contrast with Dash's much more negative views; Lily's inexperience with boys is pitted against Dash's somewhat complicated feelings for his ex Sophia. But they both reveal things in the notebook about him- or herself that transcend their initial characterizations: they are reflective, genuine, bold, retiring. Dash ponders, "But whether or not you are here, you are here - because these words are for you, and they wouldn't exist if you weren't here in some way."
When I reviewed Will Grayson, Will Grayson, I talked at length about the theme of community, of a sense of people coming together. A similar theme can be found here, as Lily recruits her family to help her communicate with Dash; Dash, in turn, later recruits his friends to attempt to nail down the meaning of love in flowchart form. And both characters learn something about themselves in the process: Lily, that sometimes she doesn't need to get her family's approval; and Dash, to let go of his insecurities after hearing his ex's wise advice on having integrity. These are more or less subtle moments, showing how one character's growth involves letting go while the other's involves letting in.
Dash & Lily's provides a warm, friendly atmosphere and a sweet, unassuming love story. There are some hilarious scenes involving puppet-building, Christmas carolling, and baby catching (not to mention Dash and Lily's completely different takes on a cuddly [and fake] Pixar movie). Consider it the equivalent of chicken noodle soup and a cup of hot chocolate on a snowy day. Rating: 4.5 trips to Fiji out of 5.
Comments
Post a Comment