Genre: Publication.Date April 6th 2010 Pages: 310 Published By: Dutton Childrens Website John Green | David Levithan Will Grayson, Will Grayson My review copy: Review copy bought by me.
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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 toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most fabulous high school musical.
Hilarious, poignant, and deeply insightful, John Green and David Levithan’s collaborative novel is brimming with a double helping of the heart and humor that have won both of them legions of faithful fans.
(Goodreads)
When I was little, my dad used to tell me, "Will, you can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's nose.
I am constantly torn between killing myself and killing everyone around me. those seem to be the two choices. everything else is just killing time.
i do not say "good-bye". i believe that's one of the bullshittiest words ever invented. it's not like you're given the choice to say "bad-bye" or "awful-bye" or "couldn't-careless-about-you-bye". every time you leave, it's supposed to be a good one, well, i don't believe in that. i believe againstthat.
everyone in our school has afterschool activities.
mine is going home
sometimes i stop and board for a while in the park, but not in february, not in this witch-twat-frigid chicago suburb (known to locals as naperville). if i go out there now, i'll freeze my balls off. not that i'm putting them to any use whatsoever, but i still like to have them, just in case.
You like someone who can't like you back because unrequited love can be survived in a way that once-requited love cannot.
Being a huge John Green and David Levithan fan, I had a feeling I would enjoy their collaborative effort quite a lot. George Bernard Shaw once said that: "Two people getting together to write a book is like three people getting together to have a baby. One of them is superfluous." Fear not, my dear fellow readers, this is not the case with Green and Levithan! They both bring quality, witticism and experience to the table, creating a story that is just as funny and heart warming as it is poignant and heart breaking.
So what is this story about? It's about two guys who both share the name Will Grayson. They're not related to each other in any way, they've never met before and their life styles are very different (to say the least). One Will is gay, antisocial, rough around the edges and quite frankly very difficult to like. The other one is straight, nerdy and determined to remain single (or at least relationship-free). They both carry baggage from the past that is weighing them down, affecting the relationships with people around them. Neither one knows about the other one's existence, until chance (or fate?) brings them together (and under utmost weird - and kind of hilarious, too - circumstances).
Both Wills were incredibly interesting to read about, though I must admit that I liked David Levithan's Will just a tiny bit more (it's the Will #2), perhaps because he was just so dark, damaged and broken. He was quite pessimistic, often rude and snappy. I loved his snarky inner monologue, and all the biting remarks he constantly threw around, even at his own mother. He wasn't mean to begin with, it was just his way of dealing with his own sexuality. Afraid of being judged and rejected, he built a wall around himself. And he obviously wouldn't have to do that if he wasn't sensitive and fragile on the inside. I couldn't help it, I was fascinated by his character.
John Green's Will (Will #1) was equally well developed and complex, though not as tragic as Will #2. Afraid of getting hurt, he kept a safe distance from people, pushing away everyone who got too close. On the other hand, his side-kick, Tiny Cooper, was just absolutely phenomenal (possibly my favorite character ever). Extra large, extra gay and extra fabulous, he was like a ball of positive, happy energy. His extraordinary, vibrant personality and the passages revolving around his (equally extraordinary) musical, Tiny Dancer, were what made this book for me. Don't get me wrong, I loved reading about both Wills, but without Tiny this book wouldn't be nearly as fantastic as it was.
One of the things I liked the most about this book was the unique way of distinguishing between the two Wills. The story is told through alternating POVs, both in first person. The chapters featuring Will #2 (Levithan's) are characterized by the complete lack of capital letters, which not only helps keep track of which Will we're dealing with at the moment, but also fits the character himself. I loved both of the narrative voices. They were raw, realistic, at times hilarious, at times utterly heart breaking. Most of all, they were so completely captivating and emotionally engaging, I couldn't help but feel affected. I didn't mind the swear words at all, I thought they were essential, ensuring the accuracy of the character depiction and further enhancing their believability.
Will Grayson, Will Grayson is a heartfelt and sincere book about love, friendship, heartbreak and finding oneself. A book about relationships. A story full of deep, thought provoking and meaningful themes that are relevant to every person out there - gay or straight, young or old, boy or girl. It's incisive and witty. It's grim, sad and awkward. It's hopeful and mood-lifting. Above all, it's moving, powerful and real! You can't afford to miss out on all that!
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