Title: Two Boys Kissing
Author: David Levithan
Year Published: 2013
Synopsis: New York Times bestselling author David Levithan tells the based-on-true-events story of Harry and Craig, two 17-year-olds who are about to take part in a 32-hour marathon of kissing to set a new Guinness World Record—all of which is narrated by a Greek Chorus of the generation of gay men lost to AIDS.
While the two increasingly dehydrated and sleep-deprived boys are locking lips, they become a focal point in the lives of other teen boys dealing with languishing long-term relationships, coming out, navigating gender identity, and falling deeper into the digital rabbit hole of gay hookup sites—all while the kissing former couple tries to figure out their own feelings for each other.
Review: Dreaming and Loving and Screwing.
"Time can be buoyed by wordlessness, but it needs to be anchored in words."
"If you let the world in, you open yourself up to the world. Even if the world doesn't know that you're there."
This book made me feel all the feels. I read it in almost one sitting in less than 24 hours. I could not put it down. David Levithan's writing is so beautiful, true, and relatable.
The story is told from the perspective of all those that died at the peak of the AIDS epidemic. Their omniscient presence gives the story such an interesting feel. There is knowledge and experience behind their words, the understanding of a generation past. The fourth wall isn't there and it feels like the book is talking directly to me.
David Levithan always does an excellent job of making characters that feel so real and so relatable. The boys' stories in this book are all different, but rooted in the same world. Levithan shows different reactions to similar situations through different characters.
At the center of the book is two boys kissing. Two teenagers attempt to break the world record in front of their high school. They must stand with their lips touching for over a day without sleeping or even sitting. Their story gets global attention and we see it through the other characters' eyes as well.
I think all gay boys and men should read this. It explains so many things so well whether you are 60 years old or 14. This book shows the now and the future and how the past can not be forgotten.
Actually, just everyone should read this book. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know. I give it a well deserved 5/5!
-PAUL
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