The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan

The Lover's Dictionary

by David Levithan

How does one talk about love?

Do we even have the right words to describe something that can be both utterly mundane and completely transcendent, pulling us out of our everyday lives and making us feel a part of something greater than ourselves? Taking a unique approach to this problem, the nameless narrator of David Levithan's The Lover's Dictionary has constructed the story of his relationship as a dictionary. Through these short entries, he provides an intimate window into the great events and quotidian trifles of being within a couple, giving us an indelible and deeply moving portrait of love in our time.

Reviewed by violetpeanut on

5 of 5 stars

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This is a love story. The love story itself is not extraordinary, it is not a story of "star-crossed lovers" or a perfect love with a happy ending. Rather, it is the story of a completely average couple and their progression from first date to exclusivity to living together and beyond. It is the story you or I could have with out significant others.

What really makes this book profound is that instead of telling the story chronoligically it tells it by showing us those bits and pieces of the relationship that mean the most; the simple things between a couple that make their story unique to them but evoke the emotions that we all can connect to within our own relationships.

This is really an intimate look at the relationship that is reminiscent of diary entries. There are some philosophical musings as well as more mundane definitions that serve to give a complete picture of a relationship.
encroach,v.
The first three nights we spent together, I couldn't sleep. I wasn't used to your breathing, your feet on my legs, your weight in the bed. In truth, I still sleep better when I'm alone. But now I allow that sleep isn't always the most important thing.


corrode, v.
I spent all this time building a relationship. Then one night I left the window open, and it started to rust.


ineffable, adj.
These words will ultimately end up being the barest of reflections, devoid of the sensations words cannot convey. Trying to write about love is ultimately like trying to have a dictionary represent life. No matter how many words there are, there will never be enough.


I really loved this book. I loved the concept, I thought the writing was beautiful and intimate and relatable. It's a love story that could be anyone's and that's a big part of what makes it so beautiful.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 9 June, 2012: Finished reading
  • 9 June, 2012: Reviewed