Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Every Day

Every Day. David Levithan. 2012. Random House. 336 pages.

  Every Day is one of those books that I can (only) appreciate from a distance. I can see why it might make many people's best lists for the year. It's definitely unique and for the most part well written. The premise is strangely fascinating and potentially disturbing. "A," our narrator has spent each day of his/her life waking up in a different body. Sometimes male, sometimes female, etc. A's ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, weight, height, etc, being something newly discovered each morning. A almost always has something to say about the body, the life, the lifestyle, the choices that person is making or has made. It would be easy to say that A is all about tolerance, and that A's experiences make tolerance a must. A has "walked" in many shoes, after all, which gives A a feeling of being very wise, very above it all. But. I found A to be quite judgmental at times. I found A's assessments of individuals--or hosts--to be limited at best and unfair at worst. A doesn't choose to "access" host memories unless necessary, unless he chooses to make a connection of sorts. And A is all about judging things superficially and by appearances. A wakes up in a messy room, A concludes this, that and the other...for example. If a host likes this kind of music, then he/she must be this kind of person... A does this without thinking about it perhaps. He concludes--usually within a few minutes--a person's worth, if that person is "good" or "bad", nice or mean, popular or nerdy, or even happy or depressed. A dismisses some of the host bodies very quickly, making all sorts of judgments about them. A definitely has ideas of who is a loser and who isn't.

Most of the book is focused on A's quest to have a real relationship with an unforgettable girl despite A's physical limitations (not being in the same body day after day after day). And as an impossible relationship that is supposed to be true, true love, it works for some.

But I didn't exactly like the way A treated/judged some of the host-bodies.


Read Every Day
  • If you are a fan of David Levithan and/or John Green
  • If you are looking for a very unique book; A isn't your typical narrator!
  • If you enjoy young adult literature

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

5 comments:

Linda said...

I loved this one but I can see your points.

Fizzy said...

This book I read a few years ago, and still very vivid in my mind! Great book and your points are arguable although agree with it!

Follow back :)
Fizzy xx
http://a-mix-of-everything-everywhere.blogspot.co.uk

Unknown said...

I seen this at the library and from your description it sounds pretty interesting. I will have to check it out!

Kailana said...

I really enjoyed this book, but can see your thoughts, too! David Levithan is quickly become a favourite author. :)

Catherine@thebookparade said...

I really want to read this book! How can you resist a premise that unique and intriguing? Great review, you make very interesting points :)

Catherine :)
The Book Parade