Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan (2013-08-27)

I cannot recommend this book too highly. Levithan succeeds in brilliantly reflecting both the thoughts and feelings of a young generation of boys with varied gay experience with his own Greek chorus of older AIDS era experiences. This is about as close to a tour de force as you're going to get. Bravo.

Initially I wasn't sure about reading this book, but definitely do not regret it now.

It was an interesting narrative that came from "those" who had already lived and passed on, looking at what was happening in the present.

I enjoyed the several story lines and how at times "we" wanted to say all would be alright. As the participants stories converge and reach the end of the book I found myself also wanting to shout out to Cooper to...; but that would be a spoiler, you need to read the book.

Who should read this book? Definitely those of us in the LGBT community who survived our youth; also today's youth so they know to hang in there. I would challenge our straight allies and those that are open minded to be observers within these journeys that are being travelled.

Words cannot express how beautifully crafted, I believe each and every one of these stories is. Leviathan paints a picture of equal parts pain and elation that is real and potent. I recommend this book to all !!!

I thought this was a very well-written and moving read about gay young people and the AIDS epidemic. We follow the lives, thoughts and feelings of several different young gay men while, in the background, a Greek chorus of gay men who died from AIDS give their perspective.

At first I thought the premise was strange, but it really, really works. As someone older I identified with the spirits. The writer of this book has a great grasp of his craft and I would like to read more of his work.

The writing style kept me very focused as did much of the authors references to many of the ways that gays have always had to hide, and too the perspectives added from former incidents as the story unfolded.

Obviously contrived for a selective audience, but fun even for this straight parent. Read so the culture could be better comprehended. Easy reading and attention keeping for the adventure, couldn't put it down once I got into it. Plan to read more of this genre.

We are so privileged nowadays. We can speak as boldly as we want, and say its “free speech”, we can wear whatever we want, we can hear any kind of music, practice any religion (or not), we can even choose whom to love without repercussions. I had taken this all for granted until I read Two Boys Kissing.

Two Boys Kissing is narrated Greek chorus style by the generation of Gay men who have died of AIDS.

"You can’t know what it is like for us now-you will always be one step behind.
Be thankful for that.
You can’t know what it was like for us then-you will always be one step ahead.
Be thankful for that, too."

I really enjoyed the Greek Chorus style narration! At first it was a bit confusing to get into, but it was really nice. It was sort of omnipresent. This narration gave everything a much more “emotional” emphasis to everything. I enjoyed it very much.

I’m so surprised by the way that David Levithan wrote this book. He didn’t write a book just for the sake of writing about gay relationships. He wrote a book for the sake of human relationships. He made a point to show that gay isn’t different from the rest of the world. He also delved deep into the nature of human relationships, and not only the gay relationships. I loved meeting each and every one of the characters presented. They were all so natural to love and to comprehend.

Craig and Harry are the protagonists here. They’re planning to set the world record for longest kiss. They’re not dating, but they used to be a couple. Imagine having to kiss your ex for 32 hours straight! I can’t, and I’m pretty sure not many people can. Yet, David showed us what this kiss meant: this kiss isn’t lustful or passionate, it’s a kiss meant to show something bigger.

Craig and Harry’s big kiss sets the stage for other characters. Peter & Neil are another part of the story. They’ve been a couple for a long time, so their dynamic is different. There’s also Ryan & Avery who’ve just met. And then there’s Cooper, who’s alone, who doesn’t really feel anything.

All of these characters really resonated with me. They all represented different relationships & hardships that we have all gone through. Cooper especially broke my heart because he goes through an especially difficult issue, and I just wanted to hug him throughout the whole book.

This book doesn’t only speak to the gay community. It speaks to all of us who feel different, who want to be different. That boy who wants to be an artist amongst his family of lawyers can understand Neil’s fear of his parents not loving him. That girl who’s in love with her best friend can understand Craig’s feelings for Harry. That person who can’t seem to connect with anyone can resonate with Cooper’s emptiness. These stories are so monumental. They’re meant not only for us, but also for those who surpass us.

I hope to read more of David Levithan, and very soon.

Rating: 5 stars.

**A review copy of this title was provided by Text Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

I found David Levithan’s Two Boys Kissing both inspired and a bit tiresome.

Here’s the inspired part. Narrating the story of two gay teens who try to break the world record for longest kiss is a chorus of gay men who died of AIDS. Their disembodied voices speak to the characters (and the readers) of the joys and sorrows they knew, the discoveries they made, the pain they suffered, the excitement, hope, and fear they feel for the younger generation. It’s a daring narrative choice, and at its best it yields passages of transcendent loveliness and sadness like this one:

"Harry, of course, knows he is being looked at. But what he looks like is the farthest thing from his mind. When your body starts to turn against you--when the surface value of the skin is nothing compared to the fireworks of pain in your muscles and your bones--the supposed truth of beauty falls away, because there are more important concerns to attend to.

Believe us. We know this."

At the same time, however, it’s this narrative choice that can make the book tiresome. When the chorus rails against the injustices they suffered--the indifference of governments quite happy to let a “gay disease” run its course; the hatred of fellow citizens; the apathy or antipathy of their own families--or the injustices gay youth still suffer, the book feels less like narrative and more like polemic, or even screed. Here’s an example:

"There is power in saying, I am not wrong. Society is wrong. Because there is no reason that men and women should have separate bathrooms. There is no reason that we should ever be ashamed of our bodies or ashamed of our love. We are told to cover ourselves up, hide ourselves away, so that other people can have control over us, can make us follow their rules. It is a bastardization of the concept of morality, this rule of shame."

Though I don’t disagree with anything stated in such passages, I nonetheless found them problematic. In ancient Greek tragedy, the chorus plays a dual role: they are both the collective voice of social wisdom and the befuddled dupes of events beyond their comprehension. They are at once in the story--as characters--and beyond the story--as commentators. As such, there’s a delicate irony in their addresses: they don’t always know what they think they know.

In Levithan’s book, by contrast, the chorus, being dead, cannot participate in the events unfolding before their eyes. They’re not characters; they’re only commentators. And what they’ve earned through their unmerited deaths is an absolute moral authority, an ability to speak the Truth. I struggle to find an ironic undercurrent in this ghostly chorus: they seem to voice the author’s convictions without the slightest trace of distance. They are the author’s stand-ins, a contrivance that allows the author to speak directly to the reader.

This makes them powerful agents of social commentary. But it also makes them rather dull agents of fictional narrative.

Levithan’s experiment was a risky one, and he’s to be applauded for pulling it off as successfully as he did. But for me, the narrative voice ultimately did a disservice to the story it was meant to sustain.

As a young adult librarian this book had helped me start so many conversations about the LGBTQ needs of our community and how we can be assist ALL our children. To my disappointment we have had a couple "comments" about the cover, which I think (compared to some of the other covers of boys and girls kissing and in racy potions/outfits/ etc) is quite chaste. This story was breathtakingly beautiful and heartbreaking and unique and I feel like everyone should read it.
As a mother, this book has even made me look at the way I raise my son. I never want him to feel like I would love him less, or even be disappointed in him no matter what he wants for his life...I just want him to know unquestionably that his parents love him forever.

This is truly one of the most emotional books I’ve ever read, and probably will ever read. With people trying to impose their will on others in the most selfish, fearful and terrible manor, this book reminds those that are fighting this fight that there are ways to win. There are ways to step above the hate and know that you are truly cared for and loved.

The book doesn’t need much of a description. It takes place over the course of about 35 hours ish and centers on two homosexual teenagers attempting to break the world record for the longest kiss ever. It also veers off into a few different simultaneous story lines of other teenage boys who are at different points of acceptance and love when it comes to their relationship status.

If you don’t get emotional reading this book, then I’m not sure what will get you there. It is so heartbreaking, yet portrays strength, guidance, compassion and general feelings depicting what all humans should allow into their hearts. I hope acceptance for those who are different from you continues to flourish and can only help through doing my part by supporting the rights of ALL individuals, no matter their color, country of origin, relationship preference or gender.

Sometime in these past few years, David Levithan has become a bit of a rockstar in my head. His books always begin with a simplicity and quiet, but, suddenly, they've escalated to a roar. I actually listened to his newest book, Two Boys Kissing, on a road trip to pick up a friend (Katie, of the blog Sophistikatied). Upon arriving at her house, I immediately asked her if she'd read Two Boys Kissing yet, to which she responded no. Of course, I launched into a rant about how amazing I thought it was - after only 2 discs out of 5!

Two Boys Kissing tells many different stories, but all are tied to Harry and Craig, two boys who used to date and are attempting to break the world record for longest kiss. The boys are trying to make statement and are inspired by a friend who was attacked and beat for being gay and alone on a dark street. The stories of other boys are interwoven, including that of two boys who have just met (one of whom is transgender), two boys who have been dating and are dealing with the everyday difficulties of long-term relationships and secrets, and another boy who has yet to come out and struggles with self-loathing. Throughout the novel, a greek chorus composed of gay men who died of AIDS, offers insight into the past, present, and future of gay individuals and the gay community.

The audio of Two Boys Kissing is narrated by Levithan, which I very much enjoyed and appreciated. I always feel that there is something more real about hearing a book in the author's voice. Levithan in particular has a certain strength in his voice that added to the novel. He knew exactly how his characters were supposed to sound and were feeling, which I think is very important in a novel like this. In fact, it was this short clip from the very beginning of the book that made me decide to listen to Two Boys Kissing rather than simply read the novel.

I will admit that, within the various stories being told, there were some that I was less interested in than others. I just didn't click with the two boys who had just met and were getting to know one another. In theory, I loved their story: the difficulty of knowing how much to tell when you meet someone new, the rush, the connection, the fear. In reality, I just didn't connect either boy. I did however, love Craig and Harry and was transfixed by the greek chorus that interjected stories and comments throughout the novel.

I'm very glad that I chose audio for Two Boys Kissing. My drive was, at various times, filled with laughter, happy smiles, and all-out sobbing. I suppose that last one might not be the safest for a road trip, but you can always pull over!

Two Boys Kissing deserves to win awards and is a book that needs to be read. As I listened, I kept thinking, this is life. These boys are living life, messy, difficult, crazy, happy life, just like everyone else - how can anyone argue that there is something wrong with being gay? Two Boys Kissing is about acceptance... life... love. It is incredibly real and utterly unforgettable.

I approached Two Boys Kissing, having heard some fantastic things, with much anticipation, both for contemporary YA fiction, as well as a book that centres on LGBT issues. I have to admit, it took some getting use to - I found the beginning immensely slow.

Told from a chorus of dead men's perspective, it almost seemed wholly preachy when their collective voice came through - we died of aids, we struggled ...., but I have to say, behind the stereotype you'd expect from a novel such as this, there is much enjoyment to be found. The book shifts from various lives of boys who each have a challenge or obstacle to overcome.

Although, I have to say that the central characters of Harry and Craig trying to break the world record of the longest kiss was, to say the least, a little tiresome. I cared little for their story. I wanted to know more about Tariq, and Connor's story of trawling online social gay websites, only to be discovered by his father, wholly compelling and interesting. The bullying elements also created much needed drama and action.

The poetic way in which Levithan writes is sometimes countered by the lack of chapters, which can make the book a chore at times. Many will hate the way in which paragraphs swap perspective only to change again a few lines later.

Having said that, this book is an eye-opener. There are lines that will stay with me - which is a huge positive to say I nearly put this book down. This book is really a snapshot of its characters' lives. It gives you glimpses into their personal lives when important, adult, mature decisions need to be made. You long to want to know more, but really, it isn't vital to what this book is about. This book is about acceptance, equality, and remembrance of those gay men who were subjected to a fate beyond their control.

Look. There are just some books that leave me completely speechless.

I have no idea what to say about Two Boys Kissing.

None.

I can tell you I sobbed through most of it. Maybe it was because of the gloomy, miserably day I had. I certainly haven’t felt well, and I’ve been overtired.

Do you believe me? Because I’m totally lying. This book made my heart break. It’s only 196 pages, with big text, and there are more feels in here than the entire Harry Potter series.

You think I’m kidding?

I’m not. I don’t joke about Harry Potter. You should know this by now.

I can’t even talk about this book anymore. Just go read it. Let your heart break, for every boy in this story. For the boys kissing, for the boys not kissing, for the boys who came before and can no longer kiss. They are there too.

Two Boys Kissing is my first David Levithan. How soon can I read my next one?

Two Boys Kissing is something special. I didn't love it as much as I hoped, but it's still an amazing and touching read. Based on real events, Harry and Craig are set to break the world record for the longest kiss while also making a statement. They've practiced and worked out all of the logistics with help from friends, and now the day has arrived. The two boys stand in front of their high school and begin kissing. At first no one is watching except for close friends and family, but then more people gather, their livestream goes viral, and soon it's a global event. I was right there with the rest of their spectators, cheering them on!

I took me a little while to settle into the narrative of Two Boys Kissing. I knew it was going to be from the perspective of the previous generation of gay men who dies and paved the way for Harry and Craig to do what they're doing, but I was still a little thrown. This was only the second book I've read from the view point of a collective "we" but I do think I like it. However, I don't think it worked as well for me in this one. I thought there was a disconnect, since we have no idea who the narrator is, and we only get their thoughts and feelings on the current situations rather than any of the active characters. I would have liked it more if there had been identifiable individuals telling their own stories around the other stories.

Two Boys Kissing is so much more than just Harry and Craig breaking a world record. Like I just mentioned we're also told about the struggles of the men who came before them, but they also tell us about several other boys around town who are struggling or finding acceptance. Tariq is their friend and supporter who they're partially doing this for after he was beaten and left in an alley. Neil and Peter are out and together, but Neil's parents don't really see him. Cooper lives a double life...or several...and his coming out does not go how anyone hoped. Finally, there's Avery and Ryan who have just met but are enjoying every moment together. All of these boys' stories end up being connected in some way, and I enjoyed getting to know all of them, even just a little.

This is probably going to sound strange, but beyond all of the big stuff like the messages about acceptance and LGBT rights, my favorite part of Two Boys Kissing was the little details about Harry and Craig actually working toward their record breaking kiss. Can you imagine standing (that's a rule) for over 32 hours with no breaks? They can't leave to use the bathroom, and no diapers were allow! They had to hold it, wet themselves, or whip it out in front of all the cameras. They also had to drink very carefully through straws as to not dehydrate or break the kiss. We even learned that they wore orthopedic socks to keep their circulation flowing! I just really appreciate little things like that which make the story feel more real.

Two Boys Kissing is quite amazing. I don't think I have anything left to say about it other than that. It's just a great read, and I think it'll be an important one to show people that they're not alone.

Confession time. I still have yet to read a David Levithan novel. Yes, I am hanging my head in shame. What is wrong with me??? This was my first. I don't know why I started with this one. It was new and shiny. I also will confess that I was a little nervous about the whole Greek chorus thing. I mean come on... that is a little bit intimidating to go into a book knowing that is how the book is going to start.

Last confession. I didn't just like this book, I LOVED it!!!! Seriously, this might be about a 6 on my 5.0 scale. Yep, it was that good.

I'm sure that this book will raise a few eyebrows and some people will look and just delete this review without even reading what it is about, and that is a shame, because truly, this book is about so much more than two boys kissing. There are so many stories weaved into the framework of Craig and Harry kissing. We meet Peter and Neil who have been a couple for a while. We meet Avery and Ryan who have just met and are dipping their toe into the world of dating. And there is Cooper, who is alone. Along the way we meet friends of the aforementioned people. We meet enemies. We hear the F word hurled at them. But through it all we see two boys kissing.

I followed all their stories. Reading them and obsessing over them. Wondering what their parents, friends, neighbors were thinking.

And one of the most amazing parts of this novel is the writing itself. I hadn't read more than about ten pages when I had to go and get my post-it notes. Why? Because this was a library book, so I couldn't write in it or bend pages, and I HAD to start marking passages. When you start reading things like this:

Not everything needs to be said at once. Sharing truth is not the kind of gift that comes in wrapping paper-ripped open once and there, you're done. No, this is a gift that must be unfolded. It is enough to start the telling. It's enough to have the beginning and feel like it's a beginning.

Or this:

We think of the boys we kissed, the boys we screwed, the boys we loved, the boys who didn't love us back, the boys who were with us at the end, the boys who were with us beyond the end. Love is so painful, how could you ever wish it on anybody? And love is so essential, how could you ever stand in its way?

Amazing, right? Seriously, this book just blew me away. I read it slower than I normally do because I was so focused on what was written. I was so absorbed in the verse I couldn't pull myself out of it to fly through the book. What a great problem to have!

I will also say that this book was an inspiration to gay teens everywhere. What an amazing story and what an incredible book. I just couldn't get enough of this story. Amazing. To say this is a must read is such an understatement that its not even funny. Definitely on my best of 2013.

Normally I wouldn't pick something like this up. Although I am in no way against homosexuality, since I'm not into it, I just wouldn't read something that CENTERS on it. But then I started hearing things from my blogger friends saying that they loved this book and that the writing style was something that had never been done before and naturally, I got curious. And you guys, this book changed me.
Now this was my very first Levithan book and I am so glad I chose this one. From the very beginning I was sucked in to the poetic writing style. It really is narrated by a Greek Chorus. This unique writing had me hanging on every word. Just the writing alone had me so emotional I found myself teary eyed and clutching my heart through out the entire book.
I never read reviews until I've written my own, so determine if I wanted to read this book I went and checked out everyone's updates and their ratings. In every update I saw "OMG the feels!" or "My heart breaks for them." This is what made me decide I wanted to read it. And man, after finishing this story I really felt emotionally drained. Every story (because its holds multiple POV's) broke me. I was smitten with everyone's story, but it was actually Cooper's who hit me the most.
In this story we see what being gay did to different boys, in different times of their lives, and their loved ones. Some of those loved ones accepted them and others didn't. I loved that this book doesn't make it all seem like all sunshine and rainbows, because in reality it isn't. Sometimes the dark and gritty happens and teens that read this need to know how to handle it.
Lastly, I loved the ending and Levithan's acknowledgements. The entire story centered around that one very important kiss and in the end the author was able to pull it altogether to that one central location. Not everyone was happy, but they were all there in some way, separate, but still together. I also loved the acknowledgements because in the synopsis it said "based on the true events story" and I was intrigued. I had planned to Google it after wards to see what the real story was, but I didn't have to. Levithan tells about the real story that inspired this one and I saw that as a thanks for them for being so brave. Again, I was moved to tears. (I really needed a "Use in case of feels tissue box!")
In short, don't let the title or what this book is about deter you from reading it. It may not be what you normally would read, but I kid you not if you are a reader, certain aspects of it will amaze you. My first Levithan read was filled with emotions and incredible writing and I promise that this won't be my last book by him. I am already absolutely smitten with him.

This is a beautifully written and utterly fantastic novel—whether you're a young-adult reader or a fully fledged adult (and I'll admit that I'm *way* past my fledgling stage). It has an ensemble cast, including a coterie of spirit beings—men who died during the AIDS epidemic—who act as a sort of Greek chorus. The book is at times amusing, at other times harrowing, but always heartfelt and deeply meaningful. This is the first I've read by David Levithan, and it's now among my very favorite novels. He's an impeccably skilled writer—in both technique and veracity—and I look forward to reading more of his work.

Based loosely on actual events, Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan is a web of stories woven together surrounding two boys who are aiming to break the Guinness World Record for Longest Kiss at approximately 32 hours. A chorus of gay men who died of AIDS in a previous generation narrate the stories, ranging from a budding gay relationship, to a lukewarm long-term gay relationship, to a single gay teen addicted to online sexual encounters. What manifests from these stories is a poetic and precise articulation of the multi-faceted experience of a gay teenager coming of age in a quickly changing social atmosphere.

I don't think I've ever highlighted a book so much in all my life. There are so many poignant, painful and beautiful passages in this book that any reader can relate to, gay or straight. Personally, I'm a straight female supportive of the LGBT movement, but aside from my personal beliefs, this was ultimately a book about love and identity. What makes this book so relatable on any level is that most teenagers (if not all) go through a struggle of identity; viewing this development through the lenses of gay teens and young adults is similar to the general struggle only magnified and even more lonely.

The narration coming from a chorus of gay men from a previous generation who died of AIDS gives them the knowledge and experience to relate to this new generation; the disconnect between generations gives the reader the insight not to take the current state of LGBT rights movement granted. Through the narrative we can see how far we've come, but through the stories we see how much we still need to move forward. As I mentioned before, the poetic prose used in this book is just beautiful; but it's the insight of the narrators that give it the substance necessary for understanding and change.

Overall and based on my experience amongst the LGBT community, I found these stories honest, authentic, and moving. Levithan does not leave anything out in the spectrum of the gay experience, from good and bad experiences, coming out of the closet, supportive parents, passive parents, hateful parents, navigating relationships with added pressure, etc; everything is included and without sounding pedantic or pandering to the LGBT audience. I think this book can be appreciated by a wide audience and has the power to change negative opinions and chip away at homophobia. I would love to hear the narrative of the generation of boys featured in this book as they tell the story of future generations. Although on second thought, hopefully the next generation won't face as much adversity to have such an interesting story.

Bottom Line: A must read! Beautiful articulation of the modern LGBT experience juxtaposed by the AIDS-generation of the 1980s. 5/5 Stars.

Moving. Mind opening. Wonderful.

Two Boys Kissing is a book that takes a controversial subject matter and casts a new, hopeful light on it. It's a book that drives a stake of understanding, compassion and feeling into the heart of the reader. It's a book that makes people stop and think in a different way. It's a book that has the power to change minds--hearts--lives.

"Things are not magical because they've been conjured for us by some outside force. They are magical because we create them."

Two Boys Kissing is more than a story about two boys kissing. It's a story about love. And life. And appreciating love and life. "There is the sudden. There is the eventual. And in between, there is the living." Gay or straight, we all journey through life experiencing many of the same things: joy and heartache, bravery and fear, acceptance and rejection, triumph and failure, love and hate, past and future, noise and silence, light and dark, ups and downs...We are all human. We are all alive. And we should appreciate that very basic, wondrous fact. No matter who you are, you are alive. You are here.

Now, I didn't want this review to be a personal rant on the topic of homosexuality. We all have our own opinions on this subject, just like the characters in this book. Some of us support it. Some of us don't. All I can say is I simply hope people will take the time to read Two Boys Kissing so they can gain perspective, and, hopefully, understanding. For me, I will say the biggest takeaway was this: Love is love, no matter what shape or form it comes in...Oh, and this has definitely become one of my personal mottos:

"Your humor is your compass and your shield. You can hone it into a weapon or you can pull its strands out to make your very own cotton-candy blanket. You can't exist on a diet of humor alone, but you can't exist on a diet without it, either."

For more book reviews, visit jenspenden.wordpress.com

Though, on the surface, this story purports to cover a time span of a little over thirty-two hours, twelve minutes and ten seconds in small town America, it really IS an "epic" novel covering - in just 200 pages - time and space way beyond those limited yet, as the book reveals, limitless boundaries.

The novel TWO BOYS KISSING is a beautifully composed quartet of intermingled stories, each of which should resonate with all of us (especially those of us who went through "gay adolescence"). Even so, taking center stage - literally and metaphorically - is the "first violin" part of Harry and Craig's attempt at breaking the world record for a kiss. The other three stories circle around the music of these two teen boys while offering support, reflection, depth and meaningful drama.

Harry and Craig's dating relationship has ended but they've remained (by NOT QUITE mutual agreement) best friends; Ryan and the initially somewhat mysterious Avery are on the cusp of a promising future together; Neil and Peter's romance is well established and the two teens are very much in love with one another; Cooper is the tragically lonely gay boy who ultimately sees his own death as a way out of the pain.

Ahhh! That reminds me: there is actually a fifth element to all of the wonder encompassed by this novel: the omnipresent Greek chorus narrator(s), seeing all and being all - the ethereal spirit world of dead gay men, if you like; dead gay men who have gone before; who laid the foundations of today's victories and headlines. Our heroic Greek chorus - which speaks also for some of us still living - holds everything together even as it keeps us on the very tiptoe ledge of tension with regard to what will happen to Ryan, to Craig, to the sad, suicidal Cooper.

Drawing upon his own talent and imagination, the historical figures of Oscar Wilde and Walt Whitman and, yes, an actual Guinness World Record for kissing held by two boys, the author tells a beautifully wrought and triumphantly moving tale of gay love and gay life surviving AND THRIVING against all odds. His writing technique is awe-inspiring and yet, even more inspiring, it's virtually invisible and never gets in the way of the story itself.

This is a YA novel for adults of every age - not just those who are yet young.

This book, told from the omnipresent perspective of the previous generation of gays (men), tells the story of several present- generation gay adolescents in different stages of coming out, relationships, and self-acceptance. The almost- unifying story is of two boys who are attempted to break the world record for longest kiss.

It's a great book with many stories and many thoughtful reflections for the elders to the youngers. Because we see so many people to get to know, it was hard for me to remember which name belonged to which story/ character. This was especially true for couples that were introduced together: “now which one was Craig?” It got a bit easier as the book when on.

A meaningful book. It's a short book but don't read it in a rush. I wonder if there is a comparable story with lesbians? Anyone have suggestions?

David Levithan is a magical word magician who reaches right out of the pages and rubs onions directly in my eyes. When reading his books I usually end up in a sort of low level weep, where I sniff pathetically every few minutes but am able to keep reading. This book was no different.

Two Boys Kissing is narrated by a generation of dead gay men. Which sounds weird, but works pretty well for what is happening within the novel. The narrators drift from observing boy to boy, in as non creepy way as possible. The result is that the book is basically written in third person present, which I am a big fan of.

We follow three sets of boys, and one who is alone. The stories are woven intricately, although never really overtly connected. There's no sense of tying everything up in a neat bow, which does feel very realistic and lifelike. I'm happy to note that a gay trans man is one of the main characters. The story line most focused on is that of Harry and Craig, who are attempting to break the Guinness World Record for longest kiss, after one of their friends is gay bashed.

When I was reading the book, it felt important. The sort of book people are supposed to read. It's not light, it's not trash. It's a poignant, beautiful and accessible tale that I would like everyone, especially early highschoolers to read. Many hard themes are dealt with in a natural way, and nothing felt forced or trite.

The missing star is because the book did feel a little unfinished to me, but I do feel that it was deliberate. I just like a bit more resolution to my books, and that is a personal taste factor.

Overall, I was once again very impressed with Levithan, and admire his wordsmithing greatly.

This book, told from the omnipresent perspective of the previous generation of gays (men), tells the story of several present- generation gay adolescents in different stages of coming out, relationships, and self-acceptance. The almost- unifying story is of two boys who are attempted to break the world record for longest kiss.

It's a great book with many stories and many thoughtful reflections for the elders to the youngers. Because we see so many people to get to know, it was hard for me to remember which name belonged to which story/ character. This was especially true for couples that were introduced together: “now which one was Craig?” It got a bit easier as the book when on.

A meaningful book. It's a short book but don't read it in a rush. I wonder if there is a comparable story with lesbians? Anyone have suggestions?

David Levithan is a magical word magician who reaches right out of the pages and rubs onions directly in my eyes. When reading his books I usually end up in a sort of low level weep, where I sniff pathetically every few minutes but am able to keep reading. This book was no different.

Two Boys Kissing is narrated by a generation of dead gay men. Which sounds weird, but works pretty well for what is happening within the novel. The narrators drift from observing boy to boy, in as non creepy way as possible. The result is that the book is basically written in third person present, which I am a big fan of.

We follow three sets of boys, and one who is alone. The stories are woven intricately, although never really overtly connected. There's no sense of tying everything up in a neat bow, which does feel very realistic and lifelike. I'm happy to note that a gay trans man is one of the main characters. The story line most focused on is that of Harry and Craig, who are attempting to break the Guinness World Record for longest kiss, after one of their friends is gay bashed.

When I was reading the book, it felt important. The sort of book people are supposed to read. It's not light, it's not trash. It's a poignant, beautiful and accessible tale that I would like everyone, especially early highschoolers to read. Many hard themes are dealt with in a natural way, and nothing felt forced or trite.

The missing star is because the book did feel a little unfinished to me, but I do feel that it was deliberate. I just like a bit more resolution to my books, and that is a personal taste factor.

Overall, I was once again very impressed with Levithan, and admire his wordsmithing greatly.

The Greek Chorus has returned in the form of long passed away Gay men with AIDs watching over a couple that has been together for over a year, a pair of exes who want to beat the Guinness Book of World Records for kissing, a new couple, and a single boy who feels he doesn’t fit in in the world.

Two Boys Kissing is perhaps David Levithan at his best stylistically. The writing was beautiful from the beginning to end. I loved the narration he chose. I don’t think he could have done it any other way. It was engaging, entertaining, and completely heartfelt. He talks about the AIDs crisis in such a honest way, but it never took away from all the other boys. The boys, the boys were great. Every single one of them. You felt for them. Could understand them as much as you could. There was such a rawness and tenderness with each one.

I really liked this one by Levithan, but, truthfully it was not one of my favorites. I loved the writing style which is perhaps one of my favorites of his. Although it only works in this book. This book was relatively short and I expected to read it in a day, but it didn’t hold my attention well enough. I found myself not truly wanting to pick it up. When I did, I enjoyed it. Mostly the writing style. The topic was great, but I unfortunately couldn’t relate to it. I didn’t think it would be a big deal. It wasn’t that big of a deal if you see I still gave it four stars, but it did stop me at five stars. I was able to get into it more towards the end, but I think maybe because I just liked the thoughts of the chorus and wanted to finish this.

I would still highly recommend this book. I think the writing style/technique used was perhaps the best I’ve seen in a long time. It kept me interested; and, it was something unique enough that worked. The individual stories were interesting, especially the exes. They were my favorite. There were some good quotes to be had, especially at the end. It’s a book not to missed, I think.

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Two boys take the plunge to break the world record for longest kiss. They will have to stand and touch lips for more than a day. People think they are crazy but this kiss is more than just a stunt. Thiskiss means something. Slowly the people involved will realize this, people around the globe will realize this. This kiss is only one part of a much larger story unfolding.

David Levithan does whatever the hell he wants with narration. He doesn't care if it's not the norm he says, this is how this story has to be told. I applaud him for this, but I didn't love the narration in this story. It was just a little bit tricky. It wasn't necessarily hard to understand what was happening, but it was a bit heartbreaking and eerie watching the dead watch everyone else. Another reason I didn't love this narration is honestly it's going to make it a harder sell for me to give teens. The cover is plenty provocative (I love it!) and with the added strange narration I feel like a lot of my teens just won't get into it.

As for the story itself, it was so beautiful. My eyes were wet pretty much the entire time I was reading this. There was no crying but my chest ached for everyone involved. There was one moment where they nearly spilled over, but I was a quick enough reader to settle things down.

David Levithan does give the best relationship advice. "For the past year Neil has assumed that love was like a liquid pouring into a vessel, and that the longer you loved, the more full the vessel became, until it was entirely full. The truth is that over time, the vessel expands as well. ...Even though liquid is easier to see, you have to learn to appreciate the air."

This was a beautiful book and if you are looking for great GLBTQ lit David Levithan is the way to go. He definitely switches things up with his books. I completely fell in love with Harry and Craig, Avery and Ryan, Peter and Neil and everyone else in this book. I loved them all and was sad to see them go. I recommend you pick this up if you want something that will change your life, even if it's just a little bit.

First Line:
"You can't know what it is like for us now—you will always be one step behind."

Favorite Lines:
"You have become our dreaming."

"And then everything falls apart anyway."

"'I don't usually like people. So when I do, part of me is really amused and the other part refuses to believe it's happening."

I’ve heard endless good things about this profound, thought provoking book by David Levithan, as he explores the LGBT genre in a ground breaking way. Written from the perspective of a Greek Chorus of a generation of gay men lost to AIDS, the book was unusual, impactful and incredibly relevant.

On the surface, this may seem to be a book about gay pride, but it is so much more. It is about the treatment of gays in the generation before (the Greek Chorus shares this) and the generation now, and their hope for equality and liberty in the future. From the flamboyant, to the closet gay, to the ones who have come out, they are all covered here through different stories.

“I am gay. I have always been gay. I will always be gay. You have to understand that, and you have to understand that we are not really a family until you understand that.”

From Cooper, the teenager who explores different identities online, to Neil and Kim, the gay couple, to Avery and Paul who have just met, and finally Harry and Craig who are competing for the world’s longest male kiss, all of these people and the issues they were struggling with just seemed so real that real people struggle with day to day.

Is there something wrong with me? How should I tell my parents? Can people see that I’m different? Is the man that I’m with the man I’ll be with in the future? Everything from prejudice, self-loathing, gay bashing, a transgender, and a different variety of parental reactions are covered here, and it’s truly an emotional read.

While others adored it, the Greek Chorus was a storytelling technique wasn’t one that I was a fan of. They seemed omnipresent and creepy at times and everything just needed to be incredibly profound, even though it didn’t need to be. The story of each of these teenagers, and what Harry and Craig are doing was enough. They didn’t need to make every paragraph monumental by shouting from the rooftops.

Maybe this is why we like watching you so much. Everything is still new to you. We long past the experience, although we witness new things all the time.

Besides that, Two Boys Kissing is an incredible piece of literature that is more relevant today than ever, bringing about the real issues that gay people face even in today’s world. You would love to think that everyone is accepting and respectful of other human beings, no matter what their sexual orientation is, but that’s not the case. I thoroughly recommend this book to all readers, you’ll be a changed person afterwards.

Thank you Text Publishing for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review. Check out my blog Happy Indulgence at [...] for more reviews!

Two Boys Kissing surprised me by being one of the rare books that truly pull me in and make me cry. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again I’m not a crier, and it takes a whole lot to make me break down. Levithan has provided a uniquely told story about several people that touched my heart and broke down my barriers.

At first I had some reservations about this book because of the unconventional style of the narrative. It’s told by a sort of Greek Chorus, which are a generation of gay men who passed away due to AIDs. At first it was a bit odd but after awhile it became an incredible way to learn everyone’s stories because in some ways the reader is not only reading about a group of teenagers but also about the men narrating the story. The narrative is incredibly honest and I appreciated the look at what it was like then, now and what it will be like for future generations.

The group of young men that this book centers are varied and not without their flaws, but each of their stories are heartfelt and there is something to be learned from them. Much of the book centers around Harry and Craig, who are determined to set a world record for the longest kiss in order to send a message that love is love and it shouldn’t matter what gender you are. Their story is intermingled with the others in varying degrees and in some cases affects their lives. This book is the human condition on display. We get to see those who have struggled and feel that they’ve lost, those who found themselves in a struggle but unable to do anything about it, those who have it ‘easy’, and those who make it difficult for others. Some of it is enough to make you cry and others makes you want to scream, and I was right there with the Chorus wishing and pleading with some of the characters.

I don’t readily pick up emotional books and when I do they almost always blow me away and leave me raw. Two Boys Kissing was no different. I’m incredibly glad that this was my last book of 2013 so that I ended on a high note. If you’ve been curious about this one then I urge you to go pick up a copy, grab a box of tissues and devour it.

At first the narration of the book frustrated me, but I soon settled in to the tone of it (sad and a tad weighty, but with a purpose). The individual characters and relationships felt very real. There were even scenes that I could match my own experiences to exactly.

The stand-outs, for me, were Avery and Ryan. I was drawn to Avery. I felt for him even more than the others, and the start of his and Ryan's relationship was both adorable and realistic. I remembered what it was like to be a teenager, to meet someone at that age and go through that, "Do they like me back?" panic.

I also enjoyed the relationship and development between Craig and Harry. Their Guinness attempt was emotional, engaging, and empowering. Their story was the meat of the book for me, despite my favoritism towards Avery and Ryan.

Cooper's story, too, was one I was kindred too. That particular storyline was difficult to read, but necessary.

I'm interested in reading more of David Levithan's books based on my enjoyment of this one.

“Two Boys Kissing” is narrated by the ghosts of a previous generation of gay men who died of AIDS. Referring to themselves as “we”, they speak to the current generation of teenagers. They remark upon the events that take place during one weekend as if looking on from above, and with the ability to see into the characters’ hearts and minds. Their heavy-handed voice from the past weighs down the narrative at times.

There are four different interwoven strands of stories that focus on the gay male community. Harry and Craig hope to break the record for the world’s longest kiss (in protest of a hate crime committed against a friend); Neil and Peter have been dating for a year; Ryan and Avery (a transsexual) have just met at a gay prom; and Cooper, an angry loner, runs away from home when confronted by his furious parents. The tension builds as Craig and Harry’s kiss approaches record-setting time (at over 32 hours) and emotionally fragile Cooper is about to self-destruct.

The story is so compelling that I read this book in one sitting. The characters are likeable, although with so many, some are developed more than others. The subject matter is timely and significant. The author’s note discusses the true events that inspired the story.

If you read my blog with any regularity then you’re probably aware of my love of David Levithan. He’s an incredible author that continues to write remarkable and unique books. That being said I’ll admit that if Two Boys Kissing were written by anyone else I probably wouldn’t have picked it up. The book sounds a little odd, but I trust Levithan to blow me away with any of his books. After reading this one I know my trust is not misplaced.

Two Boys Kissing has a very unique narrative. It’s told by the generation of gay men that died of AIDS. Odd, right? It might take a few pages to get used to but once you do you won’t be disappointed. Their voice is powerful and beautiful.

There are many characters and story lines in the book. Their stories weave together again and again. You can expect the same sweet and honestly raw moments that David Levithan does so well.

Two Boys Kissing is a gorgeous and ingenious story that I’d love to hand to a lot of teenagers (and adults). It’s one of those that will stick with me for a long time to come.

I listened to this as an audiobook. Luckily, unlike some books, this one translated very well into an audiobook format.

The novel itself gives an important glimpse into the hardships that the gay (male) community has faced in the past with the aids epidemic. It also gives insight into what it is like to be a young gay man. I liked how this novel really captures many different experiences instead of using over generalizations. This novel should be required to be in every library around the country so that young men struggling with their identity have something to turn to. Further, this book really helps people outside of the gay community to gain a better understanding of how difficult it can be to grow up gay in certain communities. I hope that it will help to foster empathy and understanding in the future. Additionally, I think the struggles that the young men in the book go through has a universal application for growing up. Overall, I believe that anyone and everyone has something to gain from reading this book.

Two Boys Kissing is the most impressive book of the year and you should read it. I don't care how much you cry, and you will cry, this book needs to be read, by you, right now. Bonus points for David Levithan's lisp on the audiobook. I cried driving to and from places for a week while I was listening. Two Boys Kissing is an ensemble cast story about gay teens narrated by a Greek Chorus of gay men who died of AIDS. Harry and Craig get the most page-time. They are attempting to break the Guinness world record for longest kiss. Neil and Peter are fifteen-year-old boyfriends, and the Greek Chorus marvels at them, "To be fifteen and walking to his boyfriend's house." There's amazement. Because to be fifteen. And gay. In their time, you never could. It came later. To be gay, you had to find that bookstore, that coffee shop, that bar, that city. You could be gay there. You could hide there. The Greek Chorus wishes they could have been gay and safe in their childhood homes like Neil and Peter. I found My Son Eric in my grandma's books years ago and read it. It's written by a woman my grandma's age, a mother's story about how it was when she found out her adult son was the homosexual. Peter's parents love Neil, and Peter's mom drives them all over the place, because they can be fifteen and gay, but they can't drive yet.

Ryan and Avery just met. Avery is trans. The Economist put the trans issue well recently in an article about the LA County school system's new policy of referring to all gender-questioning children by their identified, not born, genders. They said that the percentage of trans people in the population is one half of one percent, so in the LA County school system, this policy will affect 30,000 children. In large population, even small minorities are huge in numbers and deserve our respect and recognition. Ryan and Avery are hanging out at the abandoned mini-golf course and run into Ryan's terrible classmate. They walk out unscathed physically, but it's hard and humiliating.

In a flashback passage, Tariq gets his ribs kicked in for being queer. He's Harry and Craig's friend, the one that inspired their record-breaking kiss, and he's the one running the webcams and the Twitter feed while Harry and Craig are kissing.

Cooper is gay and not doing so well. He's all over Grindr but no IRL friends. Two Boys Kissing takes place over a weekend. Cooper's dad sees Cooper's open laptop on Saturday morning. Cooper runs. He's alone, IMing with strangers in a fast food restaurant, driving aimlessly, crying. On Saturday night, he makes a date with a strange guy. The Greek Chorus mourns the old gay meeting places, the bookstores and coffee shops and bars, and the callow internet that has replaced them. (That night, Cooper is disappointed to find out that he's on a date with a man who thinks he's cute and wants to get to know him better before things get too involved physically. Cooper has too many problems to deal with that.)

Harry and Craig are all over the internet by now, kissing. For ten hours. Twenty. A teacher named Tom takes the overnight shift. Harry and Craig are kissing on school property and they need a teacher and Guinness Book verifier on hand at all times. Tom's gay and out and HIV-positive and married and teaches high school. He survived the plague, his symptoms showed up a bit later, and he lived, and he sat by so many beds and went to so many funerals. He needs to stay up all night to watch Harry and Craig, along with a gathering crowd of supporters. They can't unlock lips, can't be touched by other people, can drink through straws, can't take bathroom breaks, can't wear diapers, can't sit down for thirty three hours and eight minutes.

[...]

To say "Two Boys Kissing" is beautifully written doesn't do it justice. There are passages in this book you will want to write down. I wish I'd read it with a highlighter in hand, actually, just for this reason. Instantly quotable musings on gay life from a great writer.

My only problem with this is that sometimes the characters get in the way of Levithan's messages. He uses a group of 8 gay young men as his groundwork but none of them are ever fully realized. They are all just characters passing through the ether of the narrators gaze and therefore aren't always explored as deeply as they deserve. Levithan makes you care for Avery and Peter and Connor but he doesn't make time to fully embrace them. I was left wanting more of their stories, even knowing this would have taken away from the almost poetic writing style of the book. Even without feeling a deep connection with any of the characters I still give this an enthusiastic 5-stars.

I would recommend this book to even young teens. There isn't anything overly sexual. There are a few disturbing scenes mentioned and a heartbreaking discussion of AIDS but other than that it's a refreshingly modern take on gay teen life in the new century.

After several disappointments with David Levithan's works written with Rachel Cohn and Andrea Cremer, I'd built up some healthy skepticism about whether his writing really worked for me. With Two Boys Kissing, I now know that he's an author I definitely need to be reading, and am no longer concerned about the collection of his books I already own. Two Boys Kissing is beautiful, a statement about what matters and what it's like to be a gay boy or man.

David Levithan's writing is pretentious, of that I have no doubt. It certainly will not appeal to a lot of readers, who will be annoyed by that, and I don't know how it will play with teen readers, but I love it. The writing in Two Boys Kissing is complex and beautiful and simple. There were so many beautiful quotes that are heartbreaking or inspiring or funny. Plus, I'm personally not bothered by pretentious writing so long as it fits the narrative style and it's perfect for Two Boys Kissing.

The narrators of Two Boys Kissing are, in fact, none of the boys involved in the plot of the story. In fact, they are all dead. In what the blurb aptly describes as a "Greek Chorus," gay men from times before, specifically a generation dead from AIDS watches the boys live out their lives and marvels at how times have changed. At first, I was immensely skeptical of this writing style, but I actually ended up being a huge fan of the way this played out. Though a bit distancing from the actual teen characters and their issues, I found myself highly connected to this chorus of dead men, choking up in every one of their little asides, either from sadness or the inspiring beauty of their words.

By having this chorus of men narrate, Levithan was able to do two things: universalize the experience of being a gay man into more than just what the eight boys specifically focused on have experienced and indicate how much progress has already been made in the acceptance of homosexuality. Certainly total acceptance remains in the future, but the chorus marvels at the fact that two boys can kiss in front of their high school for over a day and receive largely positive feedback. Being gay is no longer as closeted as it used to be.

Another aspect of Two Boys Kissing that I loved was the diversity of the characters, both ethnically and situationally. Characters, both main and minor, come from different racial backgrounds, and that's just a fact and not a defining characteristic. Levithan also portrays with the eight gay teens eight different experiences of being a young gay in America. There are the two boys kissing, broken up and trying to figure out how to become friends. There's a couple in a healthy relationship, accepted by both sets of parents. There's a potential couple in the making, one of the boys who is partway through his gender change from female to male. There's a boy who was badly beaten for his sexual identity, determined to support his best friends in their record-breaking kiss. Finally, there's a boy who fears no one will ever love him who trolls the internet for connection, pretending to be whatever someone wants on a gay dating website. Two Boys Kissing really focuses on capturing the whole range of experience and does so well.

My complaints are very minor. First off, and this could be very serious for some, Two Boys Kissing is definitely preachy. However, I support the messages herein and didn't mind the preaching. Still, it's worth noting that Levithan isn't setting a scene before the reader and leaving them to draw conclusions; he also sets out the conclusions he wants the reader to draw. The other thing, and this is really nitpicky, is that Levithan really loves the term "screwing," and uses it a lot. It really just seemed really out of place and overused, since I feel like it's slang that I don't hear all that much anymore.

I loved Two Boys Kissing. Levithan has written a gorgeous novel with a unique perspective and really delved into the issues of being a gay male. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in GLBT fiction.

If you would have told super conservative 17 year old me that I'd be reading a book titled Two Boys Kissing in 20 years, I would have thought you were not only lying, but you were going to hell for it. Thank goodness I am not that 17 year old girl anymore. One of the biggest areas of growth for me in the last decade has been a broadening of my worldview and an awareness of my own privilege. While I understand that, as a woman, I still face some struggles, I need to also remember that there are others out there who are still being denied legal rights. I don't often speak out politically on this blog, but I wanted to start this review with a reminder to my 17 year old self - a reminder that I was, and still am, in no place to be judge and jury and that I am here to promote peace and love, in a non-cliche way. And this book by David Levithan, is an excellent reminder of the struggles that a portion of the population of this world faces every day.

What I really enjoyed about Two Boys Kissing was the idea that the story was built on something that actually happened. I mean, think about it, can you imagine locking lips with someone, anyone, for 32 hours and some odd minutes/seconds - still standing, mind you, unable to take a break for any reason at all? The stamina that would take. Now, why would you want to do something? To merely break a world record? That doesn't seem noble or even something that I'd be interested in cheering on. Yet the boys in this story take on an entirely different issue - they do this in spite of the fact that they have broken up, in spite of the fact that one of them has yet to come out to his family. They do it for friends who have been abused and beaten because of their sexual orientation. They do it to take a stance and say that no matter how much people want to brush them under a rug, they aren't going anywhere.

It's a heartbreaking story as well. Connor's story had me in tears. I've been in a place in my life where something happened to me and I was unable to talk to anyone about it. It about broke me. I wanted to just crawl away somewhere and never be found. Why do we, as human beings, make others feel judged like this? Can you imagine making someone so afraid of what you will think of them that they don't tell you something and would choose to die instead? That is what Connor struggles with and, again with Connors story, inspiration is drawn from a real life story.

David Levithan blew me away with Every Day and with Two Boys Kissing, he once again made me think about being in someone else's shoes. While I struggled a bit with the format of the book, I understand why he chose the narration style he did, but I think the story was strong enough that it didn't need that type of narration and, in parts, it almost seemed a bit gimmicky to me. Still, this short book packs a powerful punch and I was thrilled to see it sitting in the featured section of my library.