Dear readers,
we have reached the last day of this cursed 2020 and with it also the last book of this year (because I don’t think I will be able to finish the other two I started). I don’t usually read romantic and Christmas comedies during this time; I prefer to binge-watch for hours and hours movies and TV series full of snow, love and holidays, yes. And that’s exactly what I did with Dash & Lily, the Netflix series that I devoured in one day, for four hours straight.
But I’m not here to tell you about the TV show, although I loved it like few other things this year – it was light, lovely, fun and I empathized with Lily more than I imagined (because even though I haven’t been seventeen for quite a while, I’m like her, from her dreams and joy for little things and love for Christmas, to bad luck with boyfriends and a questionable wardrobe).
No, today I’m going to talk about the book they based the series on – because obviously I had to read it.
Ready?
Plot:
Lily left a red notebook full of challenges on her favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. Dash, in a bad mood during the holidays, happens to be the first guy to pick up the notebook and rise to its challenges. What follows is a whirlwind romance as Dash and Lily trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations all across New York City. But can their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions, or will their scavenger hunt end in a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?
This time I will not dwell on the cover because it is not memorable, but it is simple and sweet like what it hides inside.
Instead, let’s talk about how the story is structured: each chapter is written first person POV and alternates between the point of view of Dash (written by David Levithan) and Lily (written by Rachel Cohn). I’ve never read any of the two authors who co-wrote this book, so I didn’t know what to expect. Apart from Sir Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, with “Good Omens”, whose style is fluid and one would not say it was written by more than one person, I am always afraid that there is too strong a gap between one chapter and another. due to different writing styles. And while Lily and Dash are two very different people, I have to say that reading is smooth and enjoyable, as well as incredibly fun.
The important people in our lives leave imprints. They may stay or go in the physical realm, but they are always there in your heart, because they helped form your heart. There’s no getting over that.
Dash hates Christmas and will spend it alone, as his parents divorced years ago and would rather be with their new partners than their own boy. Lily, on the other hand, has a huge family (although she found herself alone this year for a variety of reasons) and she loves this time of year. Dash prefers solitude and is surrounded by an aura of sadness and melancholy that he can’t get rid of. Lily is pure joy and energy, but she has never stepped out of the protective circle of her family.
They couldn’t be more different than that.
The red notebook in which they will write and compete is the push they both need to find hope. I love that it is just a moleskine and a pen, something incredibly analogical, which will allow them to get to know each other, in the age of the internet and digital messages, despite being the right age to bask with their mobile phone morning and evening like their peers.
The events take place in a New York we all know even without ever having visited it in person: crowded with people thrilled (and perhaps even a little exhausted) by the preparations for Christmas and New Year celebration, cold but exciting like few cities in the world. The two protagonists move around it with ease, despite being huge and tiny in comparison. Some challenges are hilarious, but they all help the characters overcome their fears and grow together. This is precisely the beauty of the book: despite the lightheartedness with which it is told, I loved the way two complete strangers grow up together, getting to know each other more and more deeply – perhaps even better than they could have done if they had met in person right away.
There’s truly a story on every corner. It still might be a shock. To realize you are just one story walking among millions.
If there’s one thing I loved about this book, it’s the irony and stinging sarcasm, especially Dash’s. More than once I found myself laughing out loud about certain parts. And luckily I didn’t read it in public, because when Lily’s great-aunt interrogated poor Dash I would have made several heads turn with laughter!
The two young characters are clever, with a witty and alert mind typical of those who read and dream a lot. Maybe some speeches are a little too mature for teenagers like them, but they don’t clash with their personalities at all. Dash is disillusioned and cynical, meticulous to the point of exasperation, his love for words for words is the engine that drives him to delightful and insightful clarifications. Lily, on the other hand, is a bit more naive, but definitely not stupid. She is adorable and, as mentioned, I can see myself in her without shame. I loved her desire to dare, to rebel against the monotony of life and let herself go into some little madness.
The secondary characters are not just a backdrop, but they actively participate in that unusual challenge and I loved them all. Even Sophia, which is saying something.
If I had read this book when I was the age of the protagonists, probably many of my fears and insecurities would have vanished. Because I was the weird one who preferred reading rather than going to the disco, because I loved studying and I was (am) too introverted to spend too much time with someone, because no guy has ever shown anything more than deep friendship towards me. But I’m glad I did now, despite being twice as old.
It’s the perfect read on a winter’s day, as it warms up like a cup of hot chocolate and lights up your face with smiles like Christmas tree lights. It is a hymn to joy and antics and to simply being yourself, in a world that seeks to conform to various fashions, whether they are clothing or interests. A world in which those who try to be proud of their true being are overwhelmed by judging glances and whispers that point a finger at them. And in his lightheartedness he shouts a very simple but powerful message: being different is beautiful. It is what shapes the world and what makes us unique and special.
For those wondering: the book is different yet similar to the TV series, in the sense that many challenges have remained the same, but others have been reshuffled to fit the small screen; other scenes were not included at all, especially the last part of the book – a real shame, because I would have liked to see the scene of the dog looking like a pony with which Dash is practically skating on the sidewalk in an attempt to stop its mad rush, and the whole “crimson alarm” story.
There are two other books that follow the first one, but I’ve read numerous bad reviews, especially on the second ragarding the way Lily behaves like another person, and I’m afraid of picking it up and ruining the affection I feel for it. We’ll see. Maybe next Christmas.
It is a light and romantic and sweet book. I recommend it to everyone, young and adults. Read it! And then watch the series on Netflix if you can.
I loved them both.
Some facts about the authors
Rachel Cohn and David Levithan wrote six books together, including the trilogy of Dash & Lily. You can follow her on instagram and twitter, and her website http://www.rachelcohn.com/. You can follow him on facebook and twitter, and his website http://davidlevithan.com/
♦
For those who read it: did you like it? No? Why? Let me know in the comments below!
{:}Dear readers,
we have reached the last day of this cursed 2020 and with it also the last book of this year (because I don’t think I will be able to finish the other two I started). I don’t usually read romantic and Christmas comedies during this time; I prefer to binge-watch for hours and hours movies and TV series full of snow, love and holidays, yes. And that’s exactly what I did with Dash & Lily, the Netflix series that I devoured in one day, for four hours straight.
But I’m not here to tell you about the TV show, although I loved it like few other things this year – it was light, lovely, fun and I empathized with Lily more than I imagined (because even though I haven’t been seventeen for quite a while, I’m like her, from her dreams and joy for little things and love for Christmas, to bad luck with boyfriends and a questionable wardrobe).
No, today I’m going to talk about the book they based the series on – because obviously I had to read it.
Ready?
Plot:
Lily left a red notebook full of challenges on her favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. Dash, in a bad mood during the holidays, happens to be the first guy to pick up the notebook and rise to its challenges. What follows is a whirlwind romance as Dash and Lily trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations all across New York City. But can their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions, or will their scavenger hunt end in a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?
This time I will not dwell on the cover because it is not memorable, but it is simple and sweet like what it hides inside.
Instead, let’s talk about how the story is structured: each chapter is written first person POV and alternates between the point of view of Dash (written by David Levithan) and Lily (written by Rachel Cohn). I’ve never read any of the two authors who co-wrote this book, so I didn’t know what to expect. Apart from Sir Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, with “Good Omens”, whose style is fluid and one would not say it was written by more than one person, I am always afraid that there is too strong a gap between one chapter and another. due to different writing styles. And while Lily and Dash are two very different people, I have to say that reading is smooth and enjoyable, as well as incredibly fun.
The important people in our lives leave imprints. They may stay or go in the physical realm, but they are always there in your heart, because they helped form your heart. There’s no getting over that.
Dash hates Christmas and will spend it alone, as his parents divorced years ago and would rather be with their new partners than their own boy. Lily, on the other hand, has a huge family (although she found herself alone this year for a variety of reasons) and she loves this time of year. Dash prefers solitude and is surrounded by an aura of sadness and melancholy that he can’t get rid of. Lily is pure joy and energy, but she has never stepped out of the protective circle of her family.
They couldn’t be more different than that.
The red notebook in which they will write and compete is the push they both need to find hope. I love that it is just a moleskine and a pen, something incredibly analogical, which will allow them to get to know each other, in the age of the internet and digital messages, despite being the right age to bask with their mobile phone morning and evening like their peers.
The events take place in a New York we all know even without ever having visited it in person: crowded with people thrilled (and perhaps even a little exhausted) by the preparations for Christmas and New Year celebration, cold but exciting like few cities in the world. The two protagonists move around it with ease, despite being huge and tiny in comparison. Some challenges are hilarious, but they all help the characters overcome their fears and grow together. This is precisely the beauty of the book: despite the lightheartedness with which it is told, I loved the way two complete strangers grow up together, getting to know each other more and more deeply – perhaps even better than they could have done if they had met in person right away.
There’s truly a story on every corner. It still might be a shock. To realize you are just one story walking among millions.
If there’s one thing I loved about this book, it’s the irony and stinging sarcasm, especially Dash’s. More than once I found myself laughing out loud about certain parts. And luckily I didn’t read it in public, because when Lily’s great-aunt interrogated poor Dash I would have made several heads turn with laughter!
The two young characters are clever, with a witty and alert mind typical of those who read and dream a lot. Maybe some speeches are a little too mature for teenagers like them, but they don’t clash with their personalities at all. Dash is disillusioned and cynical, meticulous to the point of exasperation, his love for words for words is the engine that drives him to delightful and insightful clarifications. Lily, on the other hand, is a bit more naive, but definitely not stupid. She is adorable and, as mentioned, I can see myself in her without shame. I loved her desire to dare, to rebel against the monotony of life and let herself go into some little madness.
The secondary characters are not just a backdrop, but they actively participate in that unusual challenge and I loved them all. Even Sophia, which is saying something.
If I had read this book when I was the age of the protagonists, probably many of my fears and insecurities would have vanished. Because I was the weird one who preferred reading rather than going to the disco, because I loved studying and I was (am) too introverted to spend too much time with someone, because no guy has ever shown anything more than deep friendship towards me. But I’m glad I did now, despite being twice as old.
It’s the perfect read on a winter’s day, as it warms up like a cup of hot chocolate and lights up your face with smiles like Christmas tree lights. It is a hymn to joy and antics and to simply being yourself, in a world that seeks to conform to various fashions, whether they are clothing or interests. A world in which those who try to be proud of their true being are overwhelmed by judging glances and whispers that point a finger at them. And in his lightheartedness he shouts a very simple but powerful message: being different is beautiful. It is what shapes the world and what makes us unique and special.
For those wondering: the book is different yet similar to the TV series, in the sense that many challenges have remained the same, but others have been reshuffled to fit the small screen; other scenes were not included at all, especially the last part of the book – a real shame, because I would have liked to see the scene of the dog looking like a pony with which Dash is practically skating on the sidewalk in an attempt to stop its mad rush, and the whole “crimson alarm” story.
There are two other books that follow the first one, but I’ve read numerous bad reviews, especially on the second ragarding the way Lily behaves like another person, and I’m afraid of picking it up and ruining the affection I feel for it. We’ll see. Maybe next Christmas.
It is a light and romantic and sweet book. I recommend it to everyone, young and adults. Read it! And then watch the series on Netflix if you can.
I loved them both.
Some facts about the authors
Rachel Cohn and David Levithan wrote six books together, including the trilogy of Dash & Lily. You can follow her on instagram and twitter, and her website http://www.rachelcohn.com/. You can follow him on facebook and twitter, and his website http://davidlevithan.com/
♦
For those who read it: did you like it? No? Why? Let me know in the comments below!
{:}Cari lettori e lettrici,
siamo giunti all’ultimo giorno del maledetto 2020 e con esso anche all’ultimo libro di quest’anno (perché non credo che riuscirò a finire gli altri due che ho iniziato). Non sono solita leggere commedie romantiche e natalizie durante questo periodo; preferisco iniettarmi in vena ore e ore di film e serie tv ricche di neve, amore e festività, quello sì. Ed è proprio quello che ho fatto con Dash & Lily, la serie su Netflix che ho divorato in un giorno, per quattro ore di fila.
Ma non sono qui per parlarvi della trasposizione seriale, sebbene l’abbia amata come poche cose quest’anno – è stata leggera, adorabile, divertente e mi sono immedesimata in Lily più di quanto immaginassi (perché anche se non ho più diciassette anni da parecchio tempo, sono come lei, dai suoi sogni, la gioia per le piccole cose e l’amore per il Natale, alla sfiga con i ragazzi e al guardaroba discutibile).
No, oggi vi parlo del libro da cui hanno tratto la serie – perché ovviamente dovevo leggerlo.
Pronti?
Dalla trama ufficiale:
Lily ha lasciato una Moleskine rossa piena di piccole sfide tra gli scaffali della sua libreria preferita. Una sorta di diario segreto che aspetta solo che il ragazzo giusto passi di lì e accetti di stare al gioco. Dash, che si ritrova a casa da solo per le vacanze di Natale, entra in libreria in cerca della compagnia di una buona lettura… e si ritrova in mano un piccolo taccuino rosso. Quello che segue è un vorticoso gioco d’amicizia che si trasforma in qualcosa di più via via che Dash e Lily si passano segretamente il diario in una New York tutta neve e lucine. Riuscirà la loro relazione a distanza a rimanere così autentica anche di persona o questa speciale caccia al tesoro finirà in una disastrosa incompatibilità? Questa è la vera sfida.
Questa volta non mi soffermo sulla copertina perché non è memorabile, ma è semplice e dolce come ciò che nasconde al suo interno.
Parliamo invece di come è strutturato il racconto: ogni capitolo è scritto in prima persona e si alterna tra il punto di vista di Dash (scritto da David Levithan) e di Lily (scritto da Rachel Cohn). Non ho mai letto niente dei due autori che hanno scritto a quattro mani questo libro, quindi non sapevo cosa aspettarmi. A parte Sir Terry Pratchett e Neil Gaiman, con “Good Omens”, il cui stile è fluido e non si direbbe sia stato scritto da più di una persona, ho sempre paura che ci sia un distacco troppo forte tra un capitolo e l’altro, dovuto a stili di scrittura diversi. E, per quanto Lily e Dash siano due persone diverse, devo dire che la lettura è scorrevole e piacevole, oltre che incredibilmente divertente.
Le persone importanti della nostra vita lasciano delle tracce. Possono restare o andarsene nella realtà, ma rimangono per sempre nel tuo cuore, perché l’hanno aiutato a formarsi. Quello non passa.
Dash detesta il Natale e lo trascorrerà da solo, dato che i suoi genitori hanno divorziato anni prima e preferiscono stare con i propri nuovi partner che con il figlio. Lily invece ha una famiglia enorme (sebbene quest’anno si sia ritrovata da sola per una serie di motivi) e adora questo periodo dell’anno. Dash preferisce la solitudine ed è circondato da un’aurea di tristezza e malinconia che non riesce a scacciare. Lily è gioia ed energia pura, ma non è mai uscita dal suo cerchio protettivo che è la sua famiglia.
Non potrebbero essere più diversi di così.
Il taccuino rosso su cui si scriveranno e si sfideranno è la spinta di cui hanno entrambi bisogno per ritrovare speranza. Adoro che sia proprio una moleskine e una penna, qualcosa di incredibilmente analogico, che permetterà loro di conoscersi, ai tempi di internet e messaggini digitali, nonostante abbiano l’età giusta per crogiolarsi col telefonino mattina e sera come i loro coetanei.
Le vicende si svolgono in una New York che conosciamo tutti anche senza mai averla visitata di persona: affollata di persone elettrizzate (e forse anche un po’ esauste) dai preparativi di Natale e di Capodanno, fredda ma eccitante come poche città al mondo. I due protagonisti vi si muovono con disinvoltura, nonostante sia enorme e loro minuscoli in confronto. Certe sfide sono esilaranti, ma tutte aiutano i personaggi a superare le proprie paure e crescere. È proprio questo il bello del libro: nonostante la spensieratezza con cui è raccontato, ho adorato il modo in cui due perfetti sconosciuti crescono insieme, conoscendosi sempre più a fondo – forse anche meglio di quanto avrebbero potuto fare se si fossero incontrati di persona subito.
C’è davvero una storia a ogni angolo. Ma potrebbe essere uno shock. Rendersi conto che sei soltanto una storia tra milioni.
Se c’è una cosa che ho adorato di questo libro è l’ironia e il sarcasmo pungente, specialmente di Dash. Mi sono trovata più di una volta a ridere di gusto su certi passaggi. E per fortuna non l’ho letto in pubblico, perché all’interrogatorio della prozia di Lily sul povero Dash avrei fatto girare parecchie teste per le risate!
I due giovani ragazzi sono intelligenti, la mente sveglia e arguta tipica di chi legge e sogna tanto. Magari alcuni discorsi sono un po’ troppo maturi per degli adolescenti come loro, ma non stonano affatto con le loro personalità. Dash è disilluso e cinico, puntiglioso fino all’esasperazione, il suo amore smisurato per le parole il motore che lo spinge a precisazioni dilettevoli e perspicaci. Lily, di contro, è un po’ più ingenua, ma non per questo stupida. È adorabile e, come detto, mi ci rispecchio senza vergogna. Di lei ho adorato il desiderio di osare, di ribellarsi alla monotonia della vita e lasciarsi andare in qualche piccola follia.
I personaggi secondari non sono solo uno sfondo, ma partecipano attivamente a quella sfida inusuale e li ho adorati tutti. Persino Sophia, che è tutto dire.
Se avessi letto questo libro quando avevo l’età dei protagonisti, probabilmente molte delle mie paure e insicurezze sarebbero svanite. Perché ero quella strana che preferiva leggere anziché andare in discoteca, perché amavo studiare ed ero (sono) troppo introversa per stare troppo tempo in compagnia di qualcuno, perché nessun ragazzo ha mai dimostrato niente di più che profonda amicizia nei miei confronti. Ma sono felice di averlo fatto ora, nonostante abbia il doppio di quegli anni.
È la lettura perfetta per una giornata invernale, perché riscalda come una tazza di cioccolata calda e illumina il viso di sorrisi come le lucine di un albero di Natale. È un inno alla gioia e alle stramberie e all’essere semplicemente se stessi, in un mondo che cerca di omologarsi con le varie mode, che siano di abbigliamento o di interessi. Un mondo in cui chi cerca di essere orgoglioso del proprio essere è schiacciato da sguardi che giudicano e bisbigli che puntano loro contro un dito. E nella sua spensieratezza grida un messaggio molto semplice ma potente: essere diversi è bello. È ciò che forgia il mondo e che ci rende unici e speciali.
Per chi se lo stesse chiedendo: il libro è diverso eppure simile alla serie tv, nel senso che molte sfide sono rimaste uguali, ma altre sono state rimpastate per adattarle al piccolo schermo; altre scene invece non sono state inserite affatto, specialmente l’ultima parte del libro – un vero peccato, perché avrei voluto vedere la scena del cane che sembra un pony con cui Dash fa praticamente pattinaggio sul marciapiede nel tentativo di fermarne la folle corsa, e tutta la storia “dell’allarme cremisi”.
Ci sono altri due libri che seguono il primo, ma ho letto numerose cattive recensioni, specialmente sul secondo e sul modo in cui Lily sembra un altro personaggio, che ho paura di prenderlo in mano e rovinare l’affetto che provo per questo. Vedremo. Magari il prossimo Natale.
È un libro leggero e romantico e dolce. Lo consiglio a tutti, giovani e adulti. Leggetelo! E poi guardate la serie su Netflix, se potete.
Ho adorato entrambi.
Qualche curiosità sugli autori
Rachel Cohn e David Levithan hanno scritto sei libri insieme, che includono la trilogia di Dash&Lily. Lei potete seguirla su instagram e twitter, e sul suo sito web http://www.rachelcohn.com/. Lui potete seguirlo su facebook e twitter, e sul suo sito web http://davidlevithan.com/
♦
Per chi lo ha letto: vi è piaciuto? No? Perché? Raccontatemelo nei commenti!
{:}{:en} 4/5Dear readers,
we have reached the last day of this cursed 2020 and with it also the last book of this year (because I don’t think I will be able to finish the other two I started). I don’t usually read romantic and Christmas comedies during this time; I prefer to binge-watch for hours and hours movies and TV series full of snow, love and holidays, yes. And that’s exactly what I did with Dash & Lily, the Netflix series that I devoured in one day, for four hours straight.
But I’m not here to tell you about the TV show, although I loved it like few other things this year – it was light, lovely, fun and I empathized with Lily more than I imagined (because even though I haven’t been seventeen for quite a while, I’m like her, from her dreams and joy for little things and love for Christmas, to bad luck with boyfriends and a questionable wardrobe).
No, today I’m going to talk about the book they based the series on – because obviously I had to read it.
Ready?
Plot:
Lily left a red notebook full of challenges on her favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. Dash, in a bad mood during the holidays, happens to be the first guy to pick up the notebook and rise to its challenges. What follows is a whirlwind romance as Dash and Lily trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations all across New York City. But can their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions, or will their scavenger hunt end in a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?
This time I will not dwell on the cover because it is not memorable, but it is simple and sweet like what it hides inside.
Instead, let’s talk about how the story is structured: each chapter is written first person POV and alternates between the point of view of Dash (written by David Levithan) and Lily (written by Rachel Cohn). I’ve never read any of the two authors who co-wrote this book, so I didn’t know what to expect. Apart from Sir Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, with “Good Omens”, whose style is fluid and one would not say it was written by more than one person, I am always afraid that there is too strong a gap between one chapter and another. due to different writing styles. And while Lily and Dash are two very different people, I have to say that reading is smooth and enjoyable, as well as incredibly fun.
The important people in our lives leave imprints. They may stay or go in the physical realm, but they are always there in your heart, because they helped form your heart. There’s no getting over that.
Dash hates Christmas and will spend it alone, as his parents divorced years ago and would rather be with their new partners than their own boy. Lily, on the other hand, has a huge family (although she found herself alone this year for a variety of reasons) and she loves this time of year. Dash prefers solitude and is surrounded by an aura of sadness and melancholy that he can’t get rid of. Lily is pure joy and energy, but she has never stepped out of the protective circle of her family.
They couldn’t be more different than that.
The red notebook in which they will write and compete is the push they both need to find hope. I love that it is just a moleskine and a pen, something incredibly analogical, which will allow them to get to know each other, in the age of the internet and digital messages, despite being the right age to bask with their mobile phone morning and evening like their peers.
The events take place in a New York we all know even without ever having visited it in person: crowded with people thrilled (and perhaps even a little exhausted) by the preparations for Christmas and New Year celebration, cold but exciting like few cities in the world. The two protagonists move around it with ease, despite being huge and tiny in comparison. Some challenges are hilarious, but they all help the characters overcome their fears and grow together. This is precisely the beauty of the book: despite the lightheartedness with which it is told, I loved the way two complete strangers grow up together, getting to know each other more and more deeply – perhaps even better than they could have done if they had met in person right away.
There’s truly a story on every corner. It still might be a shock. To realize you are just one story walking among millions.
If there’s one thing I loved about this book, it’s the irony and stinging sarcasm, especially Dash’s. More than once I found myself laughing out loud about certain parts. And luckily I didn’t read it in public, because when Lily’s great-aunt interrogated poor Dash I would have made several heads turn with laughter!
The two young characters are clever, with a witty and alert mind typical of those who read and dream a lot. Maybe some speeches are a little too mature for teenagers like them, but they don’t clash with their personalities at all. Dash is disillusioned and cynical, meticulous to the point of exasperation, his love for words for words is the engine that drives him to delightful and insightful clarifications. Lily, on the other hand, is a bit more naive, but definitely not stupid. She is adorable and, as mentioned, I can see myself in her without shame. I loved her desire to dare, to rebel against the monotony of life and let herself go into some little madness.
The secondary characters are not just a backdrop, but they actively participate in that unusual challenge and I loved them all. Even Sophia, which is saying something.
If I had read this book when I was the age of the protagonists, probably many of my fears and insecurities would have vanished. Because I was the weird one who preferred reading rather than going to the disco, because I loved studying and I was (am) too introverted to spend too much time with someone, because no guy has ever shown anything more than deep friendship towards me. But I’m glad I did now, despite being twice as old.
It’s the perfect read on a winter’s day, as it warms up like a cup of hot chocolate and lights up your face with smiles like Christmas tree lights. It is a hymn to joy and antics and to simply being yourself, in a world that seeks to conform to various fashions, whether they are clothing or interests. A world in which those who try to be proud of their true being are overwhelmed by judging glances and whispers that point a finger at them. And in his lightheartedness he shouts a very simple but powerful message: being different is beautiful. It is what shapes the world and what makes us unique and special.
For those wondering: the book is different yet similar to the TV series, in the sense that many challenges have remained the same, but others have been reshuffled to fit the small screen; other scenes were not included at all, especially the last part of the book – a real shame, because I would have liked to see the scene of the dog looking like a pony with which Dash is practically skating on the sidewalk in an attempt to stop its mad rush, and the whole “crimson alarm” story.
There are two other books that follow the first one, but I’ve read numerous bad reviews, especially on the second ragarding the way Lily behaves like another person, and I’m afraid of picking it up and ruining the affection I feel for it. We’ll see. Maybe next Christmas.
It is a light and romantic and sweet book. I recommend it to everyone, young and adults. Read it! And then watch the series on Netflix if you can.
I loved them both.
Some facts about the authors
Rachel Cohn and David Levithan wrote six books together, including the trilogy of Dash & Lily. You can follow her on instagram and twitter, and her website http://www.rachelcohn.com/. You can follow him on facebook and twitter, and his website http://davidlevithan.com/
♦
For those who read it: did you like it? No? Why? Let me know in the comments below!
{:}{:it} 4/5Cari lettori e lettrici,
siamo giunti all’ultimo giorno del maledetto 2020 e con esso anche all’ultimo libro di quest’anno (perché non credo che riuscirò a finire gli altri due che ho iniziato). Non sono solita leggere commedie romantiche e natalizie durante questo periodo; preferisco iniettarmi in vena ore e ore di film e serie tv ricche di neve, amore e festività, quello sì. Ed è proprio quello che ho fatto con Dash & Lily, la serie su Netflix che ho divorato in un giorno, per quattro ore di fila.
Ma non sono qui per parlarvi della trasposizione seriale, sebbene l’abbia amata come poche cose quest’anno – è stata leggera, adorabile, divertente e mi sono immedesimata in Lily più di quanto immaginassi (perché anche se non ho più diciassette anni da parecchio tempo, sono come lei, dai suoi sogni, la gioia per le piccole cose e l’amore per il Natale, alla sfiga con i ragazzi e al guardaroba discutibile).
No, oggi vi parlo del libro da cui hanno tratto la serie – perché ovviamente dovevo leggerlo.
Pronti?
Dalla trama ufficiale:
Lily ha lasciato una Moleskine rossa piena di piccole sfide tra gli scaffali della sua libreria preferita. Una sorta di diario segreto che aspetta solo che il ragazzo giusto passi di lì e accetti di stare al gioco. Dash, che si ritrova a casa da solo per le vacanze di Natale, entra in libreria in cerca della compagnia di una buona lettura… e si ritrova in mano un piccolo taccuino rosso. Quello che segue è un vorticoso gioco d’amicizia che si trasforma in qualcosa di più via via che Dash e Lily si passano segretamente il diario in una New York tutta neve e lucine. Riuscirà la loro relazione a distanza a rimanere così autentica anche di persona o questa speciale caccia al tesoro finirà in una disastrosa incompatibilità? Questa è la vera sfida.
Questa volta non mi soffermo sulla copertina perché non è memorabile, ma è semplice e dolce come ciò che nasconde al suo interno.
Parliamo invece di come è strutturato il racconto: ogni capitolo è scritto in prima persona e si alterna tra il punto di vista di Dash (scritto da David Levithan) e di Lily (scritto da Rachel Cohn). Non ho mai letto niente dei due autori che hanno scritto a quattro mani questo libro, quindi non sapevo cosa aspettarmi. A parte Sir Terry Pratchett e Neil Gaiman, con “Good Omens”, il cui stile è fluido e non si direbbe sia stato scritto da più di una persona, ho sempre paura che ci sia un distacco troppo forte tra un capitolo e l’altro, dovuto a stili di scrittura diversi. E, per quanto Lily e Dash siano due persone diverse, devo dire che la lettura è scorrevole e piacevole, oltre che incredibilmente divertente.
Le persone importanti della nostra vita lasciano delle tracce. Possono restare o andarsene nella realtà, ma rimangono per sempre nel tuo cuore, perché l’hanno aiutato a formarsi. Quello non passa.
Dash detesta il Natale e lo trascorrerà da solo, dato che i suoi genitori hanno divorziato anni prima e preferiscono stare con i propri nuovi partner che con il figlio. Lily invece ha una famiglia enorme (sebbene quest’anno si sia ritrovata da sola per una serie di motivi) e adora questo periodo dell’anno. Dash preferisce la solitudine ed è circondato da un’aurea di tristezza e malinconia che non riesce a scacciare. Lily è gioia ed energia pura, ma non è mai uscita dal suo cerchio protettivo che è la sua famiglia.
Non potrebbero essere più diversi di così.
Il taccuino rosso su cui si scriveranno e si sfideranno è la spinta di cui hanno entrambi bisogno per ritrovare speranza. Adoro che sia proprio una moleskine e una penna, qualcosa di incredibilmente analogico, che permetterà loro di conoscersi, ai tempi di internet e messaggini digitali, nonostante abbiano l’età giusta per crogiolarsi col telefonino mattina e sera come i loro coetanei.
Le vicende si svolgono in una New York che conosciamo tutti anche senza mai averla visitata di persona: affollata di persone elettrizzate (e forse anche un po’ esauste) dai preparativi di Natale e di Capodanno, fredda ma eccitante come poche città al mondo. I due protagonisti vi si muovono con disinvoltura, nonostante sia enorme e loro minuscoli in confronto. Certe sfide sono esilaranti, ma tutte aiutano i personaggi a superare le proprie paure e crescere. È proprio questo il bello del libro: nonostante la spensieratezza con cui è raccontato, ho adorato il modo in cui due perfetti sconosciuti crescono insieme, conoscendosi sempre più a fondo – forse anche meglio di quanto avrebbero potuto fare se si fossero incontrati di persona subito.
C’è davvero una storia a ogni angolo. Ma potrebbe essere uno shock. Rendersi conto che sei soltanto una storia tra milioni.
Se c’è una cosa che ho adorato di questo libro è l’ironia e il sarcasmo pungente, specialmente di Dash. Mi sono trovata più di una volta a ridere di gusto su certi passaggi. E per fortuna non l’ho letto in pubblico, perché all’interrogatorio della prozia di Lily sul povero Dash avrei fatto girare parecchie teste per le risate!
I due giovani ragazzi sono intelligenti, la mente sveglia e arguta tipica di chi legge e sogna tanto. Magari alcuni discorsi sono un po’ troppo maturi per degli adolescenti come loro, ma non stonano affatto con le loro personalità. Dash è disilluso e cinico, puntiglioso fino all’esasperazione, il suo amore smisurato per le parole il motore che lo spinge a precisazioni dilettevoli e perspicaci. Lily, di contro, è un po’ più ingenua, ma non per questo stupida. È adorabile e, come detto, mi ci rispecchio senza vergogna. Di lei ho adorato il desiderio di osare, di ribellarsi alla monotonia della vita e lasciarsi andare in qualche piccola follia.
I personaggi secondari non sono solo uno sfondo, ma partecipano attivamente a quella sfida inusuale e li ho adorati tutti. Persino Sophia, che è tutto dire.
Se avessi letto questo libro quando avevo l’età dei protagonisti, probabilmente molte delle mie paure e insicurezze sarebbero svanite. Perché ero quella strana che preferiva leggere anziché andare in discoteca, perché amavo studiare ed ero (sono) troppo introversa per stare troppo tempo in compagnia di qualcuno, perché nessun ragazzo ha mai dimostrato niente di più che profonda amicizia nei miei confronti. Ma sono felice di averlo fatto ora, nonostante abbia il doppio di quegli anni.
È la lettura perfetta per una giornata invernale, perché riscalda come una tazza di cioccolata calda e illumina il viso di sorrisi come le lucine di un albero di Natale. È un inno alla gioia e alle stramberie e all’essere semplicemente se stessi, in un mondo che cerca di omologarsi con le varie mode, che siano di abbigliamento o di interessi. Un mondo in cui chi cerca di essere orgoglioso del proprio essere è schiacciato da sguardi che giudicano e bisbigli che puntano loro contro un dito. E nella sua spensieratezza grida un messaggio molto semplice ma potente: essere diversi è bello. È ciò che forgia il mondo e che ci rende unici e speciali.
Per chi se lo stesse chiedendo: il libro è diverso eppure simile alla serie tv, nel senso che molte sfide sono rimaste uguali, ma altre sono state rimpastate per adattarle al piccolo schermo; altre scene invece non sono state inserite affatto, specialmente l’ultima parte del libro – un vero peccato, perché avrei voluto vedere la scena del cane che sembra un pony con cui Dash fa praticamente pattinaggio sul marciapiede nel tentativo di fermarne la folle corsa, e tutta la storia “dell’allarme cremisi”.
Ci sono altri due libri che seguono il primo, ma ho letto numerose cattive recensioni, specialmente sul secondo e sul modo in cui Lily sembra un altro personaggio, che ho paura di prenderlo in mano e rovinare l’affetto che provo per questo. Vedremo. Magari il prossimo Natale.
È un libro leggero e romantico e dolce. Lo consiglio a tutti, giovani e adulti. Leggetelo! E poi guardate la serie su Netflix, se potete.
Ho adorato entrambi.
Qualche curiosità sugli autori
Rachel Cohn e David Levithan hanno scritto sei libri insieme, che includono la trilogia di Dash&Lily. Lei potete seguirla su instagram e twitter, e sul suo sito web http://www.rachelcohn.com/. Lui potete seguirlo su facebook e twitter, e sul suo sito web http://davidlevithan.com/
♦
Per chi lo ha letto: vi è piaciuto? No? Perché? Raccontatemelo nei commenti!
{:}{:en} 4/5Dear readers,
we have reached the last day of this cursed 2020 and with it also the last book of this year (because I don’t think I will be able to finish the other two I started). I don’t usually read romantic and Christmas comedies during this time; I prefer to binge-watch for hours and hours movies and TV series full of snow, love and holidays, yes. And that’s exactly what I did with Dash & Lily, the Netflix series that I devoured in one day, for four hours straight.
But I’m not here to tell you about the TV show, although I loved it like few other things this year – it was light, lovely, fun and I empathized with Lily more than I imagined (because even though I haven’t been seventeen for quite a while, I’m like her, from her dreams and joy for little things and love for Christmas, to bad luck with boyfriends and a questionable wardrobe).
No, today I’m going to talk about the book they based the series on – because obviously I had to read it.
Ready?
Plot:
Lily left a red notebook full of challenges on her favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. Dash, in a bad mood during the holidays, happens to be the first guy to pick up the notebook and rise to its challenges. What follows is a whirlwind romance as Dash and Lily trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations all across New York City. But can their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions, or will their scavenger hunt end in a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?
This time I will not dwell on the cover because it is not memorable, but it is simple and sweet like what it hides inside.
Instead, let’s talk about how the story is structured: each chapter is written first person POV and alternates between the point of view of Dash (written by David Levithan) and Lily (written by Rachel Cohn). I’ve never read any of the two authors who co-wrote this book, so I didn’t know what to expect. Apart from Sir Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, with “Good Omens”, whose style is fluid and one would not say it was written by more than one person, I am always afraid that there is too strong a gap between one chapter and another. due to different writing styles. And while Lily and Dash are two very different people, I have to say that reading is smooth and enjoyable, as well as incredibly fun.
The important people in our lives leave imprints. They may stay or go in the physical realm, but they are always there in your heart, because they helped form your heart. There’s no getting over that.
Dash hates Christmas and will spend it alone, as his parents divorced years ago and would rather be with their new partners than their own boy. Lily, on the other hand, has a huge family (although she found herself alone this year for a variety of reasons) and she loves this time of year. Dash prefers solitude and is surrounded by an aura of sadness and melancholy that he can’t get rid of. Lily is pure joy and energy, but she has never stepped out of the protective circle of her family.
They couldn’t be more different than that.
The red notebook in which they will write and compete is the push they both need to find hope. I love that it is just a moleskine and a pen, something incredibly analogical, which will allow them to get to know each other, in the age of the internet and digital messages, despite being the right age to bask with their mobile phone morning and evening like their peers.
The events take place in a New York we all know even without ever having visited it in person: crowded with people thrilled (and perhaps even a little exhausted) by the preparations for Christmas and New Year celebration, cold but exciting like few cities in the world. The two protagonists move around it with ease, despite being huge and tiny in comparison. Some challenges are hilarious, but they all help the characters overcome their fears and grow together. This is precisely the beauty of the book: despite the lightheartedness with which it is told, I loved the way two complete strangers grow up together, getting to know each other more and more deeply – perhaps even better than they could have done if they had met in person right away.
There’s truly a story on every corner. It still might be a shock. To realize you are just one story walking among millions.
If there’s one thing I loved about this book, it’s the irony and stinging sarcasm, especially Dash’s. More than once I found myself laughing out loud about certain parts. And luckily I didn’t read it in public, because when Lily’s great-aunt interrogated poor Dash I would have made several heads turn with laughter!
The two young characters are clever, with a witty and alert mind typical of those who read and dream a lot. Maybe some speeches are a little too mature for teenagers like them, but they don’t clash with their personalities at all. Dash is disillusioned and cynical, meticulous to the point of exasperation, his love for words for words is the engine that drives him to delightful and insightful clarifications. Lily, on the other hand, is a bit more naive, but definitely not stupid. She is adorable and, as mentioned, I can see myself in her without shame. I loved her desire to dare, to rebel against the monotony of life and let herself go into some little madness.
The secondary characters are not just a backdrop, but they actively participate in that unusual challenge and I loved them all. Even Sophia, which is saying something.
If I had read this book when I was the age of the protagonists, probably many of my fears and insecurities would have vanished. Because I was the weird one who preferred reading rather than going to the disco, because I loved studying and I was (am) too introverted to spend too much time with someone, because no guy has ever shown anything more than deep friendship towards me. But I’m glad I did now, despite being twice as old.
It’s the perfect read on a winter’s day, as it warms up like a cup of hot chocolate and lights up your face with smiles like Christmas tree lights. It is a hymn to joy and antics and to simply being yourself, in a world that seeks to conform to various fashions, whether they are clothing or interests. A world in which those who try to be proud of their true being are overwhelmed by judging glances and whispers that point a finger at them. And in his lightheartedness he shouts a very simple but powerful message: being different is beautiful. It is what shapes the world and what makes us unique and special.
For those wondering: the book is different yet similar to the TV series, in the sense that many challenges have remained the same, but others have been reshuffled to fit the small screen; other scenes were not included at all, especially the last part of the book – a real shame, because I would have liked to see the scene of the dog looking like a pony with which Dash is practically skating on the sidewalk in an attempt to stop its mad rush, and the whole “crimson alarm” story.
There are two other books that follow the first one, but I’ve read numerous bad reviews, especially on the second ragarding the way Lily behaves like another person, and I’m afraid of picking it up and ruining the affection I feel for it. We’ll see. Maybe next Christmas.
It is a light and romantic and sweet book. I recommend it to everyone, young and adults. Read it! And then watch the series on Netflix if you can.
I loved them both.
Some facts about the authors
Rachel Cohn and David Levithan wrote six books together, including the trilogy of Dash & Lily. You can follow her on instagram and twitter, and her website http://www.rachelcohn.com/. You can follow him on facebook and twitter, and his website http://davidlevithan.com/
♦
For those who read it: did you like it? No? Why? Let me know in the comments below!
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