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YA Audiobook Review: Every Day by David Levithan, narrated by Alex McKenna

10/26/2012

22 Comments

 
Every Day David Levithan audiobook cover
Every Day
Author: David Levithan
Publication Date: 8/28/12
Publisher: Listening Library
[Goodreads | Amazon | Audible]



Blurb (GR):

In his New York Times bestselling novel, David Levithan introduces readers to what Entertainment Weekly calls a "wise, wildly unique" love story about A, a teen who wakes up every morning in a different body, living a different life.

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl. 

There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.
It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

With his new novel, David Levithan, bestselling co-author of Will Grayson, Will Grayson, and Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, has pushed himself to new creative heights. He has written a captivating story that will fascinate readers as they begin to comprehend the complexities of life and love in A’s world, as A and Rhiannon seek to discover if you can truly love someone who is destined to change every day.

Review:

Once upon a time, a high school-aged girl attempted to make lasagna for her three siblings and their parents. As both the youngest child and as someone with quite the reputation as a calamity machine of Amelia Bedelia proportions, she had a lot to prove. When her family came home and sat down to dinner, everyone remarked that the lasagna tasted...okay, but off. They asked her how she made it and she recounted the correct steps and then remarked that it took her a really long time to chop all that garlic. She used three cloves of garlic, right? Yes...well, what is a "clove" anyway? *blank stares* As it turns out, our poor lasagna-maker used three heads of garlic instead of three cloves. We ate that lasagna, and it tasted grosser with each bite, but we consumed it anyway. To me, Every Day is like eating a lasagna made with three heads of garlic, only the lasagna is a book and the garlic is agenda. 

The first thing you should know before deciding whether to read this book is that it is wangsty contemporary romance masquerading as paranormal and/or science fiction. (it isn't science fiction at all.) You cannot go into the book expecting an explanation of any of the paranormal elements in the book because you won't find any. A (that's the character's name) wakes up in a new body every day. The bodies are always the same age as A and always within the mid-Atlantic region of the US. Why the temporal and geographical bounds? No one knows. Many readers seem wowed by the existential discussions A goes through about living in a new body every day: What is it like to be genderless? What is it like to have no family? What is like to have no idea where you came from and to not have a body of your own? All of these questions are fascinating but minimally explored. Instead, A spends a day in the body of a disaffected teenage boy, falls for the boy's girlfriend in that one day, and then spends every subsequent day screwing with the lives of the bodies A inhabits by trying to get back to Rhiannon. Additionally, A is upset that Rhiannon can't see the "person" behind the ever-changing body. I mean, shouldn't everybody be attracted to a person's soul rather than their outward appearance? 

The idea behind this book is almost overwhelmingly exciting to me. I get giddy imagining the possibilities when every day is completely different and there are no repercussions for the main character. (it's quite another story for the bodies A is inhabiting) This premise has been done to some degree by Replay and Groundhog Day but the idea was tweaked a bit here. The thing is, in both of those cases, the characters experimented with doing fun and interesting things, learning skills, trying new things and A doesn't really do any of that. It is interesting that Levithan created a character who seems to have body swapped with a conscience for 16 years before it all went down the drain for a sudden infatuation. I truly cared about A's existential crisis. I could've read an entire book of just contemplation and reflection on each of the lives A encountered. Instead, the plot basically goes as follows:

A wakes up in a body. 
We learn a few things about that person.
A figures out how close Rhiannon is.
A checks email to see if Rhiannon has written.*
A figures a way the two of them can meet up.
Conversation ensues to try to get Rhiannon's on board with dating A.
Repeat.

*The asterisk is necessary to me because there is subplot about religious fanatics coming after A for possessing teenagers. I was not a fan of this storyline overall--it felt forced in that for a large portion of the novel, the only mention of this plotline was random emails from one of the bodies A inhabited that felt contrary to what we knew of the character. Then the ending, which is helped along by this plotline, went off the rails. To me, and don't forget that I am just one reader (and also representing the minority opinion), the book's pacing was solid for about three-quarters and then it drank a few too many Red Bulls. 

I'm all for diversity in YA (and all) fiction but there is a huge difference between subtly spreading your beliefs and preaching. I honestly don't know if I could be in love with someone if I had no clue what gender they would be the next day. I'd like to hope I could be accepting of that but I definitely wouldn't judge someone who couldn't. Not everyone is attracted to both genders and at times, it felt like A was treating Rhiannon as dense for not hopping right on that train. This idea definitely led to some interesting discussions with real-life friends of mine about hypothetical situations and how we would deal with x, y, and z. There was a lack of balance in the discussions in the book. 

If you want to read review after glowing review of this book, go here. There are tons to choose from. When it comes down to it, this book just didn't work for me. I love the idea of it, and Levithan's writing style wasn't the problem. My issues were with the plot and the characters. I swapped back and forth between the audiobook and the ebook and I definitely prefer the ebook. The narrator does a good ambiguously-gendered voice for A but a lot of the other voices sounded too similar and Rhiannon's voice was a bit too Valley Girl-ish for me to take seriously as a drop-everything-and-obsess love interest. 

If Levithan wrote a book entitled Sketches from a Body Jumper's Album in the style of Turgenev's Sketches from a Hunter's Album, I'm fairly positive it would be one of my favorite books. I would love to read day after day of body/life experiences. But as it is, I can't give Every Day more than 2.5/5 stars. 

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22 Comments
Anna link
10/26/2012 03:16:42 am

Two words: Quantum Leap.
I think I might read this one, although his angsty style does tend to grate a bit on occasion. It's annoying when an ambitious, original idea doesn't quite manage to reach it's potential.
Three heads of garlic? Wow. The after-effects of that must have been...spectacular

Reply
Flannery (The Readventurer) link
10/26/2012 03:35:55 am

I think there is a garlic saturation point at which you can no longer taste the garlic. We couldn't eat a ton of it but we had to support the idea of her cooking dinner sometimes. (She also made macaroni and cheese without draining the noodles one time:) Also in high school.)

I did read another review that compared the book to Quantum Leap. You should be in the mood for angst and don't listen to the audiobook. I think the dtb is a safer bet in this case, though I know of at least two people who gave up on it.

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Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
10/26/2012 05:53:35 am

From the sound of it, this scenario would have worked better as a friendship story rather than a romance.

I am all for appreciating a person's soul over body as well, but who can expect anyone to be attracted sexually to another regardless of gender? Just like I wouldn't expect a gay person to suddenly turn and fall in love with a person of an opposite gender, I can't expect a straight girl to fall for someone whose gender and appearance are shifting. Romantic attraction just doesn't work that way.

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Flannery (The Readventurer) link
10/26/2012 10:26:51 am

I think part of the problem was the girl involved. She just didn't intrigue me at all and I didn't/don't understand what was "so amazing" about her. Near the end of the novel, A inhabits a boy who really impresses him. His family life, how people interact with him, his personality, skills, etc. I can't/won't spoil the ending of the novel here but Levithan does a good job of making that character seem like an interesting guy. I wish Rhiannon could've been the same. Honestly, the only quirk I remember about her is that she paints her tennis shoes. She never seemed particularly astute and there was no moment when I thought "this is it, this is the connection."

To A's credit (I guess), he/she does sort of realize that people can't just BE attracted to both sexes if they aren't wired that way. But the walk around to that realization was still laced with too much judgment for me to enjoy it.

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Bonnie R. link
10/26/2012 06:32:03 am

I wasn't a big fan of this one either. I gave it 3 stars and I almost feel as if that was too generous. The religious fanatics thing was weird and I think it would have been best left out. It did feel forced, I agree.

Reply
Flannery (The Readventurer) link
10/26/2012 10:32:31 am

Did the religious fanaticism storyline just feel hastily woven in to you, Bonnie? I thought Nathan was an interesting guy when A was inside his body but he seemed too level-headed to get wrapped up in a demonic possession deal. I could see A trying to rationalize with someone once during his existence and then realize it's futile so I understood why he'd try to make a case for not being the devil or whatever. Just that ending. Geez, louise.

The more I look back on the book, the more it irks me.

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Jasprit link
10/26/2012 08:54:28 am

Oh sorry this one didn't work out for you as much as you'd hoped Flann, like you said it sounds like the book has a lot too to offer, but just fell flat in a few places :(

Reply
Flannery (The Readventurer) link
10/26/2012 10:33:23 am

No, it didn't work for me at all, but it worked for a lot of people! I hope you like it if you give it a try.

Reply
Keertana link
10/26/2012 10:03:43 am

Flannery, all your reviews are incredible, but I LOVE reading your reviews for novels you didn't enjoy. You always manage to discuss so many deep and profound ideas in them and you explain exactly why a novel didn't work out for you SO well. (I still remember your Froi of the Exiles review as blowing my mind/changing my entire perspective of the novel when I first read it. It was practically life-changing.)

Every Day was meant to be my first David Levithan novel since I'd never read anything of his before and I fell in love with the concept of it, but once the reviews started trickling in, I began to re-evaluate my decision to pick it up after all. Nearly every one of the reviews I read continuously mentioned the romance and somehow, I was looking for more than that, so I can definitely see why this novel didn't work for you. Furthermore, I loveee your point about sexual attraction vs. personality attraction. Of course we love someone for who they are and their soul, but you can't expect someone to love you the same way if you were a different gender from the one they preferred. It has nothing to do with personality and everything to do with sexuality, so the fact that A just expects that he should be loved, no matter his form, and disregards the other variables is disappointing. Also, no world-building? NO! I neeeed world-building and I had this whole idea that A was an alien race or something, but the fact that we never find out is SO crushing! I really don't know if I'll read this one after all! :/ What David Levithan novel would you recommend starting out with, Flann? Incredible review, by the way! It's definitely one of my favorites of yours! :D

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Flannery (The Readventurer) link
10/26/2012 10:46:08 am

The only other book of his I've read is Will Grayson, Will Grayson, which he co-wrote with John Green. I think, after reading that and this, that I am just not cut out to read his stuff. I've read portions of his adult book The Lover's Dictionary and they've been lovely and quotable. However, his YA stuff is just lacking (to me as a reader) in the character department. Of the remaining ones he's written, I think I am most interested in the ones he cowrote with Rachel Cohn. (Nick & Nora's Infinite Playlist, Dash & Lily's Book of Dares, ...) But I really have no clue which one I'd recommend to start with. Have you read Will Grayson?

Thanks for the compliments, Keertana. I always have a hard time writing reviews for books I don't particularly enjoy. I think we all do. So I'm always glad if it is even remotely helpful to someone else.

Reply
Maja
10/26/2012 05:21:02 pm

*sigh* I'm with you on this one. I think I gave it a 3, and I was very disappointed.
Religious fanatics always make my skin crawl and I don't enjoy reading about them at the best of times, but in this case it was even more than that: that entire storyline was unnecessary and even a bit stupid.
The writing was beautiful and it did get me in the mood for a tear or two by the end, but all in all I think it's best not to think about it too much.
I'd give away my copy on the blog if I weren't too lazy to actually mail it when the time comes.

Reply
Flannery (The Readventurer) link
10/31/2012 05:41:03 am

Agree. I hate crazy religious people in stories. It isn't very often that I still love the writing but hate almost everything else.

Reply
Jaime Lester
10/27/2012 02:16:49 pm

This one is not for me, either. I did try, honestly. It just doesn't sit well with me. I love my husband with all of my heart. He is amazing, and funny and sweet and a teddy bear and he loves me unconditionally. My best friend is a wonderful person who treats me with love and respect. She is funny and beautiful and sweet and honest. She will be a wonderful wife one day. But I wouldn't be with her. I choose him. I don't know. Somebody in the comments said it would have worked better as a friendship rather than a love interest, and I agree. Wholeheartedly. It isn't fair to say that you should be able to romantically love someone whether boy or girl. That just isn't how it works most of the time.
Sorry for the rant, but that part of the story just bothers me. I am all about acceptance no matter what. But I am not a bad person because I love my husband and wouldn't be able to fall in love with a woman. Rant. Complete! :)

Reply
Flannery (The Readventurer) link
10/31/2012 05:48:53 am

Everyone needs a good rant now and then. We hear the same arguments over and over from authors/readers that certain readers "read it wrong" or "didn't get the point" and whatnot and really, in almost all cases I disagree with that argument. While I might personally think a reader is an idiot for missing the point of something, I can't fault them for their own opinion. I think a lot of people would tell both you and I that Levithan wasn't making the argument that we felt he was making, but that's the point--we felt like he was making that argument, or the character was making that argument, and it changed our book experience. If it was more subtle or not as overt, I might've felt differently, but I don't as it is. If novels weren't open to interpretation, what would the point of English/list courses, criticism, and discussion be?

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Amanda @ Late Nights with Good Books link
10/29/2012 12:08:39 pm

I am so glad that someone has finally written a more mediated review for Every Day, instead of simply another glowing one. I have not read the book yet, and I do think that the premise sounds pretty interesting. However, I also think it does sound like the author is pushing his beliefs down upon the readers with the premise. And that's not always a bad thing, but it should be something to take into consideration while reading the book. I do think that I'd like to read this book eventually, but I also think that I need to be in the right mood before doing so. Great review!

Reply
Flannery (The Readventurer) link
10/31/2012 05:54:00 am

I am glad to hear you still want to read it after reading this review. It's never my intention (or almost never) to deter everyone from reading a specific book but in this case, I thought it necessary to give potential readers at least a heads up about one or two things that might affect their interest levels and choice of when/if to read it. I'd read basically nothing but great things about the novel so I was quite surprised at my response to it. I do like when this happens, though, because I think more people come out of the woodwork to identify with it. It can be really disheartening to read a book and then find that nearly everyone else feels a completely different way about it.

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April Books & Wine link
10/30/2012 01:41:22 am

That sucks that Every Day didn't work for you.

Who was the narrator?

Also. I am kind of on the fence about David Levithan. Some of his books have been hits with me, and some have been misses. I do have a signed copy of Every Day, but I kind of don't feel a pressing obligation to read it.

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Flannery (The Readventurer) link
10/31/2012 05:43:54 am

Alex McKenna was the narrator and I *think* it was the first book I've listened to that she narrated. I didn't mind her voice--she did a great ambiguous male/female teen and was fairly good at a few of the side characters -- but I didn't like the Rhiannon voice choices. They just made her sound really unintelligent and not worth the time/obsession. I'll give her another go with another book but she isn't a go-to narrator for me.

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Christina (A Reader of Fictions) link
10/31/2012 05:20:52 am

Oh no! I've been really hoping to love this one, expecting to love it. Of course, we don't ALWAYS agree, but ahhhh! I'm sorry this one proved disappointing. I'll be curious to see how I feel about it. Certainly, characterization of someone who changed everyday could be difficult, and I also really hate being preached to. :-/

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Maree link
12/27/2012 01:45:47 pm

This review is wonderful! I was so looking forward to reading this and I enjoyed it at the time, but the more I thought about it afterwards the more it annoyed me. I've talked about it with several friends since and I get more annoyed every time.

The way the whole Nathan situation was dealt with was a little bizarre and I hated the ending of this book. I totally agree with everything you mentioned in your review and I must say it's good to find another review which isn't as favourable as all the others I have read.

I haven't read any other books by Levithan and after this, I'm not sure I will.

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VeganYANerds link
3/10/2013 06:48:02 am

I got really caught up in the book, and while there were plenty of things that bugged me and answers I wanted, I really enjoyed it as I read, though I do agree A was hard on Rhiannon.

But, since finishing it and thinking about it more I really do find it annoying that we didn't get an explanation for anything, it felt like the first book in a series and not a standalone because of that.

Great review, loved the lasagne story!

Reply
Jonathan link
5/25/2015 07:20:20 pm

So much so that you made me want to learn more about it. Your blog is my stepping stone, my friend. Thanks for the heads up on this subject.

Reply



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