The Lover's Dictionary

3.5 stars — I like books that takes risks or are told in unconventional ways. This one is told through the notes on a dictionary. It is a non-linear story of love, or well, a love that failed. This is a poetic book, almost free verse.

I also like the non-linear way this is told, with how they fell in love and how it ended told all at once, changing our perception. My past relationships feel almost tainted by what happens at the end. A break up changes your opinion of a partner and I feel the non-linear aspect really conveys that. We learn they were cheated on early in the book, but we also get parts of their early relationship and love just after. You want to say “Aww” at the relationship moments, but since we know the ending, we don't and I think it changes our view of the the relationship.

I think love is an overall complicated thing, and Leviathan did a great job of depicting different stages of a relationship. At times, I found the prose to be a little dull, but I appreciate this book tried to be experimental and is a nice short read.