Reviews

How They Met, and Other Stories by David Levithan

dunder_mifflin's review against another edition

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4.0

Some of these were great, some didn't interest me at all. My rating is more like 3.5 but I'm feeling generous and rounding it up to 4. Imo, there wasn't enough lesbians. If I remember correctly there was one lesbian story and it ended badly for the couple, whereas there were plenty of gay and hetero couples and idk there could have been more lesbians is all I'm saying.

therestlessbookflea07's review against another edition

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2.0

Swift compilations on young love, discovery, and connections. The novel was not a difficult read nor easy. However, my interest meter was hardly moving with the stories.

Decided to keep the remaining pages with a better reading headspace for love and hearty giggles.

Only made it until pp. 133.

geenag90's review against another edition

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3.0

A good mix of stories, my favourites being "the number of people who meet on airplanes" and "princes"

andrea59's review against another edition

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4.0

3.75

viviennemorgain's review against another edition

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5.0

I'd say, a gift for every David Levithan fan, but I don't think it's that kind of collection that only fans should read.

If it's your first David Levithan, don't read the stories in the order they're printed, but make your own random selection.

My favourites were Princes and What a song can do.

sampayn3's review against another edition

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4.0

How They Met is a collection of intersections: of unexpected meetings, unlikely meeting places, of first conversations, first dates, first love, and that very first kiss. Every story stands utterly alone, with its own characters, own narrative, its own essence, but at the same time, they are all bound up in love. Levithan finds a way to write about both the most plummeting, tragic moments in life, and those most liberating and memorable. There is something here for every reader; some lesson, some notion, some enjoyment can be found my all. It is a charming testimony to the writer himself, to art, to romance, and to the power of even the shortest or seemingly ordinary of stories.

blondeturtle's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.5

missbookiverse's review against another edition

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5.0

How They Met ist eine Sammlung von Geschichten über die Liebe, da wo sie gerade hinfällt. Wie der Titel sagt, geht es um die Momente, in denen zwei Menschen sich kennen lernen oder noch mal neu begegnen. Manchmal erfährt man nur von dieser Situation, ein andern mal begleitet man das Paar über Wochen oder Jahre.

Wenn einer über die Liebe schreiben kann ohne kitschig und patethisch zu klingen dann David Levithan. Das hat er hier wieder kunstvoll unter Beweis gestellt. Anscheinend konnte er das auch schon immer, denn manche Geschichten hat er schon vor Jahren geschrieben und nur grob für diese Sammlung überarbeitet.

Typisch für den Autor gibt es mal wieder keine Grenzen, was die Verpaarungen angeht. Junge trifft Junge, Mädchen trifft Mädchen, Junge trifft Mädchen, alls queerbeet und gut gemischt. Manchmal dauert es auch ein paar Seiten bis man überhaupt das Geschlecht des Erzählers herausfindet.

Genau so möchte ich meine Kurzgeschichten haben. Interessant, mit Herz und toll geschrieben. Keine metaphorischen Meisterwerke, bei denen ich nach dem Lesen das Gefühl habe, dass irgendwas fehlt oder ich etwas verpasst habe.

leilakrzyzewski's review against another edition

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3.0

Love is love.

phoneticrenderer's review against another edition

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3.0

Some lovely, so heart-wrenching, but some confusing as hell stories in this anthology. In particular "Without Saying" reads as a fever dream. And not in a romantic, post-modern stream-of-consciousness way. Overall, not a waste of time. Just not a first choice.