Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David LevithanYoung Adult Challenge, Eponymous Challenge
A little raunchy, lots of bad language, just like the teenagers I see everyday. Nick and Norah alternate narrating the chapters of the night they meet. Nick sees his ex- girlfriend in a bar and asks Norah to be his girlfriend for five minutes. They kiss and the sparks fly. Thus begins a New York night of punk-rock bar hopping, mosh pits, misunderstandings, and romance. Music plays a big part of the book - Nick writes songs and plays in a queercore band, although he is not gay, and Norah's dad is a music producer.
This was a very cute book. I liked how Nick and Norah were both straight edge (no drinking or smoking), how they felt a spark immediately, but did the back and forth dance, afraid to show how deeply they felt for fear of rejection. Both are coming off relationships and the exes are around all night but they are healing and growing. I'm not up on my punk music so that was unfamiliar to me, but the relationship stuff, all the emo thoughts, rang true and I really rooted for Nick and Norah.
Sounds like a winner to me!! I heart old Punk music!! The Ramones, The New York Dolls, Dead Kennedy's....takes me back to my misspent youth!!
ReplyDeletestephanie - the Ramones were mentioned I think. It was a cute book, but mind the raunchiness. It didn't bohter me, but I notice our high school librarian has it on the hidden shelf for mature readers.
ReplyDeleteI loved it!! Although I'd kind of forgotten the rauchiness until I took it off the shelf to recommend to my now-defunct teen book group and noticed all the f-bombs on the first page. My inner teen girl self totally has a crush on Nick, by the way. :)
ReplyDeletetll - and the scene in the hotel at the ice machine? It was well written and I liked it, but a little explicit. Of course, it depends on the age and maturity of the reader, and that is what a lot of teens are living.
ReplyDeletenice review, raidergirl. (i've linked it to mine. thanks!)
ReplyDeleteBTW i agree with TLL that the language issue is easy to forget - which is really why the book ultimately is "a keeper" for me. the hotel ice machine room scene? well, not so forgettable - but funny too. (and i'm glad it ended how it did.)