Are We There Yet?

Levithan does it again. Are We There Yet? is a brilliant and beautiful story about two brothers who don't really get a long. In a lot of ways, this reminded me of the relationship between my sister and I (though we get along much, much better than Danny and Elijah). The story, told in alternating points of view (Elijah in one chapter, Danny in the next), explores the relationship between the two brothers as seen through the eyes of both boys as well as an mildly omniscient narrator. The boys are tricked into going to Italy (together) by their parents. Levithan writes of their relationship beautifully, having each boy dissect why they believe the relationship doesn't work. Their paths intertwine as they rave from Venice to Florence and show more eventually Rome. Along the way, they meet and fall for Julia, a Canadian visiting Italy. But what makes this book so good is the qy Levithan describes things -- the art, architecture, the way the boys see the city, the way the boys feel. While I wasn't a big fan of Wide Awake, I think that Are We There Yet? proves that Levithan is a truly fantastic author. show less

I generally dig anything Levithan writes. This was no exception, though I didn't want to marry it the way I did some of his books. I loved the oblique way the story of the two semi-estranged brothers unfolded, I loved the odd girl who shows up in the middle of their trip, and the end was perfect. Very enjoyable, indeed.

David Levithan continues to develop as one of the finest, most versatile authors writing today. Are We There Yet? explores the emotional distance and the psychic connections between two brothers, Elijah and Danny.

The brothers are manipulated into a trip to Italy by their parents. Elijah and Danny do not have much in common. In fact, they don’t much like each other. Danny thinks Elijah is lazy (“The moment shifts; Elijah is still happy, but it’s a different happiness. A daylight happiness, a lightbulb happiness.” p. 5) and Elijah knows that Danny is a snob (“People at work pay attention to Danny Silver because he single-thoughtedly saved the Miss Jane’s Homemade Petite Snack Cakes account.” P. 7).

They begin as tourists show more together and learn to become travelers. “We are like freshmen, Elijah thinks. The incoming class of tourists….He wants encounters instead of plans—the magic of appearance rather than the architecture of destination.” (p. 50). “It takes a traveler, not a tourist, to search for something deeper. Travelers want to find the wavelength on which they and the city connect.” (p. 62). Danny and Elijah reflect on their relationship guided by Elijah’s magic and Danny’s architecture. Eventually they find through memories and experiences something deeper. Their relationship is no longer touristy; they are travelers.

Like A Room on Lorelei Street, this book is filled with luscious language and a mood so palpable that we swear we smell the pasta cooking. Another must buy for those who love language that sings. show less

I love getting to know something about brothers & the young male point of view. I have sons, but I don't really understand them, especially the details of their r'ships with one another, and how much (or little?) they resemble other young men. I appreciated that Danny & Elijah have a lot going on inside, and they do care about each other & wish they'd get along better, but don't really talk much or know how to approach each other.

The scene at the Pantheon is, of course, key - that experience, rather than a lot of talking, is what worked the magic of uniting them. Though of course Ari and Julia were catalysts, too.

Of course the book is beautifully written. Serendipity is a narcotic."
And the illusions to old & newer pop culture are show more interesting.
I am charmed by Cat and would like to get to know her better.
And of course it's a short book, but not necessarily a quick read because there's a lot there, to be read carefully, and to savor.

But all along, especially when I was trying (and failing) to understand Julia, made me feel like I was reading a retelling of a myth or a classic. Something about two brothers and a random encounter with a messed up girl just felt *L*iterary to me. If you recognize the theme, please comment!" show less

The Silver brothers seem to have very little in common. Danny is 23, and is a workaholic, determined to get ahead. His brother Elijah is a laid-back 17 year old with no specific plans. Hoping to bring them closer together, their parents trick them into traveling to Italy together. Flashbacks from their childhood, the people they meet, and the experience of travel give the brothers a clearer view of themselves and of each other.

[review written 2011]

Are We There Yet by David Levithan is one of those books you don’t think are very good until you read it. It’s a quick read, yes, but it’s good. It makes you think. It’s inspiring, and the writing is phenomonal. Levithan is defintiely one of my favorite authors.

The funny thing about this story is the use of present tense, which normally isn’t that good of a writing style to use. Maybe only in fanfiction, short stories. But he manages to make a novel perfect using the use of present tense, first person. Go read this now. I promise you it’s one of the best stories you’ll read.

This was an interesting story of two brothers being forced together and then choosing to come together. I think the older brother gets more out of the experience than the younger brother does, but I also think he's ready to get more out of it. I think the younger brother will get more out of future experiences because of it. I liked the format- it was very informal and short and switched perspectives often, but it worked and kept things light and quick.