As human beings we have the right to freedom of speech; the right to freedom from oppression and, it is my belief, we have the right to freedom of love. In the world today it's easy to take these rights for granted. It's easy to ignore the prejudices hidden in plain sight. Yet, the book 'Two Boys Kissing' exposes society; making me appreciate the tremendous amount of bravery it takes just for someone to say: "Hey, I'm gay."
The book centres around a kiss. But, it goes much deeper than that...
Craig and Harry are the two boys kissing – they are attempting to break the record for the world's longest kiss. A short time of 32 hours 30 minutes and 10 seconds – how hard can it be? Yet, as their challenge becomes global, skeletons start to tumble...
But they aren't alone. There's Peter and Neil, Avery and Ryan, and Cooper. Each of them face their own problems, at the same time both very similar and incredibly different from that of yours and mine.We watch the responses of their friends and family; their shock, their love, their loss. As the marathon progresses the kiss becomes more than just an endurance test and we play spectators to the extraordinary acts of everyday love.
Levithan's style of writing is innovative in the way he narrates as the dead. Despite sounding morbid, this method of narration provides a strange form of dramatic irony as the voices evaluate the past, present and future of our unforeseeable world. Its philosophical and ethical impact is life changing – a classic in the making to be sure!
Nevertheless, reading this book I felt intrusive. It was not written for me, yet I have been lucky enough to witness Levithan's latest masterpiece. This is a compelling story, which is a reading must in the wake of this year's International Day against Homophobia. So, I challenge you: read this emotional rollercoaster. If it makes you step outside your comfort zone, don't just take that step, leap! Read and remember, because we're all born equal...
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