Title: Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist
Author: David Levithan and Rachel Cohn
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Teen Fiction
Date Published: May 23, 2006 (Original Publishing Date)
August 28, 2008 (Random House Children’s Book)
Publisher: Random House Children’s Book
Synopsis: It all starts when Nick asks Norah to be his girlfriend for five minutes. He only needs five minutes to avoid his ex-girlfriend, who’s just walked in to his band’s show. With a new guy. And then, with one kiss, Nick and Norah are off on an adventure set against the backdrop of New York City—and smack in the middle of all the joy, anxiety, confusion, and excitement of a first date
Ratings: 5/5
My Review
There’s something about night adventures, city lights, New York City and profound heart-warming and breaking quotes that I can’t seem to get enough of. It’s like the perfect formula for an epic one night adventure in the city that never sleeps between two complicated but strangely connected characters.
I fell in love with the movie adaptation first, I wanted to read the book as soon as I found out that it was adapted from a novel written by two well-renowned and talented authors, David Levithan and Rachel Cohn. Despite several hindrances that prevented me in purchasing the book on an earlier date (I was either totally broke or there were no stocks available), I didn’t stop pursuing the book. So when I saw it during Manila International Book Fair 2017, I hastily snatched the book from the book shelves, I’ve got money and the version of the novel that I wanted was available, so I definitely didn’t let the opportunity pass.
It took me a month before I started reading the novel and two months before finally finishing the roller coaster one night story of Nick and Norah and I mostly blame university for the reading slump. My question is, is it possible to fall in love with the same thing twice? I definitely fell in love with the novel version of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist two years after falling in love with the movie adaptation.
David Levithan and Rachel Cohn’s idea of telling this epic story through Nick and Norah’s point-of-view was an intelligent move on their part because it helps the readers feel what the characters are feeling. It gives the readers an idea about their inner thoughts about the things happening around them and their introspection about themselves and life in general.
Nick and Norah’s story is one of my favorite, they have never met face-to-face prior to their quick shenanigan of pretending to be boyfriend-girlfriend to get Tris off their backs. Their personalities and attitudes are definitely mismatched, Nick is a soft-hearted, sweet and kind guy whereas Norah is a tough nail who has sharp tongue and say her thoughts without a second guess, best of all, she this attitude where she doesn’t give a fuck. The only things Nick and Norah have in common in common is 1.) Tris, Nick’s ex-girlfriend and Norah’s frenemy, 2.) they’re both trying to move on from their previous relationship, and 3.) their love for music
I’ll admit the first few chapters–or the first half of the novel, rather, did not satisfy my expectations. It mostly left me puzzled and cringing on the language construction. Though I didn’t have problems with the excessive use of profanities, it was hard for me to grasp the words written. Maybe because the events from the movie wasn’t purely faithful with the book and it kept messing with my mind. I spent reading the first half battling whether if the movie or the novel was better, honestly speaking, I shouldn’t have done that because now, the first half’s just blurry to me, mixing the events from the book and movie.
The second half of the book was glorifying with Nick and Norah’s continuing adventure in the city and profound quotes that hit me right in the feels. Most of the scenes that happened in the latter half of the novel didn’t make it to the movie so it was like reading Nick and Norah’s story in a different view. It’s just all about them and only them and how they’re slowly realizing that they’re falling for each other.
My favorite part of the book is when the two of them are enjoying the tranquility of dawn, witnessing the waking hour of the city, dancing in the rain and talking about tikkum olam. Those events were just beautiful, purely beautiful. I’m just speechless, there’s nothing more to say it.
The reason why I love this book so much is because I’m jealous of Nick and Norah. I’m a big believer in slow-burn relationships rather than being in love with a person who you just met a few hours ago, but hey if it’s meant to be (like Nick and Norah) then it will be. They both found a connection to each other’s soul through something they both love and passionate about. They had this wild, soul-searching adventure in New York City and got to know and fall completely in love with each other in just a course of one night. That is something I haven’t experienced (yet). I want to feel the euphoria of staying up all night and running around New York City until the sun rises with the person who I know is meant to be with me.
This novel will always have a special place in my heart because it struck something in me, it awakened the adventurous side of me, telling me to let go and be free, go out and have fun, take risks and enjoy every single moment that is to come because, it’s an infinite playlist, there’s an infinite playlist of moments ready to be experienced and treasured.
I have thoughts about the movie too but maybe I’ll do a separate review on it, comment if you’d want me to make one.
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