Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

Why We Broke Up is a long and rambling letter to Ed from Min, explaining why she is returning all these wonderfully sentimental items to him and finally getting to why they broke up. Before I go on, I just have to say that immediately upon finishing this book, I texted my best friend, J, to tell her she had to read this book. I revealed that it hurt me to go to sleep and to church this morning because I wasn't able to finish this in one sitting. Truth be told, I actually sat in the church parking lot until the last possible minute so I could read more of this book before the service started.

I want to be as witty as Min and I want to have a love affair like the one described in the pages of this novel. Obviously, the relationship did not end well, but it burned bright, super nova style until it exploded. This book will transport you back into high school. Almost immediately, I was feeling everything Min did, excitement, hope, anxiety, sadness, fear, everything. I was there, was digging through a box, holding things and talking about things and cringing at moments when Min was cringing.

I LOVE this book, love love love. I like the style in which it is written, long and rambling, urgent, sad, underpunctuated. It is not just for young adults. I think it is appropriate for anyone who is 16 or older, perhaps younger. I have trouble believing that the man who wrote the Lemony Snickett books wrote this. It is beautiful.

I found the book at Barnes and Noble and flipped through it, but was hooked when I saw the beautifully sparse drawings. The art is beautiful, but the story... It is such a beautiful book, so carefully woven together, that it happens without your knowledge or permission, the story unfolding with ease. I was falling in love, but I had that nagging feeling in the back of my mind, that was verified at the end of several sections, that this would not be good.

The characters are complex and surprise you, just when you think you know them. The roles that are set forth here do not play out like you would expect, but that adds to the majesty of this book. I can't say enough wonderful things. I just really love it. I love the book. Please read it and share it.