Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

 
You think that holding someone hard will bring them closer. You think that you can hold them so hard that you'll still feel them, embossed on you, when you pull away.

Why I read this book?

I've been hearing marvelous things about this book, both on BookRiot.com and on the Bookrageous podcast.

What's the book about?


The book is told by two voices Eleanor and Park, two teenagers that happen to fall into each other's life without looking for it. They met at the school bus and they relationship starts growing from friendship to attraction being born thanks to comic books and music.

What about the main character?


Obviously we have two main characters. Park comes from a happy Korean/American family. He is consider a misfit just because he like music nobody else does and partially because of his origins (he is the only Asian kid at school...well, there is his brother but only Park looks half Asian). A father with high expectation has made him doubtful of himself but he is aware that he is lucky to have the family he does. On the other hand we have Eleanor; the poor thing has no luck in the family department; her mom is dating an abusive younger man and her father is almost 100% absent. Add to that the fact that Eleanor considers herself fat and that she is the new girl at school.

Final thoughts


What a beautiful and heartbreaking love story. Even though from the beginning you know that they will be together eventually it was very endearing to see their relationship grow. It was horrible to see Eleanor being bullied and by the end I almost cried reading what was going on. I have to say that it wasn't easy to read but made this book that much better, to see the characters have such dark moments. I was very happy with the turn of characters of Park's parents.

The message that even in such horrible situations we can find someone who loves us for exactly who we are is a very powerful one. Their love is sweet and sometimes naïve but oh so perfect as a first love. The story is set in 1986 (great year I've heard ;)) but without some music references is a story that is valid for any first love.

I was devouring the end of the book, wanting everything to be fine for both of them since they deserved it, and I was left with a tiny whole in the chest when I finished the last sentence. Rowell got herself a fan with this book and I can't wait to get my hands on Fangirl.


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