Eleanor & Park in Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

Dec 09, 2015 Alison rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: dcpl_elibrary, fiction

This was a fun read. It's the story of two teenagers who fall in love, told in alternating perspectives. I though Rowell did a great job of capturing the awkwardness and tenderness that comes along with that. I also thought that the characters, particularly Eleanor, were very believeable. A fun read for sure. ...more

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Mar 31, 2013 Jenny rated it really liked it

This YA novel has been on my to-read list for a while and I loved it just as much as I thought I would. Rainbow Rowell’s novel, set in the 80’s, tells the unlikely love story of Eleanor and Park, two high school students who don’t quite fit in their Nebraska high school but for very different reasons. Park is the only Asian in his school—the son of a white father and a Korean mom, and has dealt with being “different” all his life. Though he isn’t one of the popular kids, he has managed to avoid This YA novel has been on my to-read list for a while and I loved it just as much as I thought I would. Rainbow Rowell’s novel, set in the 80’s, tells the unlikely love story of Eleanor and Park, two high school students who don’t quite fit in their Nebraska high school but for very different reasons. Park is the only Asian in his school—the son of a white father and a Korean mom, and has dealt with being “different” all his life. Though he isn’t one of the popular kids, he has managed to avoid sinking to the bottom of the social ladder through a combination of luck and not making waves. He loves punk music and comics and dreams of escape.

When a new girl gets on the bus one day, Park hopes she won’t notice the empty seat next to him because she’s a mess—red curly hair, dressed in an odd and attention-getting combo of clothing choices, and largely awkward. Of course, she does and Park doesn’t say a word to her, worried that her strangeness will drag him down in the social pecking order.

Eleanor sits next to the quiet Asian kid, dressed in black, and wishes she could be anywhere than here. She has recently moved to town with her mom, stepdad, and a slew of siblings. The situation at home is bad—all the kids are crammed into one room, there isn’t money enough for the basic necessities, and Eleanor has to tread lightly with her stepfather since she doesn’t want to be sent away again.

The story of how these two very “real” characters become friends and then more than friends is both awkwardly realistic and emotionally satisfying. There is a lot of darkness here but also hope and lots of wonderful 80’s references—XTC, Elvis Costello, Sony Walkmans, etc. As a reader, I ended up rooting for, crying about, and hoping for these characters in deeper ways than I typically do and I credit Rainbow Rowell’s writing for that. This is a story that will stay with you long after you finish it and one that made me head to the library to find more of Rowell’s work.
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Apr 10, 2013 Christian rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, fiction, romantic

I don't read a lot of YA fiction, but I thought this was an excellent book. I found it to be quite evocative of the time and circumstances. The characters were about the same age I would have been at the time and the descriptions of the capricious school bus social strata triggered flashbacks. The authors descriptions of various firsts (hands held, kiss, etc.) were wonderfully rendered, avoiding cliche at every turn. What could have been a formulaic tortured teen romance novel was instead a quit ...more

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Oct 03, 2017 Jen rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult

I really enjoyed this book. I think it's sweet and it captures the life and angst of teens well. However, I can't say I totally understand the hype that surrounds this book. I think it's great but I don't understand why it's got the amount of attention it did. ...more

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