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What Members Thought
I loved it. I read it in less than 24 hours, and really liked that neither of the protagonists was a skinny white kid that was actually really good- looking but didn't think he or she was. I was never Eleanor, or Park, but both of them are so underrepresented in books, movies and just about everywhere that I began the story loving them. And it's just such a real novel. No perfection, no pretense. I really did love it.
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The story of a girl with a "difficult" home life (to say the least) and her burgeoning relationship with a indie-music loving boy, set in Omaha in 1986, Eleanor & Park is a good, quick read. Much sadder and darker than I expected, given it's "young adult" pedigree, I felt it was surprisingly sophisticated in language and tone. The only thing "young" about it was the plot that felt somewhat plodding and simplistic, like I was a step ahead of the narrative most of the time as it moved from A to B
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The act of reading a Rainbow Rowell novel feels like what I imagine having my heart forged in my chest would feel like.
I *loved* this book. I echo John Green's assessment in the New York Times: this book will remind you what it's like to be young and in love but also what it's like to be in love with a book. Since I never really experienced the young and in love combo, I'll take his word for it but wholeheartedly endorse the second. The book takes on an unlikely teen couple versus the world. It's 1986 and two out-of-place teenagers bond on the bus over comic books and music. They still had Walkmans back then! An
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SO sweet and sad and charming. I loved it, but an award winner? Really? Yes the writing and perspective were excellent. True, it did deal with some heavy teen stuff without bogging the reader down, but it seemed to be a bit of a niche romance, and probably not the universal story I think of when I think of award winning books. Please take my advice and read while listening to the Smiths. There are plenty of book nerds who made play lists on youtube to read this book with.
I don't think anyone has ever written first love the way Rowell does. Dear god. Rip my heart right out of me, why don't you?
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I finished "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell yesterday, recommended by Kristen Schaefer. I essentially devoured it in one night. I have loved Rowell since Rita suggested "Attachments" and E&P is another example of Rowell's superior talent of describing the beginning stages of love. This one is about first love and she definitely captures the breathlessness of it all. Made me a little nostalgic.
Eleanor's family situation is painful to read and you want to jump through the page to help her. She ...more
Eleanor's family situation is painful to read and you want to jump through the page to help her. She ...more
This is the good stuff. I'd say all the good things have been said about this book, except that I don't think you can say enough good things. It feels like YA, yes, but it feels real, it feels true, it feels like all the things a book should be.
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I remember being 15. And this felt very true. Ah, first love. Who wouldn't love Eleanor? Or park??
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It wasn't until the end of the book when I realize that I feel like I just watched a John Hughes movie. Nice short read.
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So good- this one was a bit more serious and sadder than Rowell's others, but I really like it.
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A sweet, artfully written, frustrating love story.
Jan 19, 2015
Rachel Harlich
marked it as to-read
