Young Adult Book Reading Challenges discussion
Eleanor and Park discussions
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Angie, YA lovin mod!!
(last edited May 03, 2013 09:33PM)
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May 01, 2013 09:11AM
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This book makes me appreciate what I had at this age. Clothes, food, a toothbrush! I never wondered where I was going to sleep at night or if there would be a creepy stepdad watching me.
This is a review of Eleanor and Park where the person really dislikes the book: http://cleareyesfullshelves.com/blog/...
I see what they are saying about the historical context of the book. But being a military brat, I have always known soldiers who have gone overseas to Korea/Japan and come back with a wife. I didn't think that was too blown out of proportion. I have a good friend whose mother is Korean and his parents met when his dad was in the service in the 70s.
I am glad this book was a stand alone book.. and it makes me really look forward to Rowell's next book Fangirl.
Just finished and loved the book, gave it 4 stars. Would have given it 5, but not sure if I liked the ending. I'm assuming the 3 words on the postcard was I love you? I turned the page and was shocked to see it was over!!! Any other thoughts on the 3 words??
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I'm not sure...i would say they probably stayed with him...where else would she go and be able to support all those kids....not like she was doing a very good job now, but without Richie, she would really have nothing.
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I think they all just picked up and left. Do you think that Richie stayed in the house? That was something I was unclear about in the end...if he was still there or not.
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I gave the book 4 stars because I wasn't completely satisfied with the ending. I didn't necessarily need for Eleanor and Park to end up together but I wish we could've seen what happened to Eleanor after. I was also quite distraught when I read the prologue again after I finished the book. It doesn't seem like Park got over Eleanor. That was just sad for me.
sadly, I think eleanor and park are over. I think she will live her new life at her uncles.
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Oh, when Eleanor's Uncle Geoff goes away for three days and comes back with some of her stuff, I picture that he got his sister and her younger kids out of Richie's house and into a domestic violence shelter, or situation where she can get help.I think it's possible that Eleanor and Park go to college together...
Yeah, those last three words got me too! I assume it's "i love you" as well, but what a thing to send to someone after a year of not talking. That kind of drop off of a relationship really annoys me at times. When two people could be together but one is just so doubtful. Pining over unsent letters! agh. talk about frustration. What do you guys think of that? Her writing all those letters and getting all those letters from Park but never opening them. Oh man. I personally wouldn't have the will power to not open them.
But after all is said and done with the mysterious/ kinda apparent ending I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The dialogue between the two were refreshingly sharp and charming.
P.S. I also thought it was interesting the turn of story with Tina...dealing with a similar situation with her stepdad
I think that Eleanor & Park should have stayed together because you could see the connection they had together. I was excited to know that her family was able to escape. I do think that if the story would have took place in 2013 things would've been more differently since technology has many ways of communicating. I also do think that the last 3 words she wrote was "i love you" because before Park leaves her he does tell her "i love you" and she never said anything back plus when Park read the letter he had hope.
I loved this book! I was so sad when it was over. I thought Eleanor and Park were great characters. I was into their story right from the beginning. I like how we learned more about Tina as the story when on. I thought the 1980s setting was great, but that it would have worked if it was set today as well. The story and characters seemed timeless. As for the three words on the postcard, I figured they were either "I love you" or "I miss you."
I too was shocked when I read the last page and realized there were no more pages left to read. That left me completely unsatisfied although I did love the book despite the ending. I will give it a 4 star rating. For some reason though, I expected one or both of them to kill themselves at the end. So glad that did not happen, I probably would have given it a lower rating otherwise.
I was thinking that maybe they should be "Please forgive me." But I don't know if that would get the response from Park that we see.
so who put Elanor's clothes in the toilet? Cant have been step-dad surely? Have i missed something???
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It did seem like that didn't it?
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I think that was the teenagers in the locker room. eleanor was being picked on by them because of her looks and they thought of her as a dork.
Angie wrote: "K.J. wrote: "so who put Elanor's clothes in the toilet? Cant have been step-dad surely? Have i missed something???"I think that was the teenagers in the locker room. eleanor was being picked on ..."
Yeah I guess so...put in as a 'red herring' i guess :) the book kinda stays with you for a while, doesn't it.=P
I loved the book so much but I couldn't stand Elenor. I found her very annoying which kind of brought down the entire book a bit for me
Of course the end of the book made me cry a bit, but I liked it. I actually thought Eleanor made a very good decision to talk to her relatives, but I think she should have stayed with Park (of course I think that, gosh I'm a sucker for a happy ending). If the story took place in the present, I think there would be a lot more social media references (hashtags, Instagram, Twitter, texts, ect.).
To be honest, I believe that those last 3 words are "I miss you". She wouldn't say it to him while they were together, so I don't believe that she would say it to him after a year.
I am 100% sure that the three words were the ones that ended the comic book Park read without Eleanor.Nothing ever ends.
Bek wrote: "I am 100% sure that the three words were the ones that ended the comic book Park read without Eleanor.Nothing ever ends."
That was my first thought too! I totally agree
A friend of mine kept telling me to read it, although I never got around to it. It was sitting on my table and I picked it up planning on reading just a couple pages. I WAS HOOKED!
I cancelled my plans for the rest of the day and spent over seven hours hidden away in my room nonstop reading (and finishing) this novel. I couldn't take my hands off of it!
The only problem is, I wish I had stopped reading before the ending. It didn't satisfy me. Eleanor and Park are more perfect for each other than any two other human beings in the world. Honestly, I was jealous of Eleanor as I was reading. Park seems like the most perfect guy.
I wish that they stayed together. Yes, I know that technically they did, but I wish they stayed together in the sense of calls, visits, and more.
I don't completely understand why Eleanor didn't write back, and it kills me to think about. Park was the only thing that helped Eleanor stay sane and get her through the days. Why didn't she continue to count on him and want to see him after moving?
And, there is a debate going on over what the three words were. Some think that's "nothing ever ends" and some think that it is "I love you"
I personally think that Rowell made it up to the reader on purpose. All throughout the book, Eleanor never said 'I love you' back when Park said it. 'Nothing ever ends' also makes sense too, being that it's the last line from the comic book that Eleanor and Park read together or something like that... so I feel that both ideas could potentially be correct.
But seriously, WHY DIDN'T ELEANOR MAKE AN EFFORT? And when she finally did write him, why did it take her over a year? I am in awe. And why on page 324 does it say, "And Eleanor hadn't written him a letter" I mean, she would have had too if she wrote those three words.
I'm sure that there is an obvious reason that I'm not seeing, but they are soooooo perfect together. The whole book was a roller coaster of emotions. Between the disgustingness of Richie, to the kind-spirited friends of Eleanor's that stuck with her through things, to Tina (someone who, I think, is very mysterious and doesn't really have a defined character throughout the novel), to Eleanor's state of being self conscious to Park's dad not accepting Park for who he is... and everything in between. I hope there is a sequel of Eleanor and Park finding each other again... overall, amazing book. Not too crazy about the ending, but it really keeps you thinking.
Lena wrote: "A friend of mine kept telling me to read it, although I never got around to it. It was sitting on my table and I picked it up planning on reading just a couple pages. I WAS HOOKED!
I cancelled my ..."
Hi Lena,
I just finished the book and feel exactly the same way as you. I wish I had stopped reading before the end. I, too, cannot wrap my head around Eleanor not contacting Park. I was astonished. It just made no sense to me. It seemed so horribly selfish on Eleanor's part. Park loved her so much. He did everything within his power to help her. He drove her all the way to Minnesota for her safety even though it was the most heartbreaking thing he ever had to do. How could she not let him know what it meant to her that he, for all intents and purposes, saved her life? Not to mention just to let him know how she was doing.
I Loved the book. I liked the plot, the characters, the writing and the world set up, especally in the 80s it was really cool. I liked how the author described the young and first love, plus set up in a different time zone. I liked the characters, Eleanor and Park were really unique characters with their own flaws and problems, i liked the dynamics, twists and i recommend this book those who are fans of realistic fiction and of course young love set in the 80s.
