Review: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Publishing Date: February 26, 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pages: 325 (Hardcover)
My Rating: 5/5
My Rating: 5/5
Summary (From Goodreads):
Set over the course of one school year in 1986, Eleanor and Park is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.
I am far beyond astounded by this book.
I can not put into words all the things I have felt, and, my gosh, the tears I have cried due to Eleanor & Park.
Ever since reading The Fault in Our Stars, I've been longing to read more contemporary fiction. So, when I saw how much all my friends and several of my favorite authors had all been saying how awesome Eleanor & Park was, I decided I'd read it next.
I figured, considering the fact that the last contemporary book I read was all about a girl who had cancer, that Eleanor & Park would be a cute, lighthearted read in comparison. Little did I know.
This book is filled to the brim with emotion. Gallons of it. Rivers of it. Oceans of it. Not a page went by that I was not thoroughly enthralled by the beauty or the reality of this book. I read the entire book in a single day because I simply refused to put it down.
Rainbow Rowell beautifully tells a love story that is so simple, and yet somehow unlike any other. It's something seen a million times before, and yet, never seen quite like this. It's heartbreakingly beautiful.
And, even though you may cry more than you think it should be possible to cry over a book, you won't want to take it back. Something about this book, charming and touching as it is, will gain a special place in your heart. Something you won't want to let go of.
And isn't that the whole point of a book? To add a little something to each and every person who reads it? I think Eleanor & Park definitely added something beautiful to me, and it's something I'm glad to have.
Favorite Quote:
"Eleanor was right. She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something."
Peace out, Girl Scouts,
-Maggs
"Bono met his wife in high school," Park says.
"So did Jerry Lee Lewis," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be," she says, "we’re sixteen."
"What about Romeo and Juliet?"
"Shallow, confused, then dead."
''I love you," Park says.
"Wherefore art thou," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be."
Set over the course of one school year in 1986, Eleanor and Park is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.
I am far beyond astounded by this book.
I can not put into words all the things I have felt, and, my gosh, the tears I have cried due to Eleanor & Park.
Ever since reading The Fault in Our Stars, I've been longing to read more contemporary fiction. So, when I saw how much all my friends and several of my favorite authors had all been saying how awesome Eleanor & Park was, I decided I'd read it next.
I figured, considering the fact that the last contemporary book I read was all about a girl who had cancer, that Eleanor & Park would be a cute, lighthearted read in comparison. Little did I know.
This book is filled to the brim with emotion. Gallons of it. Rivers of it. Oceans of it. Not a page went by that I was not thoroughly enthralled by the beauty or the reality of this book. I read the entire book in a single day because I simply refused to put it down.
Rainbow Rowell beautifully tells a love story that is so simple, and yet somehow unlike any other. It's something seen a million times before, and yet, never seen quite like this. It's heartbreakingly beautiful.
And, even though you may cry more than you think it should be possible to cry over a book, you won't want to take it back. Something about this book, charming and touching as it is, will gain a special place in your heart. Something you won't want to let go of.
And isn't that the whole point of a book? To add a little something to each and every person who reads it? I think Eleanor & Park definitely added something beautiful to me, and it's something I'm glad to have.
Favorite Quote:
"Eleanor was right. She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something."
Peace out, Girl Scouts,
-Maggs
<3333 This is the most beautiful review I have read about this book. I am not lieing to you when I say that now I want to pick this book up. I've been hearing so much hype but I was "ehhhhhh merrrr" mode. XD
ReplyDeleteI will gladly pick this book up....*goes and looks at TBR pile* well, maybe after I read my pile of books. How can resist NOT buying bargain books. DX
P.S. HAPPY EARLY EARLY BLOGOVERSRY!!!!
Haha, in any case HAPPY SUMMER!!!!!!!!! And lots of love from waaaaaayy over here!!!! XD
Thank you Delaney :D
DeleteYou should DEFINITELY read this book!! It's earned a place on my favorites shelf forever.
And AHH THANK YOUUU!!! Lots of love back :) Can't wait to see what you're reading next!!
UGH I FEEL YOU.
ReplyDeleteTHIS BOOK WAS BEAUTIFUL AND PAINFUL AT THE SAME TIME.
Eleanor and Park are PERF. And you should definitely check out more contemporary YA like Gayle Forman and Melina Marchetta. They are total heart-wrenchers. :)
I HAVE GOT TO READ THIS NOW!
ReplyDeleteI tried reading it from the library a few months ago, but it didn't really click at the time, but I've seen to many exquisit reviews and quotes from it recently that I just have to read it for myself! Beautiful review!