Eleanor & Park

Idk know about you but this book didn't seemed so bad to me. I read it fast and it's real portrail of a girl who has love esteem and doesn't believe that anyone could actually love her. And there he was. He ebraced her with all of the flaws and I loved him for that. I'm sorry for all of the troubles and hard times did have to Eleanor go trough. 
But the end kinda ruined it almost whole experience for me. But in my head they are end up together and love eachother fiercly

I think this book would've resonated much more with me if I were in high school. It reminds me of John Green novels, Perks of Being a Wallflower, Paper Heart (2009), Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008), if they all had a cousin. The comic book characters and music references give it that indie feel.

I listened to the audiobook. I'm baffled that DeNice's name is pronounced literally D-Nice, not D-Neese??? Did Rainbow Rowell request this specific pronunciation?

Seeing the current rhetoric and retrospective reviews, I can see all the ways in which this book is obviously problematic. I'm just curious how this film adaptation is going to weave this story together to current society. I walk away puzzled, the stereotypes are repetitive and feel unnecessary to the story.

The story didn't wow me in a major way, I felt like I was just learning about two people who crossed paths. I feel empathy for these 2 outcasts and the bullying, but because of their age, I felt like I was kind of just a bystander watching a movie slowly unfold.

It just didn't wow me or have that kind of gusto that makes you walk away feeling hopeful or connected to the characters. It was okay.

I read this book about two-ish years ago and absolutely loved it. I curled up on the couch and could not put it down, finishing it in one day. I laughed, I cried, I ranted and raved that the movie was supposed be getting made and then didn't. This book will awaken all the jumbles of feels inside you that you didn't know were there still.

UGHHH I LOVED THIS SO MUCH, I MESSY-CRIED OVER IT ON A GREYHOUND BUS AND I HAD TO USE A RECEIPT TO WIPE MY FACE WITH. #classy

Like just seriously fully-realized characters in love.

–

I just wanted to update my review of this (and remove my star rating) because I did love it when I read it in 2013 and since then many Asian-American folks have pointed out the anti-Asian racism in the book. I don't want to pretend like I never liked this but I want to acknowledge that as a white reader I can definitely miss stuff when I read and I'm sorry if my good review of this previously hurt anyone. (I know when I first posted the review I didn't have many pals on GoodReads so IDK how many people even read it then but with the movie news more people might be searching out the book on GR etc so just...wanted to update my review here.)

https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7j3kp/despite-racist-asian-tropes-ya-novels-film-adaptation-moves-ahead

3 stars

A tad underwhelming. I very much enjoyed the book, but with all the incredible acclamation, I expected a lot more from it. I like that it tackles a lot of important social issues (such as domestic violence, racism, fatphobia, homophobia, bullying, sexism, etc.), but the way some of them are brought up and handled doesn't quite sit well with me. I don't know if that was the author's goal. The narrative was a bit lazy, but I really liked that there were both Eleanor and Park's points of view, and I couldn't help but melt and blush whenever they mentioned each other lovingly. I liked the ending, but I feel it could be better. Felt a bit rushed. But the last part left me hopeful, so I can't really complain.

To start I have to say that I did not manage to finish this book, I probably went through the first two or three chapters and then just couldn't continue. It's not the usual thing I read, whereas younger me who lived her life on wattpad would've probably loved it, i received it as a gift and felt like I had to give it a shot.

To put it simply, the reason I did not like this book is that I could not stand any of the main characters, and I've read books with unlikeable protagonists before. In E&P there just wasn't anything compelling me to read on. It's that one book you have to put down because you simply could not care less about the story or the characters.

The writing is easy and enjoyable to read, I'll give it that. To me it seems more like something that belongs on wattpad. (No offence to wattpad writers- I've read some great books on there)

Anyways that's my 2 cents

Book Review: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell - a very good young adult book about two teens that should not be falling in love with one another, but do. (Feels like a grittier version of Pretty in Pink to me, in a very positive way.) It was only the ending that kept this from being a better book. The ending was fine, but seemed a bit trite. Overall I really liked the book.

My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/eleanor-park-by-rainbow-rowell/

This book was so sweet but also sad. My heart broke for Eleanor and her family. There was more language than I usually like in books, but most of the characters using “ugly words” were clearly the “ugly” people. The foulness of their character was not hidden, and it definitely affected me.

SpoilerIt was sweet. Eleanor and Park spent most of the book just reading comic books together, exchanging mix tapes, and excited just to hold hands. It was sad. Eleanor's home life was genuinely heartbreaking. She slept in a room with all four of her younger siblings, most of them sleeping on the floor. She didn't have a toothbrush. The bathroom has no door. Her mother is broken and terrified of her step-father, Richie. Eleanor gets picked on at school too.

I liked that, even though she didn't like Eleanor at first, Park's mom came around to understanding and caring about Eleanor. I really liked the emphasis on how much Park's parents loved each other, that even when he was a kid it was knowing his parents loved each other that made him feel safe at night. I think that's very important, and definitely underemphasized these days.

I was appalled to discover that Richie was the one that had been writing dirty messages on Eleanor's book covers.

I liked that the “mean kids” from the bus really came around when things were serious. They put their differences aside and helped Eleanor without hesitation.

I liked that Park's dad helped him help Eleanor.

I was relieved when it seemed clear that Eleanor's uncle was going to take her in, and it was implied that Eleanor's mother had taken the rest of the children out of Richie's house. I was sad when Eleanor wouldn't write back to Park or open his letters and packages. But I was also a little glad he wasn't actually “moving on”. I liked that it ended with hope and a postcard from Eleanor.

I assumed the three words on the postcard were “I love you.”

4.5/5 ⭐️
Ich habe mich so auf das Buch gefreut und wurde auch nicht enttäuscht. Habe es an einem Nachmittag gelesen und es war Zucker süß. Hat mich direkt in die Zeit versetzt als ich das erste mal verliebt war und ich konnte vieles sehr gut fühlen.

Der Schreibstil hat mir auch sehr gut gefallen. Könnte direkt noch eins davon lesen❣️

So, I just finished “Eleanor & Park” and honestly, I really enjoyed it. The romance between Eleanor and Park? Beautiful stuff. Yeah, it got a bit cringey sometimes, but hey, it's about teen love, so what can you expect?

The main characters really grew on me. I found myself caring about both Eleanor and Park, feeling what they were going through. But the other characters? Not so much. The author kinda left them in the background.

Now, the book does touch on bullying, which is important, but here's my issue - it doesn't really show how to deal with it. It's like everyone in the story just... accepts it? That bugged me a bit.

Sometimes the story dragged on - I reckon they could've cut like 20 or 30 pages and it wouldn't have hurt. But overall, it was a good read, especially if you're into romance.

The ending was... well, good. Not amazing, not terrible, just good. I liked it well enough.

So yeah, if you're looking for a romance book, give it a shot. It's got some weak points, sure, but by the time you finish it, you'll probably feel it was worth it. At least I did.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

A good YA read. I liked that the male character Park was Asian-American – refreshing and nuanced (not stereotypical or flat). Eleanor had such a hard life. I really felt bad for her, and I admired her strength, even if she didn't feel like she had any. Ending was a little too pat, though. The last “three words” thing did feel cliche to me.

I wanted to like this book more, I really did. However, it just seemed repetitive at times. Eleanor & Park just seemed to drag on, and Rainbow kept telling us how Eleanor felt about Park, but she did not seem to show that. I guess that's how her character was intended, but it still wasn't very believable.

Fat ginger falls for Asian nerd, probably the two unlikeliest of protagonists for a YA romance novel. Ugh - typing that makes me realize I just read a YA romance novel. I need a moment.

It's a fantastic build up to their first touch on the bus. From there - well it just didn't escalate fast enough for me. And no, I don't mean getting to third base - I just kept waiting for a crisis to hit.

I appreciate Rainbow's ability to write a teen love story that didn't have me wanting to reach up through my nose and yank my brain out. She's got a deft hand and I'm sure there are people out there taking passages out of the book and pasting them over washed out photos of couples kissing to throw on Pinterest. And so maybe that makes me a heartless cynic that punts little kittens but it wasn't entirely for me.

That said, I love the community that Rainbow Rowell has managed to create around her books. I love that she's on Tumblr and that there's a Tumblr book club for her other release for 2013 - Fangirl. I'd love to see more of this kind of engagement and discussion around modern releases. I wish people didn't feel like it has to be a YA read to be this approachable.

Eleanor & Park is a nostalgic tale of first love. You have your classic messed-up stubborn girl who won't open up because of all the hurt in her life (from her family), and you have the boy who just wants to know her and make it all better. Their story switches back and forth from Park's to Eleanor's point of view and is told in a quirky way to make you remember all the small and overwhelming feelings you had when you first started liking boys/girls... Park helps Eleanor escape from her family, and Eleanor teaches Park how to accept himself.

I loved the beginning of the book. It was spunky from the moment that Eleanor walked onto the bus with her patched jeans and crazy things hanging in her hair. And how she didn't care but really she did. I loved hearing about them sharing comic books and being scared to actually talk to each other. There was a great tension that was cute until about half way through.

Then I didn't like the book anymore after their first love feelings turned to obssession. I mean... weird obsessed for how old they were- 16. A lot of the feelings/thoughts they were having would be more understandable if they were 12 or 13, which to me is around the age when you first start really noticing the opposite sex, and everything is a big deal.

The end had a good twist that really got me interested again, but then just kind of ended. However, with Park being a phenomenal, I mean upstandingly phenomenal guy.

Overall, I would say that this is just an ok book. If you like cheesy, can't-think-about-anything-else young love stories, then go for it. If not, you'll probably just get annoyed half way through like me.

Previously:
Check out this interview with Rainbow Rowell about her book being banned by a Parent's Action League for obscenity in Minnesota. I already have Eleanor and Park on hold at the library, but now I'm really fired up to read it. Some people are ridiculous.

wow... just wow. this book was pretty incredible. it made me wish I could have had a teenage experience of love like Eleanor and Park's. I teared up a little at the ending, which means I got really invested in the characters. yet again, Rainbow Rowell writes such a relatable, touching, beautiful story.