Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

 

(taken from Amazon.com)

#1 New York Times Best Seller!

"Eleanor & Park reminded me not just what it's like to be young and in love with a girl, but also what it's like to be young and in love with a book."-John Green, The New York Times Book Review

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 16.
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.
A 2014 Michael L. Printz Honor Book for Excellence in Young Adult Literature
Eleanor & Park is the winner of the 2013 Boston Globe Horn Book Award for Best Fiction Book.
A Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of 2013
A New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of 2013
A Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of 2013
An NPR Best Book of 2013

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this 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.

A New York Times Best Seller!

I had mixed feelings about this book in general. On one hand, I found it entirely unique and touching, but I also felt like it was rather depressing at times, and I was frustrated with the ending--it didn't provide the closure I would expect or hope for from this type of book. When I picked it up, I wasn't prepared for how heavy some of the content would be. The cover makes it look light-hearted, but the book revolves around a girl who lives in a really tough situation. While I commend the book for portraying what I'm sure is a horrible reality to some teens, I had trouble understanding the protagonist because I've never lived in that type of situation and I kept wondering why Eleanor didn't take some way out of it. I can't blame her for her choices because I've never been presented with a weak mom and abusive stepdad, but I also just couldn't relate to her. Nevertheless, I liked the portrayal of the budding friendship and relationship between Park and Eleanor, and the way it forms slowly through small interactions.

Disclaimer to parents: this book addresses social, alcohol, drug use, and abuse issues. You might never know from the cover or the synopsis, so be prepared.

Overall Rating: 4 / 10 Stars 

The language and style of writing of this book is good, despite my inability to relate to it and understand some of the characters' choices. It also fails to provide real closure to Eleanor and Park's relationship, which I didn't like personally, but it was a thematic choice on the part of the author, I think.