Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell Review

Mon, February 25, 2013

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell Review

Eleanor and Park
By Rainbow Rowell
Publication date: Feb. 26, 2013
St. Martin’s Press , 320 pages
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

“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.

— Goodreads.com description

I read Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell right after my friend Magan and thank goodness I had someone to talk to about it because, you guys, it was SO GOOD. It was one of those books that I could not stop thinking about and needed to dissect IN DEPTH. Do we like or hate so and so? What was the deal with the ending? DID YOU LOVE IT AS MUCH AS I DID? Etc.

Like…I tried to write a review, but it was just so fangirly, I had to calm myself down. So, instead of a review, here are bits and pieces of my side of our gChat…I think you will get the gist of my love…

me: ok that book
is why i love to read
i sat down and would not get up for like 5 hours
…
me: i just really enjoyed being in his brain
…
me: they were both so fascinating and lovely
…
me: the whole time i was reading it i felt like somehow rainbow rowell was reaching out and grabbing my heart and that is really emo but it is also TRUE
…
me: holy mother of mercy magan
was that not the hottest thing ever
…
me: ugh that slays me
i love it
i love that book so much
…
me: it’s so hard when a book ends and you just want to imagine what the rest of their lives are like
but will never KNOW
…
me: can we make everyone ever read this and love it as much as we do?
i’m feeling evangelistic over it
…
me: oh man what do people do when they don’t have people to dissect books with them

So, basically, here’s what you need to do:

1. Read Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. I immediately preordered a hardcover version after I finished my Kindle version. Be prepared to do the same.

2. Then let’s discuss it even MORE. I’d be lost without bookish friends like Magan (mwah. xoxo.), so know that I am here for you too if you need to freak out as much as I did!

Anna Reads young adult book blog

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Posted by: Anna • In: abuse, family, rainbow rowell, romance

30 Comments

Rachel Patrick said:

I recently read this book and OH MY GOSH I LOVED IT SO MUCH. I’m still constantly thinking about it, and I need my hands on a finished copy right now. So, so good. I want everyone to read it, and it’s bound to be one of my top books of the year. LOVED IT. I’m wondering what part you thought was the hottest thing ever…(; Great review, and I’m glad you loved it, too!
Rachel Patrick recently posted..Review: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

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Posted on: Mon, February 25, 2013
Tarryn B said:

I read “Attachments” and fell in love with Rainbow Rowell. This book is *definitely* on my to-read list
Tarryn B recently posted..Destroyed

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Anna Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 7:03 am
LOVED that one too!

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Posted on: Mon, February 25, 2013
Fara @ Tumbling In Books said:

Wow. You made this book sounds so GOOD! I just got a copy of it so HOPEFULLY I’ll get on it soon Awesome review, Anna!

Fara @ Tumbling In Books
Fara @ Tumbling In Books recently posted..Showcase Sunday #7

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Posted on: Mon, February 25, 2013
Lori said:

Sigh…This book. I really, really loved it. SO MUCH! I want to reread it again already.
Lori recently posted..Review: Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

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Anna Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 7:03 am
And don’t you sort of feel like you’ll get even more out of it when you reread it? I feel like I just flew through it and the second time around I’ll totally appreciate the nuisances more!

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Posted on: Mon, February 25, 2013
JennRenee said:

oh I have not heard of this book. Adding right now. Great review.
JennRenee recently posted..Genre Definition and Recommendation #5

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Anna Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 7:02 am
Good job!

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Posted on: Mon, February 25, 2013
Jessie Marie said:

YES. This book was just awesome. And you finally put to words what I couldn’t – I NEED to know what happens in the rest of the lives of Eleanor and Park. I’m not satisfied with the way it ended… or the mere fact that it did end. Seriously, I did not imagine that book having such a profound effect on me but it totally did. Which reminds me – I should go order a finished copy, too. And maybe several others so I can shove them into the hands of nonbelievers.
Jessie Marie recently posted..A Case of the Mondays | 25 February 2013

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Anna Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 7:02 am
THANK YOU! You totally get it. That ending…gahhhhhhh!

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Posted on: Mon, February 25, 2013
Ginger @ GReads! said:

Oh that Rainbow Rowell.. I LOVE HER!!!! Best hand holding scene to ever be written, in my opinion. I will read anything by this author. ANYTHING.

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Posted on: Mon, February 25, 2013
Brittany @ The Book Addict’s Guide said:

Yes!!! This book was so much more than I thought it would be. I read her other book Attachments and it was cute, but I wasn’t quite blown away by it. E&P totally knocked my socks of and I looooved it. I’ve been recommending it to everyone
Brittany @ The Book Addict’s Guide recently posted..The Selective Collective Group Discussion: NOBODY BUT US

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Posted on: Mon, February 25, 2013
Tara said:

Sounds like I need to read this one ASAP!!
Tara recently posted..Book review: Lucky in Love by Jill Shalvis

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Posted on: Mon, February 25, 2013
Judith said:

Oh, I love this one so much! I also just HAD to get myself a copy when I was finished. How could I not? I mostly feel like this book is so special. It’s unlike anything else, and though I understand why not everyone will love it because of that, I do hope that everyone will see how utterly gorgeous it is
Judith recently posted..Love-a-Thon: A Letter to my Future Self

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Posted on: Mon, February 25, 2013
estelle said:

I can honestly say I have never heard Magan so excited about a book in our whole friendship. (Our friendship bday is tomorrow actually!) I’m so glad to hear you felt just as strongly about it since, well, Magan preordered me a copy and I guess I will have it tomorrow? PRAISE THE BOOK LORDS. RAINBOW RULES!
estelle recently posted..Estelle: Things I Can’t Forget by Miranda Kenneally

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Posted on: Mon, February 25, 2013
Candice @ The Grown-Up YA said:

This book! Ohhh this book! I am so in love with it, it’s not even funny. I have both my NetGalley download and an ARC (we featured this for our Selective Collective this month) and I still want to go out and buy a shiny hardcover! It was just absolutely beautiful and touching… haven’t read anything quite like it in a while! Also, loved your gchat comments… I’m pretty sure had I chatted about it, mine would have looked the same!
Candice @ The Grown-Up YA recently posted..Selective Collective: Author Kristin Halbrook

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Posted on: Mon, February 25, 2013
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) said:

This book looks absolutely wonderful! And nothing wrong with being too fangirly. Some of my reviews are totally like that! Heck, sometimes it’s nice to read a fangirly review just so I can get all fangirly, too!

I’ll definitely have to pick up a copy of this one! Great review, Anne!
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) recently posted..BOOK REVIEW: Lock and Key, by Sarah Dessen

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Posted on: Mon, February 25, 2013
Kim said:

It was a cute story but had sad moments.

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Posted on: Mon, February 25, 2013
Annie said:

Oh my Lord, this book sounds wonderful! Why do you do this to me, Anna? I HAVE to preorder this now.
Annie recently posted..Seeing Double: I’ll Be There

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Posted on: Mon, February 25, 2013
Magan said:

So I feel kinda dumb because I’m late to the comment party and hey! My name is in your post and that’s super cool. BUT — I’m so glad that we got to talk about this in detail because I *needed* that. Like NEEDED IT. Thank you for that convo. So glad we felt the same way about this one. Let’s have more talks about other books. It’s like mini book club.
Magan recently posted..Estelle: Things I Can’t Forget by Miranda Kenneally

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Anna Reply:
February 26th, 2013 at 12:21 pm
<3

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Posted on: Mon, February 25, 2013
Bookworm1858 said:

I loved this book so much too! I’m currently trying to write my review for it and am struggling to come up with words to adequately convey my feelings about it.
Bookworm1858 recently posted..ARC Review: The Duke Diaries

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Posted on: Mon, February 25, 2013
Kim M said:

Alright – I’m Sold! Going to download it now! LOL! (super fun review to read)

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Posted on: Mon, February 25, 2013
Michelle P said:

I never comment though I read your blog all the time (in Google reader)… but I had to write today to tell you that (a) I agree with every single thing you say about this book, and (b) Rainbow Rowell has said on her blog that she is writing a sequel!!! As she was writing this book she started thinking about what would happen to them in the future – same way we as readers can’t help but imagine it. It will be set many years later… I can’t wait! (She also has great play lists for both Eleanor & Park.)

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Anna Reply:
February 26th, 2013 at 12:20 pm
MICHELLE! MICHELLEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! First of all, hi! I am so glad you commented. Second of all: WHAT! Amazing! Can you send a link? I need to read this for myself!
Anna recently posted..Top 10 Authors I’d Put on My Auto-Buy List

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Posted on: Mon, February 25, 2013
We Heart YA said:

SOLD.

Note: We’ve been seeing other reviews that describe this as “historical” YA fiction, since it’s set in 1986, and WOW does that make us feel old…
We Heart YA recently posted..Twitter Tuesday

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Posted on: Mon, February 25, 2013
jen said:

I AM DISAPPOINTED IN YOU. You did not say one single thing to me about this book gahhhh would I love it? WOULD I?
jen recently posted..Waiting on: Meet Me at the River by Nina de Gramont

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Posted on: Mon, February 25, 2013
Aly @ My Heart Hearts Books said:

I want to read this one so badly. It sounds so interesting!

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Posted on: Mon, February 25, 2013
Alexa Y. said:

I read this a while ago, and loved it as well! I can’t wait until I get that beautiful finished copy in my hands So glad that you ended up enjoying it!
Alexa Y. recently posted..Going Too Far – Jennifer Echols (Review)

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Posted on: Mon, February 25, 2013
Kimberly Kinrade said:

I can totally understand what it’s like to be “evangelistic” about a book! I think the gChat excerpt was a great way to review!

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Posted on: Mon, February 25, 2013