Monday, September 9, 2013

Audio Book Review: Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

!!!!!! I need to start this review with exclamations. That's how awesome this book AND the audio narration are. My heart melted more than once, and yours will too (otherwise there is something wrong with you. Go get checked out my a medical professional to see if your missing your heart).
Eleanor and Park
AMAZING COVER AWARD
(We rarely like covers of YA books,
this is a big deal).

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell:

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).

Absurdity: ZERO. And props to Rowell for it.
Originality: 10. The '80s! Interesting characters who not one-dimensional! Ohama! This world feels real and fresh.
Audio Narration: 8. The guy and girl who do this nail it. Sometimes its weird to have someone's feelings read out loud to you, but here, it is amazing.
Level of Paranormal Romance: 10! Oh man, I can't even tell you, the swoon goes for days. The romantic quotes from this book that stick in your head are endless.
“He wound the scarf around his fingers until her hand was hanging in the space between them.
Then he slid the silk and his fingers into her open palm.
And Eleanor disintegrated.” 
I want to add more, but I don't want to ruin it for you. Rowell captures perfectly that feeling of finding someone and thinking "how did I ever eat/dance/think about Josh Duhamel (errrr*) before? I can never go back to a time without him/her."  
Level of Harry Potterness: 7. This book is smart and subtle. For starters, it becomes clear that neither E or P see themselves as others see them. And then knowing each other helps them see that they are more than they first thought. Oh and it makes you think about love. A lot......Just read it already.

(*I finished this book and then immediately watched Safe Haven, starring said handsome man. This act of utter girly-ness has entwined my love of this book with my love of J.D. It works.)

1 comment:

  1. I adored this book, and also read the audio book. I said it felt like Rowell addressed every single critique I've ever given of YA novels and their "realism." Eleanor and Park felt real. I loved it.

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