Eleanor & Park Book Review

Novel Details:

Eleanor & Park is the first young adult novel written by Rainbow Rowell, published in 2013. The story follows dual narratives by Eleanor and Park, two misfits living in Omaha, Nebraska from 1986 to 1987. Wikipedia

Originally published: 2012

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Page count: 329

ISBN: 1250012570

Genres: Young adult fiction, Romance novel

Awards: Goodreads Choice Awards Best Young Adult Fiction

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A contemporary teen romance novel with a delightful yet painful ending. In the beginning of Eleanor & Park we are introduced to this lovely bubbly character Eleanor who is growing up in a morbid town Omaha. As we get in touch with her, we seem to to realize she is neglected by her mother and her mother's current husband who emotionally abuses her and her younger siblings. Park is half-Korean in a mostly-white part of town, and is into alternative music and comic books, unlike his brother and dad who are into sports. Eleanor is big (she thinks she’s fat) and awkward and poor, the oldest of five kids with a painfully difficult home life, and defiantly flaunts her crazy red hair and weird clothes.They find themselves enjoying each others company and begin to sit next to each other on the bus. Over time they're drawn together by sharing Park's X-Men and Watchmen comic books. Despite their friends' and families' dismay and disapproval, they fall in love over mix tapes featuring The Cure and the Smiths.Eleanor and Park’s romance is a shining beacon in contrast to the dysfunctional, damaging relationship that her mother and stepfather have and we love them because they know it’s still not going to be easy. One night, Park's mom tells the kids to go on a date. Eleanor returns home to a fight between Richie (Her mom’s husband) and her mother. She finds her personal possessions and Park’s comics destroyed. She matches a hateful message written by Richie to the handwriting of the perverted notes in her school books. Eleanor flees and ends up at Park's house and tries to formulate a way to get to St. Paul, Minnesota. Park insists upon driving her. His father sees him sneaking out of the house, but, surprisingly, gives Park money and tells him to take the truck. Park leaves Eleanor at her uncle's house. Eleanor's aunt and uncle welcome her and plan to remove her siblings as well.Park sends Eleanor letters and gifts, but she does not respond. Park tries to forget her, but can't. Soon, Eleanor's siblings and mother disappear from Richie's house, leaving Richie alone once again. Park passes by Eleanor's former house frequently, longing for her. Park encounters Richie one day as he is coming back from one of his drinking binges. Park fantasizes about killing Richie, because he "can" and "should," but ends up only kicking the ground in front of Richie's face, who had fallen in the snow. Six months later, Park receives a postcard from Eleanor with three words on it. The ending of Eleanor & Park truly shows how cynical first love is.

C's Stars: 4 out of 5