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| Image from Barnes and Nobles site |
What is this book about? Well, I'll gladly tell you. Set in the late 1980s, the two main characters of this romantic story are Eleanor, a "fat" girl with big, curly red hair and Park, a half-Korean American boy. Both of them are considered "misfits" in their school; Park gets along with the popular crowd but doesn't talk very much while Eleanor just plainly stands out due to her fashion and hair. These two teens wind up sitting next to each on the school bus and even more unexpected, falling in love with each other. Their romance slowly builds up until it reaches the summit andddd pretty much everything blows up and it's pretty intense. You thought this was going to be a sweet, romantic story? At parts, yes, it's adorable but each character has their own troubles to deal with and their conflicts are why it is a struggle to keep this couple together. I wouldn't exactly say it's a Romeo and Juliet story (because frankly, that would be disappointing if it went that route) but there are characters in this story; antagonists to be more specific that make their relationship...forbidden.
But that's enough of me talking! Whew, I almost spoiled ya there! Now, GO READ THE BOOK IF YOU HAVEN'T YET. It's so good. And after reading this, I want to read so MANY MORE books! That's what Rainbow Rowell's writing does to you! WOW.
**SPOILERS BELOW. BEWARE**
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Story Analysis/Discussion (also combined with characters):
Now I'm no professional critic but I really wanted to talk about the story. Because it's freaking good.
Let's start with the beginning. Eleanor is a new student and she is immediately judged and bullied by other students, mainly on the bus and at gym, as described by Eleanor. The main bullies are Tina and her boyfriend Steven, and when he's not around, it's Tina and her friends.
At first, I didn't like both Tina and Steven (I think most people didn't because of their personalities) but then later on in the book, they become pretty alright characters.
Watching the insults happen, Park decides to ignore Eleanor and tries to stay out of the vision of Tina and Steven as much as possible. Of course, his good conscience gets the better of him and he starts to interact with Eleanor, who is sitting beside him on the bus every morning and afternoon (I mean, come on, who wouldn't?)
They two eventually start sharing comic books and music, discovering that they have similar interests and quickly become good friends. Yay! All happy right?
Not for Eleanor at least. Ignoring the bullying at school for a moment, let's go to her home. Or a more fitting name, a shithole household. Excuse my language but that's what I imagine her house to be. xD Especially since her step-father, Richie is the main source of income for her family.
By the way, where does Richie even work anyway? I don't believe the book said anything about it. I know it's not a very high-paying job at the least.
Anyway, Richie=bad. Very bad. He's a douchebag and seems to always be intoxicated. Not too far into the story, Eleanor lets the readers know that he's kicked her out before. It wasn't even for a good reason, in my opinion. Later on in the book, Eleanor comes back to this topic and flashbacks to what happened that day; this incident I like to call, "The Typewriter Incident" that resulted in her being kicked out. Which is total BS I tell ya. I don't even know why her mom allowed it. If my mom allowed that to happen to me, I would never trust her again. In fact, my faith in my mother would be lost if she married a guy like Richie.
Okay, let's talk about Richie's and Eleanor's mom's marriage, shall we? I've wanted to talk about this because if frustrates me to no end. And it frustrates me that there are actually marriages like this out there. In the first place, Eleanor's mom was foolish to date a guy who approached her and hit on her like that. Honestly, I think most of the time, if you're in a random place and someone hits on you, you probably shouldn't trust them. Just saiyan. I don't remember where she was when Richie hit on her (I also don't have the book with me to check omg my laziness i can't-) but pretttty sure it was like on the street or something.
And when Richie was showing the first signs of abuse and alcohol addiction, she should have booked her and her kids outta there. But she didn't, and I finished the book and still don't understand why. Eleanor was guessing that it was because that she was afraid but I feel like that shouldn't be what stops you from doing what you think is what. Is she even thinking about her kids? He isn't even rich so I don't know why she puts up with him. *sigh* I don't know, this is in the '80s; 30 years ago, so no doubt that things were different from now.
Whoops sorry, I'm not talking about the story much, am I? Let's see, I was at the romance part, right? So it was all cute friendship in the beginning but then Eleanor and Park begin to realize that they feel something more for each other and honestly, I thought it was all a little spontaneous; how they suddenly fell in love with each other. But I guess that's pretty true in real life; I've never been in love before but I've seen other people fall pretty easily in love with another person (but usually it's unrequited xD). Their romance, by far, was the BEST thing about this book. Ugh, they are too adorable with each other.
A huge chunk of the book focuses on Park and Eleanor's building relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend, while Eleanor is trying to keep their relationship a secret from her family. Of course, they eventually find out and that becomes the height and climax of the story. Eleanor, throughout the story keeps seeing these dirty and provocative messages written on her school books and for a while thought it was Tina who was doing that but in the end...it was Richie. What? How? What? Why?? I was completely surprised that it was Richie. I didn't even notice that he...ugh, thought that way towards Eleanor. Yeah, we did see her story through her perspective and her fear of him was greater than anything unusual she noticed about him but still...I feel kind of dumb. xD I know that there are many cases of rape happening between step-parents and children, sadly enough, and have read stories about them so I didn't know why I didn't recognize it was going this route.
But yeah, this is also the part where I actually though Tina and Steven were pretty okay. They let Eleanor hide in Steven's garage to escape her step-father because apparently, they all knew what a jerk he was. And even more (not) surprisingly, Tina could relate because she also has a step-father, and according to how Steven was acting, her step-father was probably pretty terrible too. That made me soften my view on them, and made me realize that they are people too and go through their own troubles.
What really broke my heart was when Park was driving Eleanor to her uncle's house to escape Richie. The very first page of this book was foreshadowing their departure from each other and I really, reaaally hoped it wasn't true. But sadly. It is. *commence tears and massive breakdown*
I just can't believe Eleanor didn't send Park anything for a year! He sent them letters and what do you do, girl? You ignore him??? And the only time she does send something to him is the card he sent her like, what, are you too good to write a letter to him, huh? HUHHHHHHH ELEANNOOOOOR?
No xD I'm just kidding but still.
The speculation about the three words on the card I've heard about are either it says, "I love you" or "I am coming" but I hope it's the latter because that means Eleanor is returning and there is still hope for them! :D It also bothered me while the whole time while Park was saying the ILUs, Eleanor was like, "psshh I'm too good to say it back". I'm not hating on her, non non non, I like Eleanor but I'm just frustrated at her actions.
I hope they end up going to prom together. THEY NEED TO. ELEANOR X PARK OTP 6EVER
Some few last bits I want to address are first, the letter that Eleanor wrote to Park in Spanish ("Mi gusta comer su cara.") I wonder if he ever got it. I would have loved for Rainbow to write his reaction to it. xD
Secondly, there needs to be more Beebi and DeNice love! Seriously! Those sistahs were hella dope and got Eleanor's back! #appreciation
Thirdly, Eleanor's siblings...and step-sibling. Was I the only one that was really concerned for them? They were a bit annoying...sometimes, not gonna lie. But to be raised in a broken household like that...will result in broken children.
Overall, Eleanor & Park was a very enjoyable book with some heartache near the end (no, actually it completely broke my heart) and the writing really pulled you into the story and immersed you into it. I actually get immersed really easily so it was like, "whoa, Rainbow, I don't want to go that far in (that's what she said) and experience like a virtual reality."
My rating of this book is 4.5 stars out 5 stars; with the lack of the 0.5 stars because of the ending and because Eleanor's mother didn't seem to be standing up for her at all.
Would I recommend this book? Definitely recommend! For all ages too; the YA label doesn't mean it's just for YAs. (looking at you Ruth Graham.)
**I'm sorry if this review is a bit scattered and nonsensiscal...I really didn't know where my points were going most of the time. xD**
Have a good day!
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