Thursday 31 July 2014

Book review: Eleanor and Park

Books you've gotta love them. My reading list so far has taken me on a roller-coaster ride of all sorts. From The Book Thief to the Hunger Games  to The Perks of being a Wallflower even Night by Elie Wiesel... see what I mean.

I t seemed/seems like I am on a young adult journey that I don't want to admit to myself since I'd like to be considered deep (lame right?). Therefore even admitting that I read this next book is a bit of a challenge.

 Finding it was like finding a lost earring...come on ladies you know what I mean. Remembering a calmer time, relief. (Sorry gentlemen, you have to help me out on this one, what do you guys find that offers relief after nearly sending out a search party? Your wallet? No? Okay.) I was previously  reading "Into the Wild" and before that  Night by Elie Wiesel. I thought that a little dystopia was in order after reading these emotionally packed books, but Insurgent, though thrilling did not make the cut.

(I love how I'm just dropping these book titles. Folks, readers are leaders.)

Eleanor and Park is set in the 80's. If that isn't exciting then I do not know what is. But not the Cindy Lauper, Madonna eighties, the New Wave, Punk 80's. You should know, I prefer the Cindy Lauper, Madonna eighties. Who doesn't want to break out in song to "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun".



The novel revolves around... you guessed it Eleanor and Park. Teenagers trying to get the hang of this thing called life.

Neither of them are what we are used to. No blue eyed blondie or brunette here. On the contrary it's the most unlikely young adult, teenage minorities that are represented in this story.

Through out this book, Rainbow Rowell manages to slip in just the right amount of warm and fuzzy feelings for the readers, between  Eleanor and Park.

Both their thoughts are captured in such a raw manner, its literally impossible not to be lost in this book.

It does not offer twists and turns like the ones I am used to (Hunger Games, Divergent type), but makes up for it entirely by having a major twist... okay maybe a couple more that I missed out on.

Rainbow Rowell manages to roll t.v series, comics, music, books and possibly even more stuff that made up the life of a teenager back in the 80's  that I may have looked over from the 80's into the book. Enough to cause nostalgia rushing in.

All in all, if you are looking for that one book to give you a temporary high, Eleanor and Park does so in some weird way. Not to say that this book is all hunky dory and rainbows and cherubs, but it sure does cure a TFIOS hungover.

The only down side is that it's soon to be a motion picture. Hollywood may get our hopes up for nothing but I will give them (those who will be involved in the movie making process) the benefit of the doubt.

Happy reading y'all (I've been watching too much Kim of Queens)