WIJFR: Eleanor & Park (spoilers)

Skeezon

I heard such great things about this book. I was ready to be wowed. While I thought the writing was great, I didn't like it that much.

My biggest problems:

While I was sympathetic to Eleanor's situation, I didn't particularly like her.

I didn't buy that this teenage semi-popular boy would have given her a chance. Even with the slow build of their relationship, I didn't believe it.

The whole book you're waiting for someone to kick Richie's ass and when Park finally "confronts" him that's all we get?

The ending left me wanting and confused. While I agree that Eleanor may have needed the time apart, I doubt she was mature enough to know that. She would have clung to the only good in her life.

A year later she sends a postcard with three words and we're supposed to guess what they are. Not cool. And there goes all the sympathy I had for her. I don't dislike all open endings, but I didn't like this one at all.

The Good:

LOVED Park and his mom.

I thought the relationship between Eleanor & her mother was very realistic.

The writing was so beautiful and honest and believable. She took simple situations that, as adults, we may have forgotten, and brought back the magic of them.

ThisModernLove

Im in the same boat as you. I liked it but I wasn't wowed. Park's mom was definitely my favorite I think.

cnthrdlywt2bwZ

I did like the book overall but I definitely see validity in your points, good and bad.

While I liked Park, I couldn't relate to Eleanor, making it hard to see why they had this great relationship. I just sort of felt bad for her. I love when an author can transport you. The nostalgia was there but the unrelatable characters couldn't take me all the way out of this world while I read about them.

I think Rainbow Rowell can write though and I am very excited to check out Fangirl and Attachments.

Young_Love

I really loved this book, but I completely agree with you about the resolution of the Richie storyline. It did not resolve itself in a way that paid off after all the buildup, IMO. That was my only beef with this book. 

jackiback

I didn't think that the ending  really open. I thought that it was sweet & I really liked it. 

I think that incredible writing can forgive a lot of things, and I think that that really happened here. I don't know that the story was every the star of the show- it was the words that totally got me. 

SnShne322

I loved Park's mom.  I could picture her so vividly!

Skeezon

jackiback said:

I didn't think that the ending  really open. I thought that it was sweet & I really liked it. 

I think that incredible writing can forgive a lot of things, and I think that that really happened here. I don't know that the story was every the star of the show- it was the words that totally got me. 

You're right. I never thought about it like that.

I just started Fangirl. Excited to see if her writing is consistently good like in E&P.

PhoenixRising11

I MUCH preferred both Fangirl and Attachments to this one. I am a big Rainbow Rowell fan though.

LaBellaVita23

Thank you for posting this!  I read this as well and felt like the odd one out because I didn't just love it like everyone else seemed to.  I agree 100% with your points

sweetrhythms

I'm a big Rainbow Rowell fan.  I got Fangirl from my elf and I haven't gotten to it yet but I'm dying to!

I agree with you on some points but I think the writing just really did it for me.  I can forgive a lot if the writing is good.

I agree that Eleanor wasn't the most likeable person in the world--here's where the writing got me.

LOVE Park and his mom.

The Richie "confrontation": I think it's probably pretty realistic.  I mean, Park is a high schooler, what was he really going to be able to do to Richie?  I think in real life, a lot of guys like Richie probably end up essentially getting away with the crap that they pull and that's why they pull it.  He's a loser asshole and keeps being a loser asshole.

I liked the ending, though I do agree that she would have clung to Park.  The postcard was okay with me, I didn't feel like that was super open ended.

jackiback

Skeezon said:

jackiback said:

I didn't think that the ending  really open. I thought that it was sweet & I really liked it. 

I think that incredible writing can forgive a lot of things, and I think that that really happened here. I don't know that the story was every the star of the show- it was the words that totally got me. 

You're right. I never thought about it like that.

I just started Fangirl. Excited to see if her writing is consistently good like in E&P.

I started Fangirl last night. I absolutely, absolutely love it. 

pinkybooklover09

I loved everything about this book because it was just so darned honest and beautifully written. I agree with what a previous poster said about the confrontation with Richie. It seemed perfectly in line with what would really happen as opposed to what the reader just wants to happen. I really loved that.

@jackiback - I woke up at 2am to reread all of my favorite parts of Fangirl again. I'm probably going to start Attachments this weekend. RR is slowly becoming one of my favorite writers and who I want to be when I grow up.

jackiback

pinkybooklover09 said:

@jackiback - I woke up at 2am to reread all of my favorite parts of Fangirl again. I'm probably going to start Attachments this weekend. RR is slowly becoming one of my favorite writers and who I want to be when I grow up.

Just responded to this via tweet, as adding a picture from my phone seemed impossible. 

MrsJenE

sweetrhythms said:

I'm a big Rainbow Rowell fan.  I got Fangirl from my elf and I haven't gotten to it yet but I'm dying to!

I agree with you on some points but I think the writing just really did it for me.  I can forgive a lot if the writing is good.

I agree that Eleanor wasn't the most likeable person in the world--here's where the writing got me.

LOVE Park and his mom.

The Richie "confrontation": I think it's probably pretty realistic.  I mean, Park is a high schooler, what was he really going to be able to do to Richie?  I think in real life, a lot of guys like Richie probably end up essentially getting away with the crap that they pull and that's why they pull it.  He's a loser asshole and keeps being a loser asshole.

I liked the ending, though I do agree that she would have clung to Park.  The postcard was okay with me, I didn't feel like that was super open ended.

This exactly.  I thought that scene was realistic. 

SacGeoLover

MrsJenE said:

sweetrhythms said:

I'm a big Rainbow Rowell fan.  I got Fangirl from my elf and I haven't gotten to it yet but I'm dying to!

I agree with you on some points but I think the writing just really did it for me.  I can forgive a lot if the writing is good.

I agree that Eleanor wasn't the most likeable person in the world--here's where the writing got me.

LOVE Park and his mom.

The Richie "confrontation": I think it's probably pretty realistic.  I mean, Park is a high schooler, what was he really going to be able to do to Richie?  I think in real life, a lot of guys like Richie probably end up essentially getting away with the crap that they pull and that's why they pull it.  He's a loser asshole and keeps being a loser asshole.

I liked the ending, though I do agree that she would have clung to Park.  The postcard was okay with me, I didn't feel like that was super open ended.

This exactly.  I thought that scene was realistic. 

Same here.  It would have been nice for Richie to get what we deserved, but honestly, this was more realistic.  It sucks, but I was also resigned to it and not surprised.