Books in '15 | Eleanor & Park

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

One of those latest and popular American novels. Sounded like a love story, I gave it a try.

Narrative was good, keeping things interesting, as should happen in a romance book. Double POVs are great for a love story. Even though it cuts on the thrill part where one is oblivious to the inner feelings of the other guy or girl, this one gives insight into what people on the either side are feeling.

A stupid Asian boy, in spite of his inner disapproval of how the girl looked, eventually ends up falling in love with the troubled red haired girl. Together, they experience their first love. They fear their time together is short. Still they give it a shot. Even if first love seldom lasts, it's still worth it.

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost, it's my favourite poem. I liked Eleanor's theory that Shakespeare is only making fun of Romeo and Juliet. I know the story but haven't yet read the original piece. Someday I will find out if she's right.

All that's there in a love story is the way the emotions and feelings are expressed; this one is done in sort of a poetic style: And Eleanor disintegrated....what a way to express that instantaneous feeling, way to go man - oops, the author is a woman.

Sometimes though it's overly done:... wanting to eat Park's face and all, isn't Eleanor too horny for her age. Or maybe that's how it happens in America. Doesn't matter, such things are cherished in a love story.

The thing about Eleanor's stepfather is disturbing. What's the deal with him anyway, I wonder. And why does Eleanor's family has to put up with that man, some of the things left unexplained.

Not so bad an ending. It could have been better

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