I first read Eleanor and Park a few years ago. A friend had asked me to join her at a reading by Rainbow Rowell, so I read this in preparation. Eleanor and Park is the perfect introduction to Rowell, and just a wonderful book in general. Probably most of you know the story by now. Two teenagers–Eleanor, a misfit with a terrible home life, and Park, an average Joe who feels alienated from his family and classmates, meet, connect, and eventually fall in love. Teen […]
Puppy love, 80s style
I’m not so much a reader of YA, but Rowell, deservedly, gets a lot of praise and I’ve heard nothing but good things about Eleanor and Park. I liked it fine, but it’s not one that really sticks to my ribs. Summary: It’s 1986, Eleanor is a new kid in high school in Omaha. She meets Park on the school bus — Eleanor dresses weird and comes from a rough family background; Park is biracial and generally just tries to keep his head down. They bond […]