Review: Eleanor and Park

Eleanor and Park
Rainbow Rowell
2013

I must say I have held off on writing this review because I am SLIGHTLY worried that I will have book bloggers (complete with torches and pitchforks) chasing me down the street when my thoughts are revealed. I feel like I am the only one who did not enjoy this book (seriously, is there anyone else?). BUT, and this is the biggest of buts (like mine *snigger*), I think any issues I had with this book can be put down to my own failings as a reader and my general book snobbishness. Yes, I will put my hand up and own to it: I am a book snob. In general I just do not enjoy YA, chick lit, new adult etc etc. I actually find it difficult to read, not from complexity, I think I just can't connect with the writing. I am strange, get over it.

I will fully admit that I completely fell prey to peer pressure and the excitement and hype in choosing this book. Some of my favourite bloggers raved about this so I thought, why not, let's have a crack at it. Also, there was a little something to do with the fact that the protagonist is called Eleanor and that is totally my name. 

I liked the concept, it was readable and it was slightly different (but still cliche in my opinion). I obviously loved the sci-fi/Star Wars references - that will get me every time. Although there is one bit where Park says 'You can be Han Solo...and I'll be Boba Fett. I'll cross the sky for you' and I did think that isn't all that romantic since Boba Fett is a bounty hunter and all and totally tries to capture Han and deliver him to certain death in the arms (or slug bits) of Jabba. I would not be happy if my boyfriend said that to me. 

I liked the split narrative and I liked how Park is constantly influenced by the people around him and how those people view him and his attitude towards the way people view him. I thought that was very real. 

There was the odd sentence that I read and was like 'yes, that is a corker'. Like this bit:

'She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn't supposed to look nice, it was supposed to make you feel something.'

I actually don't know why I didn't like Eleanor and Park. It is hard to pinpoint any particular reason. I just know I was semi-bored whilst reading it and disappointed when I finished it. Perhaps the genre just isn't for me. Please don't chase me with pitchforks!

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