Review: Eleanor & Park

'''Because...' he said quietly, looking at his desk, 'because people want to remember what it's like to be young? And in love?'''

                       ★★★★★

Eleanor & Park gave me shivers from the very first page. The first page defines the mood to the book, and making me almost cry on the first page... Well, the only thing that was on my mind, was why? Why would the story lead up to that situation in the end? Could it still end differently or was it doomed to have a heart-breaking ending?

Eleanor is the new kid. She moved back to her mom and Step dad's place after her step dad had banished her a year earlier. Her step dad, Richie, is a total ass. The whole family is afraid of him and they have no freedom or money to do anything in their lives. Eleanor wears too old, too big and too noticeable clothes.
 Eleanor wants to be herself, not anyone else. Not even to share a resemblance with another person. And when she looks like someone else she gets really antsy and wants to run from the situation. I think that her anxiety and need to be her own person is because she hasn't ever been able to do anything to help herself, and not being able to make decisions of what you do in your life is horrible.
Another thing that at first look you couldn't believe of Eleanor. She is shy. Like, really, really shy. Although her clothes beg her to be noticed, inside she just wants to disappear. Many people who read Eleanor & Park might disagree with me, but to me Eleanor is shy.

Park is the kid whose mom is from Korea. He has a little brother and seemingly perfect, happy family life. Or at least to Eleanor his family is perfect. Park wears only black, reads comics, listens and mixes tapes. He tries to learn how to drive a stick-shift.
Park is not the popular guy, nor is he the hated guy. He's just the guy in between. Wanting to go unnoticed, living his own life. He has succeeded until some girl with red hair and freckles got in the school bus. Park tries to ignore Eleanor, but it's hard. Her looks just beg him to notice.
Park. How to describe Park? He tries to be nice to everyone, but he has a bad temper when somebody insults someone close to him.

Their journey together starts from the school bus, sharing comics and not talking at all. It ends also. The journey in between is full of growing, exploring and pain. They grew from the pain they found while they explored their pasts, presents and futures.

This book was not a happy book. So if you're looking for something light to read, then don't. This book contains so many emotions that sometimes I had to put it down and continue the next day. It's rough to read it, but in the end, you are glad you did.

Thank you again, Rainbow Rowell, for such an amazing book.

Book shopping!

 I went for a nice browsing trip to a book store, not looking for anything particular, but still hoping to find something. And I did!
I've read Where she went by Gayle Forman last Fall, but never bought it so, why not now.
The next Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine I haven't read, but it's on my to-read list. And there was only one copy of it, and after me, none. :p Love the cover though.
And the last is Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. I have the Fangirl also, but I think both of them are going to have to wait for the 'right time'.

It's weird when sometimes you don't feel like reading some book, because it doesn't feel like the right time to read it. Like I've been putting an Abundance of Katherines and  Will Grayson, Will Grayson away for a quite some time. Every time I take some new book from my self to read, I look at them and think 'it's not the right time to read them'. But fortunately with other books, waiting for the right time has been the best thing. Like when I started the Covenant series by Jennifer L. Armentout. They had been about a year in my Goodreads recommendations, but every time I saw them I didn't feel like reading them, and when I did... Oh boy... I read the whole series, 5 books 2 novellas, in 5 days. And during the exam week!
So waiting for the right time to read some book might feel frustrating, but trust me, it's worth it.

And spending money makes me always hungry, so Grande Soy Chai Tea Latte and Ceasar Salad to go!
The only problem I have come across today is the 'No space in my bookshelf'.

I'm off to reorganize my window sill for more book space!