Summer Reading: Eleanor & Park Entry IV

I chose this book because it was a love story. I never found the point in reading young adult love stories, or any love stories for the matter because they tend to be unrealistic, ‘no one can be that happy and a ending cannot be that perfect’ is what I thought, but, I gave it a shot to see what a love story- one that doesn’t belong to you would look like. I am glad I chose this book. Rainbow Rowell, the author, remembers what being young in love is like. I thought the love story of Eleanor and Park falling in love is down to earth and realistic. Eleanor and Park are very much like real life people and the emotions are dead on target. The personal connection I can offer after reading would be my own relationship which ended shortly ago. I was shocked when so many of the feelings Eleanor and Park went through were similar to what me and my boyfriend went through. Some of the connections that I can fully relate to is fact there is desperation in your first love. You want it so badly to work out that you do rash things even when you’re smart enough to know it won’t work out. Additionally, it’s special, like Eleanor and Park I think being able to share first experiences with someone who means a lot to you sticks in your heart for life.

I would recommend this book to those who love a good romance or a John Green fan. I cannot say much regarding how good it is compared to other romance novels(because I don’t usually read them) but this love story (the love story only strictly speaking) will not fail to impress. The book is flawed in many ways being messy in its never ending 80s references and the racism factor that should have been prevalent in the novel. Racism towards minority ethnic characters was almost non-existent besides a cheap joke at the beginning where kids living in the same neighborhood assume Park is Chinese instead of Korean. Other than that the love story itself was realistic and depicts a young romance that feels nothing but real. You’ll be rooting for Eleanor and Park all the way to the end.