Thursday, June 26, 2014

Eleanor & Park
By Rainbow Rowell


2 out of 5

Eleanor is a troubled, slightly chubby, fiery redheaded girl who makes the mistake of not knowing where to sit on the bus. Park is a half Asian, bit of an outsider, indie music boy who makes the mistake of letting her sit in his seat with him. This is how it begins. Slowly, over time, Eleanor and Park become acquaintances, and then friends, the boyfriend/girlfriend, and then much more. But their lives are far from easy. Bullies and hatred meet them at every turn, even at home, and Eleanor's home life is a constant worry and struggle in her life. But they say true love conquers all right? Can Eleanor and Park's love do just that?

I am sorry to say that this book kind of disappointed me. Having just finished Fangirl, and completely loving it, I had high expectations for this book, and it, just did not live up. I felt that the characters were too rigid in their major character flaws. Eleanor was too closed up and defensive, even after admitting that she loved Park, she still snapped at him, and didn't let him know what was really going on. And Park, Park was too himself. Too easily angered, and driven to rage. To needing to be different from everyone else. To obsessively in love with Eleanor. That goes for both of them. Obsessively in love. This may be classic teen love, or it could be the epic love story of Eleanor and Park's time, but really, they were obsessed. Maybe this is just a never-been-in-love cynic talking, but I didn't like how completely dependent they were on each other, and how there was no just Eleanor, no just Park. There was only Eleanor and Park. If you saw a relationship like this in real life, it would not be okay. It would be deemed unhealthy. I understand what Rainbow Rowell was trying to convey with their story and the way people connect through different medias and crossing all sorts of boundaries to be together, but I really didn't think that this book was as good as everybody has been saying.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Fangirl
By Rainbow Rowell


4 out of 5

Cath is about to start her freshman year of college. But everything is not as it should be. Her twin sister, Wren, isn't her roommate, Cath doesn't know where the dining hall is, and Cath can't write Carry On Simon, her massively popular fanfiction story, with her new roommate Reagan in the room. Things look tough, and they are bound to get worse before they get better. Cath is very introverted, but will people like Levi, Reagan, Nick, and Wren be able to break in and become friends with Cath? Or will they all be shut out in the cold?

This book was surprisingly good. I will admit, that I picked up the book due to name only. Fangirl. I was intrigued. This book was really good, but hit too close to home in some cases. Having just completed my freshman year of college, reading about Cath's adventures of her freshman year made me sad and nostalgic. And angry. Cath can be so introverted at times that it frustrates me. She would rather give up than be challenged in life, and that mindset upsets me. However, alls well that ends well. This book had me giddy and grinning from ear to ear (probably a lot like Cath and Levi), and other times cringing in mutual awkwardness. Speaking of Levi, the parallels I could draw between Levi and Augustus Waters from The Fault in Our Stars are incredible. Don't get me wrong, I love Levi as his own person, but I look at him very fondly as Augustus' very close cousin, I even picture them looking very similar!

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

The Godfather
By Mario Puzo

4.5 our of 5

It has been so long since I have posted a review, but I'm back and ready to get reading!


This book is a classic, so I'm not sure how much description is needed, but here goes. The Godfather is the story of the Corleone family, one of the major mob families in New York City. Through out the book, the family deals with highs, lows, deception, betrayals, deaths, loves, and everything else in between.

This  semester has literally been the semester where it took me forever to read anything. But I have finally finished the Godfather, and I must admit, it was worth it. I, of course, have seen the movie and knew the story, but the book is always better, and I had heard that this is a great book, so when I left the country for four months, I took the book with me.


The characters were vivacious and gripping, the twists and turns in the story engaging and thrilling, while sometimes also being unexpected and frustrating. In a book there is so much more time to explore characters and story lines so the reader gets a much more in depth picture of the Corleones and their lives.


This is a book that everyone should read. It is a classic, that will never go out of style, and is a great story, for wherever you are in your life.