Eleanor & Park Kindle Edition

Rainbow Rowell's "Eleanor & Park" is a poignant tale that resonates deeply with readers of all ages. Set against the backdrop of 1980s Omaha, Nebraska, this novel beautifully captures the complexities of adolescence, first love, and the challenges of navigating life's uncertainties.From the moment I opened the book, I was drawn into the world of Eleanor and Park - two misfit teenagers whose unlikely bond transcends social boundaries and societal expectations. Rowell's writing is both raw and tender, immersing the reader in the characters' innermost thoughts and emotions as they grapple with family issues, peer pressure, and the exhilarating highs and devastating lows of young love.What sets "Eleanor & Park" apart is its authenticity. Rowell doesn't shy away from addressing difficult topics such as bullying, domestic violence, and body image issues, yet she infuses the narrative with moments of humor, hope, and genuine human connection. The characters feel incredibly real, flawed yet undeniably relatable, and their journey is both heartwarming and heart-wrenching in equal measure.As someone who grew up during the same time period depicted in the novel, I found myself nodding along to the references to mixtapes, comic books, and cassette players, which added an extra layer of nostalgia and familiarity to the story. However, "Eleanor & Park" is far more than just a nostalgic trip down memory lane - it's a timeless coming-of-age tale that transcends generational boundaries and speaks to the universal experiences of love, loss, and self-discovery.In conclusion, "Eleanor & Park" is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel that will stay with me long after I've turned the final page. Whether you're a teenager navigating the tumultuous waters of adolescence or an adult reflecting on the innocence and intensity of first love, this book is sure to capture your heart and leave a lasting impression. Highly recommended for anyone in search of a captivating and unforgettable read.

I picked this book up for some light reading on a day home sick from work. I saw the high reviews and thought, not my typical read and I certainly am not the target demographic but, I'll give it a whirl.I wasn't expecting what I received from reading this book. How to explain what I did get...and the following isn't intended to be melodramatic.I was sucker punched, emotionally invested (hugely), horrified, awed, saddened, at times uplifted, grateful for some aspects of human nature and then human nature made me horrified by morally repugnant events. I guess what I'm trying to communicate without being overly sappy (and failing) how much this book made me feel. Highs and lows. It was demoralizing and insightful at the same time. There are so many simple moments of raw emotion on each opposite end of the spectrum and they transition so rapidly, you find yourself going, whoah how'd we get here when we were literally just over there? But in a good way.It is an emotional roller coaster, but one of simplicity. The writing is fairly clean and well presented. The characters are complex in their simplicity and they invoked strong reactions in me. I wanted to get to the next sentence, paragraph, and page as quickly as possible to find out more about them. I was cheering and jeering alternately for almost each primary figure and several secondary ones.The book starts a little slow and then when you're not looking or expecting it, your stomach drops out on you, just like riding a roller coaster. All of a sudden your roped into this complex scenario which almost everyone who's been in high school has experienced to a lesser or greater degree. (I mean the broad picture of high school and interactions within that framework not necessarily what specific circumstances that occur with the female lead. I don't want to elaborate so as not to give away the story.)The writer sets her hook in you without you knowing it, and slowly begins to reel you in and then wham - you're in the boat and being filleted thinking how did that happen so quick? I couldn't put this down (but again starts a wee bit slowly) and tore through it.The author alternates viewpoints without rehashing the same events to death and keeps a very good rhythm and flow. She doesn't answer all the questions for you or wrap everything in a pretty package for you. It's gritty and raw enough to sink your teeth into and yet still leaves room for you to form your own opinion about where the story takes you and how it ends.It is not a warm fuzzy happy book in most ways but there is redemption and hope in the bleakness that does make it worthy and not a tragedy entirely. I feel as though I'm not doing the story justice with this review but I don't know how else to word this tale. It's sad and inspiring with sarcasm and loathing and real life undiluted through teenagers eyes who are dealing with feelings and experiences that is beyond their years that they shouldn't have to deal with but are none the less. And they do so while experiencing and exploring normal facets of growing up. I guess that's the summation. It blends what is normal and right with what isn't and it doesn't sugar coat the journey while doing so.I hope you read it. It was worth it and then some. Sorry for the long review but for such a short read it has so much depth that it's difficult to write about the reading experience of it (particularly without spoilers) and convey all its beauty and sadness.P.S. after posting my review I noticed most of the other reviews were by people who were given copies to read for reviews. I paid for this book and felt it mandatory to say I bought this. There's nothing wrong with that system but sometimes I wonder about those reviews. Are they truthful. Well for this book, I agree conclusively that the reviews were merited in my opinion.If I could've I would've given 4.5 stars. Enjoy.EDIT on 7 July 14: I recently re-read this book again due to how wonderful and touching I think this story is. (I swear it gets better every time I read it). Previously, my review garnered some questions regarding what my opinion was on what age level was appropriate for reading this book. My initial review didn't touch on this topic - but you can see some of the comments/discussions on that topic if you hit the comments button below my review. I figured I should go back, edit, and add "my opinion" in the up-front review - this is especially relevant as when I re-read the book this time - I did it with that very topic in my mind.This book has some graphic language in it. To be clear - the areas that deal with the graphic language and subject matter are a part of the story line and have relevance to the story/plot. It is not just thrown in for the heck of it. It reflects how some (not all) persons of the age group in this book talk however, the truly graphic language (and scenarios) I'm specifically speaking of - without trying to give away the story - have a direct nexus to the plot of the book. This is a young adult book with crossovers to adult readers, but some parents may find some of the subject matter or language objectionable for their children depending on their age/maturity.I can't speak for every child nor parent out there or what they deem appropriate, want, or don't want their child to read. I can say that after re-reading this book with a young adult audience in mind - parents may want to read the book prior to making a decision based on your child's maturity level. I think 15+ is reasonable (again this is a broad based statement and shouldn't be taken as a blanket response). If you allow your child to watch Rated "R" movies than you may not have an issue with the limited explicit language in this book. Make no mistake, this book has very little to do with throwing around explicit content just to throw it around. It plays a role in the story. It is a touching tale that has aspects which deal with a teenager who is exposed to a negative situation, and that is where the language plays into it. But there is more to the plot of this story than just that negative situation. I'd be very sorry if someone completely missed ever reading this superb story based solely on some limited dialogue. There are very innocent and beautiful aspects of the story as well - which are the majority. The language and scenario I am speaking of is a part of the story, but there are many aspects of the story which are perfectly acceptable and, in my opinion, those aspects are not objectionable.I wouldn't dismiss this story out of hand because of the language. If you are on-the-fence regarding subject matter content, I would suggest reading the book yourself to decide if it is suitable for your child. It is a worthwhile read for an adult as well. You may end up wanting to wait to let your child read it or deem it OK. In either case I think it is safe to say many people who read this book to screen it for their children will find it moving and heart rending.This book was written with the intent of young adults in mind, and has receive awards/nominations in the young adults genre. I hope this assists a little more with determining the age level.

Ugh loved this book. So sweet. It reminded me so clearly of what it feels like to be in love for the first time. I will reread it a few times I’m sure.

Arrivato in tempo. Ottime condizioni.

Love the author's way of writing, abstract and intense in describing feelings and sensations. Really sells the young romance, the intensity of being a teen and feeling everything for the first time, something I personally appreciate now more than ever, having come out of that fase not long ago.

Cierto es que yo me leído este libro idioma que no es el mío nativo pero nací se me ha hecho un lenguaje muy ligero un libro nada pesado de capítulos muy cortos. Una historia de amor muy bien desarrollada de poco en poco para nada insta-love. Muy recomendable eso si el final sin decir spoilers hay opiniones de todo tipo de gente que le parece perfecto y gente que está muy en desacuerdo en mi opinión es un final que encaja que no era el que me hubiera gustado pero creo que es el correcto. Además envió y estado del producto perfecto.

Acabo de recibir mi producto el día de hoy. La reseña en sí no es sobre el libro -el libro es bellísimo y si te gusta la lectura teen adult, te lo súper recomiendo, todos los de Rainbow tienen ese algo especial 5 estrellas-, sino la manera en que venía empacado. Es sabido que si compramos una edición de colección es porque nos gusta coleccionar, vaya, los libros especiales. Pero éste en particular venía mal empacado, sin protección, moviéndose de un lado a otro y llegó con una esquina rota. Estoy decepcionada, normalmente todos los empaques vienen muy bien protegidos.