Summary:
Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.
My Thoughts:
Plot:
This is the story of Eleanor and Park (duh). Two 16 year olds who meet, and fall in love. It all starts when Eleanor comes on the bus and has nowhere to sit. She's the new girl, and everyone thinks she's weird. But she's really not, she's just... different. She has wild red hair, chipmunk cheeks, wears men's clothing, and is not exactly skinny. She finally finds a seat, next to our other protagonist- Park.
I really loved how the author shaped and developed their relationship. It definitely wasn't insta love, which which is love at first sight. Park also thinks Eleanor is strange and doesn't really want to sit next to her. In fact, he cursed at her the first time she sat next to him!
I swear, I'm not trying to make Park sound like the bad guy. Because Eleanor isn't a saint either. For a while, she just refers to Park as "That Weird Asian Kid".
Their story starts to pick up when one day, Park sees Eleanor leaning over his shoulder to read his comic book. So he scoots the comic book closer to her and is careful to only turn the page when he sees Eleanor is finished reading. And boom... romance. Actually a lot more happens before they get together but that's how it begins. That comic book was the seed to their love.
I also enjoyed the sub plots. I don't know if you would defy them as sub plots, but I do think E&P's relationship was the main plot in the story.
I liked hearing about Eleanor's stepfather- what a jerk. I was as interested in seeing what was happening in Eleanor's bad home life as I was in seeing about her love life.
I also loved Park's parents and Park's relationship with them. His mother and father take a big role in the book and it's interesting to read about their some what over affectionate relationship and how Park deals with that.
His mother was such a catch. She doesn't really like Eleanor at first and Park has to show his mother just how great this girl is. He has to prove to his girly-girl mom that just because you don't put on makeup or where gender appropriate clothes doesn't mean that you're a bad person.
Characters:
I really loved the characters in this book. Both Park and Eleanor were amazing protagonists and I loved reading both of their perspectives. Sometimes when I read a book with a dual point narrative I always just wanna get back to the other character because one character bores me and I don't really care what's happening to them. This was not the case with E&P. I wasn't disappointed, if it switched from one character to another, I was just happy to see what was going on in their head. I didn't like one of the characters better than the other, they both were excellent to read about and had distinct voices (even though the book was written in 3rd person). I loved reading about both of them.
Eleanor-
I really loved Eleanor. We shared similar opinions on random things- like how makeup is just a disguise- it's not really you.
She is confronted by her feelings for Park and doesn't know how to separate it from her home life.
I also just loved her personality. She's so awkward and distant to people but if you really know her like Park, you'll realize that there's so much more to her. She's so brave. She's stood up to her stepfather before but knows when to take it back a notch like when people are making fun of her.
She also listens and introduces Park to The Beatles so extra bonus points for her. I LOVE The Beatles and I knew I loved Eleanor when she made Park a mixed tape of all of her favorite Beatles songs.
I can't seem to explain it in words. But if you read this book you'll understand. Eleanor is amazing. She's wonderful. But Park is right: she's not nice. But she's so much more.
Park-
I also really enjoyed Park's character. He learns so much throughout the novel. At first, he doesn't want to sit next to "Big Red" and a couple months later he's beating up a kid for being mean to her and he can't imagine why he ever thought of her poorly.
Park is lovely. He's such a supportive boyfriend and one that everyone should have. He's such a sweetheart and really loves Eleanor. She's his whole world and he never wants to be away from her. And when he is away from her: he's always thinking of her. I know I'm making him sound like a real nice guy, but don't mess with this dude. He knows taekwondo.
In Conclusion
Overall, I absolutely ADORED this book. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a nice summer read or just a great book in general.
★★★★★
Piper
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