Why did I choose this book?

       Why did I choose this book? Well I had chosen this book because a Friend had recommended it to me and she had told me a little bit of the book was about and it sounded very interesting to me. I also liked how the author, Rainbow Rowell, used just a simple title of giving you the main characters names, Eleanor and Park. The cover of the book was also very interesting. It showed a picture of two people sitting down and they have head phones connected to each other. It kind of made me think that they somehow knew each other or they were going to meet.

       But it kind of left me wondering. I don't have any personal connections, but I can relate it to another book. Since this book has two people who love each other but can't really be together, I can relate it to Warm Bodies. That book has the same concept except the man, R, is a zombie and the girl that he loves is still living. :) I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a drama/ romance. I like the book a lot! I would give the book a 4.5 out of 5 star rating. I really enjoyed it and I hope the next person that reads Eleanor & Park will love it just as much as I did!

"Hooking" the Reader

       "He'd stopped trying to bring her back. She only came back when she felt like it, in dreams and lies and broken-down déjà vu. Like, he'd be driving to work, and he'd see a girl with red hair standing on the corner--and he'd swear, for half a choking moment, that it was her. Then he'd see that the girl's hair was more blond then red (Rowell, 1)." Park, one of the main characters, is telling the reader how he misses Eleanor, another main character. Eleanor had to leave town to go stay with her Uncle Geoff. You want to know why? Her stepfather, Richie-- remember him?-- was trying to come after her because she came home very late one night from being out with Park. But Richie and Eleanor's mother didn't know about Park. They didn't even know that Eleanor had a boyfriend.

        So once she had gotten home that night, there was a lot of screaming and yelling coming out of Richie, so Eleanor went up to her room as quickly as possible and took out the picture she had of Park. But then she had realized that the special box filled with all of her prized possessions, was opened and nothing was left inside. Eleanor was devastated, so she left to go to Park's house and she told him everything that had happened. That's when he decided he had to take her to her Uncle's house in Minnesota, where she would be safe. And then he started seeing things when she was gone. Just like in the selection up above. This is showing how much he really wanted to see Eleanor again.

Characters, Theme, Structure

     Eleanor is just moving into a new home and is going to a new school, she wants what anyone in a situation like that would want.... To fit in. She just wants to fit in and to meet new people, if only they would stop looking at her like she has 10 heads and quit judging her. And to possibly make some new friends. Until she meets Park. What Park wants is totally different. He just wants everyone to just let him have his space, go to school, come home and repeat without any interruption. But when he starts falling for Eleanor, everything changes.

      After Eleanor and Park start getting to know each other better, Park starts hearing about all of these people who write nasty, inappropriate sayings on Eleanor's books about her, he tries to find out who it is. He then hears his best friend, Steve, call her Big Red. And boy did Park blow up! He got so angry he kicked Steve right in the jaw! This infuriates Eleanor.  Some themes I am starting to notice is that Park and Eleanor are in love and want to be together but there are some minor setbacks that cause them to drift apart a little. The book has a very good structure. At first is starts with some-what of a conflict then if is resolved, and then another conflict occurs, then another resolution. I think this is going to start to be a developing pattern through out the book.

Major Characters, Setting and Conflict

     There are 2 major characters in the book that I am reading. Their names are Park and Eleanor. Eleanor has just moved into the neighborhood and had just been admitted into a new school. But the first time she gets on the bus, everything changes. Park, who was already living in the neighborhood, isn't very thrilled with her being there. He kind of makes fun of her, but not out loud of course. He thinks she looks weird because she is wearing a tie around her waist and dresses differently. When Eleanor gets on the bus that one nerve racking morning, everyone scoots to the edge of their seat as if to say "this seat is taken."
    
     She thinks that everyone has their seat, almost like its "their territory," until this displeased guy (Park) tells her to sit down. And she sits with him every day, and he reads comic books and Eleanor looks over to read them, kind of reading over him. Until he brings her some comic books so she can take them home to read. But Eleanor is scared to bring anything home from Park, let alone anyone, Because of her horrifying step-father Richie, who constantly comes home drunk. Bu

t she reads them anyway.
   
     After she reads them, they start talking, and its kind of awkward at first, but they get used to it after a while. Then one sun-shiny, going home from school, Park gains the courage to grab Eleanor's hand and holds it! Literally holds it! And that's how it all starts... I think Park will continue to hold Eleanor's hand and they will fall deeper in love. But I wonder if Eleanor will get in trouble by Richie for, in the future, seeing Park? Or will they stop holding hands and get rid of the love all together?