Eleanor & Park

By: Rainbow Rowell

Narrated by: Rebecca Lowman, Sunil Malhotra

Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Bono met his wife in high school, Park says.

So did Jerry Lee Lewis, Eleanor answers.

I’m not kidding, he says.

You should be, she says, we’re 16.

What about Romeo and Juliet?

Shallow, confused, then dead.

I love you, Park says.

Wherefore art thou, Eleanor answers.

I’m not kidding, he says.

You should be.

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this 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.

©2013 Rainbow Rowell (P)2013 Listening Library

Loved it

I listened to Eleanor and Park for 9 hours straight. I couldn't stop. Rainbow Rowell perfectly portrayed the struggle of growing up in a difficult family. This heartwarming novel was full of twists. I loved every second.

Great read but horrible ending

I enjoyed it but the ending was a dissapointment. The readers deserved better. I don't want to come up with my own conclusion, that's the author's job!

Another Great Rainbow Rowell Book

Eleanor & Park is such a sweet read. This is the story of, you guessed it - Eleanor and Park. It follows them into first love and how first love consumes you and shapes you.

My thoughts

I personally loved this book i thought it was amazing and i would read it a thousand times if i could and the narrators were great

I have loved this story for a long time

I love Rainbow Rowells work from Carry on to Eleanor and Parc to fangirl I am just now trying to catch up on her most recent work but I felt like re reading/ listening to Eleanor and Parc it is sad but realistic book through and through a good story and I absolutely love it

Pure Heartstrings -- A Great Story

This novel's plot was not what I was expecting -- but tuned out to be more than I could have hoped for. It is a fresh story, with a steady plot-line that you won't guess. There is something in this story for everyone. Rowell manages to tell this teen story without resorting to over dramatic devices. There is plenty of tension and conflict and the story raises as many why's as it offers answers. This book appeals to folks of all ages. It helps you remember first love, so it does appeal to the romantics in all of us.

The story is told both form Eleanor's and Parks perspectives in alternating points of view which enhances the story. Often, this device can be distracting; but not in this novel. There are many nerves that get jangled as the story unfolds. I highly recommend you read this wonderful story.

I'll Never Forget This Story- Ever

Eleanor is a poor high school girl. Her mother lives with a scum bag and mom puts the creep first. After all, he puts 'food on the table.' The idiot makes life hell for Eleanor and her younger siblings, to the point where Eleanor was kicked out and homeless for some time.

Eleanor has unruly red hair and dresses in strange, not conforming clothing from the Salvation Army. She meets Park, a good looking boy in high school who takes a liking to her. She can barely believe it, but the two of them have a very strong, special relationship and Eleanor finds herself falling in love.

The relationship is on shaky grounds because of Eleanor's familial situation, and she worries about the future and what will happen. Park defends Eleanor to the point of getting his face fractured when someone (everyone does it) makes fun of her.

Throughout the trials of their lives, Eleanor and Park have a most special relationship and it's told with a beautiful narrative voice. This novel will stick the listener forever- I will never forget it's poise, beauty, and prose.

5 stars- brava Rainbow Rowell!

-Wendi

slow

the story was drawn out and slow. it's semi clamatic, however more or a moral sob story. teens should read.

Just get it. God.

What did you love best about Eleanor & Park?

This is the most raw, powerful, beautiful and heartbreaking book that I've listened to or read in many years. As soon as it finished, I started it over again. I never do this. It reminds you of how it feels to be young and so very much alive. How love and friendship can save you. How sometimes you need to leave everything to save yourself, even if this means breaking your own heart.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Eleanor & Park?

The first time Park holds Eleanor's hand. I've never heard hand holding described in such a sensual way.

What about Rebecca Lowman and Sunil Malhotra ’s performance did you like?

Sensitive performance from each of them. I particularly loved Sunil's performance, he captured Park's quietness perfectly.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The ending broke my heart. I kept looking at the time, hoping for more.

Liked It & Didn't Like It

I want to write this review while the book is still fresh in my mind. I struggled with this book. I thought the first half was kind of boring and was tempted to abandon it, but my curiosity got the best of me. I wanted to know what the big deal is about this book, why everyone is swooning over it. Now that I have finished, I am still not quite sure. Eleanor and Park are both described as misfits in the book description, but Park barely is. He's a somewhat cool kid that comes from a good family environment. His being half Korean is the only thing that sets him apart from his peers. Eleanor is a misfit for sure, in more ways than one. I felt bad for the poor girl. Anyone in that type of home situation gets sympathy from me. With that said, she wasn't the most likable person. The book dragged for a while and I didn't feel like there was much character development for Eleanor or Park until the second half began. Then the story picked up and things started happening. At this point, the book went from a 3 star to a 4 star. Eleanor and Park have a sweet romance full of lovey-doveyness and moodiness. At times, it made me want to gag, but I have to remember that I am not the target audience here. My teenage years are way behind me. Then the ending happened and the book went south for me. What was up with that? I felt like Rowell described everything that was happening and how everyone felt in detail until the last couple of chapters of the book where many things were left unsaid and it seemed a bit incomplete. This is why I cannot give the book 4 stars. If the ending were better, I could have overlooked the slow first half. I liked the way the book constantly alternated between Eleanor and Park point of view's. I liked getting both perspectives on what was going on in their relationship and lives. Rowell did a good job of creating believable teenagers. I think that she kind of nailed down how teenagers act and how they think. This book is about first loves and heartbreak, surviving a bad home life and trying to keep your head above water in those difficult teenage years. The narration was pretty good, but Malhotra's (Park's) narration was awful when it came to doing Eleanor's voice. It was so quiet and mousey and very different than the way Lowman portrayed Eleanor. My very favorite part of the book was Park's mom. She was awesome. She was charming and full of personality. Malhotra's narration of Park's mom was spot on. I could listen to a whole book just about her and I wish she was my next door neighbor.

If you are a person who seeks out YA books, then you should go for it. Listen to it or read it and you probably won't be disappointed. If you generally don't enjoy YA books, then I say proceed with caution.