Review: Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Released: February 26, 2013

Publisher: St. Marin's Griffin

Pages: 320

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed by: Carey

Synopsis: 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.

Review: I'm going to be very frank here: I didn't like this novel. I'm pretty sure it's just the fact that it was written in third person, to be honest, because I loved the plot. I loved that Eleanor was a ginger. I loved that it was set in 1986. I loved that they liked comic books and listened to good music on their walkman. I like that Park was at first rude to Eleanor, just because everyone else was, and then he ended up falling in love with her. I could go on.

But, I could also go on about what I hated about it. Like I said, I hate that it's in third person. Third person just really bugs me for some reason. I can't write in it, either. Anyways, I hate that they're only fifteen. I hate that even though it's set in 1986, there's not really a mention of anything besides the walkman and the fact that comic books were coming out.  I wanted to know more about her stepfather; all we know is that he's an asshole, pretty much. I felt like Eleanor's character could have been a little bit better developed, just besides the fact that she dresses crazy and has a broken life. And last but not least (at least that I'll talk about) is I hated the ending. It was such a rushed ending, in my opinion. Tragic, yes. Good, no. It's like Rowell was just on a deadline or something. And it was semi-unrealistic, too. What sixteen year old is going to drive five states away to bring  their girlfriend to another house. I mean, with the circumstances, yes, but his father wasn't even mad. Like, um? What kind of parent is that? 

Sometimes I feel bad that I didn't like this novel. Everyone I knew, from my real friends from school, book bloggers, goodreads reviews, etc, everyone loved this book. They said it was one of the best books they've ever read. And it's not even close to the best book I've ever read. I honestly can't see how anyone would say that, no offense to Rowell, or anything.  It was just not my cup of tea.

Review: The Fortunes of Indigo Skye by Deb Caletti

The Fortunes of Indigo Skye by Deb Caletti

Released: March 25, 2008

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Pages: 298

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed by: Carey
Synopsis: Eighteen-year-old Indigo Skye feels like she has it all - a waitress job she loves, an adorable refrigerator-delivery-guy boyfriend, and a home life that's slightly crazed but rich in love. Until a mysterious man at the restaurant leaves her a 2.5 million-dollar tip, and her life as she knew it is transformed. This is the story of a girl who gets rich, gets lost, and ultimately finds her way back - if not to where she started, then to where she can start again.

Review:

Here we go, starting another Caletti book. I'm honestly quite nervous about it. But at least it has low expectations, so it can't suck too bad.

And let me say these three words: I like it. I actually like it. Something about it drew me in instantly, which makes me happy, because I wanted to like Caletti. So it was just the wrong book I read first is all. I'm glad I gave her another chance.

So the main character is named Indigo. She has a twin brother named Severin and a little sister named Bex. Caletti really likes these odd names, doesn't she now? I've also noticed that Caletti likes to drag everything on. It took 103 pages for anything real to happen, which is pretty much when Indigo got the tip from Vespa Guy. Which, by the way, it took over twenty pages for Indigo to actually open the envelope. Ugh.

That's what I don't like about Caletti's writing style: she draws everything out way too long. Granted it doesn't need to be right away, but if it takes over 100 pages for the plot to start, I find that ridiculous when the book is less than 300 pages itself.

So what I don't understand is why Vespa Guy (Richard Howards, you later find out) gave Indigo a 2.5 million dollar tip. He was mysterious and obviously troubled, since all he does at the diner is order coffee and stare out the window. Indigo tells him that she does care, we find out that he has a crappy job where nobody cares about him, and he decided to make a lifestyle change when it comes to jobs. So I don't understand why he gave her 2.5 million dollars. (Later you do find out why, but I think that reason is so ridiculous and it would never really happen...ever.)

And all of the sudden Indigo's mom tracked down Richard Howards and found out that he's in Maui, and now she has to go find him and give him the money back. This book is so unrealistic it makes my head hurt, even though it is a good story.

Time for me to be honest: I'm just not sure what I think about Caletti. It's topsy turvy, my feelings about her and her writing style and her plots and what not.

So they find out where he lives. He's not home, so they go on this ten page useless adventure that was not necessary at all, and then they find Richard at this restaurant. And he and her dad talk, and they understand the stress they were under, and Indigo keeps the money. Lucky her.

I surprisingly got into the book instantly when Indigo started spending the money. I mean when I picked the book back up after dinner, I was page 130 whatever and then all of the sudden I'm at 180 whatever, and it only felt like ten minutes.

I found myself really hoping that Indigo would change so quickly, become a bitch, somehow spend all the money. But instead she ran off to Malibu with her best friend Melanie after randomly quitting her job at the diner, just because her boss said she should think about some time off, and because she had a fight with Trevor, her boyfriend. Girl needs to learn that you can't run away from your problems just because you're filthy rich.

So. Much. Redundant. Information. The last 50 pages of the book was so useless and it was obviously just filler stuff so that Indigo could realize that the money changed her and everything and blah, blah, blah. But the story was decent, et cetera. It was a lot better than The Secret Life of Prince Charming, god bless. I liked the plot so much, even though it  so unrealistic. So it receives 3.5 starts from me, yay.

There's a different cover for this book, for the paperback, I assume. I actually really like the second one a lot better, but I don't like how the cover doesn't really bring out any part of the story. Shouldn't the model's hair be crazy like it ins in the book? Maybe the background Lake Pine, or the restaurant or Maui? Either way, I'm just not feeling the whole colored sectioned off part of the original covers with the title and author, how all of her earlier books are. Here's the second cover:

Carey's Top Three Tuesday!

This is something new I'm going to be posting, so that the only thing on this blog isn't book reviews. Every other Tuesday I will post three books that are on my to-read list and that I hope to read within the two week period. So, I hope this works out!

1. The Selection by Kiera Cass -- For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon. 

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

2. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins -- Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming,beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend. 

In the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?

3. Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan --  This is the story of Paul, a sophomore at a high school like no other: The cheerleaders ride Harleys, the homecoming queen used to be a guy named Daryl (she now prefers Infinite Darlene and is also the star quarterback), and the gay-straight alliance was formed to help the straight kids learn how to dance. 

When Paul meets Noah, he thinks he’s found the one his heart is made for. Until he blows it. The school bookie says the odds are 12-to-1 against him getting Noah back, but Paul’s not giving up without playing his love really loud. His best friend Joni might be drifting away, his other best friend Tony might be dealing with ultra-religious parents, and his ex-boyfriend Kyle might not be going away anytime soon, but sometimes everything needs to fall apart before it can really fit together right.

This is a happy-meaningful romantic comedy about finding love, losing love, and doing what it takes to get love back in a crazy-wonderful world.

Review: Waiting For You by Susane Colasanti

Title:Waiting For You by Susane Colasanti
Released: May 14, 2009 by Viking
Pages: 320
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by: Carey

At the beginning of her sophomore year, Marisa is ready for a fresh start and, more importantly, a boyfriend. So when the handsome and popular Derek asks her out, Marisa thinks her long wait for happiness is over. But several bumps in the road—including her parents’ unexpected separation, a fight with her best friend, and a shocking disappointment in her relationship with Derek—test Marisa’s ability to maintain her new outlook. Only the anonymous DJ, whose underground podcasts have the school’s ear, seems to understand what Marisa is going through. But she has no idea who he is—or does she? In Waiting For You, this third romantic novel from Susane Colasanti, Marisa learns how to “be in the Now” and realizes that the love she’s been waiting for has been right in front of her all along.

**

If Susane Colasanti does just one thing well and right (she definitely does more than just one thing well, though), it's the way that she makes her characters so original and different from each other. Waiting For You is Colasanti's third book, and the first one that has only one person POV. Even then, you can tell the difference in the minor characters (Sterling, Nash, Derek) and the main character (Marisa). Their attitudes, how they talk and present themselves, and quirky habits are personal to each character. And it's flawless.

Waiting For You starts off with fifteen-year-old Marisa just getting back from summer camp and having dinner with her best friend, Sterling. Just like in When It Happens, Marisa wants to sort of reinvent herself and find true love. She, just like Sara, has this idea of the perfect package in the popular hottie. Derek and Marisa end up dating, and things do go well for the first few months. He was her first kiss and boyfriend (cue the awwwwws). In the midst of things, her childhood best friend and lab partner Nash, who is totally not boyfriend material, forms a crush on Marisa, which makes things awkward for a while, which causes them to stop talking for a while. Sterling and Marisa are in a fight for a good portion of the book, just like any true best friends would be. There are problems going on at home with her parents, and her younger sister Sandra gives Marisa a hard time for being who she really is. In the end, everything turns out okay. Marisa is happy, she's healthy and is working on overcoming her depression, Sterling and her are no longer in a fight, and she finally found what she was waiting for.

Colasanti gets pretty deep in this one. Marisa struggles with anxiety and depression, and she definitely writes and plays it out just how it really is. Colasanti describes how she's spiraling down, how all she wants to do is sleep, and who cares about homework? It's hard to describe depression and anxiety. She was spot on with it. Props to her.

One of my favorite things about Colasanti is the writing style. She uses first person, but she uses it in a different way than most authors I've read. She'll use "say" instead of "said," for example. But she brings it to a whole new level. She makes it sound like character truly is telling the story and it brings in the character's personality because from time to time she'll write, "So I'm like, "blah blah blah." And I just think that's so original.

Susane Colasanti writes must-reads for teens, or anyone who reads YA. Not only do her books tell stories about young love, but they also deal with family life, friend problems, the senior year college anxieties, and pretty much any problems that are common today. She's a fantastic writer, and one of my biggest inspirations. Waiting For You just so happens to be my favorite book by Colasanti (thanks to the quirky, nerd, original Nash who has a fabulous alter ego , for many, many reasons. And that is why it receives five out of five stars.

Review: Take Me There by Susane Colasanti

Title: Take Me There by Susane Colasanti
Released: May 29, 2008 by Viking
Pages: 290
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by: Carey


Rhiannon is devastated after the breakup with her boyfriend and wants him back. Nicole's ex is still in the picture, but she can't help having a new crush. James and Rhiannon are just friends, though he may try to take it to the next level. Will their desire to take a mean girl down a notch bring these three friends what they want . . . and more?

Set during one life-altering week and told in three realistic perspectives, this engaging, witty novel by the author of When It Happens shows the ups and downs of love, friendship, and karma.

***

Like I said with the When It Happens review: I love me some Susane Colasanti. I love how all of her situations are so real and authentic and how all of the stuff she writes about actually happens. I love how the conversations are so true. I love how the characters are so developed, even though this novel literally only takes place within a week.

The thing that I didn't like about Take Me There: that it was written in three different points of view. Two is okay, but three is definitely pushing it. And I think that Colasanti got it, as she didn't write another book in dual POV until 2013. Awkward.

But the personalities were so spot on with this book. Not even just the three main characters, Ree, Nicole, and James, but even the minor characters. Danny was this really hip guy who loves politics and plans on not becoming corrupt. Sheila is going through some tough stuff, but she seems so real. And even the hot popular girl is a real human being... who knew? I honestly would not be surprised if Colasanti based her characters directly off of some students, since she was still teaching at this point (at least I think she was).

But this book goes places and makes you raise your eyebrow. Because Nicole is in love with someone she shouldn't be in love with, plus she has her own personal issues with her parents to deal with, while Sheila comes along and helps her realize that she's not on her own. This books gets deep so quick that you don't even realize it. And of course, there's some romance for all of the characters, including the minor ones. And who doesn't love teen romance? You're lying if you say you don't.

So definitely read Take Me There. You'll be hooked on the juicy boy drama instantly; I promise.