From the Cybils Shortlist, Eleanor & Park… what to say, what to say. I liked it. A lot. I might have even loved it but… I kept wondering if any of my kids would have loved it when they were teens and I don’t think that they would.
There were so many 80s references. SO MANY. Neither of our girls knew what I was talking about when I asked them about a few of them. It’s one thing to have a few 80s references that a kid can figure out in context but so many? I dunno. Seems like something might be lost in translation. TW and I smiled all the way through it though BECAUSE of the 80s references.
I did particularly appreciate that Eleanor wasn’t a hero… there was no attempt to save her siblings. She didn’t even really try. Or even pretend to try. She thought about it but halfheartedly and with the awareness that she just couldn’t, she wasn’t even sure she could save herself.
I also really liked Park’s parents. And Park, sure I liked Part, too. Surprisingly, I liked the ending. I liked the abruptness of it. I like that we don’t see the complete resolution of all of the problems. The postcard ending — pretty much perfect. And, now I want to go immerse myself in 80s movies and TV shows. Sheesh.
I feel like Eleanor & Park got a lot of adult readers. I haven’t really read much from teens who have read it but the Gen Xers are all over it. (Except me. I haven’t read YA in ages.)
Were those things that the girls didn’t know important things? Or were they more like DVD Easter Eggs for people in the know? Would adults read it as contemporarily while kids read it as a historical novel? Because it *is* historical, as hard as that is for me to wrap my head around.
We should have a John Hughes movie marathon.
I loved, loved, loved Eleanor & Park. Actually, I was surprised to find that it was YA – it felt more like it was geared towards adults of a certain age (mine!). Loved it. And have now moved on to another Rainbow Rowell, “Attachments,” which is fantastic too. I want to read everything she’s ever written!