55. Eleanor & Park - Rainbow Rowell

2013 St. Martin's Press

328 pgs.

YA CRF

Finished 12-14-2013

Goodreads Rating: 4.22 (37,330 ratings)

My Rating: Great Story (4) 

TPPL

Setting: 1980s Omaha, Nebraska

1^st sentence/s: "XTC was no good for drowning out the morons at the back of the bus. Park pressed his headphones into his ears."

My comments:  Even though there were very NON-sweet things going on in this book, the love story between Eleanor and Park was incredibly sweet. I particularly enjoyed the way the story slipped back and forth from each of the protagonist's point-of-view, but only spent short sections in this manner, not long ones.  I was dreading the ending, but Rowell handled it perfectly.  Excellent story.

Goodreads Review:  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.