I think we all need to have a heart to heart. Let’s all
clasp our hands together, look each other in the eyes, take a deep breath, and
admit that Rainbow Rowell is one of the best writers of our generation. Can we
all agree on that?
I just finished the audio version of Fangirl, the third book I’ve read by Rowell, and it so did not
disappoint. (The first book I read was Eleanor and Park- see my post here about
how I cried through the last twenty pages- and the second was Attachments,
which was adorable).
Cath is our awkward, depressed and nerdy heroine, and her
freshman year of college is not going well. Her twin sister, Wren (Cath and
Wren- get it??), chose not to room with her, her dad is loveable but manic, and
her roommate is a sullen yet in-your-face junior. Her sole love and comfort in
life is Simon Snow, a Harry Potter-like character from a
fantasy/wizard/vampire/basically Harry Potter series. She even writes an
incredibly popular fan fiction blog about Simon and his mortal enemy Baz.
So basically, Cath is the perfect kind of character to groan
about, roll your eyes at, yell at and cheer for throughout her first year of
college. Will she remain miserable and terrified for all nine months, or will
she finally figure out who she is and what she needs to become?
Why you might like this book: Rainbow Rowell is a beautiful
writer. She’s the kind of writer that makes me wish I could write. Her characters
are perfectly imperfect and you will love them. One stylistic choice I also
love about this book is that it alternates between Cath’s life at school and
snippets from the Simon Snow series- a
nice change of pace (plus in the audio book, a man with a gorgeous British
accent reads the Simon Snow parts- the best!)
Why you might not like this book: Let’s be honest, you
probably will though.
Similar Titles: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell, Eleanor and
Park by Rainbow Rowell, Harry Potter by JK Rowling, The Magicians by Lev Grossman (maybe?). Honestly, Rowell has such a refreshing take on real life situations that I just can't compare to anyone but herself!
I would recommend this book to: females, people who have had
obsessions with a series like Harry Potter or Hunger Games, anyone who has lost
their way at some point or another
If you don’t read Fangirl, pick up SOMETHING by Rainbow
Rowell. You won’t regret it! At this point, Landline
is the only Rowell book I have yet to read, and I’ll probably add it to my list
before the end of the year.
P.S. I absolutely realize I have been AWOL these last two
months, and I have no excuse. August and September Review (a two-for-one deal)
coming soon!
