Summer Reading Assignment Entry Four-Eleanor and Park

     After looking at the list of books on the website given, I shamefully was judging the books by their covers. I picked the covers that were the most appealing to me, or had familiar authors and read and compared the descriptions after that.  I was stuck between a book by John Green, 'Looking for Alaska', and and 'Eleanor and Park' For some reason I was pulled towards 'Eleanor and Park' Fortunately I was pulled towards this book because I absolutely loved it!  There weren't many connection between myself and the novel after reading it, considering I have never been in love.  I also have never read a teen love story before, other than 'The Last Song' The book itself just really popped out at me. I would most likely recommend this to girls, although guys could absolutely still like the book. The term "chick flick" is similar to what comes to mind when Eleanor and Park is mentioned.  It's a love story that almost reminds me of 'The Notebook' A teenage girl would most likely love this book.  In the end, anyone knowing this is a love story, could read and very much enjoy this book.  I loved it, and there most likely will be a second read in the future!

Summer Reading Assignment Entry Three-Eleanor and Park

     For me, the most interesting part of the book, which had me hooked, was actually the beginning in the prologue.   The prologue says, " He'd stopped trying to bring her back. She only came back when she felt like it, in dreams and lies and broken-down deja vu.  Like, he'd be driving to work, and he'd see a girl with red hair standing on the corner-and he'd swear, for half a choking moment, that it was her.  Then he'd see that the girl's hair was more blonde than red.  And that she was holding a cigarette...And wearing a Sex Pistols T-shirt.  Eleanor hated the Sex Pistols. Eleanor...Standing behind him until he turned his head.  Lying next to him just before he woke up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough.  Eleanor ruining everything.  Eleanor, gone.  He'd stopped trying to bring her back." This intrigued me when I first read it because I wondered what it was about. I figured it was Park talking due to the title 'Eleanor and Park' and Eleanor's name being mentioned in the prologue numerous times.  By the way Park talked, it sounded like he knew Eleanor super well and it sounded like he loved her. Figuring that he loved her, it made me want to know more.  How did they meet?  What's their story? Am I wrong, are they actually not in love?  I had so many questions that need to be answered after reading the prologue which made me want to read the book immediately. After finishing the book, it made me so excited to see the huge correlation between the prologue and the ending of the book.

Summer Reading Assignment Entry Two-Eleanor and Park

There is a lot that Eleanor and Park want/desire, mainly being each other.  As of now, Eleanor is just trying to be herself. Park's mom is trying to make her fix her hair and wear makeup which she feels is not her. Park is taking Eleanor's sense of being different and started wearing eyeliner. Oddly enough, most people liked it or didn't care at all.  This gave him the boost he needed regardless of his dad's disapproval.  But, like I said before, both Eleanor and Park's main desire is each other.  They want to be with each other without conflict or set backs.  Some themes that are beginning to appear, are being yourself or someone not like everybody else, is totally okay and can be such an amazing thing.    Another theme that is appearing is that secrets can break things apart.  This is used in context of mostly Eleanor. The more secrets she keeps from her family about Park, the faster their relationship could come crumbling down.    The structure of my book is by two perspectives and different sized events.  Each chapter is filled with Eleanor's side of the story and her thoughts, then to Park's, then to Eleanor's, then to Park's, etc until usually, an event occurs and a new chapter begins.  In the book so far, Eleanor's secrets are piling up, as you can see from one of the themes I mentioned. Sooner or later, I predict her mom and step dad will figure our about her boy friend, Park, considering that her siblings have already found out.

Summer Reading Assignment Entry One-Eleanor and Park

     There are a lot of characters in "Eleanor and Park" There are two protagonists in the book, and you guessed it, the protagonists are Eleanor and Park. Other minor characters include each of Eleanor's and Park's family. In Eleanor's family there is her stepfather(who is an enemy to Elanor), her mother and her 4 other siblings. In Park's family there is his mother, father, and his brother, Josh. Also, Park's grandparents are mentioned throughout the book. One last set of characters is Tina and Steve who are both bullies to Eleanor and somewhat of friends to Park. The setting is in Omaha, Nebraska and pretty much stays in only that area. The book and love story starts in August 1986. The whole conflict is basically about Eleanor and Park's love. Eleanor's family doesn't allow her to be with boys or be out of the house for that matter.  Park's mother doesn't really approve of Eleanor right now. They're love is incredibly strong though and their parents seems to be the only things holding them back from truly felling like they are meant for each other, which they are.  I predict that in the end,  Eleanor and Park will be together but I don't know how.  Eleanor's family seems to be the biggest constraint. As I'm trying to make a connection to this book, I can't seem to find one specific connection. The main thing I think of is some teens conditions of living now.  Eleanor's back ground mostly with her step father and many sibling make her feel distant and sad and she often wonders why Park actually likes her.  I absolutely love this book, it makes me want to keep on reading to find out how Eleanor and Park will work through their struggles yet still keep their special bond!