Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell was SPECTACULAR.
I stayed up until 1 am on a work night to finish it. Admittedly, I've been a devoted Rowell fan since I read Eleanor & Park this summer, but while I still think I loved Eleanor & Park more, Fangirl spoke to me on a fundamental level. Mild spoilers ahead.
I wish I'd had this book when I was a college Freshman. I was Cather. Except I was Cather rooming with my Wren (not a twin sister, but a best friend from high school). I didn't go to many parties, I spent a lot of time in my room on my computer, I spent a lot of time doubting my life and my choices. She makes a comment about not feeling like a real adult but a pre-adult, and I still feel that way.
I loved that Simon Snow is basically Harry Potter (except Rowell throws in a few HP references to make it seem like it isn't HP, but it so totally is). Harry Potter is still the biggest fandom I've ever been a part of. I started reading fanfiction in 8th grade, and I wrote fanfiction from that point forward. Drarry was the first slash ship I ever shipped. I cried when the last book came out, the last movie came out, pretty much anytime I thought I was going to lose Harry Potter. But I think something that helps is remembering that the fandom is always there for you. And I hope Cath realizes that at the end too.
Levi is darling and certainly reminds me of people I know/knew in college. And Reagan is like my total favorite. Wren's hospital visit really hit me because I've been in situations where people have overindulged in alcohol, and it's terrifying. And people really don't think it's a problem.
I was really glad that Rowell didn't make Levi have some sort of problem and that's why he didn't read. Like he didn't have dyslexia or ADHD or some medical condition. He just had a hard time paying attention, and I think that's pretty common but also unfairly condemned. I'm glad that he already has coping mechanisms in place too. Like Cath assists him, but she doesn't save him. He's just fine the way he is.
Overall, I think Eleanor & Park is her more powerful novel, but Fangirl is so relateable and darling.
Favorite quote: "How do you not like the internet? That's like saying, 'I don't like things that are convenient. And easy. I don't like having access to all of mankind's recorded discoveries at my fingertips. I don't like light. And knowledge.'"
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