Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

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When internet famous fan fiction writer Cath follows her identical twin sister to the scary world of college she expects things to be like they always were, that she and her sister will still be practically inseparable, and her writing in the world of Simon Snow will still be as big of a part of her life as it always has been. However, with her sister Wren decides she doesn't want to room with Cath, her life takes an unexpected twist.

This new world is even scarier without Wren, the social, bubbly one of the two sisters, and Cath finds herself spending even more time in Simon's world, when she can make it there, that is, and isn't being distracted by her angry roommate and the roommate's charming boyfriends that seems to be constantly around.

Completely outside of her comfort zone and forced to make new friends, like an adorable writing partner who doesn't want anything except for words, and maybe even Levi, one of her roommates seemingly many boyfriends, the question for Cath is: can she really do this?



To be honest, I didn't expect much from Fangirl. The childish, overly-girly cover seemed as though it was the perfect window into a frivolous book, and yet, with all of the attention Rainbow Rowell has been getting lately I knew that I needed to check out one of her books, just to get a good idea for myself. The writers name didn't help either. I felt almost as though I would be entering a hippy's world, with way too much focus on saving trees and prevention of animal cruelty.

However, most of my favorite books are ones that I have been pleasantly surprised by.

As a writer myself, I tend to be annoyed when writers make their character's writers as well. It seems to be this easy way out that they have chosen, an easy way to connect with their character and another dimension to write about that they don't have to work too hard on, and the sad thing is, because of this, the characters aren't connectable when they are writing, and that hobby of the characters seems to be like a cardboard arm, one dimensional. They seem to only write when there is a break in the action, and their writing is always good--too good--and predictable. Someone always reads it, usually the love interest, stumbling upon it by accident and deciding that the main character was an amazing--though perpetually unattractive by her own standards--goddess.

Ms. Rowell, however, does a favor, pushing away these stereotypes and creating characters that have such beautiful things as writers block, the dirty-little secret of writing. Most writers don't especially like to admit that they are, sometimes, subject to it, especially after Phillip Pullman's words:

"I don't believe in writers block,

plumber's don't get plumber's block."

 

And the story itself was beautiful too. There are few times that you read a book and you actually laugh out loud. Laugh as such that the girl who sits across from you in science class (and probably doesn't like you) looks up when you do as if to ask what the heck you are doing. so much so that when you're one your way home from school you read instead of doing your homework because it's depressing to think that you might have to do homework and you need to lighten up your mood.

 

On top of this, the characters were extremely well developed. So much so that there were times when I didn't even have to read the name of the characters to know who was saying something. As a writer, this wowed me. Completely. It's always easier for the writer to anticipate the character more so than the reader, and so for Ms. Rowell to be able to communicate this well-developed thing into another's head was something that was almost magical. I've read few books before that have this ability, and it always gets me so excited when I'm able to make that connection with the writer.

 

The way the characters moved through the story itself was another tribute to how well developed they were. The story was slow moving but sure of itself, just like life, not rushing through exciting scenes that happen all too fast, and it made the story seem even more real, and made me feel as though I wanted to go to this university and meet these characters because I was sure that we would be grand friends. However, despite the fact that the book moved slowly, the 433 pages did not seem like drudgery, and I didn't get bored with the pacing, something that even I am amazed by looking back on it.

 

Everything about this book seemed to blossom from the page into my head. The romance was slow and developing and beautiful in it's own manner, and every character made me smile a little bit. The plot, though admittedly slow, was timed in it's own easy way. All in all, the book is a good 5 stars.

 

RATING

 

 

 

 

 MORE INFOMATION

 Rainbow Rowell's Blog
Goodreads
Amazon

Please Note: This review was also published on a previous blog of mine, The Storybook Bird.