It was the cover, which attracted me to this book. I know it is bad habit to choose book by its cover. But honestly I don't "judge the book by [only] its cover", so. Anyway, the book was cute and lovely just like the cover and also author's name, Rainbow Rowell (how lovely her name is! the colours and 'roll' sound).
1. The boy character named as Park, and before I opened this book, I wondered it's Korean name or not. The boy has dark black hair and park is obviously one of most popular family names in Korea. But still I couldn't stop doubting it is western name, like Kim (Kim is everywhere in Korean, but also it is used in western countries too)
However, it comes to be the boy is Korean, mix breed but still. I'm so glad to see Korean character in the book. It is obvious that Korea became strong country and it is appeared and mentioned in many other regions, but I still surprised and glad to meet Korea in where it is not related to Korea. Maybe it is biased feeling, but I came to like this book.
2. Eleanor is described as chubby girl, and has very unique (kind of weird) styles. So some kids are made fun of her, because she is different. Even some readers say that it will be greater if Eleanor is not chubby but looks more cute or pretty. But I don't agree. I think this novel criticize the "beautism" in some way.
Everyone has different characteristics and charming points. Like I said in the beginning, you can prefer to be more beautiful and prettier (in your view), but you don't have right to judge someone by their appearance. Park likes Eleanor's interests like music and books, her chubby and soft skin, her hair, and lots of things, no almost everything. He doesn't care what others think. Also Eleanor likes Park's dark styling, and Asian appearance. Someone may don't like their these characteristic, but at the same time, it could be worked as attractive points to someone else. Everybody has different aspect and no body can dare to judge someone else. Now it becomes complicated and I think this is really sensitive topic. So to organize, my thought was Park and Eleanor was cute and lovely just the way they are, no matter what others think, and everybody on the Earth deserves it too.
3. Change in perspective. In this book Eleanor and Park narrate their stories. But in fact, it changes too much sometimes. The biggest pros and attractive point of changing the point of view is it allows to see hidden stories or emotions that don't appeal in others' view. But Eleanor and Park spent time together so much and the feelings are quite obvious, so there are not much differences from this effect. But still, I enjoy to read Eleanor and Park's feeling to each other; they are just so cute.
4. The music was good too. Plus, I really glad that this novel is based on old generation like my parent's. They used walkman, which is so analogue, and I love this kind of stuffs. These days, everything is so easy and fast, it's not romantic than before. Eleanor kept listening Park's tape again and again till the tape is broken, and Park spent his time as making new mix tape for Eleanor. Not through the dialect way, like sharing and downloading music, texting to each other, they used slow but more romantic and analogue way to express their love. Sometimes, I think we need these until now.
5. (Spoil!) The ending was not happy, but I think it is best for the novel. The book was adorable and nice to read, but as I follow the story, what I taught was it is so easy. There are little argue between Eleanor and Park sometimes, but they never go through huge problems. Well, her father is the problem for sure, but he is not counted because he's the one who makes this ending. So I was little worried that this book comes to be just happy and lovely all the time. But with this ending, it solves all the worries and curiosity for the prologue. It's quite sad to admit, but I think that's the way life works. It can't be always happy, that's the way it is.
