Reviews tagging 'Fatphobia'

Eleanor & Park: Exclusive Special Edition by Rainbow Rowell

99 reviews

beebeewin's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

What can I say but this is a very 2012 book in the worst way possible. This book felt like Rainbow Rowell wanted to hit on every hot button topic and make a "diverse" read, but failed to address any of them with any depth. It felt like she wrote about internalized racism, fatphobia, and abuse from a distance and as a way to make this book feel modern and relatable. Instead, it felt so dated and surface level. I know it is a teen romance primarily, but I feel like teens books never need to be this shallow. Even as a teen I think I would have felt conflicting. As a child abuse survivor, it felt like this book would have taught me all the wrong things, to ignore, disconnect, and avoid vulnerability. That being abused makes love impossible. Not to mention she is a White author righting about a mixed race Korean boy with what feels like no really knowledge on and zero effort to really understand what being a Korean American is like. Due to all these facts I could not connect with the characters or story. Not to mention the male narrator in this story did a horrible job voice acting as Eleanor. I was physically pained hearing him do her voice. Would not recommend this book to anyone and feel free to ignore the awards it got.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Racism, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexual harassment

copiani's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Fatphobia

Moderate: Bullying

jennswan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Bullying, Fatphobia, Sexual harassment, and Domestic abuse

carina_dreamer's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Bullying

Moderate: Alcoholism, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: Physical abuse, Racism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, and Sexism

xmia_69's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Body shaming

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Fatphobia

Minor: Blood

willowlywillow's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, and Racism

Moderate: Bullying, Body shaming, and Emotional abuse

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Even though I really didn’t like how the book ended, there was no other way it could’ve ended, I don’t think. I felt endlessly sorry for Eleanor. She was so relatable and so misunderstood and for Park to be taken from her when he was the only one who truly saw her was so unjust. This book highlights all the ways life is so unfair, especially to kids growing up in situations of poverty. It’s a story of young love, growing up, and overcoming social norms. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Sexual harassment, Violence, Body horror, Body shaming, Cursing, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Bullying, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

jordan_noel's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This is a sweet story of friendship between two sort of outsiders.

The transition from hate to love between the two characters felt kind of sudden, but their friendship was so sweet and pure that I think it makes up for it.

Maybe it's just me, but many parts felt overly, almost sickly sentimental. I felt a lot of dialogue and description of their romantic endeavors was a bit excessive. Still, it was a sweet relationship and I can get over these little flaws.

I have very mixed feelings about the ending.

Spoiler

The characters separate and lose touch, which of course, is normal and fine, but Eleanor began to start acting completely out of character right before this point. She was distant and rude and failed to reach out even with Park's persistent letters. Then at the end, she sends him three words (unknown to us) that somehow make him smile. I don't understand why Park would forgive her after almost a full year of her denying contact. 

I think the relationship was a chance for Eleanor to appreciate herself more, learn and grow, and become independent. And for Park, it was his first, perhaps naïve, experience in love. I do like the complexity in their different interpretations of the relationship.

These characters were likable and the end was fairly realistic. Overall, this is a sweet, hopeful book, especially for teenagers who know just how brutal high school and adolescent life can be.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Abandonment, Racism, and Toxic relationship

Spoiler

Eleanor's mom is in a toxic, abusive (physically and emotionally) relationship. Her husband has forces Eleanor out of the house twice. Eleanor's mom does not stick up for her daughter (or the other 4 children). People at school, as well as the husband, intensely body-shame Eleanor.

stirnbandpunk's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Bullying, Body shaming, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual violence

bluejeepbaby's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Fatphobia, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Body shaming, and Bullying

Minor: Domestic abuse