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| Bookcover: bookcoverings.com/fangirl-by-rainbow-rowell |
I just finished "Fangirl," by Rainbow Rowell. Now before I break-down the plot and characters, I want to say that I really enjoyed this book. Though at times I found the story frustrating, I like to attribute that intense emotion to the level of connection I found with certain characters within the story. As a reader, when I develop an attachment to a character(s), I become protective, annoyed, even angry with them at times. This was the case with "Fangirl." I so desperately wanted the characters to make better choices, the right decisions and to fight, instead of hide; but a good story-teller knows when to let the characters lead and have the story unfold naturally.
"Fangirl" is a rare type of novel, it touches upon topics that many stories shy aware from: social anxiety, mental disorders, learning stigmas, loneliness, fear, abandonment--just to name a few. And though, these themes sound extreme, they are emotions we all feel, in some way or another and we all develop ways of coping with them. Throughout the story some characters struggle more than others, but as in real-life people struggle at different times. I believe this is the aspect many readers connect to most, when reading "Fangirl." Our heroine has faults--she struggles, she fails, she is forced to face her flaws head on. This coincides with the idea that all people have internal obstacles to overcome, and when that fear subsides, we evolve. This was an underlying tone in the main character, Cath's life. A socially awkward girl, who throws herself into fiction to protect herself from real-life.
The story begins as twin- sisters embark on their freshman year of university. Wren a self-confident, out-going and the typical eager freshman, is excited to shed her high-school persona and more importantly move forward with her life. Even if that means leaving behind (figuratively speaking) her sister. She dives head first into the college experience, new friends, roommates, style and parties. Compared to her identical twin sister Cath--a reserved, cautious, studious, self- conscious and extreme introvert. Cath would have been happy to stay in her concealed bubble--where nothing is ever too hard and no one ever gets too close.
As time moves forward, Cath is forced out of her safe, little--all be it lonely, world by her out-going and lively roommate Reagan. We first meet Reagan on "move-in day" but she is like world-wind and we don't really get to know her until Reagan confronts Cath about her bizarre eating habits.
Reagan is two years older than Cath and fearless. She doesn't allow anything or anyone hold her back. After Reagan slowly draws Cath out of her bubble--with little acts of kindness, eating meals together, giving her advice and introducing Cath to her friend Levi. It is than, that Reagan and Levi put an end to the weeks of Cath's self-inducing seclusion. Cath becomes reluctant friends with Reagan and Levi, and slowly begins to find her place among her fellow- students.
However, it's really Levi--the tall, kind, rancher that really allows Cath to find herself. He accepts her for all of her idiosyncrasies, all of her self-doubt and to put it Cath's own words:
"And I'm crazy. Like maybe you think I'm a little crazy, but I only ever let people see the tip of my crazy iceberg. Underneath this veneer of slightly crazy and socially inept, I'm a complete disaster."But it's Cath's "crazy," which allows us to see different sides of the her character. Cath has to deal with an unstable family, a father that is only lucid a part of the time, a sister who has abandoned her familial responsibilities and an absent mother. Leaving Cath as the care-taker of those around her. She worries about her father and sister, and bares the (sometimes unnecessary) burden of holding her family together.
Not to mention, her classes, schoolwork and her actual passion--a fanfic of her own creation "Carry On." Throughout the story Cath interacts with people trying to manipulate her, professors that don't understand her and an over-whelming desire to escape from it all. "Carry On," provides Cath with that escape. It is an adaptation of her favorite book series, "Simon Snow," her version of "Harry Potter." Cath uses this fictional world as a creative (and at times emotional) outlet.
For that past two years, Cath has been writing chapters on how she thinks the characters would act, who they would befriend and who they would fall in love with. But the end is in sight, with the eighth and final book of the "Simon Snow" series. This is causing Cath anxiety and sadness over the end of a story that has influenced her since she was a child. Although it is a bittersweet end, the end of the series, has offered Cath new opportunities for real beginnings and the chance to create stories from her imagination.
Before reading "Fangirl," many people would believe it is just another "chick-lit" story or a "coming of age" tale, which on the surface that may be true. There is romance, discovery, loss and friendship within chapters. But after finishing the book, it is fare to say that underneath the superficial layer, "Fangirl" is a story with heart and allows its readers to relate to the obstacles that each character confronts.
While I was experiencing the book for first time, I could relate a great deal to Cath's and Wren's characters. I found myself reliving awkward college moments and remembering what it was like to be a heartbroken, embarrassed and scared freshman. Though Cath's social seclusion was often frustrating because I wanted her to face her fears--I realized that as reserved as Cath was, her sister Wren was equally out-going. But I think that was Rainbow Rowell's plan. She wanted to show the extremes, and how each end of the spectrum needs to find their middle-ground.
As I mentioned before, I enjoyed "Fangirl." It was captivating read. I only have two real qualms with this novel-- 1.) the interruptions that occur, between Cath's "real-life" and "Simon Snow" fictional life. It is obvious that Cath's "fanfic" of "Simon Snow," is a huge part of who the character is and who she will become--but I found that the constant interruptions brought me out of Cath's world and disconnected me from her story. And 2.) there was no real resolution to Cath's story. The book, kindof just ended.
We were able to read a preview of her first original story. But I would have liked more to read. And I still want to know how Cath ended her freshman year. How things progressed/how she left things with Levi; how she was feeling about the end of her first year; or how she felt about her family--especially her relationships with her father and mother.
Though I ended the novel with some questions, I feel that is was a wonderful example of story-telling. And I would recommend "Fangirl" to readers of all ages, especially to those who grew up reading, loving and living vicariously through the "Harry Potter" series, like I did. I was able to experience the excitement and anticipation I felt when each new book or movie was released and I was able to step back into a magical world once again. It was nostalgic and memorable read, which gave me a deep connection with the characters.
For now, I say good night and hope that the my random ramblings have peeked your inner bookworm.
~BL
~BL
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