tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160066904665347291.post3141974496845147952..comments2024-03-12T00:11:27.414-05:00Comments on Late Nights with Good Books: Review: Fangirl by Rainbow RowellAmandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03052456915027241479noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160066904665347291.post-25133441329179879802013-10-17T23:03:54.877-05:002013-10-17T23:03:54.877-05:00That is a good point, Lauren. It is a pretty reali...That is a good point, Lauren. It is a pretty realistic portrayal of growth, considering Cath's starting point and all. I think I was bothered somewhat because I can tell that Rowell has talent, but it just wasn't working for me personally. And thank you!Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03052456915027241479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160066904665347291.post-45440194332246580422013-10-17T23:02:31.188-05:002013-10-17T23:02:31.188-05:00Thanks, Nancy! It was "stereotypical college ...Thanks, Nancy! It was "stereotypical college student crap," but to the EXTREME. I had trouble stomaching it at points. Not only did Cath seem like she was only writing for her fans, but we readers didn't even get to share her satisfaction of completing it. That bothered me quite a bit. I know she was supposed to have moved it, but wouldn't it have been sweeter for her to say goodbye to it all by finishing the fic? Maybe she did, but it wasn't mentioned in the story. And haha yes. :)<br />Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03052456915027241479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160066904665347291.post-40065449401846349182013-10-17T23:00:03.110-05:002013-10-17T23:00:03.110-05:00Yes, and I can also understand why so many people ...Yes, and I can also understand why so many people are loving this one. Just for some reason I can't count myself among them. Thank you, Hannah! <br />And I certainly will keep Attachments in mind as a future adult fiction read. :)Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03052456915027241479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160066904665347291.post-52960329417678559782013-10-17T22:59:03.409-05:002013-10-17T22:59:03.409-05:00I made myself read all the Simon Snow parts, but u...I made myself read all the Simon Snow parts, but upon reflection I do think that I would have gotten just as much out of the story without those fan fiction snippets. I didn't really mention Cath and Levi's relationship here in my review, but it was pretty cute. So there was that positive haha. Thank you, Sam!Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03052456915027241479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160066904665347291.post-33845027185992116642013-10-17T22:57:38.697-05:002013-10-17T22:57:38.697-05:00Thanks! Yeah I mean I didn't hate any of the c...Thanks! Yeah I mean I didn't hate any of the characters. But I do think the constant mention of fiction made me think more critically as to the depictions of these fictional characters. Or something along those lines. Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03052456915027241479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160066904665347291.post-81316892537407905032013-10-17T22:56:23.540-05:002013-10-17T22:56:23.540-05:00I thought I'd be able to understand their emot...I thought I'd be able to understand their emotions as someone who recently graduated college. But just...they didn't ring true to me. I wish that they had, though! I am very disappointed I didn't love this story. <br />And yeah I think I'll try Rowell as an adult author next. Attachments, or perhaps I'll wait and read Landline.<br />Thank you, Keertana!Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03052456915027241479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160066904665347291.post-26076731706413179432013-10-09T19:54:31.108-05:002013-10-09T19:54:31.108-05:00Sorry you didn't fully connect to this one. Wh...Sorry you didn't fully connect to this one. What I appreciated most is that Cath grows at college although she doesn't turn into someone else. You're right that it takes a long time to know other characters - the pacing is slow at the beginning. For me, the Simon Snow part took a back seat to the rest of Cath's story, perhaps because it wasn't my favorite either. But I understand your points about not portraying the wonder of the online fan community. Or at least she talks about it, but we don't see it clearly. Very thoughtful review, Amanda. Lauren @ Love is not a trianglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15388832613855107816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160066904665347291.post-71895412837704246242013-10-07T21:54:06.675-05:002013-10-07T21:54:06.675-05:00Great review! I love it! I think we were really fe...Great review! I love it! I think we were really feeling quite similar about this book. I hated Wren's stereotypical college student crap, it was so annoying.<br /><br />Oh, and did Cath seemed like she was only finishing Carry On, Simon because she had fans, not because she REALLY wanted to, which was disappointing!<br /><br />I totally skipped all the parts with the LONG, fanfiction passages. I did not care about it. I just wanted to get back to the real story.<br /><br />Again, great review! Great minds think alike! HAHA<br />Nancy @ Tumbling Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12135752733204019103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160066904665347291.post-10166377619892811862013-10-06T10:00:01.555-05:002013-10-06T10:00:01.555-05:00Aw I'm sorry you didn't enjoy certain aspe...Aw I'm sorry you didn't enjoy certain aspects of this one! I just finished it last night, and I mostly loved it but I totally do understand what you don't like about it. I felt a little disconnected from the story in the beginning, but I was able to get into after a few chapters and ended up loving it for the most part. I do agree on the Simon Snow element lacking a bit of heart. I felt the same way about that part, which was frustrating since it was a crucial element to the book. Anyway, really great articulation of what didn't work for you.<br /><br />Like Keertana, Attachments is definitely my favorite Rowell book. I would highly recommend that one if you haven't already read it! Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05058757489545239601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160066904665347291.post-84023493195262377982013-10-05T10:57:06.730-05:002013-10-05T10:57:06.730-05:00I actually didn't think Cath's social anxi...I actually didn't think Cath's social anxieties were too extreme - mostly because I could relate to it so well. But I do agree that Wren's character fulfilled too much of a stereotypical role, though it didn't bother me quite as much at the time. I also felt that the Simon Snow stories lacked heart. I hate to admit it, but I resorted to skimming them after a while, as I was far more interested in the actual tale than Simon and Baz. Overall, though, I had fun with this book and liked Cath and Levi's relationship. Even though you had a few problems with it, I'm glad it was a decent read for you too. Great review, Amanda! :)Sam (Realm of Fiction)https://www.blogger.com/profile/04440380021875536125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160066904665347291.post-19886073192352142922013-10-03T16:39:56.861-05:002013-10-03T16:39:56.861-05:00Nice review. It's funny I didn't really th...Nice review. It's funny I didn't really think of the characters as caricatures when I read it, but I can totally see your point about Cath- I mean she wouldn't even go to the dining hall and was going to eat in her room for as long as possible! So yeah can see that... Reagan was sort of a cliched "tough" girl too, even though I liked her character. Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17515345156687765162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4160066904665347291.post-73085494676684392692013-10-03T10:31:05.170-05:002013-10-03T10:31:05.170-05:00Aww, I'm sorry you had so many issues with thi...Aww, I'm sorry you had so many issues with this one. I think, as someone heading out to college next year, I understood the wide range of emotions felt by these characters. It IS caricature-like, but I think their growth in the novel made it really work for me. Have you read Attachements? It's my favorite Rowell novel, so maybe you'll have better luck with that one. Great review, Amanda - I'm glad you still managed to enjoy this read.Keertanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01071392026876644282noreply@blogger.com