Eleanor and Park is a Young Adult novel written by Rainbow Rowell in 2013. The novel is set during 1986-1987 in Omaha, Nebraska and follows the lives of two teenagers while exploring issues like peer pressure, identity and body image.
The novel progresses as the POV shifts between Eleanor and Park. Eleanor is a ‘big girl’, has red hair and an eccentric sense of style mostly due to her family’s financial conditions, due to which she stands out in a crowd and is butt of many jokes. Park is half-American, half-Korean, and despite being ‘accepted’ among the locals feels like an outsider due to his Asian features.
The major issues that are explored in the novel are peer pressure and body issues. Eleanor and Park constantly feel the urge to fit in or do things that would not attract attention towards them. Even though Park doesn’t like swearing at Eleanor or being rude to her, he does so in order to make others think he is not empathetic towards her. As they connect and get more involved with each other, Park begins to experience inhibitions about letting others know of his feelings for Eleanor and is confused over the embarrassment he feels for enjoying Eleanor’s company publicly.
Eleanor, despite being unhappy with her body and family, is comparatively more mature. She would rather not lie or pretend to be someone she is not. Even though her clothes are torn or castoffs, she patches them with shiny fabrics and dresses eccentrically. Despite not wanting to attract attention to herself, she is not ashamed of herself and is, Park likes to call her, ‘comfortable in her skin’.
Another theme used profoundly is the search for one’s identity and sexuality. Eleanor constantly thinks about of not belonging in her neighborhood, while Park whose father’s family has lived there for centuries feels like an outsider due to his looks and short stature. Both of them constantly compare their looks and bodies to others, and while Eleanor is constantly bullied and called names, Park gets some acceptance due to his father.
Sexual awakening is also discussed. Eleanor and Park often confuse bases as if adhering to some rule to follow a particular sequence. Park is thought of as a feminine boy by his father, a fact that is of constant debate between Park’s parents, and shocks him when he starts using eyeliner. This and the fact that he is not easily attracted to girls around him, he comes to question his sexuality and wonders if he is a gay. He adheres to the fact that his lady-like mannerisms make him less macho.
Multiple cultural references primarily to comic book characters, movies and music of 80s are made to illustrate their environment. However, the story while talking about some major issues, follows a narrative that strays from any sharp turns. The plot flows smoothly, with violent undercurrents, but relatively peaceful. The end, though non-confirmative, but hints at a happy future.
