But first, let's take a look at Landline...
Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble. That it's been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply - but that almost seems besides the point now. Maybe that was always besides the point.
Two days before they're supposed to visit Neal's family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can't go. She's a TV writer, and something's come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her - Neal is always a little upset with Georgie - but she doesn't expect to him to pack up the kids and go home without her.
When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she's finally done it. If she's ruined everything.
That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It's not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she's been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts...
Is that what she's supposed to do?
Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened?
Two days before they're supposed to visit Neal's family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can't go. She's a TV writer, and something's come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her - Neal is always a little upset with Georgie - but she doesn't expect to him to pack up the kids and go home without her.
When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she's finally done it. If she's ruined everything.
That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It's not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she's been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts...
Is that what she's supposed to do?
Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened?
Landline is out now - get your copy here!
If you've read Eleanor and Park, chances are you were pretty frustrated with the ending. Luckily for you, Rainbow has chosen to write about the mystery surrounding it...
THE THREE WORDS
"You're probably hoping I'll tell you what the three words are.This is the question I've been asked most since I wrote Eleanor and Park. This is what people tweet at me and email me about. It's the first question at every signing and public event.
WHAT ARE THE THREE WORDS?
My father-in-law called my husband to ask. My mother cornered me at lunch, "I know you won't tell the Internet, but I thought you'd tell me. I'm your mother."
I didn't tell her. And I'm not going to tell you.
But we can talk about it for a few minutes, if you'd like...
I always knew, when I started Eleanor and Park, what the last line would be. I knew Eleanor was going to send Park a postcard, and that it would be 'just three words long'.
And I knew that readers would assume those three words were "I love you". I want readers to assume that. It's the obvious answer – and it's a happy answer. Wouldn't it be lovely if Eleanor finally said, "I love you"?
But I can't bring myself to confirm that interpretation. Or to say anything conclusive about the postcard – beyond that I think Eleanor wrote something hopeful. Park responds hopefully. He sits up, he smiles, he feels like something with wings takes off from his chest. That sounds like hope to me.

I mean, I created Eleanor and Park. I should be able to tell you, concretely, what it says on the postcard.
But there's something about that moment between them...
It's the end of the book, and we're getting ready to leave the characters. Their story is about to become their own again. (If you imagine that characters keep on living after you close a book; I do.)
So we're backing away from them, and they're having an intimate moment. And it just feels wrong to read their mail.
I know! It's crazy for me to say that! We've been in their heads for 300 pages, and it's a postcard – everyone at the post office probably read it.
But in that moment, as the author – the voyeur-in-chief – it didn't feel right to read it, to share it.
The important thing to know about that postcard is that Eleanor sent it. She worked through all her fear and anxiety and insecurity, and she reached out to Park. She sent him something that made him smile and feel wings fluttering in his chest.
Readers often ask me – after they've asked about the three words – why I decided to end the book this way. Why couldn't I give Park and Eleanor a happy ending?
I think I did give them a happy ending.
I mean, I know it's not really an ending; there aren't wedding bells and sunsets. This isn't the end for these two people. It's just where we leave them.
But they're 17 years old.
I don't believe that 17-year-olds get happy endings. They get beginnings.
This is the end of this story about Eleanor and Park, but it's the beginning of something else. And I have so much hope for them."
Rainbow Rowell
GIVEAWAY
If you love Rainbow Rowell and you live in the UK or Ireland, you're going to love this giveaway! I'm giving you the chance to win a signed Rainbow Rowell prize pack, including a signed copy of Eleanor and Park and matching poster, also signed. Sound good? Of course it does, so enter below. Good luck!
So far, I've only read FANGIRL and loved it. I plan to read LANDLINE with my book club next month. I can't wait to get my hands on ELEANOR AND PARK! ~ Amber @ Casual Readers
ReplyDeleteRAINBOW ROWELL! LANDLINE! You have no idea how excited I am to get my hands on this book! I'm not exactly sure when it comes out in the US, I think in the next month or so, BUT STILL EXCITED!
ReplyDeleteAnd it sucks that Rainbow Rowell was too busy! I would've loved to see an author interview by her! Ah well, the excerpt makes up for it
Thanks for hosting a giveaway Amber! I didn't notice that it was only for UK/Ireland bloggers, so just ignore my entries haha. Ah well. I got excited too fast.
I absolutely love Rainbow Rowell's books! The way she writes is just so elegant and real, and the characters are always relatable. I did a review of this book on my blog and I would LOVE to win a signed copy, especially because I could relate to the story so well. By the way, I really enjoyed how Eleanor and Park ended :P.
ReplyDeleteAmazing giveaway! Rainbow Rowell manages to write about really real situations but injects a touch of magic!
ReplyDeleteI love to win as i not read any be great to review a new author on my blog too thanks for the chance to win
ReplyDeleteOh wow I cannot wait to get my hands on Landline! Rainbow's books always leave a smile on my face and no doubt Landline will too! Very excited! :D
ReplyDeleteWould LOVE to win this, great book!
ReplyDeleteWhat do I love about RR's books? Nothing. I WROTE THEM YOU PEASANT.
ReplyDelete...
I haven't read any of Rainbow's books yet but I need to give them a go, especially 'Landline' which I have heard so many rave about! :-) Thank you for this great giveaway xx
ReplyDeleteI think the main thing I love about Rainbow Rowell's books is the honesty within them. I'm yet to read Attachments and Landline (obviously) but I have read Eleanor & Park and Fangirl. In the two of her books that I've read there is this honesty that doesn't skate around the reality of being a teenager. The books cover issues and topics that are covered in a way that doesn't hide anything from the reader.
ReplyDeleteAmazing Guest Post!
Despite many bloggers whacking me on the head with their own copies of Rainbow Rowell's books, I STILL haven't got round to reading them! I see them everywhere and think: I need to read that, but it still hasn't happened.. SORRRYYY! Thanks for the giveaway, Amber!
ReplyDeleteEeek I am so jealous you got to have Rainbow on your blog!! I love her books so much and can't wait for Landline to get in from the library!
ReplyDeleteThis looks really awesome! Congrats to Rainbow on her new release. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnother book to be read alga with Eleanor and Park! The new book by Rainbow seems to be experimental. I wonder where it will go.
ReplyDeleteAmelia @ YA Bookologists
After Attachments, I am hooked on Rainbow.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of them yet, but would love to :)
ReplyDeleteThere's of course more than one thing that I love about Rainbow's books, having only read Fangirl and Eleanor & Park I can't judge Landline or Attachments - but from my experience everything that she's written works in cohesive harmony (if you were expecting me to get all sappy, suuuuprise, I don't do sappiness and deep meanings ;)) from her writing style which feels very personal to her plots and stories, dealing with various issues that plenty of us can relate too. Even though you know its not real, Rainbow makes its real anyway. They also carry a very sort-of sweet, innocence in a way - maybe its just me. So yeah, that's what I love about her books. Byyyyeeee xx
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any yet and I NEED to fix this soon!!!
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