Monday 10 February 2014

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell


Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Synopsis

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.
Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . .
But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving. Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fanfiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.
For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?
Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?
And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

My Musings

When I first started reading Fangirl I will be honest and say I really didn't understand the fan fiction punctuating the book. I had never heard of it before and did find it slightly irritating and perplexing. I did try and read the Simon Snow story but got bored and was so taken up with Cath  and her story I just wanted to read about that and didn't want to be interrupted. I do feel guilty but I did skip these parts .... 
Anyway back to the main book. WOW. I loved it and really wasn't expecting it to be so good. The story is about twins, Cath and Wren. Cath is shy and Wren more confident and outgoing. It is their story about leaving home for the first time to got to college and how their different characters evolve.
 The main protagonist is Cath and her struggle with shyness and introvert nature How she deals with the growing distance beween her more extrovert sister.  Cath also worries about her dad on his own as he suffers from depression from time to time since their mother left because she couldn't cope. 
Cath's roommate Reagan, who I loved, is really moody, quirky but a non nonsense girl and perfect for bringing Cath out of her shell. Her boyfriend/best friend Levi  and the story of his and Cath's growing friendship is so beautifully written it gave my tummy butterflies. He is the sort of guy you yearn to meet. 
It is a book about growing up, falling in love and navigating the pitfalls with your family. You can't choose your family but you can your friends. It takes us on a journey as both girls mature and take responsibility but have fun along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed and LOVED the characters. A great book for anyone leaving home for university etc and who struggles with change. None of us like change!! But also a great read all round and the book I have enjoyed the most this year.
 Do read if you do or even if you don't like/understand fan fiction. It does not take away from it and if you do like that aspect you get 2 books in one!!

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