Fangirl

Synopsis:Cath and Wren are identical twins. Now in college, Wren wants to live the college life, by herself. Which means Cath, who has social anxiety, now has to fend for herself. She has to put up with a new roommate, and all that the roommate brings with her…Review:The story of Fangirl starts in the Fall Semester 2011, and it's a totally different beginning from all kinds of fiction I have read till now. It begins with an online encyclopaedia entry of the fictional The Simon Snow Series. A series of which Cather is a die-hard fan – fangirling all the way by writing fan-fictions with the same characters as that of the series but in an alternate universe, her universe."To really be a nerd, she'd decided, you had to prefer fictional worlds to the real one."Never have I ever read a book with a title so apt! Well, I may have, but this is hands down, by far, the BEST! I can't explain exactly how Fangirl has this old-school charm about it. I loved the story within a story concept. I loved how this book was all about books, reading, and romance, and friendship.The entire story was set in and around the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Omaha, Cath-Wren's home, going back and forth between them. This is such a sweet coming of age story. Coming to the characters, I am now calling them the fab four. Cath, Levi, Wren, and Reagan. The art on the endpaper is so to the point that I could imagine the characters just like them. When I get myself a hardcover I will post a picture because the library copy I read this from ruined some of it.Cath and Reagan are roommates, unlike any other roommates you have heard of before. They barely tolerate each other, initially, existing in their own worlds. I liked Reagan's candour, her straight up, take no nonsense attitude. And also her awkward friendship with Cath.For what Cath and Wren went through, I liked how the author wrote a story with not only laughs but also all the grinds of daily life and the flaws. The way their father, Art Avery's character was shaped up is indeed something new for me, something different. Professor Piper, Cath's fiction writing teacher, has a small role in the story, but she shines in it. I wonder, how annoying yet comforting it must be to have a twin!I laughed out loud at Cath's take on other students, her use of 'just', and her way of playing with words when talking or thinking. Being someone who reads fiction and writes, I could relate to it so much. It was sheer joy reading such a character because I will never longer feel odd or even made to feel odd if I drop a book's line out of the blue in the middle of a conversation with my friends. (Believe me, the weird glances just compelled me to shut up. Though it's fun because no one knows what line/joke I just dropped.) I also laughed at Levi's pick-up line which was both hilarious and charming (ergo, where's my Levi?):"Hello, smart girl, would you like to talk to me about Great Expectations?"I suspect that is the main reason it took me so long to finish this book! I was giggling throughout the book like a teenager experiencing her first love. I laughed so hard at times that it hurt my tummy."Levi's chest was a living thing."Go figure.Such a sweet, sweet story. Be it Cath's insecurities, Levi's grins, Wren giving the cold shoulder, or Reagan's strong character. It winds up with the winding up of the Spring Semester 2012. And my God, so much happens in that one year."Cath was there at the register, and the clerk was handing her a book that was at least three inches thick."Hmm… I'm sold, I am gonna read Rainbow Rowell's each and every book. Well, I just measured the paperback copy that I have and it is approx. 3 inches thick! Fangirl has something for both readers as well as writers, and that is what made the book so endearing for me.P.S. After the recent buzz around Wayward Son, Rowell's latest book set in the fictional world of Simon Snow, I'm really enjoying reading the 'excerpts' from the fanfic shared after every chapter of Fangirl. What a brilliant concept! Though I am in favour of Cath's version rather than GTL's. And now I'm looking forward to reading both Carry On and Wayward Son. My inner Cath is dancing, she too has dark purple eyeglasses.Originally posted on:My Blog @ Shaina's Musings

Young Adult books are always fun to read and Rainbow Rowell is a master of this genre. I have read four of her books of which, FanGirl is my favorite. When I started reading FanGirl I found the book a little boring and slow paced. For a very long time in the book, there was nothing great happening which is why I lost interest and I stopped reading it. I resumed reading after a few weeks only for the sake of completing it. But little did I know that my second innings with the book would not only change my perception about it but also make me fall in love with it (like totally), especially with the central characters, Cath, and Levi.I was astonished by the way the story caught pace and how it developed so beautifully. So let’s get to know about Cath and see what makes her story so sweet and lovable.Points I Liked About FanGirlStory Development: The story starts tad slow but once the main plot begins to take shape the whole picture becomes clear and so much interesting. Cath is not an idealistic character who goes from being socially awkward to a super confident girl. Her character grows but in its own way. The scenarios in the book are so real that most university students must have encountered at least one of the incidences. It is interesting to see how she handles this new phase in her life and live without her twin Wren for the first time.Real Characters: The kind of dilemmas Cath experiences can only be understood by someone who shares her anxiety. Cath is a representation of the people who dislike meeting new people and making new friends. She is an anti-social person who freaks out at the mere thought of even accidently bumping into people. The writer has shaped and written her character so well that you can almost feel Cath palpitating. None of the characters in the book are perfect. They all have a good side and a not so good side which is what makes each of them so believable.Sweet Moments: Cath’s love story is almost child-like by which I mean very innocent and pure. Her first kiss is simply magical. I read it for a countless number of times only to experience the smooth flow of things again and again. It happens in the most unlikely situation and in the most magical way. Every romantic girl yearns for such magical moments in her life. I really love Rainbow Rowell for creating such warm moments in all her books. Even the awkwardness after the first kiss is natural and funny. All the ‘who will call first’ ‘let him message’ ‘act cool’ are real life problems faced by young kids and Rowell has put them forward effectively.Points I Did Not Like About FanGirlSimon Snow: Excerpts from Cath’s Simon Snow fanfiction are mentioned in the book that in a way reflect Cath’s real life situations and her struggles. The excerpts give more insight into her character and her thinking. However, I did not like those excerpts much. In fact, after a point, I just skipped them and went straight to the main story. The fanfic was more like a deviation for me. (Many readers loved the Simon Snow story so much that Rainbow Rowell actually came up with a spin-off book named Carry On based on Simon Snow’s adventures.) (I love Rainbow Rowell’s books but I don’t think I will be reading Carry On anytime soon ;))Slow Pace: The starting few chapters in the book seemed a little boring which is why I almost gave up reading it. But luckily I was determined to finish the book at any cost so started reading it again and thank God I decided to do so or I would have missed out on such an amazing story. The book’s initial sluggishness can mislead readers to giving up on the book (something I almost did myself).Final View: FanGirl is one of the few books I wished had never ended. I wanted more of it. I recommend this book to all the young adult book readers who love reading real characters and subtle romances.Originally posted on Alphagirl.in.

4.5/5 whenever someone asks me what female character I most relate to, I think of Cath. Because I, too, am a fangirl. I know that she might not have slayed dragons or conquered kingdoms or saved the protagonist from dying multiple times. But just like me, just like all of us, she reads, and gets a little too obsessed. And writes fanfiction. And it's wonderful to find someone who doesn't think of fanfiction as something less. But there are many people in this world who look down upon fanfictions even though some amazing books happen to be fanfictions! There are some people who'll grow out of fandoms. And some people who are in it for life. You will meet all sorts of people in this book. It's a wonderful book. And everyone who knows what it feels like what it is like to be crazy in a fandom will relate to it, whether they write fanfiction or not.PS. if, just like me you are worried you won't understand this book because you don't know anything about Simon Snow, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Just read it!!!!

I bought it as a gift for someone so I have no review.

Gran diseño de la portada

To know that I read this book back in 2014 and rated it two stars makes my queer heart cry.I want Rainbow Rowell to write my life; I want to have fun, quirky, philosophical talks with that person that will transcend all my expectations.I cannot say enough times how much I love Rowell's writing style, it's like a breath of fresh air, it's like rainbows, and warm tea got together and invited all the Care Bears and made a party. If that's your thing...because it can totally be whatever floats your boat, that's how great it is!I didn't really appreciate this book before and, the fact that I've read The Simon Snow trilogy and came back to this book made all the difference! I now get all the references and understand better Cather's obsession with Simon and Baz. I mean, who wouldn't?Some people say that this book mocks those who actually write fanfic, for someone like me, who doesn't really indulge in those corners of the literature world, made me want to give it a try.It also shows how a fictional world and people can sometimes consume a person if we don't stop to look at the world around us. This is totally me, I much rather spend a day, weeks, sometimes even a month closed up at home with a book, having conversations with myself than going out and being with friends or trying to make friends. lolI do get why it might not be everyone's cup of tea, it's quirky, it really is. But I don't find it forceful, being a quirk girl almost in her 30's, growing up it wasn't cool, having quirks were very much made fun of. But we live in a different world now where liking Star Wars is now considered cool, not back in 80's/,90's and early 00's. So the level of quirkiness in this book is quite accurate.*I'm rambling...going back to the book.*Even though this book is mostly warm cups of tea/coffee on a winter day, it also has a distinct and subtle coating of sadness.Insecurities, broken families, mental health problems--it all became so emotional and life-like.The relationship build-up from friends-to-lovers is perfect and, Levi and his hairline could come over anytime.I love books that speak to me; that resonates with who I am, and while reading, I am (re)discovering things about myself.This is what FanGirl did for me.FanGirl isn't your typical romance, coming-of-age novel; there are no dramatic peaks and moments of great despair, no climactic finale.There is so much beauty in this book! great

Absolutely incredible! It's been about 6 years since I read (Eleanor & Park) - which until now is my ultimate favourite novel. That novel left me mesmerised which is why I was so hesitant to read another one of Rainbow's work, fearing that nothing could live up to that. Oh, was I wrong!! From the moment I picked Fangirl up, I could barely put it down!Storyline is so easy to follow with wonderful character development. Incredibly captivating - her words made me feel as if I was in the room with Cather. Every chapter ending so smoothly, you just have to keep reading to find out what happens next.. Left me swooning days after I put it down.

4.5Relutei por muito tempo achando q esse livro não era pra mim. Ainda bem que fui convencida pelos amigos, a dar uma chance para Fangirl. Porque eu adorei!!!Eu acho q mtas pessoas não gostam desse livro por não se identificarem com a personagem. Bem, eu não me identifiquei tbm, mas eu tive empatia. Eu não me vi na Cath, mas foi bacana ver o mundo através de alguém que tem as dificuldades que ela tem. Diferente do que algumas pessoas interpretaram, a Cath não é acomodada e não gosta de mudanças. A Cath sofre de ansiedade e outras dificuldades que prejudicam o convívio social com outras pessoas. Então não adianta ficar frustrado com ela, pq ela não vai agir como vc. A questão da ficção é toda essa, se colocar no lugar de outra pessoa... Enfim, voltando ao livro, até a parte q achei q não seria a minha praia - Fanfic do Simon - eu gostei. Gostei de ver oq a Cath tinha a dizer sobre esse mundo.Só não foi 5 estrelas pra mim pois achei o final um pouco abrupto, esperava q a Reagan tivesse um papel maior na vida dela, e a própria descoberta dela como escritora esperava q fosse algo um pouco mais catártico. Talvez tenha sido só a minha expectativa. Terminei querendo mais.