Fangirl
written by Rainbow Rowell
I wish I had gotten the chance to read Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell sooner. Besides being a complete joy to read with dynamic characters, it tackled a subject that few have dared to delve into; freshman year at college. With more and more people enrolling in college this setting has become increasingly relatable, yet few authors have taken on the task of capturing the unique emotions and conflicts that this transition brings. Rainbow Rowel has bravely taken on the job and uses her introverted protagonist, Cath, to explore some of a typical freshman’s most pressing questions. Such as; “How do I make friends?”, “What will my classes be like?”, “Will my roommate and I get along?”, and most importantly “Where’s the dining hall?”.
These are the questions that Cath is asking herself the day she and her twin sister, Wren, move into their new college dorm rooms. Except for the first time in their lives they won’t be living in the same room, forcing Cath further out of her comfort zone. Cath has to make it on her own for the first time in her life, but she refuses to do it without Simon Snow whom she’s loved since childhood. He’s amazing, handsome, famous, and most importantly fictional. Cath’s number one past time is writing fan fiction about the famous Simon Snow book series by Gemma T. Leslie, and she’s quite good at it. Her works online have amassed quite a following, but with the move to college she must now find a balance between her passion of writing fan fiction and the daunting reality swirling around her.
While Simon Snow is fighting magical beasts in his world, Cath must deal with her brooding roommate whose boyfriend never leaves, her father’s depression, the pressure from her professor to pursue originality as opposed to dead end fanfic, her party-crazy sister, and the unknown location of the dining hall. --As far as the dining hall, between the choices of starvation and asking someone directions in a potentially awkward encounter, Cath will choose the former. After all she has enough nutria-grain bars to survive for a few weeks.—
Like in her other works Rainbow Rowell writes a story equally unique and grounded. Her characters lives and emotions are complex and well-rounded, complete with imperfections and lovable quirks (Emergency Kanye dance parties for one) Unlike some other authors, Rowell doesn’t use a cookie-cutter protagonist paired with a simplistic plot to fabricate a connection with the reader. Her use of original characters with complex emotions, personality, and intention writes a story with a real heart that beats through every page alongside yours.
