Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Attachments


Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
5/5 stars
Dutton, 2011
323 pages
Adult Fiction

Source: Library

After loving Eleanor and Park, I was intrigued to discover that Rowell had previously written an adult novel that was at least partially in epistolary and featured a romance. Although I doubted it could be as good as Eleanor and Park, I decided to check it out.

Shows what I know: this book was fabulous! While reading it at work, I was laughing and then crying and then bitter that I had to work instead of getting to finish this delightful book. Then I went home and finished it. As in Eleanor and Park, I didn't want the story to end and when it did, I again hugged the book to me. Rowell just seems to write in a style that is exactly what I like to read.

The plot is a bit odd: the year is 1999 and a newspaper is begrudgingly installing computers, internet, and email. Lincoln has been hired to monitor the email exchanges of the employees and he finds himself drawn to the conversation of two women in particular whose email keeps getting flagged. Jennifer is anxious about maybe starting a family with her husband while Beth craves a marriage proposal from her musician boyfriend. Through these emails Lincoln starts to fall for Beth while also following his own journey of growing up and separating from his mother.

I really liked the format of this book. It opens with an email exchange between Beth and Jennifer and then jumps into following Lincoln's life. Every couple of chapters, we get another exchange to punctuate Lincoln's story. I love epistolary novels and female narration so of course I ate up the emails especially because there were many very funny exchanges (literally laughed out loud at a couple of points.) But Lincoln's story is good too as this shy guy really blossoms just by making a few small decisions and following them through. I guess I read this book at the perfect time and I highly recommend it to fans of Rowell's writing!

32 comments:

  1. Lovely blog! Please follow mine; it's new: readandlovebooks.blogspot.com
    Thanks♥

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    1. Thanks for stopping by-I'll be sure to check out your blog.

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  2. The format sounds great and I need to try some of their work!

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    1. This was so amazing-I loved the mix of emails and prose.

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  3. This sounds like the kind of book I would love. I even remember all the 1999 hysteria…Thanks so much for stopping by! Jen @ YA Romantics

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    1. I sure hope you would love it since our taste so often coincides-definitely give it a shot!

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  4. I'm sort of afraid to read this one, because I'm almost done with Fangirl, and, if I read this, there is NO MORE RAINBOW ROWELL. Ahhhhhhh.

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    1. I hadn't thought of that but now I'm terrified to pick up Fangirl until at least I know there's another Rowell coming!

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  5. This does sounds good. Lincoln sounds like he is pretty great character. Wonderful review. I'm happy that you enjoyed so much. :)

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    1. He was amazing-I really felt a connection with him and that just makes the book.

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  6. I've heard so many good things about Rainbow Rowell's books and I recently requested a copy of Fangirl. I think I'll go to the bookstore soon and pick up copies of all her novels:) Thanks for the review!

    -Danna

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    1. I have only good things to say about Rowell-her writing just pulls me into a new world.

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  7. I LOVED both Eleanor and Park AND Fangirl (so good) so I definitely need to read this one. It sounds like another Rainbow hit (though this was her first one, right? Or second? Whatever. It sounds great!)

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    1. I think this one will work for you too then-I still have Fangirl to read, which I will do closer to the release date.

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  8. I so, so loved this one, even more than 'Eleanor & Park'. Glad you enjoyed it too! =)

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    1. I can't choose which one I liked more-I mean, adult vs YA; which one I expected more from; both had such great characters. It's too hard!

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  9. I'm a bit iffy about the time period change just because I haven't read much from that period so I don't know if I would like it. But other than than I've heard so many things about Rainbow Rowell and her books!

    -Mari @ The Sirenic Codex

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    1. I don't think I've read much set around the Y2K but I certainly remember living through it. I highly recommend you check Rowell out!

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  10. I read this one first and loved it. I enjoyed it quite a bit more than Eleanor and Park, but that could be an age/setting thing. Plus, I love epistolary novels and thought the email format was really well done.

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    1. I loved the epistolary format too-at the moment, it's too hard for me to choose a fave as they're both so good.

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  11. I read this one back before it came out and LOVED it! I think because of the blah cover I was expecting a blah story or something, so I was surprised that I immediately fell in love. I'm glad it's getting more attention now because of Eleanor and Park. And I'm glad you loved it!

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    1. Yeah, I don't think much of the cover but since I had already read E&P, I knew to expect more and I got it.

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  12. I didn't even have to look very long at this. I'd already decided I wanted this a while ago but just SEEING your review told me I needed to buy it. And I did. Like, five minutes ago. CAN'T WAIT.

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  13. It's such a shame, but the books from Powell just doesn't sound like my cup of tea. I'm happy that everybody loves it so much, though! :)

     Mel@thedailyprophecy.

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  14. Everyone says such great things about this author - I need to check out one of her books sooner or later.

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    1. I've been so impressed with the good reviews she's gotten-I mean, I think she's amazing but I've rarely been so caught up in praising an author.

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  15. My book group will be reading Eleanor & Park next month and I will have to look out for this one too. It sounds like a really cute story.

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    1. I hope you guys love E&P and have a great discussion. Attachments is definitely another one to consider-I can think of several good points for discussion already.

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  16. So glad you liked this one too! We've all read and enjoyed E&P, but Kristan's the only one who went on to read ATTACHMENTS, and she loved it. Same quirky Rainbow Rowell style, applied to totally different characters and circumstances. :)

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    1. Perfect way to describe it: Same quirky Rainbow Rowell style, applied to totally different characters and circumstances.

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