"Fangirl" by Rainbow Rowell

Do you know when you first start reading a story - whether it be in the beautifully textured pages of a paperback book, on a kindle or on a computer screen - and you start to get the feel for it? In the first ten pages, or even the first chapter, you decide if this is the book for you. The next phase of your reading journey. And you either get the thrill that refuses to let you put the book down, the mild interest that keeps you compelled or that slight 'eh' feeling you get when you start to read but you're not really into it. In a world where everything is texting or tweeting or instagram-ing the ability to just take the time out to pick up a book and for just a while, to be able to transport yourself into another world, is something that we - or at least I - take for granted.

 When it finally came to reading "Fangirl" by Rainbow Rowell, I went through that tumultuous array of emotions. The anticipation of a new book but the fear it would not live up to the hype. The hope that maybe, just maybe, this would be another author to add to a list of select few who went above and beyond in their mastery of escapism. And finally, the thrill of recognition when I realised that "Fangirl" was one of those books that I didn't want to put down.

 The Story:
The story opens with Cather (Cath) and her twin sister, Wren, entering college for the first time. Cath, usually fairly dependent on her sister, is left stranded when Wren decides that she wants to 'meet new people' and not share a dorm room. Armed with only her jars of peanut butter, protein bars and a slightly unhealthy obsession with a Harry Potter styled fandom, Cath tries to assimilate into college life. 

The story is told in third person - a turn off to some (cough cough, my sister)- but it is written in such a beautiful and quirky way that sort of negates that. Cath's life is so simple, with no vampires or zombies or post-apocalyptic war games, but Rowell pays attention to the minute details. She really seems to understand the mind of a somewhat introverted college student who, while incredible in her own ways, is unable to get past the awkwardness around social interaction to showcase her amazing-ness. Even some of the thoughts that Rowell gives the protagonist are so in line with the character, whether it be from Cath's taste in guys or her taste in food, she seems to epitomise the mind of a young, 'lost'(for lack of a better word) college student.

He was trying to talk to Cath about buffalo. As far as she could tell, Levi had a whole class that was just about buffalo. He seemed like he’d major in buffalo if that were an option. Maybe it was an option.…

Gosh, I almost forgot one of the best things about this book - for me. The dialogue between Cath and other characters (namely, her dad) is equal parts cute, realistic and funny. One of my favourites had to be the voice mail her dad left once.

“Cath? It’s your dad again. It’s still late, but I couldn’t wait to tell you this. You know how you guys want a bathroom upstairs? Your room is right over the bathroom. We could put in a trapdoor. And a ladder. It would be like a secret shortcut to the bathroom. Isn’t this a great idea? Call me. It’s your dad.” ___ “Cath! Not a ladder—a fireman’s pole! You’d still have to use the stairs to get up to your room—but, Cath, a fireman’s pole. I think I can do this myself. I mean, I’ll have to find a pole.…”

You can't fake dialogue like that. Rowell makes the conversations, and the novel as a whole, flow almost effortlessly.

 I am so torn over this book. Half of me is begging for a movie adaptation just so I can have something fangirl over - corny, I know - but the other half of me is sure that nothing could do the book justice. Even with the use of a quirky independent film company that specialises in offbeat productions, a movie "Fangirl" would struggle to really be on par with such a sweet book.