Landline by Rainbow Rowell
Fiction
2014 St. Martin’s Press
Finished on 4/7/14
Rating: 3.5/5 (Good)
ARC – Book on sale July 8, 2014
Publisher’s Blurb:
When Georgie McCool tells her husband she can’t spare the time away from work to visit his family at Christmas, she never expects him to pack up the kids and go without her. Maybe she should have expected that. Maybe Neal, who’s always a little bit mad at Georgie, has finally had enough. Alone with her memories and unsure of their future, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but it might be an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts… But what if Georgie and Neal would be better off if they never got married at all?
Rainbow Rowell inspired the young-adult world with Eleanor & Park and Fangirl and now she delivers that same fresh humor and heart with a thirty something love story that will resonate with everyone.
It is very rare that I read more than one or two books by a single author in any given year. As it turns out, I read three of Rainbow Rowell’s novels within a nine month span, so that must tell you something about how much I enjoy her writing. I adored her teen sensation, Eleanor & Park, and I was so pleased that her novel Attachments was just as entertaining. I was very excited when one of my co-workers shared her ARC of Landline with me and I dove right into it on my trip out to Oregon this past spring. It’s a good read, but not nearly as impressive these other two books of hers. I felt like the whole premise for communicating with a younger Neal was a silly plot device and so implausible that I couldn’t suspend my disbelief long enough to thoroughly enjoy the storyline. I also think it would’ve have been nice to get Neal’s point of view, as we did with Park, in Eleanor & Park. Nonetheless, my heartstrings were gently tugged and I might have even cried as I read the final pages, had I not been sitting on an airplane, surrounded by strangers.
Final Thoughts:
Rainbow Rowell is definitely an author to keep tabs on. While her latest novel fell short of my expectations, I still plan to read Fangirl and will anxiously await her next release.
Click here to read my review of Eleanor & Park.
Click here to read my review of Attachments.
Hm, I imagine that I'd have trouble suspending disbelief with that premise as well. Bummer. :(
ReplyDeleteIt was still worthwhile... just not as good as her others.
DeleteI know you've enjoyed this author whom I've never read. It is interesting to go through a series of books by the same author. I haven't done that in a long time...my friend and neighbor I has gone through Jacqueline Winspeare's books, and I've gone through most of Haruki Murakami's. It's rare to find an author one loves enough to pursue that ardently.
ReplyDeleteI have a few authors that I follow quite ardently and who usually don't disappoint me, but I'm always mentally prepared to read one of their books that isn't quite as good as their others. Some, however, always hit a home run. Tana French is one who comes to mind. I've loved everything she's written thus far. On the other hand, I used to love everything by Elizabeth Berg, but somewhere along the way, she started to disappoint me and now I rarely read her new releases.
DeleteI plan to listen to Eleanor & Park this summer.... need to find out what all the fuss over Rainbow Rowell is about!
ReplyDeleteJojo Moyes is the author I keep returning to lately. Me Before You, The Girl You Left Behind, Honeymoon in Paris all read since December, and I just started Ship of Brides yesterday.
I have Eleanor & Park saved on my Nano to listen to for a "re-read" at some point. I loved the book and wonder if the audio version is as good. I'll be eager to hear your thoughts, JoAnn!
DeleteHmmm, I wish I could say the same about JoJo Moyes, as you do. I loved Me Before You, but was disappointed with The Girl You Left Behind. I have one more of hers to try, so I still have hope. :)
Fangirl fell a bit short of my expectations, but I'm hoping for better with this one. Definitely excited to read Attachments since you liked that one! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm preparing myself to be a little disappointed with Fangirl, as it hasn't been as popular as her others. I have a feeling you'll really enjoy Attachments!
DeleteI wasn't wild about Fangirl. It could have used an editor. Sad to hear this new one is disappointing.
ReplyDeleteI still think it was worth reading. In addition to the gentle tugs at my heartstrings (at the end), I enjoyed Rowell's humor. Here's hoping her 5th book is a winner!
DeleteSlow down, Rainbow Rowell.
ReplyDeleteThat may be very good advice! :)
DeleteI loved Eleanor and Park and liked Fangirl and Attachments a lot. Can't wait to read Landline.
ReplyDeleteAnd I can't wait to hear what you think! I may be in the minority and I hate to dissuade her fans if I am!
DeleteWhenever I come across this book, I find myself wondering if I could buy into the story line too. I think it would bother me. I haven't yet tried this author but she seems quite popular right now. I imagine I'll read something by her at some point.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy time travel stories, but this one, while not really "time travel" just didn't work for me. If you want to give Rowell a try, I'd say start with Eleanor & Park, followed by Attachments. They are very entertaining and well-written.
DeleteI tend not to read authors too quickly and I think that this is why--it's so hard not to compare with other books that you've loved and it sounds like her books are all quite different. The telephone bit is curious to me and I can't imagine how that will work but others have said it worked for them. Hmmm. Hope you enjoy Fangirl more!
ReplyDeleteVery good point and advice, Trish. I should allow several months, if not years, between an author's works so I don't wind up comparing their books and finding fault in what may actually be a good read. I've held off reading anything more by John Green and will probably wait a few more months before I try Looking for Alaska or An Abundance of Katherines (?). I read Landline quite soon after Attachments because the ARC fell in my lap. How could I resist? :) And with JoJo Moyes, I wound up with a copy of The Girl You Left Behind fairly soon after Me Before You and was disappointed. Time to think more carefully about my choices and not get too eager. As far as this book... the nostalgia, humor and tender moments kept me reading. It wasn't a complete disappointment!
DeleteThere is an afteward to the children's book Tom's MIdnight Garden, written by Zilpha Keatley Snyder about the rules that must apply to make any sort of tantasy work. It sounds like this book didn't follow those rules. You may read them here, if interested:
ReplyDeletehttp://lettersfromahillfarm.blogspot.com/2011/10/toms-midnight-garden-by-philippa-pearce.html
Thanks for the link to Zilpha Keatley Snyder's rules about fantasy, Nan. While there is no treachery, I think there might be a bit of nonsense. Perhaps a few additional details would have helped make it more believable.
DeleteI finally got a chance to read this and I pretty much agree with you. I still haven't read "Attachements", but "Landline" is my least favorite of Rowell's books. I love E&P and think that "Fangirl" is very good, but this just fell flat. I thought is was interesting that the other two books were supposed to be YAs, but this "adult" book was the one that felt somewhat childish to me.
ReplyDeleteYep, it felt childish to me, too. I do think you will love Attachments, though!
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