Prior to joining CBR, I had never heard of Rainbow Rowell. She’s the kind of author I never would’ve encountered out in the cold and barren landscape of the real world. I don’t typically read romance novels or the young adult genre (though this book doesn’t fit into the latter category). Which is weird, because some of my favorite, most beloved movies, are romantic comedies: When Harry Met Sally, Notting Hill, Love Actually (yes, I’m one of THOSE people)…. And I love Disney and Pixar movies, which may not be “young adult”, but are certainly good for just about any age group. Not to mention my Harry Potter obsession.
But you guys love her. And I mean run-through-an-airport love. Interrupt-a-wedding-love. Spend-a-lifetime-as-a-devoted-friend-while-secretly-loving-her love. You guys love Rainbow Rowell. I’ve counted 109 reviews so far, which is the most of any writer (I haven’t gone back through and tallied all the reviews pre-CBR6, so Stephen King and Courtney Milan still may be higher), and her books average four-and-a-quarter stars. Stephen King averages 3.91, Courtney Milan a solid 4.00, Jim Butcher 4.04, and JK Rowling a 4.08. Rainbow Rowell blows everyone out of the water. This is particularly astonishing when you consider I can’t find any reviews that pre-date narfna’s* January 29, 2013 five star review of Attachments. Seeing how the reviews proliferated following narfna’s is pretty interesting. It’s like watching a meme. Her review in January, then Malin reviewed Eleanor & Park in March, then 4 reviews in April. By the end of CBR5, there were 29 reviews of the only three books she’d written at that point. When this book, Landline came out in 2014, it got 18 reviews scattered over the year, as Cannonball Readers were still discovering her, but when Carry On came out in 2015, there were 11 reviews of it in the first three months of its publication.
Okay. I’m through geeking out. We love Rainbow Rowell, is my point. Maybe we should add a rainbow to the Godtopus driving the race car…..Okay, maybe not. But, still.
To understand how I feel about Rainbow Rowell after having read this one book, I’ll quote narfna’s thoughts after the discovery she made almost 4 years ago. Of Rowell, “either get out of my head or be my best friend.” This book was so enjoyable, and the characters were so likable, that I question whether I just read a novel, or remembered events that actually happened to me. Which is insane, right? Right!? I’m not really a woman in her 30s, married to her college boyfriend, with whom I have two little girls (meow)? I don’t spend my nights talking on an old rotary dial phone, trying to reconnect with my husband through his 15-year-younger self, right? My world is unraveling, I don’t know who I am anymore……
Okay. That’s not true. But this book touched my core. It pulled every chord of my being. I’m not going to steal all of narfna’s great review (seriously, you should read it), but I will borrow one more thing. “Falling in love with a book is exactly like falling in love with a person,” she said. I agree. And, just as when I fall in love with someone, I want to take this book around and show it off. “Look what I found, everyone! Can you believe how lucky I am? Don’t you want to be this fortunate? Don’t you want to share in my joy?” Though I may get a few inquisitive looks parading a book through my life as if it was a new girlfriend, I know that here, at least, I’ll find understanding.
I’ve discovered Rainbow Rowell. And this book was an absolute joy to read.
I think romance and comedy are two of the hardest things to find agreement on. What one person might find romantic, another might find cloying and saccharine. What one person finds hilarious, another might find offensive or dull. Like love, reading is a wholly internal process that varies from person to person. We aren’t all going to like the same thing. That we all seem to like Rainbow Rowell so much…..I don’t know. Maybe that says something about us, maybe the fact that we’re all here reviewing books to raise money for the Cancer fight – that the love of reading, the devotion to a cause, and the desire to share our opinions with others isn’t the only thing that ties us together, and I find that validating.
This review is not only a celebration of Landline, or even of Rainbow Rowell. This is a tip of the glass to the Cannonball Read. You guys are the best, and thanks for introducing me to this wonderful book.
…
This has been reviewed 20 times, with an average rating of 3.68 (it’s Rowell’s lowest rated book, by far).
*Malin discovered Rainbow Rowell in 2011 for CB3. I’ll find that review when I’m not having to research on my phone.
It was meeeeeeeee. I will take all the blame, happily. Thanks for your nice words, btw :)
I will say that I would happily ruin a wedding for Rainbow Rowell, but when I met her earlier this year, I was so overwhelmed I hardly said anything to her at all. In the meantime, my adorable and friendly sister bonded with her over a cat t-shirt (“Are you kitten me right meow?”) and got her book signed with a meow on it. I was very upset and jealous. The experience only taught me that I could NEVER meet JK Rowling. I would probably never speak again.
I don’t think I could meet any of my favorite authors, being the socially awkward animal that I am. But there is no way I could meet JK Rowling and behave remotely human.
To be fair, she’s probably used to it. I have one friend who DID get to meet her at a signing in Carnegie Hall when The Casual Vacancy was published, and when it was my friend’s turn, she opened her mouth to say something, but ended up bursting into tears. All she got out was a stuttered thank you, but she said Jo was just about the kindest person, making sure to make every person who stood in line felt seen.
Wow, I mangled that last sentence, but hopefully you know what I meant.
It’s weird that I don’t think meeting an actor, musician, or other celebrity would have the same effect on me.
I’ve met authors before, even ones I consider favorites like Scott Lynch, Brandon Sanderson and Patrick Rothfuss, but man, I was so COOL with those guys. But put me in front of RR, and I lose it. Because I just love her books so much and I want to be her friend.
I’ve met a bunch of authors including Dennis Lehane and Rainbow Rowell and I think I handled it pretty well. And they were delightful.
But one time, I was on line to meet Stephen King at a small meet and greet, and I couldn’t do it. I was too afraid I was just going to be a huge ass and embarrass everyone, with my Chris Farley level enthusiasm, so I left. I still regret my idiocy.
Oh, no! And he doesn’t do many events, does he?
I would run through the airport faster than you so I could get to her first ;)
Seriously, Rainbow is in the pantheon of authors for whom I would, without reservation, get on my knees for the Wane’s World “we’re not worthy” bow without any hint of irony.
I play dirty and will not apologize!
YES!!!!
I am so glad that this book meant as much to you as it did to so many of us, and I’m excited for your Rainbow love to grow. Having books that we share is definitely a part of the community that brings me back, and has me always excited about what new magical thing one of our readers will bring to the table.
Me too!
I’ve already talked my wife and (maybe) sister into giving Rowell a try.
Your review made me go back and check, and I first reviewed Attachments way back in 2011, which will have been CBR3. I still remember how blown away I was by it, and when I later got an ARC copy of Fangirl through Netgalley, I nearly died with happiness. I can see why Landline may be her lowest rated book, but for me Eleanor & Park is my least favourite, probably because I was so incredibly uncomfortable with the situation Eleanor was in and how frustrated I was that no one was HELPING her!
I love how universally adored Rowell is on this site, and I am very sad that two of my real life friends have not found her as amazing as I (and this quality group of people do), when I’ve lent or gifted them books by her.
I remember you commented on narfna’s review, but I didn’t know you’d discovered Rowell during a Cannonball Read.
To be honest, I’m in the process of catalogong the first few years from individual blogs and Pajiback reviews, but you have read so much I haven’t done all (or even most) of yours yet.
I’ll make a note of this, though. Good catch.
I do not envy you all the work you are doing, but it’s absolutely fascinating everytime you share your findings. I’ve been Cannonballing since back in 2010, when it was still in its infancy (CBR2), and the goal was to read 100 books in a year. Back during the first few years, I didn’t actually rate the books, that came later (after I joined Goodreads, I suspect). I forget now which year I actually won it (so long ago now), but being part of this community is one of the best things in my life.
It’s always fascinating for me, too.
I don’t know if I’ll ever get everything cataloged, but I don’t mind too terribly. It’s a fun hobby.
I actually remember when the Cannonball first started (I was a Pajiba lurker going back almost to the beginning). I don’t know why it took me so long to participate, except to say that I didn’t think I could read 52 books in a year (let alone 100).
Pajiba lurkers unite! I’m still mostly a lurker on the mothership, but now feel like I have more of a place, because I’ve been a part of the Cannonball Read for so long. I rarely comment, mostly I read comments and upvote others.
I’ve actually stopped visiting the mothership, though it still holds a special place for me. I read it every day for the better part of a decade.
I am such a horrible Rainbow Rowell fan! How did I not know about “Carry On”? Off to the library. Thanks for your review. I also found Rowell through Cannonball.
I just finished Fangirl. I’m not sure how I feel about Carry On being published.
I mean, I’ll still read it, but I’m in no hurry.
Carry On is amazing. It’s Rainbow Rowell doing fan fic of her own fan fic, and combines all the wonderfulness of her contemporary novels with young adult fantasy. I own it in three different forms – audio, e-book and paperback. You should totally give it a chance, especially because you like Harry Potter so much. The Harry Potter influence is strong in Carry On.
I’ve never read fanfiction before. Even though Carry On is her own world, I’m afraid it’ll just make me sad I don’t have any more Harry Potter, lol.
It might. But her fantasy world is quite distinct and its own thing, for all that there is a heavy influence from HP. The magic system especially is fascinating. And I personally love Baz and Simon and ship them more than any character/s in the Harry Potter universe. I like J.K. Rowling, I LOVE Rainbow Rowell.
Carry On is a must read, especially for you who loves Harry Potter. I think you’ll get a kick out of it.
I heard about Rainbow Rowell from Ashley (narfna), too, and could not be more ecstatic about it. I LOVE HER BOOKS. Though Landline is my least favorite, it’s still great.