This is actually a short story, published in the book My True Love Gave to Me. It tells the story of Mags and Noel. They are best friends, transitioning between adolescence and adulthood. The story is told over four New Years Eve midnights, where they party in a friend’s basement.
Their meetings are chaotic, and the two circle one another, holding tight to their friendship. They aren’t involved with one another, but they are drawn indelibly to a shared connection. This is the kind of love story Rowell is so skilled at telling that even as a sketch, it feels more deserved and authentic than a lesser writer can manage in 400 pages.
There’s an entire book here I didn’t read, and that is probably unfair to the other writers. But after surveying the feast, I chose to gorge myself on what I knew was delectable – and I have no regrets. To taste the sweetness of her words is to make the world bland and miserable.
Except, no. Reading Rainbow Rowell makes the world warmer and more colorful. She reminds me that I don’t just read to be entertained, but to have my life enriched. I read to be moved, and to be amazed. I read to experience the wonder of a life gifted in words. I read to be immortal.
And, apparently, I review so that I might wax poetic about Rainbow Rowell. But I do so unapologetically.
OMG! I just realised that there is a Rowell story out there in the world that I haven’t read, because I’d completely forgotten that this short story collection existed. I haven’t even read your review yet, because I don’t want to spoil anything for myself. Now I’ll need to track down a copy (I think our school library may have one, in fact) and give myself a treat. Then I can come back and see what you actually thought. :)
Congratulations! lol
I haven’t read this yet, either! I’mma save it.
Did I just turn two regulars on to a Rainbow Rowell story!? Go me.
I look forward to your reviews.
I knew about the story, so don’t get too excited :)
I just haven’t gotten around to it yet because I’m gonna have to read the whole book, and short stories make me wanna sigh loudly.
I can’t count on one hand the number of times I’ve gone out of my way to read a short story. Stephen King and Rainbow Rowell are pretty much the only authors who’ll do it for me, these days.
I attempted the David Levithan story in this book because I’ve seen a lot of people talking about him – but I don’t think I read past the first page.
Wait, wait, wait.
YOU DIDN’T READ ABOUT MARIGOLD AND NORTH? I know its not Rowell, but it is my favorite non-Rowell in that collection. Stephanie Perkins is firing on all cylinders with that one and its funny. The Kelly Link and Laini Taylor ones are the other greats in that collection, for me.
Also, seriously Malin and narfna? If you two didn’t read it, then who the heck turned me onto it for CBR6?
I dunno, ’twasn’t me!
Me! Me! It was me!
That makes all the sense, I feel better now. :)
Maybe I’ll go back and give it a look. I didn’t seriously consider reading anything else in the collection.