I may have done this novel before, but I began rereading it again recently. (Nearly done once more.) It's a nice break from the other novels I've been reading. More light-hearted and what-not.
Here are a few of my favorite aspects of this novel
1. It was written during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) purely for fun
2. It plays with something every fan has encountered at least once.
3. It doesn't take itself seriously until it does
4. It covers more material than any book that size should (and does it well)
Rainbow Rowell's introduction is pure gold. She states how and why she wrote the book from the very beginning. At the end she then thanks everyone who's ever read or written FanFiction as well.
Ah, FanFiction. The art of taking something you love and writing a new character into the universe to meet the original characters. Taking the original characters and putting them into new circumstances. Slash.
WARNING PAST HERE BE SPOILERS!
This novel follows Cather through her first year of college and all of the awkward socialities that ensue.
We meet the following cast of characters in the regular narrative:
Wren - her twin
Regan - her upperclassman roommate
Levi - The smiling guy who's always in their room
Art - Cather's dad
Nick - fellow student and story thief
Cather prefers to be alone. She goes to classes, engages when she has to, but people are not her cup of tea. (To which I can relate, hiding in my room and avoiding people in the safety of my book-filled bedroom.)
Her preferred method of coping is writing.
FanFiction.
Slash.
Simon Snow and Baz slash, to be precise.
She has been writing her fanfiction, Carry On for two years and has to have it finished before the final book in the series comes out. All while attending college and taking a writing course which wants a 10,000 short story as a final.
Between trying to focus on Simon and Baz and her courses is a bi-weekly meeting with Nick. He's in her Fiction Writing course and wants to "collaborate" *coughstealherstuffcough*. Then there's Levi who's constantly in their room because he's Reagan's boyfriend (or so we assume because Cather assumes).
This novel deals with new roommates, social anxiety, mental health, and abandonment.
I won't spoil it all completely, but the issues that it talks about definitely are not listed in the fun going title. This is an excellent read for anyone beginning college, moving away for the first time, and living with mental issues. It takes us through the steps from the point of view of someone who is coping with them firsthand.
I recommend reading this book. And fear not.
Carry On is next on my To-Read list....provided I don't get caught up in another Cozy Mystery.
What is your favorite novel to read? Any recommendations?
See you next week!
