Devouring Books: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

You know when all your blogging bffs have read a book and all really loved it, and you put it off because 1) it sounds kind of great but also like something you don't really read much and therefore you might not like it, and 2) what if you don't like it and you get disowned from the group? I mean... you probably don't know that because you're a well-adjusted sensible individual. And, ok, I was only worried about the first point because I loves my girls, and I know they'd never disown me! Probably...

So, anyway, Attachments was that book for me (obviously) and so it took me ages to find it and read it (and I still only got it from the library... I really don't trust anyone, clearly!) and now I'm just like... WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN MY WHOLE LIFE?! Seriously, I could literally not put this book down. It's just so funny and real and the conversations had are honestly conversations I could imagine myself happening, the references are things I care about (Winona Ryder, for example- oh yeah, it's set in 1999-2000, hence why Winona is still being talked about. But I will talk about her FOREVER) and it's just packed with laughs and sadnesses and basically all the stuff of life. Plus stalking via email.

Which really isn't as bad as it sounds. I guess, only because Lincoln (Sort of kind of the main character only he feels less important than Beth and Jennifer, the emailers) is so lovely and we know so much about him and why he isn't a creep that it seems ok for him to be reading the email exchanges of these women (which is technically his job, but... he doesn't warn them and just reads their emails. So... Yeah.) So, I love Lincoln. And I especially love that *sort of SPOILER* because of his hobbies and things, you assume that he looks kind of like a dweeb, but then you find out that actually he's a GOD. Or at least pretty hot, you know? *end sort of SPOILER*

But, of course, Beth and Jennifer are the real stars, not only of the book but in Lincoln's LIFE (if you look at the book as entirely his narration, for instance, they're clearly the highlight of his days for a good chunk of it) and I can't even tell you how much I love their email exchanges. Like... it's almost impossible to quote them because the awesomeness isn't so much in a little section but just IS the entirety of their emails. They're just. So. Good. And I believe it's been said before, but it is SUCH an accurate and good representation of female friendship that you just don't see everywhere, or hardly anywhere, and not just in books. I don't just want them to be my friends, I feel like they already are my friends.

I can see where Lincoln had difficulties.

Now. I have a horrible feeling that this book could be easily dismissed as Chick Lit (a term which, by the way, makes me want to vomit). I feel like I could easily have dismissed it as that if I hadn't had the guidance of excellent people (my Jennifers and Beths, if you will) thanks to things like quotes from magazines that I sort of disdain on the front and back covers of the book (this is making me sounds like a snob... *thinks about it* I'm comfortable with that, when it comes to Chick Lit.) Here's what I have to say about Attachments and Chick Lit- IF it is Chick Lit (and I'm willing to fight against that label FOREVER) then it's like the Nora Ephron of Chick Lit. Which basically means, nothing else I've read even comes close, writing-wise, or story-wise, or reality-wise, or character-wise. And it's funny because I was thinking this early on, and as I kept reading? SO many references to Nora Ephron films. Which just makes it an even better book!

So. I just love this book, and I will always love it and also I nearly kissed the copy I got out of the library (ICK! Who knows where it's been?!) so I kind of need to buy my own pronto. And give it all the kisses and hugs that a great book deserves. If you're looking for a better review than this poor effort (squealing and kisses? Yeah.) then I suggest looking at Alley's, or Rayna's, or Alice's, for they speak the truth. And also because they have ALL THE QUOTES that I couldn't write down because did you get the part where I couldn't stop reading? And then GO AND READ THIS.