Landline by Rainbow Rowell - Revision history

Sue at 14:46, 12 October 2020

2020-10-12T14:46:21Z

Sue at 11:42, 19 February 2018

2018-02-19T11:42:10Z

Sue at 10:09, 17 November 2014

2014-11-17T10:09:50Z

Jill at 08:56, 17 July 2014

2014-07-17T08:56:53Z

Sue at 16:29, 1 June 2014

2014-06-01T16:29:00Z

Sue at 16:27, 1 June 2014

2014-06-01T16:27:54Z

Sue: Created page with "{{infobox |title=Landline |author=Rainbow Rowell |reviewer=Loralei Haylock |genre=General Fiction |rating=5 |buy=Yes |borrow=Yes |isbn=978-1409152125 |pages=320 |publisher=Ori..."

2014-06-01T16:25:26Z

Created page with "{{infobox |title=Landline |author=Rainbow Rowell |reviewer=Loralei Haylock |genre=General Fiction |rating=5 |buy=Yes |borrow=Yes |isbn=978-1409152125 |pages=320 |publisher=Ori..."

New review

{{infobox
|title=Landline
|author=Rainbow Rowell
|reviewer=Loralei Haylock
|genre=General Fiction
|rating=5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=978-1409152125
|pages=320
|publisher=Orion
|date=July 2014
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>140915212X</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>140915212X</amazonus>
|website=140915212X
|video=
|summary=A really enjoyable read that bridges the gap between fluffy romance and a true to life examination of a challenging relationship in a way that I think will appeal to fans of both types of story. Highly recommended.
}}
Georgie McCool has always known what she's wanted and pursued it until she has it. She got her dream job writing comedy, she's about to get her own show, and she got her dream guy, Neal.

Only, she's not so sure she has him anymore.

When Georgie chooses to stay and work on her show over christmas, rather than go to Omaha with Neal and their family, Georgie doesn't expect Neal to pack up the kids and go without her.

Not wanting to go home to their empty house, Georgie spends the holidays with her mother. While trying to get in touch with Neal, she realises her phone is calling a past version of Neal - Neal fifteen years ago, before marriage, before kids.

Georgie feels she's supposed to be using this strange chance to fix something, but the question is - is the problem with her marriage, or the fact that she got married at all?

I love romance with a fantasy twist, and ''Landline'' is exactly that. The central conceit, that Georgie can phone her husband fifteen years ago is very time-travel-scifi-fantasy, but it's a conceit used only to illustrate things about the relationship, and about love and life in general, so not likely to put off readers looking for straight romance. The main thrust of the story is Georgie and Neal's relationship - their gravitation towards each other, away, and back together again.

It was terribly romantic. I loved the awkward, uncertainty Georgie and Neal had towards each other, I loved the gradual reveal of how these two seemingly opposite characters came together. But most of all, I loved how real it all seemed. The characters were flawed and made stupid mistakes that came across as so authentic. This wasn't Hollywood, riding off into the sunset, perfect love. It was messy and difficult for the characters, and so much more true to real life.

The 'phoning the past' thing made for some really interesting questions about whether Georgie's relationship with Neal was the right thing, whether it's selfish to expect someone to give up so much to be with you. I really enjoyed how Georgie wrestled with these questions, and the conflict between her selfishness, and her love for Neal and wish for him to be happy. There weren't any easy answers, and that made the path towards reconciliation (which you know is coming, but that doesn't make the anticipation any less) all the more interesting and page-turning.

Overall, a really enjoyable read that bridges the gap between fluffy romance and a true to life examination of a challenging relationship in a way that I think will appeal to fans of both types of story. Highly recommended.

A little more on the serious side, but for more romance with a fantasy twist, try [[The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger]].

{{amazontext|amazon=140915212X}}
{{commenthead}}
[[Category:Fantasy]]

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 |publisher=Orion
 |date=July 2014
 |summary=A really enjoyable read that bridges the gap between fluffy romance and a true to life examination of a challenging relationship in a way that I think will appeal to fans of both types of story. Highly recommended.
 |cover=Rowell_Landline
@@ Line 36: / Line 34: @@
 Overall, a really enjoyable read that bridges the gap between fluffy romance and a true to life examination of a challenging relationship in a way that I think will appeal to fans of both types of story. Highly recommended.
-A little more on the serious side, but for more romance with a fantasy twist, try [[The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger]].
+A little more on the serious side, but for more romance with a fantasy twist, try [[The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger]].  We can also recommend [[Permanent Record by Mary H.K. Choi]].
 {{amazontext|amazon=1409154912}}

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{infobox
+{{infobox1
 |title=Landline
 |author=Rainbow Rowell
@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 |publisher=Orion
 |date=July 2014
 |website=
 |video=
 |summary=A really enjoyable read that bridges the gap between fluffy romance and a true to life examination of a challenging relationship in a way that I think will appeal to fans of both types of story. Highly recommended.
 }}
 Georgie McCool has always known what she's wanted and pursued it until she has it. She got her dream job writing comedy, she's about to get her own show, and she got her dream guy, Neal.

@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 {{amazontext|amazon=1409154912}}
 {{commenthead}}
 [[Category:Fantasy]]

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 Georgie McCool has always known what she's wanted and pursued it until she has it. She got her dream job writing comedy, she's about to get her own show, and she got her dream guy, Neal.
-Only, she's not so sure she has him anymore.
+Only, she's not so sure she has him any more.
-When Georgie chooses to stay and work on her show over christmas, rather than go to Omaha with Neal and their family, Georgie doesn't expect Neal to pack up the kids and go without her.
+When Georgie chooses to stay and work on her show over Christmas, rather than go to Omaha with Neal and their family, Georgie doesn't expect Neal to pack up the kids and go without her.
 Not wanting to go home to their empty house, Georgie spends the holidays with her mother. While trying to get in touch with Neal, she realises her phone is calling a past version of Neal - Neal fifteen years ago, before marriage, before kids.

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 |date=July 2014
 |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1409154912</amazonuk>
-|amazonus=<amazonus>1409154912</amazonus>
+|amazonus=<amazonus>B00JDQEEF4</amazonus>
-|website=140915212X
+|website=
 |video=
 |summary=A really enjoyable read that bridges the gap between fluffy romance and a true to life examination of a challenging relationship in a way that I think will appeal to fans of both types of story. Highly recommended.

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 |buy=Yes
 |borrow=Yes
-|isbn=978-1409152125
+|isbn=978-1409154914
 |pages=320
 |publisher=Orion
 |date=July 2014
-|amazonuk=<amazonuk>140915212X</amazonuk>
+|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1409154912</amazonuk>
-|amazonus=<amazonus>140915212X</amazonus>
+|amazonus=<amazonus>1409154912</amazonus>
 |website=140915212X
 |video=
@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 A little more on the serious side, but for more romance with a fantasy twist, try [[The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger]].
-{{amazontext|amazon=140915212X}}
+{{amazontext|amazon=1409154912}}
 {{commenthead}}
 [[Category:Fantasy]]