thelexingtonbookie's review against another edition
4.0
Yet again, John Green has made me sad smile at the end of another novel. After The Fault In Our Stars, I knew I needed to expand my Green collection, and I happened on Paper Towns about a month or so ago, and I didn't want to let it linger long on the bookshelves, unread. So when I had a break in my regularly scheduled programming (haha) I decided to sneak in the read.
Quentin "Q" Jacobsen has been in love with Margo Roth Spiegelman since the day he met her. Or, at least, he thinks he's in love with her. She moved next door when they were ten. They were really good friends as kids, but when they happened upon a dead body in a nearby park, things got weird. Q was realistically freaked out. Margo was curiously obsessed with figuring out what happened to him. This incident started the split in their friendship, and then as they got older, Margo tended to hang with the popular crowd, and Q was mixed in with his band friends. Q never stopped admiring Margo though, and couldn't believe his fortune when she shoved his bedroom window open and crawled through.
Margo needed a partner-in-crime to drive her getaway car, and Q had keys to his mom's minivan. So, though hesitant on participating in Margo's revenge scheme against her ex-boyfriend, he just can't pass up the chance to spend all night with Margo. Armed with blue spray paint, a "fat-daddy-size" tub of Vaseline, and some catfish, they target the ex and a few frenemies. I have to admit, the pranks were hilarious, devious, and thoroughly planned, and I laughed so much during the first 100 pages of this book.
"Did you see it? His face without the eyebrow? He looks permanently doubtful, you know? Like, 'Oh, really? You're saying I only have one eyebrow? Likely story.' And I love making that asshole choose: better to shave off Lefty, or paint on Righty?"
After their long adventurous night, Margo and Q part ways. Q expects to see her in school, but Margo mysteriously doesn't show up. Nor the next day. It's not the first time Margo has gone missing, but Q is concerned after what they talked about the night before. She had said a few things that made it sound like she wasn't going to come back, and Q was starting to think she may be dead. When Margo's family call in the police, Q knows it's really going to be up to him to find Margo. She always leaves clues about her whereabouts, but her parents have never understood. So Q and his two best friends, Radar and Ben, and Margo's frenemy, Lacey, take on the challenge of finding Margo to make sure she is safe.
(Fan art from Pinterest.com)
As they find and attempt to decipher Margo's clues, all of them start to see that Margo wasn't who they thought she was, and the question begs to differ- did they even know the real Margo?
Green had me rapidly turning pages to figure out if Q and his friends would ever find Margo, and more importantly, was she dead or alive? It's fast paced, easy to read mystery and in addition, the wit in Green's writing had me in laughing and smiling- to me, ideal reading! I know this has been out for a decade (published in 2008), but this book is still worth the read, and I'm glad I've added it to my collection!
Quentin "Q" Jacobsen has been in love with Margo Roth Spiegelman since the day he met her. Or, at least, he thinks he's in love with her. She moved next door when they were ten. They were really good friends as kids, but when they happened upon a dead body in a nearby park, things got weird. Q was realistically freaked out. Margo was curiously obsessed with figuring out what happened to him. This incident started the split in their friendship, and then as they got older, Margo tended to hang with the popular crowd, and Q was mixed in with his band friends. Q never stopped admiring Margo though, and couldn't believe his fortune when she shoved his bedroom window open and crawled through.
Margo needed a partner-in-crime to drive her getaway car, and Q had keys to his mom's minivan. So, though hesitant on participating in Margo's revenge scheme against her ex-boyfriend, he just can't pass up the chance to spend all night with Margo. Armed with blue spray paint, a "fat-daddy-size" tub of Vaseline, and some catfish, they target the ex and a few frenemies. I have to admit, the pranks were hilarious, devious, and thoroughly planned, and I laughed so much during the first 100 pages of this book.
"Did you see it? His face without the eyebrow? He looks permanently doubtful, you know? Like, 'Oh, really? You're saying I only have one eyebrow? Likely story.' And I love making that asshole choose: better to shave off Lefty, or paint on Righty?"
After their long adventurous night, Margo and Q part ways. Q expects to see her in school, but Margo mysteriously doesn't show up. Nor the next day. It's not the first time Margo has gone missing, but Q is concerned after what they talked about the night before. She had said a few things that made it sound like she wasn't going to come back, and Q was starting to think she may be dead. When Margo's family call in the police, Q knows it's really going to be up to him to find Margo. She always leaves clues about her whereabouts, but her parents have never understood. So Q and his two best friends, Radar and Ben, and Margo's frenemy, Lacey, take on the challenge of finding Margo to make sure she is safe.
(Fan art from Pinterest.com)
As they find and attempt to decipher Margo's clues, all of them start to see that Margo wasn't who they thought she was, and the question begs to differ- did they even know the real Margo?
Green had me rapidly turning pages to figure out if Q and his friends would ever find Margo, and more importantly, was she dead or alive? It's fast paced, easy to read mystery and in addition, the wit in Green's writing had me in laughing and smiling- to me, ideal reading! I know this has been out for a decade (published in 2008), but this book is still worth the read, and I'm glad I've added it to my collection!
princessleia4life's review against another edition
1.0
I didn't like it. I didn't find the characters believable at all, and I thought Margo was a jerk. Not my type of book.
lemusk7's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sjscho95's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mj1390's review against another edition
2.0
Aún sigo pensando en que sabor de boca me dejo este libro, no lo considero siquiera bueno, la verdad es que me esperaba algo realmente interesante, pero, me dejo pensando en las siguientes cosas, como por ejemplo:
1.- Si Margo hubiera sido una chica normal, nada popular, ¿aún así alguien hubiera ido a buscarla si desaparecía?
2.- Al final, me molestó mucho que Margo tomara una actitud un poco prepotente y maldita, no era culpa de Quentin el interesarse en irla a buscar, ni que Ben, Lacey y Radar, quisieran ayudar en la búsqueda.
3.- Creo que estaban pasando cosas mas interesantes en la vida de Quentin, como para que dejara un poco en abandono a sus amigos, entiendo que cuando te preocupas por alguien, puede que ocupe el mayor tiempo en tu cabeza el tratar de ayudarlo, pero a veces, debemos dejar que las cosas pasen, también si la otra persona no nos trata como algo importante en sus vidas.
Con la cuestión relacionada a la desaparición y búsqueda de Margo, también me cruzaron varias cosas en la cabeza, como:
1.- Creo que la situación familiar de Margo no era la optima, no estoy defendiendo a nadie, simplemente que si veían que esto pasaba de una manera constante, se debía (a mi parecer), que debían poner atención a que algo podría estarle pasando a Margo, y tratar de resolver las asperezas.
2.- Aunque ya llevara muchas veces haciendo estos "actos de desaparición", creo que el hecho de que no hubiera tanta intervención de los padres de Margo por encontrarla, el hecho de que solo se enfocaran en Quentin, se me hizo super aburrido.
3.- Relacionado con las "bromas", que hizo Margo a sus "amigos", se me hicieron un poco inmaduras, entiendo que todos podamos llegar a sentirnos enojados/traicionados por alguien más, pero llevarlo al extremo solo por "venganza", siento que no venía al caso.
La única opinión que me deja este libro, es que será el último que lea de John Green.
1.- Si Margo hubiera sido una chica normal, nada popular, ¿aún así alguien hubiera ido a buscarla si desaparecía?
2.- Al final, me molestó mucho que Margo tomara una actitud un poco prepotente y maldita, no era culpa de Quentin el interesarse en irla a buscar, ni que Ben, Lacey y Radar, quisieran ayudar en la búsqueda.
3.- Creo que estaban pasando cosas mas interesantes en la vida de Quentin, como para que dejara un poco en abandono a sus amigos, entiendo que cuando te preocupas por alguien, puede que ocupe el mayor tiempo en tu cabeza el tratar de ayudarlo, pero a veces, debemos dejar que las cosas pasen, también si la otra persona no nos trata como algo importante en sus vidas.
Con la cuestión relacionada a la desaparición y búsqueda de Margo, también me cruzaron varias cosas en la cabeza, como:
1.- Creo que la situación familiar de Margo no era la optima, no estoy defendiendo a nadie, simplemente que si veían que esto pasaba de una manera constante, se debía (a mi parecer), que debían poner atención a que algo podría estarle pasando a Margo, y tratar de resolver las asperezas.
2.- Aunque ya llevara muchas veces haciendo estos "actos de desaparición", creo que el hecho de que no hubiera tanta intervención de los padres de Margo por encontrarla, el hecho de que solo se enfocaran en Quentin, se me hizo super aburrido.
3.- Relacionado con las "bromas", que hizo Margo a sus "amigos", se me hicieron un poco inmaduras, entiendo que todos podamos llegar a sentirnos enojados/traicionados por alguien más, pero llevarlo al extremo solo por "venganza", siento que no venía al caso.
La única opinión que me deja este libro, es que será el último que lea de John Green.
laphenix's review against another edition
3.0
While the characters, plot, and writing are all engaging, Green's novels never quite strike the chord I'm hoping for. Paper Towns was no exception; an intriguing mix of all, yet when the climax and finale hit, it just felt like someone played a wrong note.
shull3464's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sannareads's review against another edition
1.0
The Fault in Our Stars is one of my favorite books and therefor I looked forward to read Paper Towns. Sadly I didn't find the book interesting at all and it never made me feel the need to continue reading. I wish that I could give this book more than a star but I can't.
lilm5kitty's review against another edition
5.0
Ok, so its been a while since I posted a review - and its not that I havent read any fantastic books, I have - its just that I havent felt like I have had anything to say about them as such. If I am going to gush about a book, or review it, I want it to be because I took something from it.
To say I took something from Paper Towns, is an understatment, it gave me more than I took, and even now, when I have put it down I find myself flicking back to certain quotes that have just stuck with me.
I'm not a John Green fan girl - This is the second novel that I have read by him [Read TFioS last year - Cried, a lot, enjoyed it, would read it again, but it wouldnt make my top 50]
After this book however, I could honestly see myself picking up more of his works, just to see if they are so many worlds apart from each other.
Anyway, back on point.
Paper Towns is written from an eighteen year old Quention Jacobsons POV - and its interesting to see the wolrd through his eyes. He is well written, and easy to connect with. Despite the cultural differences [Im not American], relating his world view, idealisms, etc to your own experiences of the final months of school is very easy to do.
The metaphors that play around are subtle, almost to the point that it isnt until you stop looking at them, that you really see their meaning. WHich in essence is the centralised theme.
We are who we are, we view others as characteristics of ourselves, imposed on to them. Like a mirror to our own personalities - We look for similarities in other, but we dont nessercarily see someone for who they really are to themselves, because all the time you are looking at them, they are mirroring from you, and its not until cracks appear, that you can see behind and inside.
The book felt a lot like that - I would be reading on the bus, or at my desk, and laugh at some inane little thing - Something that would make me remember a similar experience. I'd put the book down, and then the brain would click something into place, and something under written in that section, or mentioned in passing would buzz into my thoughts and suddenly there are all these strings that are pulling together and I can some new angle, or meaning to it.
This actually kept me up last night - I had read the first 1/2 the book, and then re read maybe a 1/3 of it just to re interpret sections with my new view point. Havent done that with a book since Catcher in the Rye [Which still ranks as a top 10]
I reckon that every character, at one point or another, is a representation of ourselves.
We've all been Radar - Embarrased by his parents
We've all been Ben - Self obsessed, shallow, simple, but a good person
We've all been Quentin - Someone who has loved the idea of someone, but not really known said person. Someone who is a watcher, who has a routine, but finds the notion of breaking free just a little too much
Finally we are all Margo Roth Spiegelman in our own ways. We are all paper people, who long to be something a little bit more, perhaps taking those steps, perhaps filling our own little black notebooks.
Whom ever we are, whom ever we choose to be - We should be proud of our cracks, let the world see into them, and take the time to look into others. If only to ensure that we dont miss someone floating away, their strings all cut, just grass on a grave
To say I took something from Paper Towns, is an understatment, it gave me more than I took, and even now, when I have put it down I find myself flicking back to certain quotes that have just stuck with me.
I'm not a John Green fan girl - This is the second novel that I have read by him [Read TFioS last year - Cried, a lot, enjoyed it, would read it again, but it wouldnt make my top 50]
After this book however, I could honestly see myself picking up more of his works, just to see if they are so many worlds apart from each other.
Anyway, back on point.
Paper Towns is written from an eighteen year old Quention Jacobsons POV - and its interesting to see the wolrd through his eyes. He is well written, and easy to connect with. Despite the cultural differences [Im not American], relating his world view, idealisms, etc to your own experiences of the final months of school is very easy to do.
The metaphors that play around are subtle, almost to the point that it isnt until you stop looking at them, that you really see their meaning. WHich in essence is the centralised theme.
We are who we are, we view others as characteristics of ourselves, imposed on to them. Like a mirror to our own personalities - We look for similarities in other, but we dont nessercarily see someone for who they really are to themselves, because all the time you are looking at them, they are mirroring from you, and its not until cracks appear, that you can see behind and inside.
The book felt a lot like that - I would be reading on the bus, or at my desk, and laugh at some inane little thing - Something that would make me remember a similar experience. I'd put the book down, and then the brain would click something into place, and something under written in that section, or mentioned in passing would buzz into my thoughts and suddenly there are all these strings that are pulling together and I can some new angle, or meaning to it.
This actually kept me up last night - I had read the first 1/2 the book, and then re read maybe a 1/3 of it just to re interpret sections with my new view point. Havent done that with a book since Catcher in the Rye [Which still ranks as a top 10]
I reckon that every character, at one point or another, is a representation of ourselves.
We've all been Radar - Embarrased by his parents
We've all been Ben - Self obsessed, shallow, simple, but a good person
We've all been Quentin - Someone who has loved the idea of someone, but not really known said person. Someone who is a watcher, who has a routine, but finds the notion of breaking free just a little too much
Finally we are all Margo Roth Spiegelman in our own ways. We are all paper people, who long to be something a little bit more, perhaps taking those steps, perhaps filling our own little black notebooks.
Whom ever we are, whom ever we choose to be - We should be proud of our cracks, let the world see into them, and take the time to look into others. If only to ensure that we dont miss someone floating away, their strings all cut, just grass on a grave