syaseidt's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book started off a lot faster than it ended. It always felt like the author wanted to go deeper with the characters and the plot, but I felt like it was pretty one note and surface-level. I can't compare this to other books by the author, as this is the first one I've read by him, but it took a lot of motivation to pick it back up daily. There was just something missing, beyond Margo. There's definitely some substance, but like Margo, not enough to really be worth the effort.
natvwbooks's review against another edition
1.0
Paper Towns by John Green is not a book I would recommend. Why? Paper Towns is a book and movie loved by many teens, has won awards, and is a New York Times bestseller. But for me, it is a mix of poor representation of women and other minority groups, an unlikeable main character, and a confusing plot.
One of the book's side characters Ben was constantly making gross and sexist comments about women, one being “bro, you should hit that. Forget about Jase. God, that is one candy-coated honeybunny” (Green, 14). Ben makes many comments like that throughout the book that just get laughed off by the main character. As well as the female representation being very one dimensional every female character is romantically connected to one of the three male characters. That is not a bad thing in itself but they are only seen as that connection. As well as the women's representation John Green makes use of slurs. Going as far as to use the f-slur to show how a character was a bully and a bad guy. “Call yourself a faggot’ … in the end I had to call myself a faggot, which annoyed me, because 1. I don't think that word should be used by anyone, let alone me, and 2. As it happens, I'm not gay, and furthermore 3. Chuck Parson made it out like calling yourself a faggot was the ultimate humiliation, even though there’s nothing wrong about being gay which I was trying to say” (Green, 60). Using a slur that is harmful to a community to further a point about how a character is bad and that the main character is a good guy, uses not just the slur but the whole community. As well as the f-slur the r-word (a word harmful to disabled people) is also said.
Quentin is also just not a likable main character. The main character is obsessed and in love with the idea of a girl. He does nothing to get to know her and when she breaks the mold he made of her he's confused. Even after Margo basically tells Q she was going to run away he refuses to see it and thinks she will be at school the next day and she will hang out with him and his friends. After he tells her she could hang out with him and his friends the next day at school she says “I'm afraid that's not possible” (Green, 81), and he still ignored this and continued to believe that she would start hanging out with him and his friends. Margo talks about not having any strings left and how much she hated Orlando but he refused to see outside of the ‘girl next door’ persona he gave her.
Now the plots of mystery books are supposed to shock and confuse you, but in a 'we need to solve this mystery' sort of way, readers should be confused about where Margo is. Instead, I was confused by what the plot was, was it to show Q development, or was it to find Margo. Because neither was achieved. But Q did stop obsessing about the idea of a girl and now was seeing her as a human with complex human emotions just for him to go back to thinking she is the perfect ‘girl next door’ in the end because they end up with a romance plot line. He never actually changed what he thought of Margo; it just transformed.
I wouldn't recommend Paper Towns by John Green because of the poor representation of women and other minority groups, an unlikable main character, and a confusing plot.
One of the book's side characters Ben was constantly making gross and sexist comments about women, one being “bro, you should hit that. Forget about Jase. God, that is one candy-coated honeybunny” (Green, 14). Ben makes many comments like that throughout the book that just get laughed off by the main character. As well as the female representation being very one dimensional every female character is romantically connected to one of the three male characters. That is not a bad thing in itself but they are only seen as that connection. As well as the women's representation John Green makes use of slurs. Going as far as to use the f-slur to show how a character was a bully and a bad guy. “Call yourself a faggot’ … in the end I had to call myself a faggot, which annoyed me, because 1. I don't think that word should be used by anyone, let alone me, and 2. As it happens, I'm not gay, and furthermore 3. Chuck Parson made it out like calling yourself a faggot was the ultimate humiliation, even though there’s nothing wrong about being gay which I was trying to say” (Green, 60). Using a slur that is harmful to a community to further a point about how a character is bad and that the main character is a good guy, uses not just the slur but the whole community. As well as the f-slur the r-word (a word harmful to disabled people) is also said.
Quentin is also just not a likable main character. The main character is obsessed and in love with the idea of a girl. He does nothing to get to know her and when she breaks the mold he made of her he's confused. Even after Margo basically tells Q she was going to run away he refuses to see it and thinks she will be at school the next day and she will hang out with him and his friends. After he tells her she could hang out with him and his friends the next day at school she says “I'm afraid that's not possible” (Green, 81), and he still ignored this and continued to believe that she would start hanging out with him and his friends. Margo talks about not having any strings left and how much she hated Orlando but he refused to see outside of the ‘girl next door’ persona he gave her.
Now the plots of mystery books are supposed to shock and confuse you, but in a 'we need to solve this mystery' sort of way, readers should be confused about where Margo is. Instead, I was confused by what the plot was, was it to show Q development, or was it to find Margo. Because neither was achieved. But Q did stop obsessing about the idea of a girl and now was seeing her as a human with complex human emotions just for him to go back to thinking she is the perfect ‘girl next door’ in the end because they end up with a romance plot line. He never actually changed what he thought of Margo; it just transformed.
I wouldn't recommend Paper Towns by John Green because of the poor representation of women and other minority groups, an unlikable main character, and a confusing plot.
chicak's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
2.75
misty3092's review against another edition
5.0
Why I love it wayy more than The Fault in Our Star? I mean both are good but I really like Paper Town! Okay, I just like it so much
lxllx's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. Just wow. John Green's characters are soooooo incredible.
igivemyselfthecreeps's review against another edition
5.0
I can't decide if this is my favourite John Green book or not.
It certainly had the best story of the 3 I've read (Looking for Alaska and Fault in Our Stars). I mean...it is more interesting.
I love Q I guess. But he's not the best character...I mean...he's everyone right? A bit dorky, in love with someone unobtainable. And Margo is the complete opposite of him. She's fiery and out there and mysterious. So Q is desperately trying to find her - both physically and just figuring her out. But he can't. Not really. Who can? You can't really understand someone else.
I loved the ending. I was a little disappointed that we don't find out really what Lacey, Ben & Radar do...I suppose they leave with Q right? But Margo and Q's chatting was perfect. Because it's fantastic.
HHH.
Ok.
I think it might be my favourite. Maybe. It was perfection. And it made me really want to try reading Leaves of Grass again - I gave up very early one time.
It certainly had the best story of the 3 I've read (Looking for Alaska and Fault in Our Stars). I mean...it is more interesting.
I love Q I guess. But he's not the best character...I mean...he's everyone right? A bit dorky, in love with someone unobtainable. And Margo is the complete opposite of him. She's fiery and out there and mysterious. So Q is desperately trying to find her - both physically and just figuring her out. But he can't. Not really. Who can? You can't really understand someone else.
I loved the ending. I was a little disappointed that we don't find out really what Lacey, Ben & Radar do...I suppose they leave with Q right? But Margo and Q's chatting was perfect. Because it's fantastic.
HHH.
Ok.
I think it might be my favourite. Maybe. It was perfection. And it made me really want to try reading Leaves of Grass again - I gave up very early one time.
ohmelgee's review against another edition
3.0
If you wanna talk about whiney teen angst, let's talk about Margo Roth Spielgalman. But I'd rather not. As a former Orlandonian (I made this word up), I will give it 10 points for being set in Orlando, Florida, though. I was mainly entertained by Green's namedropping of beloved Orlando landmarks, like Publix. It really made me feel like I was home again.
anikaas's review against another edition
1.0
I was bored to pieces by this book. None of the characters interested me at all. Doesn't hold a candle to FioS
kelliannekc's review against another edition
5.0
It gave me an adventure without me ever needing to leave the house so thank you Margo for that. (I'm glad no one dies.)