A review by natttbuggg
Paper Towns, by John Green

adventurous inspiring reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I think this is a really good deconstruction of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl (MPDG). The whole book we follow Q who learns that people cannot be treated as anything but a person and that the imaginings of who a person is says more about the person imagining them than the person themselves. In the first part of the book where Q and Margo go about doing the last 11 things she needs to complete he rarely gets to see her without any obstruction. This perfectly shows how Margo is a concept to Q rather than a person. How Q cannot clearly see who she is rather what he wants her to be. Margo is not leaving clues or trying to be a mystery, Margo is trying to be Margo. I did like how each character has “their own Margo” that they are trying to find and, in their minds, ultimately save. In looking for Margo Q finds a new found appreciation for people, not as windows, mirrors or doors but as people and that there is still beauty in that. 
I can see the similarities between this and Looking for Alaska but I think this one did it better. I am going to rewatch the movie but from what I remember of both adaptations Looking for Alaska’s adaptation was better (partly because it was a show not a movie) and I believe that PT is better than LFA. 
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