Mundie Moms

Friday, August 31, 2012

Flashback Friday - Paper Towns by John Green

Author: John Green
Publisher: Dutton Books
Release Date: September 22, 2009
Source: Purchased

Rating: 5 stars - I loved it!

Synopsis: Two-time Printz Medalist John Green’s New York Times bestseller, now in paperback!

Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs back into his life—dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge— he follows. After their all-nighter ends, and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues— and they’re for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees the girl he thought he knew.


I finally listened to my friends Heather W. Petty and Stacie (from Whimsical-Ficery) who have over the years tempted, prodded and begged suggested that I read any and all of John Green’s books. Heather, in particular, challenged me with a warning that John writes the kind of fictional boys I love. I, of course, did the least sensible thing ever and nodded and ignored their suggestions.

Then in the Summer of My Contemporary Reads (yes, I’m still on that kick), I picked up Paper Towns and didn’t put it down except to go pick up the kids from school and refill my iced tea glass. Oh Quentin, darn it, Heather was right. I adored him, immediately. I related to his do-the-right-thing-always (and his resulting anxiety) personality. And I will admit that his infatuation with Margo had me worried. Margo – starter of all-night revenge sprees, expert runaway, next-door-neighbor. The mom in me disliked her. The reader in me loved her. John builds such a delicious, believable tension between Margo and Q that yes, I fell in complete love with the two of them.

John’s writing flowed so beautifully as he pulled at the back story string that linked Q and Margo and threaded it expertly into the mystery of clues Margo left behind (yes, I obviously loved the theme of paper towns and the use of "strings" to explain relationships). Then there’s the small matter of the ending. No spoilers, trust me. But, I did tweet and text and tell everyone I knew that they should read the book because the ending was “whoa”. The ending suited the story so perfectly and it was filled with “whoa”. Not an elegant critique on my part and yet, that’s the only word I was left with after turning the last page. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.

If you haven’t picked up a John Green book, do so. It’s everything you’ve heard it would be – funny, sweet and filled with “whoa” moments. I’m almost done with An Abundance of Katherines which should tell you that yes, yes, yes Heather and Stacie you were right…I adore John’s stories.

4 comments:

  1. I'm with you! I ADORE John Green. I can't believe I haven't read Paper Towns yet. It has been on my TBR forever. Your review has encouraged me to just read it already! Thanks for the flashback!

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    1. Kim - Okay, can you believe this was my first John Green book??? Shame on me for waiting for so long. I know you'll enjoy PT.

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  2. I'm thinking I'll follow you in having a summer of contemporary reads. but it is only the 4th day of spring so I have a few months to finish my alien and time travel theme at the moment :-)

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    1. MissEmmG - No worries, you have the entire three months of Spring to ready yourself for Contemp Summer. ;)

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