From the Bookshelf of 2015 Reading Challenge [Closed]…

Paper Towns

John Green

Discussion: . Week 3: Book Turned Into Movie

Why we're reading this: My daughter recommended it, and I want to see the movie this winter (but not before reading the book).
[close] My daughter recommended it, and I want to see the movie this winter (but not before reading the book).

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. Week 3: Book Turned Into Movie

* Week 3: Introduction
By Jessica · 45 posts · 391 views

last updated Feb 27, 2015 05:34AM

* Week 3: Progress Post
By Jessica · 46 posts · 176 views

last updated Nov 06, 2015 06:53AM

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What Members Thought

Jul 09, 2015 Beth rated it did not like it

Shelves: one-star, read-in-2015, 2015-reading-challenge, young-adult

What did I just waste my time reading? I found Margo completely selfish and fickle. I don't care what her reasons were, I was not happy with her choices.

I also was bothered by Q's obsession with Margo - how he made EVERYTHING revolve around her and his search for her. I'm surprised his friends put up with it for as long as they did. On a side note, I did enjoy his friends (and the road trip), but that was about it.

Mostly it was just boring.

I cannot believe this was written by the same person who ...more

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Feb 25, 2015 Sara rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2015-book-challenge

Quentin is in love/slightly obsessed with his neighbor Margo Roth Spiegelman. They used to play together when they were little and when they were 9 they found a dead body in the park and Margo wasn't as freaked out by it as Q was. That's how you learn Margo is unique. Fast forward to the end of senior year. Margo is knocking on Q's window and telling him to get his keys, he's driving on her revenge-filled night. On the top of Margo's list is Becca and Jase her bff and bf who were seeing each oth ...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Jessica rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: almost-read, young-adult

After all the awards heaped on John Green's "The Fault in our Stars," I felt I should give one of his novels a try. I didn't want to being with Stars because it's about people with cancer, and quite frankly I don't enjoy being sad. So I picked up this one instead, which promises a quirky coming of age story.

Quentin is in love with Margo, and has been for most of his life. She's a bit of a stereotypical wild child, a popular girl who has some hidden secrets. When she disappears (after one night o ...more

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Nov 30, 2008 Jessi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fya-book-club

This was my first John Green book, and I have to say it definitely won't be my last. I actually was familiar with John through his Brotherhood 2.0 project, but I didn't realize it until reading the author blurb at the back of Paper Towns. The project was interesting, but I would totally recommend checking out his blog, which is full of wonderfulness like his "feud" with Maureen Johnson and a discussion of whether or not Margo Roth Spiegelman is a Manic Pixie Dream Girl.

But back to the novel. If This was my first John Green book, and I have to say it definitely won't be my last. I actually was familiar with John through his Brotherhood 2.0 project, but I didn't realize it until reading the author blurb at the back of Paper Towns. The project was interesting, but I would totally recommend checking out his blog, which is full of wonderfulness like his "feud" with Maureen Johnson and a discussion of whether or not Margo Roth Spiegelman is a Manic Pixie Dream Girl.

But back to the novel. If you have been anywhere near a bookblog in the past few months, chances are you've heard of Paper Towns. You've probably read rave reviews, telling you how great it is. They're all true! This book is fantastic. From the synopsis and all the other reviews I'd read, I expected it to be similar to As Simple As Snow (which I also loved), and it is, a little. But it's also very, very different. One of my favorite things about Paper Towns is the relationship between Q and his best friends, Radar and Ben. Margo's an important part of the story, sure, but to me the relationship between these three guys is what makes the book great.

First up, Q. I think this passage helps describe him:

Both my parents are therapists, which means that I am really goddamned well adjusted. So when I woke up [after finding a dead body with Margo], I had a long conversation with my mom about the cycle of life, and how death is a part of life, but not a part of life I needed to be particularly concerned with at the age of nine, and I felt better. Honestly, I never worried about it much. Which is saying something, because I can do some worrying.

Q is neurotic. It's nice when Margo comes along to help break him out of his shell and get him to actually take some risks (hence, the MPDG comparisons). Q's two best friends are Radar (nicknamed for the M*A*S*H character he resembled pre-puberty) and Ben (who is slightly obnoxious, but very awesome). Radar is obsessed with Omnictionary, which is a non-copyrighted version of Wikipedia, and spends his free time editing it. Also, his parents have the world's largest collection of Black Santas. Like Q, that made me smile every time it was mentioned. Ben is obsessed with "honeybunnies" and spends his free time trying to get laid. He referred to girls as "honeybunnies" enough times in the first 20 pages that I really wanted to slap him. Mercifully, Q felt the same way:

I'd tried telling Ben that "honeybunny" sounded more sexist and lame than retro-cool, but he refused to abandon the practice. He called his own mother a honneybunny. There was no fixing him.

After that, it didn't bother me as much. Besides, Ben quickly became one of my favorite characters. Q and Radar are the straight men to his zany comic sidekick.

Ben playing video games:

"Come here you little bastard," Ben said, the controller twisting in his hand. "Daddy's gonna put you on a sailboat across the River Styx."
"Did you just use Greek mythology to trash talk?" I asked.
Radar laughed. Ben started pummeling buttons, shouting, "Eat it, goblin! Eat it like Zeus ate Metis!"

Ben drunk at a party thrown by one of his new girlfriend's "friends":

So Lacey and I followed Ben upstairs, where he opened the door to Becca's room and said, "Your party kicks so much ass! Even though you suck so much! It's like instead of blood, your heart pumps liquid suck! But thanks for the beer!" Becca was alone, lying on top of her covers, staring at the ceiling. She didn't even glance at him. She just mumbled, "Oh, go to hell, shitface. I hope your date gives you her crabs."
Without a hint of irony in his voice, Ben answered, "Great talking to you!" and then closed the door. I don't think he had the faintest idea he'd just been insulted.

Sure, Ben's annoying. But chances are you have a friend just like him. I know I do. These characters and the friendship between them (even with all the insults and trash talking) kept the book going. I enjoyed them so much, to me the whole Margo storyline was secondary. I wouldn't even mind reading a book just about Q, Radar, and Ben; they're that awesome.

In case you couldn't tell, I enjoyed this book immensely, and am looking forward to reading more of John Green's YA. ...more

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Jul 29, 2015 Jessi rated it really liked it

Shelves: rereads

I'm not quite as enchanted with it this time - Q really is a terrible friend, and after watching the movie I wish Angela had been featured in the novel more - but it's still a fun read and I enjoyed revisiting the story and characters. ...more

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Apr 13, 2015 KWinks rated it really liked it

There was a lot to love about this book: 1. someone who writes in lists, like me 2. scavenger hunt! 3. cool, strong, independent female character 4. urban exploration 5. all concepts of paper towns 6. the ending.

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Oct 22, 2013 Sarah Koehler rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016

Hmmm. Paper Towns is admittedly not my favorite Green novel, but it's still a good read. I think my biggest concern with the book is the fact that Quentin and Margo are so much like all of the other characters that John Green includes in his novels. The characters are a bit too formulaic for me. In the very beginning, I really liked Margo for her wit and sarcasm, but by the end of the book I thought she was selfish and self-centered and unwilling to think of how she made anyone else feel. Quenti ...more

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Oct 11, 2011 Martina Dalton rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

As usual, John Greene weaves together a wonderful story. The characters are memorable, and of course there is that teenage longing for a quirky girl who seems just out of the main character's reach. Loved it! ...more

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Aug 10, 2015 Lucinda rated it liked it · review of another edition

Watched the movie with my daughter, who then got me her copy of the book to read. It was next to me when the power went out, so I started reading until it got too dark to read.

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