Paper Towns by John Green

  Title: Paper Towns
  Author: (The) John Green
  Publisher: Speak
  Date Published: September 22nd, 2009
  Genre: The John Green Genre, Contemporary
  Pages: 336 (paperback)
  Age Range: 14+










                  Summary:

When Margo Roth Spiegelman beckons Quentin Jacobsen in the middle of the night—dressed like a ninja and plotting an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows her. Margo’s always planned extravagantly, and, until now, she’s always planned solo. After a lifetime of loving Margo from afar, things are finally looking up for Q . . . until day breaks and she has vanished. Always an enigma, Margo has now become a mystery. But there are clues. And they’re for Q.


                                                       Review:

     I know, I know. I haven't read everything that John Green has breathed on, I'm a terrible fan. Still, I picked up this book because I want to see the movie, but I HAVE to read the book first. Initial thoughts? I really like the cover, I like Quentin and his open disgust for prom, and I actually really love Ben and Radar. After I read the book, things just fell a little flat.
     First, I didn't like Margo. Yeah, she had some amazing, quotable lines, but she wasn't good enough. She was selfish, flighty, whiny, and came across as a bad person. She had everything that she could ever desire, and instead, she threw it away so she could pretend to be "poor and rough it up". I really didn't like her, and even though she was the whole point of the book, she was such a minor character. I loved our lead, Quentin. He was so funny and raw and he had a lot of funny quirks. Ben and Radar were such good friends, with awesome personalities. Lacey was one of my favorite characters. I was NOT expecting her to be so... nice and perfect.
     I didn't like that we went searching for Margo. We threw everything away for Margo (even graduation), and in the end... I don't want to spoil it, but that ending was so disappointing. The car trip was hilarious, though. Ben and his inability to hold his urine for more than two minutes, Quentin's energy-drinking, Lacey's maternal qualities, the COWS, and the beer! They were all ingredients that added to a perfect road trip.
     Things worked out a little too perfectly. Like the fact that the holes in the wall lined up AMAZINGLY to a map, and the comment on Omnictionary, and the door. Things just worked out way too easily sometimes. And I expected Radar and Ben and Lacey to put up a fight about somethings, and when they didn't, I was surprised. ALSO, HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT EVERYONE'S PARENTS WERE SO OBLIVIOUS??? Honestly, they were such awful parents for being so absent, and blind.
     I enjoyed a majority of the story, but the things that I didn't like were too big to ignore. Next, I'll read Looking For Alaska by John Green, and then I think I've properly read every book of his. This book does not ruin my love of John Green. I would love him even if he didn't write amazingly well, because he is such a good person. DFTBA, everyone.

                                          

Paper Towns Trailer

The Paper Towns movie trailer is finally here!

It looks so good!!

Paper Towns Movie Poster

The poster for Paper Towns is here!

I haven't read the book, but I'm excited for the movie!

The Fault In Our Stars: Differences Between the Movie and the Book

In the book, Hazel goes to visit Isaac in the hospital after his eye surgery. In the movie, she doesn't. Poor Isaac :-/

In the book, Hazel has a friend named Kaitlyn--who keeps up with Hazel's growing relationship with Gus. In the movie, Kaitlyn doesn't exist.

In the book, Augustus has former girlfriend, Caroline Mathers--who died of brain cancer a few years before. In the movie, Caroline isn't mentioned.

In the book, there is a comedic ad that Gus and Hazel put up for her "Desperately Lonely Swig Set." In the movie, though the swing set is there, they don't even try to sell it, or put up the fun ad.

In the book, there is a part where Hazel and her mother (Mrs. Lancaster) hears Gus crying and yelling at his mother (Mrs. Waters) before they leave for their trip to Amsterdam that is relatively important. In the movie, this doesn't happen.

In the book, Gus tells Hazel he loves her on the plane as they come back from Amsterdam. In the movie, he tells her at dinner at Oranjee.

In the book, Gus and Hazel sit outiside Oranjee and enjoy the look of the elm trees and the canal. In the movie, they sit inside.

In the book, Gus' obnoxious sisters and their husbands and sons are there constantly during his last days. In the movie, they have no screen time.

In the book, Hazel finds Gus mumbling in his sleep after he "pisses the bed." This is when she realizes that his cancer is taking its toll. In the movie, this scene isn't in the movie.

In the book, Hazel reads through comments on Gus' Facebook after his death, and isn't pleased about what she reads, leading to her sending another commenter a harsh message. In the movie, she doesn't do this.

In the book, Hazel searches everywhere for that letter Gus wrote for her before he died, until, finally, his parents tell her there are some torn pages of his notebook, and that the pages are missing. Not finding them anywhere, she decides to email Peter Van Houten--who sends her what Gus wrote to him. In the movie, Van Houten gives her the letter when he comes to Gus' funeral.


It was a very enjoyable movie! I really really liked it! And though I was a little disappointed about a few of these details they left out, I understand why they couldn't do everything exactly and put everything that was in the book into the movie.

It is a must-see if you've read the book!

8 Books to Read This Summer (2014)

Here are 8 books to read this summer.

 1. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han. This is one of my all-time favorite books. The series is amazing, gripping, and sweet, but also tragic. It has a smorgasbord of cutsey characters to fall in love with. And this book made me fall in love with Summer in a way I never have before.

 2. To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han. Yes, another novel by Jenny Han. A really sweet, family-based novel that will keep you wondering until the very end.

 3. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. A sad, sweet, romantic novel about two teens that have cancer. It's funny, sad, and then funny again. This book has many emotional twists and turns; one minute you'll be laughing at something one of the character's say, and then, you'll want to cry. The movie is to be released June 6th, so read it before you see it!

 4. if i stay by Gayle Forman. I know, not exactly a summer read, but the movie is coming in August and you might want to read it before you see it. Again, sweet romance mixed with tragedy, but it's a gripping novel with an exhilarating ending. It was such a perfect book that I bought it and reread it about four times that week. It's a cute book about love and life, and most importantly, hope.

 5. First Love by James Patterson. Another sweet, but tragic, novel about two teens on the run from their problems.

 6. Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins. It's a quick, easy read. It had me laughing throughout with it's quirky and silly prose. It's a very easy read (I read it in two hours). It censors the language for the most part, there is only a couple kisses through the book, and it's readable for any teen!

 7. Summer of my German Soldier by Bette Greene. is an old book, but it is worth doing a little searching for. It is an amazing story of hope and sacrifice for the greater good. This book is a heavy book, a book filled with emotion and tabulations, but it worth every tear shed.

 8. Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter. A humorous, quirky, fun read that is perfect for summer. It's about a girl who is sent away to a special summer camp to learn how to use her abilities and realize what she is. There are many funny parts throughout this book--one minute it can be some-what serious and then, the next, someone is making a joke or something happens that is just so random and funny.

The Fault In Our Stars Soundtrack

The Fault In Our Stars soundtrack is out!

“All Of The Stars” - Ed Sheeran

“Simple As This” - Jake Bugg

“Let Me In” – Grouplove

“Best Shot” - Birdy & Jaymes Young

“All I Want” - Kodaline

“Long Way Down” - Tom Odell

“Boom Clap” - Charli XCX

“While I’m Alive” - STRFKR

“Oblivion” - Indians

“Strange Things Will Happen” - The Radio Dept.

“Bomfallarella” - Afasi & Filthy

“Without Words” - Ray LaMontagne

“Not About Angels” – Birdy

“No One Ever Loved” - Lykke Li

“Wait” - M83

“Tee Shirt” - Birdy


I'm very excited about Ed Sheeran being on the soundtrack!

The Fault In Our Stars Extended Trailer (trailer 2)

New trailer for The Fault In Our Stars!

It looks fantastic! Let's hope it stays true to the book!

if i stay and The Fault In Our Stars (Movies)

Two of my favorite books are being released as movies this year!!

 if i stay by Gayle Forman is one of my absolute favorite books, and it's been made into a movie! The story is moving, grounded and tragic, and soooo good! A book based on family, love, and a horrible tragedy that will change Mia's life forever...if she chooses to let her life continue.

I can't wait until it's released August 22nd.

 The Fault In Our Stars by John Green is another one of my favorites, and is also a movie that is to be released this year. This story is also moving and tragic. A love story that lasts a lifetime in only a short time.

I will be watching these two fall in love on the big screen June 6th.







The trailers for these wonderful movies:

 if i stay

The Fault In Our Stars

See you at the movies! ♥

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Title: Looking for Alaska

Author: John Green

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group

Date Published: March 28, 2005

Genre: YA fiction, romance, realistic fiction

Pages: 272 (hardback--Barnes and Noble Special edition)

Age Range: 17+ (for mature content and language)





Summary

First drink
First prank
First friend
First girl
Last words

Miles "Pudge" Halter is abandoning his safe-okay, boring-life. Fascinated by the last words of famous people, Pudge leaves for boarding school to seek what a dying Rabelais called the "Great Perhaps."
Pudge becomes encircled by friends whose lives are everything but safe and boring. Their nucleus is razor-sharp, sexy, and self-destructive Alaska, who has perfected the arts of pranking and evading school rules. Pudge falls impossibly in love. When tragedy strikes the close-knit group, it is only in coming face-to-face with death that Pudge discovers the value of living and loving unconditionally.


Review


The book is good in the beginning, though it is rather slow moving because of John Green's descriptive writing style. I loved John Green's, The Fault In Our Stars so I thought this book would be just as fantastic. The characters are interesting, but immature while trying to act mature. The writing is good, slow, as I said before, because of the style of writing.

This is a mature novel. I haven't read such an inappropriate book before. It actually shocked me. I want to know how this is even categorized as a young adult novel. I understand how on a lot of points, but usually books with this kind of content is categorized as "new adult."

Smoking, drinking, and getting back at other students (pranking) seems to be the main focus for these teens. Though each teen has something they're going through, some sort of emotional suffering. I found all the characters interesting enough to keep turning the pages and find out the book's ending. John Green added his own personal experiences to this novel--if you get the Barnes and Noble edition of this book you can read his interview--which I liked. I always enjoy it when an author puts some of their own experiences and thoughts into their books.

There are sex references, drug references, the possibility of suicide (you are unsure if one of the characters committed suicide or if the death was an accident), and mature content that I wish not to go into.

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Title: The Fault In Our Stars

Author: John Green

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group

Date Published: January 10, 2012

Pages: 336 (hardback)

Genre: YA fiction, romance, realistic fiction

Age Range: 14+





Summary

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning-author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

Winner of the 2013 Children's Choice Teen Book of the Year Award.

Review

Simply fantastic, humorous at times, and tragic. I love how John Green made the characters funny and real, and also for showing the darkness of cancer and how families deal with the illness (though this is a work of fiction, small pieces can be a reality). Though I don't want to give away too much of this novel, the click between the characters are great, the plot is wonderful, and the writing is fun and different.

Though the focus isn't just based on the two main characters (love-birds, Gus and Hazel), it's about their struggle with their illness, they're friend Isaac, and more. Keeping you interested with every little detail about their lives. I enjoy the quirky personalities John Green's gives each character, an example would be, Hazel's mother--who gets over excited about every ridiculous holiday.

I love books with a lot of emotion, that can make you feel this overwhelming power of mixed feelings--though this rarely happens unless if you feel a connection with the character(s). This book is one of those rare novels where you feel overwhelmed. It's a tear-jerker, but there are parts that will make you laugh or smile. This book has definitely made it to my favorites bookshelf.

A definite recommend.