Paper Towns! What did everyone think? (Spoilers)

[Lauren]

So I got my copy of paper towns early, and I was so excited that I had somebody lift me up a bookshelf cheerleader style to grab it off the top shelf. Which was awesome on its own. But I loved this book! It was hilarious and deep and all around amazing, which is why John is such an awesome writer.

What is everyones favorite part?

[2mara]

ROAD TRIP!!!!

While the road trip stands out because it's beautifully choreographed and hilarious, I like the dark effect of the prologue. Not just because I have listened to John Green read it numerous times on the vlog and on BlogTV; I think it sets an excellent mood for the book.

I love how you don't know what's going to happen, and there were several times throughout the book I caught myself holding my breath (I'm not going to give too much away, since I feel kind of like I am ditching school or something, since the book just came out today, and any minute I am going to be in trouble)

What I have enjoyed about ALL of John Green's books are the friendships. His characters have the BEST friends, and they are so well developed... you can't keep the smile off your face when reading about them.

I enjoy the literature references and the depth of some of the dialougue late in the book. It definitely gets you to thinking... it was a great book. I will read it again soon.

I am off to my Borders to sticker the hell out of some new copies - I will be writing more about this later!
~2

[the tree]

I was really pleased that John didn't continue the pattern of finishing the book with a summary of what the character had learned, I read Alaska the day after I read Katherines and I was annoyed at the similarity of the endings so I was glad to see that he didn't do it again in Paper Towns.

In the thing with the door, I was irritated that Q didn't get it straight away, (well, I was irritated that I got it straight away but the generally smart character didn't) maybe the time it took for that to be figured out was to show how noone really got Margo but I found that bit unconvincing.

The dialogue was fantastic, it reminded me so much of being in high school and trying to out do each others witticisms as part of a never ending competition for no reason other than it's what you do. The portrayal of the various high school roles, without any disneyesque sterotypes, was the best element of the book and it invoked a sort of horrible nostalgia which kept me reading it pretty continuously even though I had tonnes of work to be doing. (you'll be relived to know that I did what I was supposed to be doing as well)

My favourite part is when Margo says that she hadn't really meant to leave any clues and then the whole book just sort of fell together for me, from then on it was a complete and beautifully composed argument that just needed finishing off.

[Betina]

I got it Monday, but feelt kinda weird for reading it before the official release, so I saved the last part for today and got up at 6.30 to finish it..

I haven't read Katherines yet, so I can only compare it Alaska, but I still love it just as much. I was about to cry several times, I laughed so much during the road trip and especially at Ben and Radar and I just love how the characters got more than one side and you don't know what they are going to do next. They are no Edward Cullen, but I want to hold to them and I kinda miss them now I've finished it. Ben alone is really a piece of work hehe..

Favorite part (I know it by heart now):
"Little adorable nine-year-old me and my even littler and more adorable play-date found a dead guy with blood pouring out of his mouth, and that blood was on her little adorable sneakers as we biked home. It's all very dramatic and everything, but so what?" <3
I have to find a spot on one of my walls to write it on, cause I absolutely love it :)

[Ashley]

Okay, I don't know if anyone's familiar with the TV show Big Bang Theory, but for some reason, Ben REALLY reminds me of the character Howard on that show. Maybe it's the overuse of perversion.

And I loved the witticism contests, too. I get into those all the time, just for sheer amusement.

The characterization was amazing. Every major character has something everyone can relate to on some level, but without them being arche- or stereotypical.

Honestly, though, I really truly loved this entire book. Paper Towns is what I personally aspire to as a writer; the characters, the plot, the suspense, the humor, right down to the mere cadence of the sentences are things that I absolutely adore about PT and all of John's books.

I've been waiting for this book for over a year, and it was DEFINITELY worth the wait.

I'll probably reread it tomorrow, and give a big huge full review then.

[airbarrett]

I just got done reading Paper Towns and I really really liked it. I would say that Alaska was my favorite over Katherines before this and I think that Paper Towns falls in the middle with the potential to become my favorite. I really like Quentin as a character even though he is supposed to be going to Duke and I go to UNC (huge rivalry if you don't know haha).

The high school environment that John has created is very accurate or at least it is as compared to my high school experience. I was a lot like Quentin at the tail end of my high school career. I was worried about missing class and worried about getting into trouble before I went to college. I like Ben's character because every group of "unpopular" kids has the kid who denies that he is in the unpopular group. Radar's character really intrigues me as well, especially the part about how "Ben is Ben and you are you and I like you." I find myself struggling with the same things Quentin was when it comes to friends but you just have to let people be themselves and like them for the positive things they have. The popular kids like Jase and Becca and Lacey are also very accurately portrayed with more emphasis placed on the girls. In my experience, there aren't as many stereotypical jock bullies as there are girls who are way too into themselves and think they are God's gift to earth.

SPOILERS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE END OF THE BOOK

I was scared that Margo was going to end up being too similar to Alaska when the idea that she might have committed suicide was introduced, but I think John avoids this and creates a unique character in Margo. I was a little disappointed that Quentin was not able to talk Margo into coming back to Orlando for the summer, although I never expected him to be able to in the first place.

John does not disappoint in Paper Towns, I can't wait until his next book comes out. John if you read this, you singlehandedly have made me want to become an author, or at least make an attempt at writing. This summer, in between work and summer school I'm thinking about trying to write a novel. Your writing has inspired me and I hope if you ever read this it makes you proud. If you ever had time to give out a few tips, I would always be willing to listen. If not, that's fine too because your writing has done enough.

Best Wishes,
airbarrett

[Meg]

I actually had the same fear for a second that Margo was going in too similar a direction as Alaska. But yeah, he definitely went a different way with it, and it worked out well.

I actually really liked the ending. Won't say more than that, in case someone hasn't read it (if you haven't, get out of this thread, silly!). But yeah, I really enjoy those sorts of endings.

I can't think of a favorite part right now... Mostly the prologue and the last couple of chapters, I think. Oh, and I loved things like the use of "nerdtastic"! And I also loved the part on the road trip with the tshirts, heh.. I think I actually lol'd at Radar's reaction.

Overall, I think it's my favorite John Green book so far. Had all of the best parts of Alaska (the emotional punch, if you will), and the best parts of Katherines (the cleverness and wordplay and whatnot). Pretty much made of win *nods*

[Shelbyyy]

The whole thing was completely unlike anything I expected. Which I love.

Since I just finished it, my favorite part was post-almost-dying-due-to-cow-based-injuries. Just hilarious.

[Lauren]

I really liked the 11 part ninja dressed catfish smashing little jase photographing leg kissing first part. It completely reminded me of the most awesome nerdfighter that would ever live.

I laughed the hardest though at the part when Radar puts on the heritage not hate shirt and talks about how cops might react to it if he was pulled over.

The whole book was making me nervous though, because I read looking for Alaska, and it seemed like Margo would be heading down that potential road of killing herself. But John pulled everything together in a semi happy and satisfying ending, and personally I loved it.