Paper Towns Review!

[G. Neri]

I've seen a few reviews for Paper Towns but none so far in Nerdfighter territory. Am I the first? Check it out below, no spoilers...

One of the beauties of going to International Reading Association's National Convention last week was getting my hands on an advanced copy of Paper Towns, John new book, due out in October. Yeah, John was there too and he welcomed me to the Penguin (I have a new book is with Putnam). So, like any Nerdfighter, I was super pleased to get the book so early (for free, no less, and autographed).

Well, I cracked that sucker open that night and was duly impressed by the first chapter (really a prologue of chapter length). I am really into great first chapters and this was a doozy, one that picks a singular event that happens some eight years before the story really starts, but happens to really define the story in deep and meaningful ways. Plus, great first line: "The way I figure it, everyone gets a miracle." Nice.

Even though I have been incredibly busy doing revisions all year, I managed to get sick this week, so I had time to actually read the whole thing. Nerdfighters will not be disappointed. It is hugely entertaining and funny in a way that only a true nerd-writer can be funny (example: "Getting you a date to the Prom is so hard that the hypothetical idea itself is actually used to cut diamonds."). It is also quite moving, deep, and literate (as much as one can be mentioning Walt Whitman and one character's humongous balls in the same page).

Once again, John's story follow a geek hero (Quentin), who chases after the unobtainably amazing and mysterious girl (this time Margo Roth Spiegelman). Every writer has one theme they write about in all their books--John's seems to be falling for amazing and mysterious women who only want to be friends. Man, he must have been burned good in his adolescence. Now that he's married, hopefully, he has found the one who is more than a friend...

Anyways, Paper Towns contains wonderful dialogue, a unique 3 part structure, and moves along at a seamless pace. It contains that one gimmick that we didn't know about before (this time paper towns- fake places mapmakers would put on their maps to spot unauthorized reproductions later on), utilizes geek technology (Omnidictionary and thelongwayround.com- note: there better be a website for this when the book comes out!), and a road trip to boost.

I won't go into the story so much as to say it is a mystery about a girl who shows up in our hero's life one night, changes everything, then disappears. She leaves mysterious clues our hero must figure out in order to find her--dead or alive, he doesn't know. He corrals his Nerdtastic friends into pooling all their resources and energies to find her, culminating in a 19 hour road trip to a paper town somewhere in NY on Graduation Day.

This is a worthy follow-up to his previous 2 books... it fulfills its promise as a book for sure and as the first true Nerdfighter novel. It also sports dual covers (I'm definitely of the blue ilk, though even that was hard for a guy to be seen with). Like the cover concept but not sure I really like having Margo physically defined for me. She is a enigma and should be left up to the imagination. But I like the idea of choosing a cover depending on your personality.

Bottom line: Check this book out. A satisfying, funny and touching story for young (and old) nerdfighters everywhere.

Postscript:
What's really weird is that shortly after I got this book, I found out Hank, of all people, was wanting in on all the Paper Town action and came up with his own version:

Okay, not really but it seemed too good an idea to be left only to the imagination...

[Sinnymun]

Great review! I can't wait to read the book.

[DLDzioba]

I hate you so much. My eyes(not to mention my shirt and underwear!) are green with envy. Great review and I *really* want to read this book. o.o

[Chris Hall]

I've learned patience in waiting for these things, but still...

I love the Hank, lol.

[Robin]

Recycled Paper Towns... I need to read that too, after Paper Towns! :P

[Illy]

I've read Paper Towns, too( I got it at TLA)! I thought it was absolutely amazing and I posted about it in My Pants, but I didn't say much about the plot. I didn't want to accidently give away something important without meaning too. Great review. John's really an amazing writer.

[G. Neri]

I didn't know My Pants was still being used. I will post there too. What is TLA?

[Illy]

Alot of people seem to have abandoned My Pants, but I like the format better there and plus the name is completely awesome! TLA is the Texas Library Association Conference that's held each year. It's just like a normal writing conference with all the wonderful free ARCs.

[Meghan]

Great review!
I like the "recycled" version too.

[Robfromcornwall]

I am not much at literary criticism, so, as one of the incredibly lucky people who won an ARC, I am going to agree with what you said. It was good, and everyone should read it. Although I am sure no one needs any encouragement.
Rob