Book Review: Paper Towns by John Green

I want to be sad that I finished my last published John Green novel but Paper Towns was so much fun to read that I can't really be sad.  This story is full of so many laugh out loud moments and great one liners.  I was so emotionally involved with all of the characters and ended up reading this book while on a trip to Vegas and even though there should be something completely wrong with reading a YA novel while simultaneously nursing a hangover, I am not ashamed to say I did it and still managed to remain riveted.

Quentin is about to graduate from high school with his best friends, Ben and Radar, and the-girl-next-door, Margo Roth Spiegelman. Though Margo and Quentin have not run in the same social circles since elementary school, Q naturally still carries a pretty hot torch for her even though she's obviously unattainable due to their different places in the high school social spectrum. One night, Margo appears at Q’s window three weeks before graduation and drags him on what I can only describe as a revenge spree on her so called friends who have wronged her. The next morning she runs away, leaving him clues as to where she’s gone. Q and his friends follow the clues left by Margo and find fun, adventure, and even themselves.  

John Green doesn't just make me want to fangirl obsessively, he also makes me want to be a better writer.  He has this incredible ability to build funny, flawed, believable characters that leap right off the page and make want to hang out with them.   I loved the fact that the main clue Margo leaves behind for Q is a copy of Leaves of Grass, by Walt Whitman.  Q's repeated analysis of the poem "Song of Myself" trying dissect the clues of Margo's whereabouts made me want to go to the library and find it myself.  I am all about books that make you want to go read other books, especially classics.  I love how this story took me through hysterical snorting laughter one minute, and face scrunching, thoughtful repose followed by emphatic head nodding the next. I also love it when books about teenagers don't only show them as drinking, drugging, popularity addicted headcases but bookish, thoughtful, witty, and multi-faceted. Where the heck were you when I was a teen John? Oh that's right...you were probably in Indiana somewhere being a teen too.  I enjoyed reading this book so much that I immediately wanted to go back and start reading it again once I'd finished.  

Oh and just for giggles, remember when I actually met John (don't be jealous) and he was captivated by me?  While we're reminiscing, you may also remember me mentioning  something about Nerd Love Island?  Through the magic of Twitter, I read that John is in the process of writing another book which takes place on a desert island. Now I don't claim to be the center of the universe or anything but is this a mere coincidence or proof that John is a card carrying member of the Pinkysphere?  You be the judge.