It’s Off To The Races!

When I first started reading “Paper Towns” I didn’t really know what to think.  Here was a book that read like I talked… dripping with sarcasm, irony, and made up words.  I have to admit… it confused me, and then I realized something.  If I were to ever buckle down and write a book, it would be THIS book.

Quentin is all around average.  He goes to an average school, he does average work, he hangs out with average people, and does average things, but average quickly changes when his neighbor Margo (who is dressed in black and moves like a ninja) climbs through his window in the middle of the night. Bent on revenge, the unattainable Margo kidnaps Q and shoves him into (questionably) the greatest night of his life.  Unfortunately the high ends when Margo suddenly jumps ship.  They say Margo ran away, but is it really that simple? Who is this girl that grew up so close but seemed so far away? And can Q and his gaggle of goofballs get to her before there is nothing left but cryptic messages and left over fingernail polish?

First let me start by saying that the blurb for this book does not do it justice.  Yes, there are boat loads of deep emotional meanings in this novel, but that is just 1 side of it.  The side that captured me was the humor. Can you say laugh out loud funny?  The structure is built for easy reading and is split up into 3 sections, the 1st two are deep and introspective, but the 3rd is where the story really sneaks up on you.  This is the section that puts it all out there, it shows you the “ins and outs” of all of the characters, and it does it in such an irrational way that you can’t help but grab your stomach and chuckle.  There is not a single thing about this novel I would change.  “John Green” did a fantastic job of sucking the reader in quickly, and then pacing the plot with mystery and human connection to keep you interested.

There were unnaturally large cows, abandoned mini-malls, bottles of… pee (eww), Internet addicted friends, no pants, and 1 hell of a wild road trip.

The verdict? This is a relatively quick read, but more importantly is was fun… and who couldn’t use some fun in their life.

Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: 5 energy drinks + bumpy car = oops!

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