John Green: "Paper Towns"

PAPER TOWNS
Author: John Green
Publication Date: 2008
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)


WINNER OF THE EDGAR AWARD FOR BEST YOUNG ADULT MYSTERY

"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."

I recently read yet another John Green book and this one, was deliciously full of mystery and adventure but also full of authenticity and innocence. It is also rich in humor and romance. In true John Green style, Paper Towns is another beautiful reflection of the adolescent years and the decisions, challenges, excitement, joys, contemplations and emotions that may center these significant and transformative years of growing up.  

"After an all night adventure, Quentin's life-long crush, Margo, disappears, leaving behind clues that Quentin and his friends follow on the journey of a lifetime." 

With any enjoyable book, you always want more of it, even long after you've finished reading the last page. A movie version of such books seems to be the next thrilling thing to experience. Luckily, there is a movie version of Paper Towns and I got the chance to watch it during my trip out to California, with my younger brother, who is also a huge John Green fan and have read Paper Towns, as I have. I would definitely recommend both the book and the movie. The experience of reading the book and watching the movie have been wonderful and both enjoyable in its own ways. Though they have their differences, changes made from the book to the movie, the characters and story remains a unique, adventurous, insightful one. I truly have embraced all the characters. They are strong, well defined characters and my affection extends most especially towards Quentin and Margo. These are two very special characters whose memory and spirit stays with you, even long after their story is told. 

Directed by: Jake Schreier

Screenplay by: Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Webber

Quentin: Nat Wolff

Margo: Cara Delevine 

If the book and the movie is not enough materials to get you indulging in Paper Towns, the soundtrack is another fulfilling layer and perspective to the Paper Towns experience. There are two albums for the movie version of Paper Towns, both are available on iTunes! There is the instrumental soundtrack to the movie, Paper Towns (Original Motion Picture Score) by Ryan Lott, which I found to be mesmerizing and a perfect reflection of the pivotal moments through out the movie. Even the title to these tracks are captivating, a few of these are...The Way You Should Feel Your Whole Life, I Had to Imagine My Way Into Her Map, We Bring the Rain Down On Our Enemies, The Myth We Made You Out To Be, I Don't Even Know Me, Forget The Miracle Ever Happened, You Will Hardly Know How I Am or What I Mean, Forget The Miracle Ever Happened... The other movie soundtrack, Paper Towns (Music from the Motion Picture) by Various Artists, is full of both up beat tracks that inspires that care-free feeling of adventure and playfulness, as well as a few melancholy ballads, with insightful words that encourages reflection. The artists contributing to the music that serves as a backdrop to this visually entertaining and mesmerizing movie, are Santigold, Twin Shadow, Sam Bruno, Vance Joy, Son Lux, Kindness, Vampire Weekend, Galantis, HAIM, Grouplove, De Lux, Alice Boman, The Mountain Goats, The War on Drugs, Nat & Alex Wolff. There are so many ways to revisit, relive and celebrate the story of Quentin and Margo! 

Thank you John Green for your beautiful words, storytelling gift, genius ideas and perspective, always bringing me back to those adolescent years with all its' beauty, confusion, excitement, innocence, joys, challenges and authenticity!