Summary:

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.

Anna’s Thoughts:

I have turned into a John Green addict, and this book, this book was the cause of it. I had heard of John before, but he was really hyped and I remember a few years ago when Paper Towns came out there was so much promotion for it it kind of make me want to stab myself. It was everywhere, then the whole two covers thing, and at the time I was purely anti-contemporary fiction (Thank you Courtney Summers for showing me the error of my ways), it just wasn’t my thing. And then I met Emilee and the deafening scream I heard all the way from Texas when she found out I hadn’t read any of his stuff. So naturally, not willing to risking someone so awesome being angry at me, I saw it at the Flea Market and it became mine seconds later. I read it in December, and since then I have devoured Looking for Alaska and am working my way through An Abundance of Kathrines, and all I can wish for is that John could learn to write just a little faster. All I have left after this is Will Grayson, Will Grayson… and you know what? It’s not enough. Not to mention it’s not OUT YET!

Anyway, I suppose you want to know something more than how much I’m in love with John & his writing/books/etc. So, Margo Roth Spiegelman? I wish she was my friend. The beginning when you first meet her and she starts her crazy tirade with Quentin, you get such a strong sense of personality that I think although she’s only (pfft) a literary character it’s hard as hell not to be drawn to her. The same could also be said for Quentin, but with Q instead of just seeing the character and liking it you’re on a journey together. Because both of you will be undeniably drawn to Margo Roth Spiegelman, and you know what? Neither of you really have clue as to why. And in the end, I had no idea either, in fact I kind of sort of wanted to hit her with a car. But I still loved the character, it’s a very topsy turvy world we serve.

The most amazing thing I think John manages to pull off in his books is that he doesn’t merely tell a story, and he doesn’t just tell you about a bunch of characters, he brings those characters to life. Every word and every action anyone does jumped off the page and played through like a movie inside my head. The mystery of the entire book and the girl that is Margo Roth Spiegelman is completely intriguing, which surprised me of all people (and I’m sure a few others) since I live all but two hours from the main setting (Orlando, Florida) of the book. You’d think it would be less interesting, less intriguing, but it’s not, it made me look at places I’ve been and things I’ve seen in a completely different light. Florida got a little less boring and mundane after reading this book, and I may have gone on a trip or two finding an abandoned mental hospital. Or not, I mean,… Anyway.

Either way, whether you live in Florida or not, despite my avoidance of Paper Towns in the beginning it really is a book that needs to be read. If you like reading, you should read it – and if you don’t… then why are you here? Hmm.. But honestly, I’ve read all of John’s books (actually finished An Abundance of Kathrines between writing this!) and if you need an introduction to the man and author that is John Green, start with this book, you won’t regret it.