Perplexed. faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say; bewildered; puzzled.
Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs into his life—dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows. After their all-nighter ends, and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues—and they're for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees the girl he thought he knew...
** This review has 1263 words. So, it's gonna be a long ride~ **
Okay, I've been in a slump for 7 months because of my studies. Which means I've never read a novel for that amount of time. Sorry for this. :( I have the intention to read this book as I'm a fan of John Green but because of the slump, I can't make it to the initial dateline, the Paper Towns movie premiere. It takes more time to finish after watching the premiere because I have a problem visualize the story as I've watched the movie. But after 5 to 8 days, I finish it with a dissatisfied feeling, but relieved and perceptive.
“I'm starting to realize that people lack good mirrors. It's so hard for anyone to show us how we look, & so hard for us to show anyone how we feel.”
Paper Towns tells a story of a boy who falls in love with a popular girl and one night, she invite him on a revenge quest of her boyfriend. She suddenly disappears after their last night. So, he begins his quest in finding her and eventually, he learned more about her and also, himself. After I finish reading the last page, I closed my eyes and let go a sigh. I like happy endings, but I didn't get the closure I want. :( As this is the second time I read John Green's books and likely, the second time I got crushed. Buttttt, I'm thankful for the movies; TFIOS and likewise, this book. It's because I got my closure from each epilog of the movies. ;) Not much of TFIOS but they recreate the ending (so, thank you~)
Speaking of books and movies, I have a problem when I have watched both versions. As expected, I will do the comparison and oh boy, there were lots. There are some scenes I want in the movie (more scenes of Margo's revenge quest, Page 229), scenes that they remake from the book and I liked it (some of Part 2, Lacey and Ben's backstory and their love story too, Angela joined them, Q found the paper town, the quest of finding Margo from the party, less fighting) and some parts in the movie I hope they stick like the original (how Q stands up to Jase and others, journey to paper town, the ENDING). I know not every plot can be put in one movie, therefore, I accept both versions of their quality and other merits. But, the most important thing I learned from the book has made me reflect some things about my friendship.
This quote makes me think twice of my perspective on people that I've known or sorta. I agree with John Green, it is dangerous to think a person can be more of a person. I have a habit of imagining someone can be this kind or sweet or any positive attitudes of a person but when I start to hang out or becoming more than friends, my initial thoughts can be somewhat different. It creates disappointment. This happened in some parts of my life. In another case, I've some problem with my friends regarding this topic. Which is that you can't change your friends to suit your liking because everybody has flaws, including you and we should try to understand and appreciate them as their own self. Everybody is not perfect. In page 194 (below this paragraph is the quote), Radar have describes this when Q have problems to accept Ben as himself. It makes me anxious and remorse because I have wasted my time in expecting high hopes on turning my friends into my liking. Now, I try to accept her in her own unique way (though sometimes I've to control myself of certain parts of her. sorry you. ':D)
"You know your problem, Quentin? You keep expecting people not to be themselves. I mean, I could hate you for being massively unpunctual and for never being interested in anything other than Margo Roth Speigelman, and for, like, never asking me about how it's going with my girlfriend - but I don't give a shit, man, because you're you."
From the previous paragraph, it showed that this book's theme was about people and friendship. Besides accept someone with its flaws and strengths, discovering yourself is another lesson I've learned. Learning yourself is difficult as you think how to be you, either you want to be someone else or ashamed being you. To make yourself happy is another thing to understand. When you read this book, it introduces Margo, who is an incredible and daring person and everyone in her school worship by her adventures stories. Q was certain he knows Margo a lot from their childhood memories but the more he explore this adventure, the less he knows the real Margo. Pretending to be someone else is hard, even more when you started this at an early age. It feels like you are standing on a cliff, just getting ready to drop. :'( I understand why she run away from her and Q's hometown. Just try to be yourself and be happy. "A paper town for a paper girl."
The last lesson I've learned was about comfort zone. "This is your comfort zone.. All of the things that you want it in the world is way out there. The way you felt tonight that is the way you should feel your whole life." Okay, this quote is from the movie and not the book. But the book still tackles about this. My comfort zone? I'm just like Q, been afraid to go out of my space. Just doing the routine of graduation, finding a job, married and have kids. When Q have that one night with Margo, it starts to create something new in his life. He starts having fun when his quest begins with his friends. I start to think and imagine what will happen if I do it? My life totally change and something new is coming? I hope it is. So, now, I PLAN and take few steps to go out of my space. I hope I can do it. :)
Okay, go back few steps. There are another 2 reasons why I take a long time to finish it.
(1) because when I'm reading this book, my mind will go back and forth between the movie and the book. It is hard to read because I've expected what scenes will come up. After Part 2, I said to myself "clear my mind and enjoy the book" for several times. I think. ;D
(2) it is hard to understand JG's writing... Words, poems and etc. Decoding is difficult. I even have to look up at the Internet for more understanding. Like 70% of the book. Thanks, LitCharts. But I still love this book. :*
Things to must have when I'm reading a book are drinks and music! I choose Paper Towns Movie soundtrack because some songs suit with the book. Especially these tracks: Search Party, Great Summer, Lost It to Trying, Falling and Look Outside. My favorite quote to match with this theme are:
Don’t stop, no, I’ll never give up
And I’ll never look back, just hold your head up
And if it gets rough, it’s time to get rough
Though I have some difficulties when reading it but I still love Paper Towns. It makes me reflect so many things in my life. It's like having a book that can change your perspective on life. I will miss these characters, especially Margo. She introduces many things to me (except in Page 284. I'm not that person. Hehe). I hope I succeed in my mission of my life.
End note: Try to explore out of your comfort zone. It may happen bad or good things, but it's still life. Someday we will gonna face this, so, be yourself and cherish every moment you've created. "Carpe Diem." ⋆⋆⋆⋆
My dream cast must be the same as the movie so here is Margo and Quentin. ^_^
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