Paper Towns: cover to cover

Regardless of lack of feedback (you're all just super shy right? totally) I will continue my efforts to Book Club (v.) this thing! Only a few things to discuss for final post on Paper Towns, and hopefully a decision thereafter on our September Fall read.

1. What main ideas—themes—does the author explore? (Consider the title, often a clue to a theme.) Does the author use symbols to reinforce the main ideas? 
(Has anyone Google searched the dog's surname? *hint hint*)

2. I know there will be different opinions on this one - Is the ending satisfying? If so, why? 
If not, why not...and how would you change it?

3. If you could ask the author a question, what would you ask?  
There's copious interview material that I can scan through to find any answers too!

4. Rate the book! 1-5 with 1 being hated it and 5 being loved it.

I love this read like crazy, with all it's ups and downs and copious amounts of "tip your hat" type of references. I look forward to hearing any input or feedback, especially as we come to a close on our first novel together. Thank you all so much for reading with me. 

On to the next! 

Paper Towns: coming to a close

Happy Monday, right?

As I went out of town (immediately after having family in town) I am assuming I will be the one furthest behind on our adventure through Paper Towns. As it is, I will open up some questions to start discussion and get things going!

The questions can be applied to the novel as a whole for those of you who are finished, or can be kept to each reader's current place and experience. We will do one more discussion with prompts and spoilers and all that good stuff on the last Sunday of the month to wrap up our first read!

Feet first... 

1. How did you experience the book? Were you engaged right away, or did it take a while to get into it? 

How did you feel reading it—amused, sad, disturbed, confused, bored...?

2. Let's talk main characters—personality traits, motivations, inner qualities. 

   • Why do our characters do what they do? (Margo, Radar, Ben, Q, Myrna Mountweasel)

   • Are their actions justified? 

   • How has the past shaped their lives? 

   • Do you admire or disapprove of them? 

   • Do they remind you of people you know?

3. Can we talk about Q's view of Margo and how it changes? It's pretty drastic, as he has realizes that Margo was not an adventure but a girl. 

Why did Q originally see Margo as solely an adventure?

4. What do Q's conception of Margo and Margo's conception of Q have in common? 

Where do they differ?

5. Have you read other books by John Green? If you have, how did Paper Towns compare? 

If you haven't, does this book inspire you to read others?

Keep in mind, these are things I've pondered and talk to myself about while reading. Please don't feel obligated to write essays on each question or stick to them at all! 

These are just prompts in hopes to open up the floor for discussion, big or small. 

Can't wait to hear from everyone!

Let's Meet the Author | John Green

There's so many wonderful things to say about John Green, but we'll keep it short and sweet.

A stint working in a children’s hospital, on his way to Episcopal priesthood, inspired Green to write The Fault in Our Stars and take his life in a different direction.

Green is YouTube famous, alongside his brother Hank, originally for issuing one another a challenge to correspond through video only for an entire year. These posts reached a wide audience who became enamored with their humour and antics and have followed the brothers since.

He knows he’s a huge nerd, and we mean HUGE. And he’s cool with that. We’re cool with that.

His childhood experiences are worn as a badge, not a cry for attention. He speaks to his young adult audiences about the effects of bullying, overcoming, and how much better life gets.

Just a few small tidbits about the author of this month's novel, in hopes that you are inspired and continue to support John Green - keep enjoying his books!