Paper Towns, by John Green

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I'm finally catching up on reviews! (I only have one left after this one!)
So I better get on with this one!
Here my review of Paper Towns, by John Green!

Paper Towns, by John Green

Title: Paper Towns

Author: John Green

Genre: Contemporary & Romance

Release date: 16th October, 2008

Pages: 305

Blurb: "The thing about Margo Roth

Spiegelman is that really all I

could ever do was let her talk,

and then when she stopped

talking encourage her go on,

due to the facts that

1. I was incontestably in

love with her, and

2. she was absolutely

unprecedent in

every way, and

3. she never really asked

me any questions...

Quentin Jacobson has always

loved Margo from afar. So when

she climbs through his window

to summon him on an all-night

road trip of revenge he cannot

help but follow. But the next

morning, Q turns up at school

and Margo doesn't. She's left

clues to her disappearance, like

a trail of breadcrumbs for Q

to follow.

And everything leads to one

unavoidable question:

Who is the real

Margo?"

My Thoughts

Although I knew I wasn't going to hate this book, I was kind of apprehensive when reading this, because I knew it had a lot of mixed reviews.

But... it was also good enough to be made into a film. So, I picked it up.

And, my overall review is, it wasn't bad.

It also wasn't the most amazing book I've ever read.

It sits nicely in the middle.

It had all the elements that make up a classic John Green book. (That's a good thing). It had quirky and unique characters, (some of them could have had a bit more character development, but I still liked them), it had funny dialogue, and the plot was... cool. The direction the plot took, and all the little details that made the plot that much more interesting were good.

But I'll get into that later.

So... Paper Towns. Most people know the story, because a film has been released recently. But this story centres around a character called Quentin (though he is called Q in the book so I'll call him that), and from the time that they were children, he's had a crush on his neighbour, Margo Roth Spiegelmen, who from afar, seems like this unbelievable risk taker, and sort of perfect (in his eyes). The two of them were friends when they were younger, but years later, they are two completely different people, and... strangers.

But one night, Margo climbs through his window, and from that point on, they partake an awesome journey of risk taking and revenge on her boyfriend.

The next day, Q goes to school. But Margo does not. The rest of the story is Q, and some of his quirky and nerdy, yet still awesome friends (and a couple other people that I won't spoil at this moment) embark on a clue hunting mission in the hope to bring Margo back.

Interesting and fun story, I have to say. You can see why they made it into a film to be honest.

But this is the book.

So here is what I thought.

I liked the characters. They were all different, but they all connected in some ways, to make up an amazing range of characters, that really shouldn't have fitted well, but surprisingly, did. There were Q's friends: Nerdy, and random, and really sarcastic, but with a mean side, they didn't hesitate to nail each-other to the wall, and from an inside look, you might think they hated each-other, but they still stuck around, to nail each-other to the wall yet more. Their the characters that you feel you shouldn't like, because they can be seen as mean, but you still do.

Then there was Margo Roth Spiegelmen. She was the character that Q loved, and thought about, almost obsessively, and even though he thought about her romantically, it wasn't super sucky and gross. She was the legend, the popular, yet tough girl that was so amazing that nothing could touch her. It was difficult to relate to her, until you saw her background, and the side she let nobody see (when they were hunting for clues after he disappearance). After that, she was still a little hard to relate to, but not impossible. Especially after you see her softer side.

Now there's Q. Our protagonist. He was nerdy, but incredibly smart and observant. I liked Q, for the sheer talent he had for being incredibly likeable and easy to relate to. You feel like you understand him, his reasoning for everything, and how he feels the way he does.

So sum-up of the characters is that they sold this book. Paper Towns centres around the characters, and they, along with the story, made the story.

Now the writing. There was just enough description, and just enough dialogue, though most of the book was dialogue (I was okay with that, because the dialogue was REALLY funny and sarcastic, which I loved). But the writing just flowed, as it does with every single John Green book.

Not much else to say on the writing.

Now, the plot. The plot was unique and cool, and I feel like even if I had never picked up a John Green book in my life I would have loved it. Because it involves two things, a night of revenge and rebellion, and then a clue-hunting journey that gives you the freedom you always wanted. The plot screamed freedom, and that was what I liked about it.

But what I also liked was that it was brutally honest. It gave you the impression that something involved in the plot (not going to divulge as to what it is) was perfect and amazing, but then it pulled the curtain away, and revealed it all.

(If you want to know what I'm talking about, read the book).

So overall, I liked the plot.

I liked the whole book to be honest, and I recommend it to anyone who wants a funny, exciting and cool book that isn't too time consuming because it's 300 pages.

It's also a good book to pick up if you're not a reader, but want to get into reading.

So that was my review for Paper Towns, by John Green! I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope it wasn't too long! (I swear, these reviews just keep getting longer and longer!)

I hope you all have a wonderful day, and I will see you all on Monday!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxxx 

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them Film Review

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I've been putting this off for way too long, so I thought it was time I just... posted it!
So here is the long awaited Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them Film Review!

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them Film Review

Leading up to the time when I went to see Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, I didn't find out that much about it. I didn't really need to know much, because no matter what it was about, I know I was going to love it.

I knew it was set in like the 1920s, and that it was set in America, but with a British protagonist, from the trailer. (Hufflepuff- originally thought he was a Ravenclaw-don't know why, sorry guys!) But that was all I knew about it.

I had high hopes for this film, especially after the Deathly Hallows a few years ago.

I was not disappointed. Not even a little bit.

The first thing I want to talk about is how amazing it all looked. It portrayed the 1920s perfectly. Old fashioned, yet traditional houses, that gave character and an extra edge to the world. But there was also a sense of secrecy (which was the magic) behind the walls that muggles (in America they called them nomaj- no magic) thought they lived in.

Which brings me to my second point. As Newt Scalamander (protagonist) roamed around the city, trying to find and contain wild monsters, things got a little out of control. So concealing the magic from the nomaj's was a big part of this film, which I liked, because as the film progressed and developed, this got more and more series and dark. It went from being a concern, to being a main part from the plot. And that's what I liked. Sometimes it was jokey and light-hearted, and suddenly the whole film got very dark and series.

In fact that's another point I'd like to make- the film wasn't completely light-hearted, but it also wasn't doom and gloom either. The film had scenes that were powerful, and beautiful, that made you feel as free as air. There were a spattering of dark and serious scenes, and these scenes were eerie and strange and twisted, and sat deep down in your gut. They weren't particularly scary, but they were creepy, and they made you feel... vulnerable, I wanna say. And then there were the fast paced, yet funny scenes, as Newt Scalamander tried to gain and maintain control as we were introduced to the smaller, and quirkier creatures that he was sent to New York to find.

And then there were the scenes at the end. Epic. There's no other way to describe them. At this point in the film, you were so invested in the film that nothing else is in your mind, except that these characters succeed, and peace is restored (I'm not going to divulge in the plot, because that would be spoiling you, and I'm not going to be doing that). But those scenes were crazy, and yet beautiful, and... there are no words really.

Now, on to characters. They don't seem like much at the start, but as the story progresses and changes and develop, they grow with the story and you become emotionally attached, in the space of a couple of scenes. And they're not one dimensional either. You see them fall and grow and learn, until you don't recognise them as the characters they were at the start of the film. The main characters are a team, each having their own individual quirks and smirks and traits, and it's their journey that you follow. At the start, the characters don't seem to be able to compare to the rest of the film: the plot, the world that has been build, the cinematography that makes it all look so magnificent. But they hold their own in the story, and you really grow to love them so, (and this is for one scene in particular) when something heart-breaking and tearful happens, you're right along with them, to the point when you're emotionally scarred afterwards.

But this film isn't just about those moments. All these scenes, pulled together, form one big country of magic, of love, of adventure, with a side of quirkiness and laughter throughout the entire film. If you can't already tell, I was blown away by this film, and I hope I've shown this in the review.

 I really don't know what else I can say about this film except GO AND SEE IT!

One last thing. J K Rowling, I take my hat off to you for creating this immensely complicated, yet flawlessly beautiful world that we, your loving fans have been able to explore. I will certainly be seeing the next four films in this series, because it they are anything like this one, they are guaranteed to be absolutely incredible.

That was my review of Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them! I hope you enjoyed it, and I really hope this review is enough to make you all go and see it, because it really is as good as I say it was.

So I will see you all on Friday, when I will be reviewing Paper Towns, by John Green!

I hope you enjoyed this review, and I will see you all then!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxxx

January TBR (2017)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And it's 2017!
And that means it's time for another monthly TBR!
So here is my January TBR (2017)!

January TBR (2017)

1. Desolation (Demon Road #2), by Derek Landy

I've owned this book for so long, I forgot when I bought it. I may have had it for AGES, but at least I'm finally getting round to reading it. I'm currently about 130 pages into this, and so far, I'm really enjoying it. I aim to have finished it by Thursday at the latest, and my review should be up soon. This is book two in the Demon Road trilogy, and the premise is basically a character called Amber that is running from her parents, because they (and her as well) are demons, and they want to kill her, in the hope of growing stronger. Interesting premise, I can tell you.

2. American Road (Demon Road #3), by Derek Landy

I thought, why not marathon the series, if I've got both of them? This is the final book in the Demon Road trilogy, and hopefully I will start that soon. If it's anything like the rest of the series so far, it should be an amazing read, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the trilogy ends. (I can't say anything about the plot, because I myself haven't finished Desolation yet, and also spoilers), but I am looking forward to reading the final book in the Demon Road trilogy!

3. Frostblood (Frostblood #1), by Elle Blake

This isn't released until 12th January, but I hope to finish it before then, or at least a couple days afterwards. From what I've heard (which isn't much), this series is set in a world where there are Firebloods, people who can burn the town to the ground, and Frostbloods, who have hunted the Firebloods to near extinction. Ruby is a fireblood, and she's spend her entire life hiding, until the day when the Frostbloods come to her town and kill her mother. That's when she swears to avenge her mother and her people. I don't have much to say other than the fact that I am really looking forward to reading this. If this looks at all interesting to you, it's released on 12th January, so not long!

4. Everything, Everything, by Nicola Yoon

I have heard nothing but fantastic reviews for this, mainly from Booktube. But it seems like everyone has read this and enjoyed it, so I feel like I need to pick this up, which is why it's on this month's TBR! Everything, Everything centres around two characters: Maddy, who is allergic to the world (and hasn't left the house in seventeen years), and Olly, who is determined to reach her. That's all it says on the back, and it sounds different to anything I've read before, which is why I'm excited to read it. It's also quite small, so I hope to finish it fairly quickly, and get a review up soon!

5. The 5th Wave (The 5th Wave), by Rick Yansey

This book is a re-read: I read this a year ago, I think. But the rest of the series has been released, and I need to read them, which is why I've hacked this book on to the end of the list, so I can marathon the rest of the series next month! I may not finish it this month, but I want to at least start it, as I need to finish the series, and see how it ends!

My review for this is up on Post Pandemonium (2016), so go check it out!

So that is my January TBR (2017)! I have been fairly ambitious, attempting to start and finish 5 books, instead of four, but if you can't challenge yourself at the start of the new year, when can you?

I may not finish all of them, but I did say that last year, and I did, so I'm hopeful!

I hope you enjoyed the post, and let me know in the comments below, if you particularly like any of the books on the list, or you're looking forward to reading any of them, let me know in the comments below!

I hope you all have a wonderful day, and I will see you all on Wednesday, when I will definitely be posting my Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them review, promise!

So I will see you all then!

Byeeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx