Release Date:September 22, 2009
Book: Paper Towns
Author: John Green
Number of Pages: 305

The Basics:Who is the real Margo? 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... 

My Musings:

I love John Green. I love the way he writes, I love the way he creates characters, I love everything about his books. This is the third book by him I've read. The first was TFIOS, and that books was amazing. I even wrote a letters to Augustus and Hazel   and made a playlist for Looking for Alaska. So I was expecting to love this book and be totally in love with every aspect of the novel. Maybe my standards were way too high, maybe it's the fact that I had to read this in tiny increments, but I was a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong the books is AMAZING but I don't feel as strongly about it as I did TFIOS and Looking for Alaska.

The book hooks you in right away. The writing style is amazing. I love how John Green describes things, the thoughts Q has, and how profound he can be as well as funny. There's something nice about reading a book that can make you actually LOL/ I love the sarcasm, the humor, and not surprisingly quotable lines.

The plot was super well developed I think. It starts off pretty fast pace, things happening in every chapter. For the first quarter I guess Margo and Q are pulling pranks and stuff. But then Margo disappears and the whole books slows down. Which I get. I totally get why it slows down. It adds to the fact that Margo was this ball of fire propelling her life and those around her. Similarly her character propelled the book, albeit a lot slower when she disappeared. But I wish it was just a tiny bit faster. There were so many moments when Q was trying to figure out where Margo was, that broke my heart. Like Prom Night. Or when him and his friends go on a car ride near the end of the book. I love how this was both very character driven and very plot driven. We see Q have a new appreciation for people and life, and we see the journey that leads him to his goal: Margo and understanding her. Which he kind of does at the end of the book.  I loved all the intricate little details in the book, like the black Santas and the bloody Ben story. I loved how every little thing in the book, all the hints, and non-hints all tied together at the end.

If there's one thing I think I love most about John Green novels, is that his characters are so heartbreakingly relatable, realistic, and just damn amazing. Q is this nerdy guy who sticks to routine and is pretty much just there in high school. Margo is the beautiful, charismatic, queen bee. Q is also this guy desperately in love with a girl he thinks he doesn't deserve or have a chance with and wants more out of his life. Margo is a broken person, looking for a way to feel happy again. Ben is this sex crazed pretend macho guy that you simultaneously want to laugh with and slap. But then again, most guys are like that. Radar is pretty nerdy and I love him for it. I like Lacy and her girlyness but I will admit she gets a little annoying. All the storylines intertwine really well together and mesh to create a kind of haunting story about a girl wanting to be found when in reality she just needs to find herself. In reality, while I loved all the characters, I only really connected or could relate to, Margo and Q. Which I didn't really mind because it was centered around them, but I was disappointed that I couldn't like the other characters more.

This is the kind of romance that you ship from the get go. Q and Margo. They just work. You desperately hope for Margo to be alive at the end of the book for them to have their moment. This is the romance that makes you giggle with glee as they laugh and do stupid things. I think it's really cute. I love how Q realizes that Margo isn't the girl he pictured but learns to love her anyway. He learns to love her darker gory bits, not just this glorified image that every one seemed to have of her.

Overall it was a great read. I was a little disappointed with how it lost momentum and how I couldn't really relate to the minor characters. But like I said the plot is golden, the character and character development is on point, and the ending was perfect for this book. Not gonna lie I teared up a bit.





Coffee For This Book: A Vienna. It has the perfect amount of espresso to keep you up reading this book, and whip cream on top to help you eat you feeling when this book gets emotionally hard to read. Which it does. 

My Rating

Letter to December #13

Dear December,

Here we are at the end of the month, none the wiser but that much older. It's been a good month December, I guess I have you to thank for the chilly wind, and happy smiles. You know it's weird it never really to cold here in Southern California. It's always sunny and warm. But now it feels like winter, like you were actually here December. With winds colder than ice, and rain hitting our practically new coats. 

December, the end of the year has me so nostalgic. I'm thinking about the year that's past and it's actually been a good one. This year has been good to me, you've been good to me. You know how sometimes everything feels like it's in the right place and time and moment? That's kind of how I feel now. Everything I've wanted to do, I've done. Some of my favorite moments of 2014 I never planned, yet they happened I'm happier because of them. 

I remember going to Sara Barellies' Concert. I remember meeting John Green. I remember going to the Night Before our Stars. I remember my 16th Birthday. I remember doing my dance concert in may. I remember getting student of the Semester in English. This year has been filled with so many amazing memories that it's almost hard to let go of 2014. But I think 2015 will be better, I will be better in 2015. I'm excited to see what this new year will bring. There's always so much pressure at the beginning of something new. The pressure of the promise it holds, the potential you see, and the hopes you wish to be reality. 

Here's the thing though, although this is my last letter to you this month, In a year we'll be here December. You reading my letters, and me writing them. I want to make promises and resolutions for 2015, but I think I'll take what the year gives me. Make do with whatever life throws at me. And maybe that's the best promise I can make. 

I'll miss you December. Wish me luck!

Love Always

Blogtober: Waiting on All the Bright Places

Release Date: January 6, 2015
Book: All the Bright Places
Author: Jennifer Niven

The Basics:The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park in this compelling, exhilarating, and beautiful story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who intends to die.
Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.
Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister's recent death.
When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.
This is an intense, gripping novel perfect for fans of Jay Asher, Rainbow Rowell, John Green, Gayle Forman, and Jenny Downham from a talented new voice in YA, Jennifer Niven

Add it on Goodreads 

Why do I want to read it?

I love everything about it. I love the message of hope. I love how profound it seems. I'm such of fan of all of the authors mention and i'll be happy if I can add this author to the mix as well. I mean the summary in of itself just blew my mind and I can't wait to read it!

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine

Blogtober: Versatile Blogger Award

Wow! This is my second award nomination this month!! Thank you so much Cecil! You should definitely go check her blog out its amazing! It's strange when I first started this blog, it was strictly a book blog, no outfits, advice, nothing but books. But somewhere along my blogging journey I realized that as much as I love book blogging, I should be open to doing other things. I shouldn't put a limit on myself, and I don't want to. So then I did advice posts, then came some OOTD posts, and this month I've done a lot of non book posts and it's been really fun. Its really awesome that other people like my other posts as much as my regular book posts.

Rules:

1.    Show the award on your blog.

2.    Thank the person who nominated you.

3.    Share 7 facts about yourself.

4.    Nominate 15 blogs.

5.    Link your nominees’ blogs and let them know.

Seven facts about your truly:

1. I have an unhealthy obsession with The Blacklist. I finished the entire season in less than 4 days all put together. 
2. I've met lots of authors. I've met Cassandra Clare twice, I've met Melissa De La Cruz twice, I've met John Green, I've met Stephen Chbosky, I've met Richelle Mead and a few others.
3. I'm terrified of driving. I'm 16 and i've driven a grand total of 5 times. For some reason it's scary to me. I mean what if I crash the car, hit a mailbox, or worse kill a squirrel.
4. My go to outfit is a skirt and a sweater. I can't help it. It looks so cute and it's soo comfortable!
5. I've been listening to Willamette Stone for the past 5 weeks. They're the fictional band from If i Stay, and they only have 6 songs, but I swear i'm addicted. My favorites are "Heart Like Mine" and "I Want What You Have"
6. I have one older sister, an older brother and a younger brother, making me the middle child! 
7. When it gets cold enough I love wearing scarves. Its really bad. Among my friends i'm known for my scarves and sweaters. 

My Nominations:( I don't actually know 15 blogs to nominate for this award so I modified the number)

1.  Thea Woods
2. Another Seridipity
3. Holly Quills and Ivy
4. The Parisian Wannbe
5. The Emo Wolverine Writes
6. The Ups and Downs of My not So  Average Life
7. The Collection of Knowledge

Blogtober: Favorite Quotes and Why

I couldn't pick just one quote so here are four, well really five of my favorite quotes. I did another post recently where I did best advice i've ever received if you're feeling extra quote-y today :)

"The sun still rises even with the pain"- The Head and The Heart

I love this quote! I even have this on my wall. I love the song too! It's so beautiful and calm and just yeah... It's called Another Story, in case you were curious. I like it because of the realness and simplicity of it. You might not be happy but a new day will dawn. So you'll go through that day and end stronger maybe even happier. The sun will shine and you might not feel like dealing with the day doesn't mean you shouldn't seize it. Because let's face it if you're going to feel like shit, all you can do is feel it, accept it, just don't let it ruin you day, or week, or month.

"We need never be hopeless because we can never be irreparably hopeless, we just have to believe we're worth fixing" -John Green (with my twist at the end)

I'm an optimistic person most of the time. I like to look at the bright side whenever possible and this quote really speaks to me because it's a reminder that you should never lose hope because you can naver ever be so broken that you can't fix yourself. I do think, however, you have to believe you're worth fixing in order for this quote to be true. And who ever you are, I promise that you are 110% worth fixing, and that whatever it is you're going through you'll come out the other end because you can fix yourself and be better for it later. 

"For to have faith is to have wings"-Peter Pan

I actually want this tattooed. I haven't decided where, either my wrist, side, or back. I love this quote because it's so true. If you have faith in your dreams, in yourself, in life, in those you love, in you happiness, anything is possible, you might as well be able to fly. Isn't that what we all want. To just fly straight to our dreams? Happiness? It's important to remember that having faith can be everything. I guess in the words of Mary Margret, "Even believing in the possibility of a happy ending is a powerful thing"

"One can find happiness even in the darkest of times if only one remembers to turn on the light"-Dumbledore

Oh how I love Dumbledore. As much as I love all these quotes I love this one just a tad bit more. It's profound and simple at the same time, you know? What I get from this is that you control your happiness. If you want to feel sad and want to stay in the dark leave the lights off but when your ready to be happy just look for the light switch. You're going to have bad times but you'll be okay, you can find the little things that make you happy. It's possible to be happy even when you're sad. Like if you have a bad day (week, month) and something happens and you smile. It could be small like a cup of tea, or a Harry Potter Movie, or a good book, a rainy day, a lucky penny. 

Blogtober is hosted by  The Daily Tay and Helene in Between

Mixtape Monday: Looking For Alaska

Looking For Alaska Playlist

Before: 

1.Fluorescent Adolescent By The Arctic Monkys

2.Harlem by New Politics

3.Hannah Hunt by Vampire Weekend

4.Say Anything by Tristan Prettyman

5. Sex by The 1975

6.Please Don't Say You Love Me by Gabrielle Aplin

7.Shiver by Coldplay

8. Strong by London Grammer

After:

1.Breath Me by Sia

2..Slow It Down by The Lumineers

3.Breath (2 am) by Anna Nalick

3.Slow and Steady by Of Monsters and Men

4This Must Be The Place by The Lumineers

5. Say Something  by A Great Big World ft. Christina Aguilera
6.Are You What You Want To Be by Foster The People

                                                                          7.Oblivion by Bastille

                                                                          8.Flowers In Your Hair by The Lumineers

                                                                          9.Somewhere Only We Know by Keane

Night Before Our Stars Review + Random Ranting/Fangirling

    Okay so my review might be a little late, but I figured better late than never.
     If you read the book you know that there is no way to watch this without bringing tissues. So I did. I walked into the movie theater, clutching the poster and the bracelet in one hand and my tissue box in the other. I read the books and I knew there was absolutely no way I was not going to cry. I have to admit I wasn't actually too worried about the movie. The trailers and John Green's approval of the movie made me feel like this could actually be a good movie
      As the movie started everyone in the theater started to scream. My friend whispered to me "all the fangirls are here right now". I replied "I know i'm one too". You could tell that everyone in the theater loved this story and where excited to see this story come to life. In other words there was a lot of screaming,"awwing", and sobbing. It was a great experience because I knew everyone in there was just like me; ready to see this beloved story come to life.
     The movie itself was amazing. Like literally I have no words to describe the perfection that is this movie. The actors really became Hazel and Gus and Issac. It felt so familiar and new all at once. I loved how true to the book the movie was. They did leave out a few things but to be honest I didn't even care. Most book to movie adaptations change the story too much, this movie didn't do that and I think that's what made everyone one love it. It satisfied the fans of the book and made those who were unfamiliar with the story fall in love with the story and the characters. The thing I loved most about it is that it kept the the message the same. It proved how a short life can still be a good one and that to live a good life you don't have to be loved by many, you just need one.
     The acting was phenomenal. The acting was so sincere and genuine. Ansel Elgort really was Gus for me. He brought out this boyish charm that I always pictured Gus having. And when the cancer came back Ansel really delivered in terms of the vulnerability and emotion. It was perfect. I legit started sobbing as soon as he brought Hazel out to the bench and uttered the saddest sentence in the history of life: "I lit up like a Christmas tree Hazel Grace". I didn't stop crying until the end. I'm not even ashamed. I'm actually surprised I didn't cry more. Shailene Woodley was so good. I sobbed when she sobbed, laughed when she laughed. It was just like the book.
     Okay now for the soundtrack. I really LOVE the soundtrack. I got it as soon as I got home and have been listening to it nonstop since. I'm listening to it right now. I'm listening to Tee-Shirt by Birdy. I think that the music really captured the emotions of the film and were perfect for the film. I can't tell you just how much I love the music for the movie.
      If you haven't watched the film yet I suggest you do, like soon. Its amazing and totally worht the tears you will shed. You will walk out feeling the same as when you read the book. You will see life and love and pretty much everything differently.     

My Rating: 4.5/5

Dear Augustus Waters...

     A book should be simple right? It’s just a bunch of pages with scribbles in them. Nothing special whatsoever.  I think we both know that’s not true at all. Books carry messages and themes and motifs that we can relate to. They hold the power to make us laugh in the middle of class during a test or make us sob uncontrollably at three am. It’s kind of like when you read an Imperial Affliction. The book suddenly meant so much more than a thing with words in it, it was something kind of magical. That’s how I, and a lot of other people, feel about your story. 
   
  Your story. You deserve way more than the number of pages you got. But then I think about how many stories I've read and the lengths of each one. A short book doesn't suck because it's short. In fact, it can be amazing, full of wonder and myriads of great feats. And that super big and long book in the corner of the library, it could be the most boring thing in the history of the world. So maybe it’s not about how long your story is, but what you do with the words and pages you have? And I have to say you've done a remarkable job. I guess Gus, we just get lucky with time, with our talents and whatever, but in the end it doesn't matter if you don’t do something with it. I know you wanted to change the world, and make people remember you. In the end you did. You changed Hazel’s world, Isaac’s world, your parents’, maybe even Peter Van Houten kind of.And I think that, that is more than enough. Changing,impacting,influencing people for the better,well I think,and I’m sure many people will agree with me when I say,that’s a great way to live life.
     And outside of the book, in reality, you did leave your mark on the world. I mean come on, your trending on Twitter.  Obviously people like you. Like a lot.I guess the important thing isn't that people will remember your name but who you were as a person and your personality and whatnot. So thanks for being awesome. Don’t let that go to your head okay? Good. In the book it took 172 pages for all us readers to fall in love with you. And now you've made so many more people fall in love with you. Maybe it’s because you remind people that nice people still exist. Or maybe they just really like your somewhat pretentious but still lovable metaphors. I’m voting for the latter one.What can I say? I’m a sucker for guys who use figurative language in their day to day lives.
     I'm writing this at 1:00 am and I just ate a box of starbursts and I’m crying. Now I’m a professional fangirl and I tend to overreact just a tad when it comes to my favorite books and my favorite characters. Just ask anyone of my friends. But see the thing is characters,to me and a lot of other people, aren't just words on a page,people on a screen. They’re real people. They are as real as the book sitting on my desk and the person living next door to me.So you were my friend while I read the book and watched the movie and even after, and maybe I sound a little weird when I say this, but like I said I get overly attached to characters and I wouldn't have it any other way. Not because I don’t have friends. Because I do, I totally do. But because I love being connected to those whom I read about. There are some fictional deaths that you just can’t get over. Yours is one of them.  Maybe it’s because you seemed so real, or because we could all relate to you.  But either way your death broke our hearts. It was like losing a friend. But you, you reminded us that we don’t need to do amazing things to be amazing we just have to be good people and be remarkable for the people we love. And that’s more than enough.   
    I've been thinking a lot about what Hazel said about infinities. About how some infinities are smaller than others. I agree with her. Sometimes forevers aren’t forever and sometimes they far longer than eternity. I’m so happy that you got a small infinity with Hazel, your perfect girl. I guess what I’m trying to say is that each one of us who read this book, or saw the movie, or both, got to part of this small little infinity too. We got a mini infinity filled with Hazel’s words, your metaphors and Isaac's humor. And I guess I’m thankful for that. I think we all are.   
    So Gus, I wrote you this letter because I needed you to know what you and this story meant to me and people like me. And you mean a lot to us. You've all shown us what a great life is and what it needs to be and what it doesn't. This letter is kind of jumbled and all over the place but it’s like you said, “My thought are stars I cannot fathom into constellations". Gus, what is there left to say but you made me smile more than any other book character ever and like I said before, I’m glad John Green wrote this book and gave us readers a small infinity with you and Hazel.

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Broke and Bookish. This weeks theme is Top Ten Books that should be in your beach bag.

1) The Mortal Instruments has reached it's end with City of Heavenly Fire. I'm really sad to see this series go, but I can't wait to read this and other Shadowhunter Chronicles.

2)Twenty Boy Summer by Sara Ockler is an amazing book. When I read it a few summers back I could not put it down. It made me feel happy, sad, and every emotion inbetween. This is a must read!








3) If I Stay is heart-wrenching story, but something I think everybody should read. It's also being made into a movie, get a head start and read it before it comes out!
I definitely recommend this to those who love The Fault in Our Stars.

4) Two words: Tobias Eaton. I legit need to read this ASAP
(P.S I couldn't help but make this four)

5) To All The Boys I've Loved Before seems like a fun cutesy read!









6) ) I've always loved everything E. Lockheart and i'm sure We Were Liars is not going to be an exception! Besides who doesn't like a good summer mystery! I'm totally going to bring this on my next beach trip!

7) Ok I have a love-hate relationship with The Spectacular Now, but I mostly love it.  I LOVE Sutter. That kid is probably one of my favorite book characters.

8) Hold Still by Nina LaCour was absolutely amazing! As soon as I heard about Everything Leads to You I knew I had to read it! Also isn't the cover absolutely beautiful??

9) Uninvited seems like an interesting book. Serial killer gene? Falling in love with a potential serial killer? Sounds like a great summer read!

10) Side Effects May Vary seems like a great book! The premise of it is really fascinating.

Because I couldn't help it....

11) When I first read the summary for Love,Inc I thought about John Tucker must die. I have to this book is so much more than a story about revenge. Its a story about getting your heart broken and learning how to move on.





Whats your Top Ten this week??