Paper Towns

     Paper Towns by John Green was such a fun read. High school senior Quentin (Q for short) has grown up next door to the beautiful and mysterious Margo Roth Spiegelman. One night, Margo climbs into his bedroom window and persuades him to join her on a well-thought out revenge mission. After a truly wild night, Q can't wait to see Margo at school in the morning - maybe their social statuses could change and they could be friends in public too. Just one problem - Margo is missing. Q begins to discover that Margo has left him clues to find her, and so he enlists his friends to help him solve the mystery. While Q and his friends get deeper and deeper into the enigma that is Margo, Q begins to wonder if Margo is really the girl he thinks she is.

http://www.amazon.com/Paper-Towns-John-Green/dp/014241493X

     When I was about half way through this novel, I was worried that it was turning into another tale of the manic pixie dream girl. For those of you that are not familiar with this damaging trope, here's a quick crash course: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ManicPixieDreamGirl. And if you really don't care to read it, I will summarize the summary: An MPDG is a quirky woman who brings adventure into the life of a depressive man and (most importantly) has no independent goals of her own - she purely exists to change him and often disappears when she does. In short, it's a flat character, a lazy plot device, and a disappointing, limited view of females as a whole.

     But wait! I had faith in John Green and thankfully he knew how dangerous that trope was and in many ways this seemed to be his response to the dangers of the male gaze. Yes, Margo is quirky (not a bad or unrealistic thing) and she does change Q's life (again, a good thing). But he does add a complexity to Margo and an introspection and awareness to Q that is very refreshing. All characters are flawed, dynamic people that can be both selfish and care for others.
 
     I loved the mystery, humor, and realistic high school friendships that John Green has proven to be so great at writing. I highly recommend this for a spring read, and then you can go see the movie this summer!



   
   

The Snow Child

     I realize that The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey is not the most timely of choices for a springtime read, but when I read it, we were in the midst of blizzard after blizzard so I like to think that it's the thought that counts.

     So far, this is my favorite book that I have read this year. In it, two homesteaders named Jack and Mabel try to survive the harsh winter conditions of Alaska in the 1920s. The older couple never had children, and the yearning for one in addition to the isolation and back breaking labor required of them begin to not only affect their marriage, but their mental health and emotional wellbeing.

     One night, Jack and Mabel play outside in the snow, finally able to relive the childlike spark that had once been so present in their relationship but had since faded. They make a snow girl and dress her in a coat and mittens and carve delicate features into the snow for her face. They go inside and wake the next morning to see that the snow child and clothes are gone, and in its place the couple can swear that they saw a little blonde girl - in the same coat - running through the woods near their house. The sightings increase, and, as if trying to gain the trust of a wild animal, the couple begin a gentle relationship with this wild girl living in the forest.


     I loved the fairy tale elements that are so masterfully woven within the heartache and joy of reality. Jack and Mabel are some of the most relatable characters I have read in a while; no one is simplified, vilified, or deified. There are some very real, very heavy tragedies in this book, but they are balanced so well with moments of unbridled joy and wonder - and those are the moments that really stuck with me.

The Night Circus

     The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is the tale of two ill-fated magicians raised by their cruel and eccentric mentors to outsmart their opponent. They grow up not knowing who their opponents are; their only task is to hone their craft and be ready for the game to begin. As you might guess, these two magicians, Celia and Marco, eventually meet and fall in love. Unfortunately, they soon learn that the game they have been preparing for their whole lives is a duel to the death.

     Perhaps the third main character in this novel is the setting, the Cirque des Reves. The night circus comes into town without warning, and each tent contains an amazing act, mysterious creatures, or beautiful dream-like gardens. The magic within the circus is not always sleight of hand or illusion, but a real craft that can bring imagination to reality. 

     I had heard the plot of this book and was very, very excited to read it. I guessed it would be fast paced and full of action, but that was an incorrect assumption. Instead, most of the book is just taking in the fantastic atmosphere of the circus, both as an outsider marveling at each tent, and as a performer helping make and keep the circus running. 

     The very end of the book speeds up with the duel, as if to make up for lost time. While I was reading it I wasn't quite sure if I liked that, but looking back now I believe that I do. It feels as if you are strolling around for most of the book in a dream, only to be shaken awake at the end to finally watch the fate of Celia and Marco. 

     I enjoyed reading this - it was something different and I enjoyed seeing the imagination of the author shine through. Also, on a visual note, this was a beautiful book to read. Black pages with twinkling constellations are interspersed throughout to separate certain chapters, very much fitting within the monochromatic theme of the Cirque des Reves. 

     And just a quick note: I apologize for not being able to regularly update this blog for several months due to my laptop crashing. I have a new one now and look forward to getting back on track! Thank you for your patience!