If You Like Paper Towns by John Green Then, Read This

Hi! I haven't posted in almost a year but I've had some ideas I wanted to share, so here it goes.

As many of you may know my favorite author, John Green's novel Paper Towns is being made into a movie this July! Here are some other book suggestions if you enjoyed Paper Towns, and if you haven't read it yet, you should!

 

If you liked Paper Towns by John Green

 

 
 

Then read The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

 

Both of these book has funny, likable teenage male main characters. Also both share similar themes about love and perspective. Each of these novels include a cast of quirky characters forming unique friendships. Honestly, if you're a fan of any John Green novel, you will most likely enjoy this book. Green and Schneider have similar writing styles and represent teenagers in a mature, honest, and meaningful way.

 

 

Then read, Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

 



 

 

 For any one who liked the road trip portion of  Paper Towns, then this book is for you. I love reading road trip books and this one is the best one that I have found in the genre. It is funny, sweet, and romantic. I highly recommend it!

 

 

 Then read, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

 

This book would be great for those who enjoyed the mystery aspects of Paper Towns . In addition if you liked the pranks in Paper Towns, this book is perfect for you! It also features smart teenage characters. I also recommend this for fans of Looking For Alaska. This book is witty and original, and is just very fun to read.

 

 

Then read, Zac and Mia by A.J. Betts

 











 

For those who related to or enjoyed Quentin and Margo's complicated relationship, this book would be a good fit. Much like Q and Margo, Zac and Mia's relationship is twisty, bizarre, and frustrating. None the less an enjoyable book with a unique storyline. (Although it may seem similar to The Fault In Our Stars based on the jacket, these are two VERY different types of stories.)

 

 

Hope you enjoy these books and Paper Towns!  Can't wait for the movie adaptation!

 



If I Stay

    Although I haven't posted in a while, I want to get back into things. I also plan to focus more on books in my future posts. So to re kick things off I will begin with a review of the book If I Stay by Gale Foreman. This novel is headed to the big screen in August, so it seemed fitting. I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the format of the novel, which bounces between the present and past events because it added an interesting effect to the plot.
     I also liked the characters especially, Mia, the main character's Grandfather and her friend Kim. Her grandfather was so sweet and Kim had a really cool strength about her. That being said I wish I liked Mia more. Although I didn't dislike her, I wish she was funnier or had some other driving characteristic that was more entertaining.
    Overall, I really liked If I Stay. It was a novel packed with tragedy, struggle, and heart. I recommend this book to YA readers who are looking for an entertaining and heart-wrenching read. Plus the movie looks like it is going to be a good one. So sit down this summer and read If I Stay.

ALLEGIANT: MAJOR, MAJOR SPOILERS INCLUDED!!!

ALLEGIANT: MAJOR, MAJOR SPOILERS INCLUDED!!! STOP READING NOW IF YOU HAVE NOT FINISHED THE BOOK! ALSO CONTAINS A MAJOR THE FAULT IN OUR STARTS SPOILER!

     As you may know many, many people are outraged about Tris's death at the end of Allegiant, some have even threatened Veronica Roth (the author) which is ridiculous. Anyway, although I'm obviously devastated, I understand why she did it.

   The point of Tris's death was to show both her bravery and selflessness, the two main qualities that she possesses. Yes, I am extremely saddened by her death because it was so sudden and unexpected unlike say, August Water's, where although it may have been surprising, you had pages and pages to say goodbye to him. Although I desperately wanted a happy ending for Tris and Four, this ending fits her character perfectly.

     It show how selfless she actually is, and it shows how much selflessness(Abnegation) and bravery(Dauntless) go together. Not to mention it ties in her brains(Erudite) which is the other faction for which she had an aptitude. Although it may seem senseless to give your life for a brother who betrayed you, and to an extent it was, it gave insight to the fact of how selfless Tris really is. The brains came in when she was able to figure out how to steal the memory serum and activating it while staying alive for as long as possible. So in a way Tris's death display all three components of her divergence, her ability to sacrifice her life for someone even though they wronged her, her bravery to do what she did and her intelligence to be able to complete the task. In way her death although devastating to not only the other characters but to the readers, was very poetic and symbolic of her life.

    Throughout her life, Tris tried to balance her intellect, selflessness, and her bravery, and even though it lead to her demise, in her last act, she successfully balanced these three qualities. So, even though it was upsetting to see a character as inspiring and loved as Tris go, to not read the book because you wanted a happy ending seems a little absurd. Although, escaping to a world of fiction is enjoyable, it has to have instances of reality to make it believable. Throughout the Divergent trilogy many deaths occur, Tris's parents, Al, Will, among countless others, but to denounce an entire book because the ending isn't what you hoped for is a little extreme.

    I know many are outraged by Tris's death and they have the right to be, but her death allowed you to see the extent of her love and bravery. As much as I wished and hoped that Allegiant's epilogue would be Four and Tris's wedding or some other happy occasion, the epilogue was still beautiful, but in a sad way. As a whole I thought Allegiant was excellent, it was full of twists and even though Tris's death was shocking and sad, it really summed up Tris as a whole. So I understand why Veronica Roth did what she did.

 

~Simply Nerdy

A Short Post on Teen Wolf

     As I anxiously await the Teen Wolf finale this Monday, I have to say that I'm a little sad. After this episode, I will have to wait until January 6th for the show to come back on and I don't know if I can. The characters on the show are so funny and original. The plot is always new and exciting, each episode leaves me with my mouth wide open! Teen Wolf perfectly balances the seriousness, the violence/action, the romance, and the comedy, for a blend that is truly special and exhilarating.

Wow,The Next Few Months Are Going To Be Awesome

      I have come to one extremely deep and important conclusion, wow the next few months are going to be awesome.  As the book nerd that I am, these upcoming months are going to be spectacular and that  is because of so many reasons. So now I am going to  list the reasons for the upcoming months' awesomeness:

#1: August 2013: The Fault in our Stars movie will begin shooting.

      As you may know Fault is my favorite book. I am however concerned about the movie, because I don't want it to be bad portrayal of such an outstanding book. So, I have mixed feelings about this one, but I am trying to keep a positive attitude, who knows, it might be a great movie. So this could be awesome or it could be disastrous.

#2: October 22, 2013: Allegiant, the final book in the Divergent Trilogy comes out.

     Since finishing Insurgent, I have been forced to wait five months for the final installment in the Divergent Trilogy.  Thank the lord, I only have to wait two more.  I am so psyched for the book! Hopefully it will be as good or better than the other two. The one thing I'm worried about though, is that with the new format (dual narration by Tris and Four),  the book will be not as good.  With that aside, I can hardly wait until October!

#3: November 22, 2013: Catching Fire the movie comes out.

    Being the Hunger Games  fan that I am, it's needless to say that I am extremely excited for the Catching Fire movie. I thought the first movie was an excellent adaptation from the book, and I am confident that this one will be too.  Judging by the trailer (which was fantastic, click the link to watch it), I think I'll be right.

#4: February 14th, 2014: Maze Runner the Movie comes out.

     As you can tell from yesterday's post, I am a huge Maze Runner fan, and I can't wait until the movie comes out. One of the reasons why I can't wait, is because Dylan O'Brien is playing Thomas. I am a big Teen Wolf fan and O'Brien's character Stiles is my favorite. I think he will make a great Thomas. I just want to see the movie!!!

#5: March 21, 2014: The Divergent movie comes out.

    I love Divergent and Insurgent, so having the first film come out is so exciting! I think the actors that were picked are great, and I think the movie will be really good. I love the idea of the Divergent society, and can't wait to see it and its characters come to life!  

   
See what I mean about the next couple of months being awesome?

~Simply Nerdy

I Want to Be a Glader.... And Other Maze Runner Trilogy Thoughts

 ****Contains Spoilers from the Maze Runner Trilogy****
   
    In the past few days, I have finished the Maze Runner Trilogy. I thought I would like it, but I was wrong. I LOVED it!!! I was so  surprised , because it was creepier than the books I usually like. I loved everything, the characters, the plot,  all of it! The books left me with one thought, I want to be a glader. Of course I  don't want to be thrust into a dangerous maze, with a Flare-infected world around me, but I want to be friends with the gladers.
      
    First, I love the way those shucks talk. (God I love saying that.) I think the way that they speak  normal English with some of their own phrases mixed in, is a cool little twist from James Dashner. I think saying things like "good that" and "slim it" are fun and I loved all their other lingo as well.

     Beside the fact that I love the way they talk, I love them! Minho is my favorite character, because he is so funny and brave. I love his personality. I think all the characters are really well written. Thomas is a strong main character, he is relatable and likable. Although  the books are male dominated, I like how Dashner put in strong female characters like Theresa and Brenda. Plus, at the very last minute, a woman saves them all, Ava Paige.

     Besides the lovable characters, Dashner throws in so many twists that it keeps it interesting. All the way to end surprises keep coming. I never expected throughout the entire series, that Theresa would die. I always thought that she would be safe. Also from the beginning, I would've bet money that Thomas and Theresa were going to be together for like ever. The way Dashner slips Brenda in makes it  a very subtle love triangle. (I'm "Team Brenda" by the way, I just never thought it was going to happen.)

    Through all the tragic deaths that practically killed me, to the endless plot twists, the Maze Runner Trilogy is phenomenal. The characters are witty and original and the plot has never been "done before".  The whole series is amazing, and I can honestly say that I love it as much as Hunger Games and Divergent, although Harry Potter still wins.

~Simply Nerdy

The Perks of Being a Wallflower- Book and Movie

    ****Contains spoilers from The Perks of Being a Wallflower****

      I love both the book and the movie, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Oddly enough, although this has only ever happened with one other book/movie (Gatsby), I preferred the movie.  I think they are both great though.

    One thing that I love about Perks is the characters. Patrick is my favorite, I think he is so funny, but especially after the Brad fiasco and throughout the book, he has  as many insecurities and issues as the rest of the characters.  He just uses his personality and humor to hide it, which makes Patrick stand out to me.

     I think Sam was portrayed more likably in the movie. Emma Watson did fabulous job as Sam also.  I felt that Logan Lerman was phenomenal as Charlie! While reading the book, I liked Charlie, but in the movie I loved Charlie and that was because of Lerman.

     Even with the cuts they made from the movie like the pregnancy, I though it was an excellent interpretation of the book. This was most likely because Stephen Chbosky, the author of the book, directed the movie. The only thing I wished they put in was the poem, because I think that part is so emotional and adds a lot to the Secret Santa scene. Overall I love both Perks the book and movie.

~Simply Nerdy