In As Simple As Snow the narrator falls in love with a crazy goth girl named Anna (but, please, call her Anastasia) who changes his life and then disappears. All that's left is a hole in the ice and her dress perfectly arranged next to it (but no shoes or coat or body!). Did she kill herself? Run away? Was she murdered?
I can definitely see why John Green likes this book. Looking For Alaska has the narrator asking some of the same questions after a tragedy, while Paper Towns has... the same questions without a tragedy (I love them both, though). Like John Green's books the prose was beautiful and filled with unique characters and interesting observations.
Very few questions are answered and there is very little resolution, but the end still feels satisfying because the character grows up. He learns how to act instead of just go with the flow. There are a number of storylines that I wish were better developed (especially the one involving Bryce Druitt), but I enjoyed reading it and will probably buy a copy of it the next time I see it on sale.
And the book has given me another quote that I would like to have tattooed on my body (once I start getting tattoos that is):
No one knows me, so no one knows what to expect. I can have whatever past I want; I can forget how I used to be... Before, I had nothing.... I had nothing, and nothing to lose, and then I knew loss. What I cared about was gone; it was all lost. Now I have everything to gain; everything is clean slate. It's all blank pages waiting to be written on.
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The truth is I didn't really like Paper Towns, and the more time I've had to process it the more I find myself getting more and more frustrated with it. But I can't really get into why without ruining it for all your other readers that want to leave comments for you.
ReplyDeleteBut I kind of get the impression that this book, would be what I was hoping Paper Towns would have been.
I like the quote, though it is kind of long, where on earth would you tattoo that?
I have this dream to be covered in tatoos... so I will find room. I'd kind of like my entire left leg to be covered in my favorite quotes from books. But... I'm working things out to become a high school teacher in the next couple years so... maybe only imaginary tattoos for a while. :)
ReplyDeleteI'll have to read Paper Towns again. It was the first book I read after I moved to LA so it holds a special place in my heart. :)
Email me about paper towns or goodreads message me. :)
That would make a very great and awesome tattoo and a huge one. :) I only have read one book written by John Green and I wasn't blown away by it. This one sounds okay, but probably borrowing it at the library is the best thing to do. I do like the cover.
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