Task 11.1 Paper Towns by John Green In this novel about love between the average good-guy high school boy, Quentin Jacobsen, and the mysterious, popular, girl-next-door, Margo Roth Spiegelman, John Green attempts to be very philosophical about life in general. He provides a few sidekicks for the main character Quentin which include two band geeks, one of which is the editor of a fictional Wikipedia type, internet database named “Omnictionary”. This database serves several functions throughout the book thanks to the plot line including the mysterious disappearance of Margo and the need for the gang to help Quentin find her using clues left behind. This being a current novel, it includes the characters having cellphones, internet, video games and such. It is interesting that without the technology of phone contact between Quentin and Margo, the story can continue using notes, posters, and a message painted on the wall of an abandoned building that serve as clues. (SPOILER ALERT!) In the end, when Quentin finds Margo, they part ways and note they will keep in touch via email. Nothing spectacular regarding communication in this novel. A bit of a letdown from the suspense and adventure. Maybe if they had decided to actually write letters or send each other clues to how their life is going it may have been a better ending for me. The one form of communication in this book that truly stands out is the inclusion of paper towns. These are fictitious towns on maps that were never actually built or completed. Quentin considers the use of paper towns as clues to places Margo might run to, I assume as a metaphor of a person who is there but not complete.
In this novel about love between the average good-guy high school boy, Quentin Jacobsen, and the mysterious, popular, girl-next-door, Margo Roth Spiegelman, John Green attempts to be very philosophical about life in general. He provides a few sidekicks for the main character Quentin which include two band geeks, one of which is the editor of a fictional Wikipedia type, internet database named “Omnictionary”. This database serves several functions throughout the book thanks to the plot line including the mysterious disappearance of Margo and the need for the gang to help Quentin find her using clues left behind. This being a current novel, it includes the characters having cellphones, internet, video games and such. It is interesting that without the technology of phone contact between Quentin and Margo, the story can continue using notes, posters, and a message painted on the wall of an abandoned building that serve as clues. (SPOILER ALERT!) In the end, when Quentin finds Margo, they part ways and note they will keep in touch via email. Nothing spectacular regarding communication in this novel. A bit of a letdown from the suspense and adventure. Maybe if they had decided to actually write letters or send each other clues to how their life is going it may have been a better ending for me. The one form of communication in this book that truly stands out is the inclusion of paper towns. These are fictitious towns on maps that were never actually built or completed. Quentin considers the use of paper towns as clues to places Margo might run to, I assume as a metaphor of a person who is there but not complete.