So I think that the title really sums up what I’m about to say…

I was very fortunate to receive a Kindle as an early graduation present, and in my literary-induced excitement, I bought the first book I could think of: Paper Towns by John Green. I then proceeded to read said book, partially because I was so excited about my Kindle, but mostly because John Green is a Great Writer.

I hate to say it, but I’ve been converted. I knew I didn’t want a Kindle during university, but as the Real World beckoned, and I began to contemplate a world outside dictated reading, I began to be tempted by the prospects of a Kindle. Unfortunately, I did not have enough money to purchase one and all Kindle-related dreams were pushed outside while I scoured charity shops for vintage editions of books I wanted to read.

Incidentally, how beautiful is this 1962 edition of For Whom the Bell Tolls?

Fortunately, however, I arrived home to the happy surprise of a Kindle Paperwhite from my parents. I decided to buy Paper Towns on a friend’s recommendation and I’m thoroughly glad that I did.

I read John Green books too quickly, because they’re just so easy to read and because they’re just so enjoyable. Paper Towns was no exception and I found myself inevitably sucked into a world of  Quentin Jacobsen and  Margo Roth Spiegelman and all of the the mysteries and road trips taking place in Orlando, Florida. The thing I love the most about John Green’s books is his intelligence when writing; he doesn’t treat his predominately teenage audience as a stupid one and he doesn’t just talk about high school and relationships and sex. Instead he uses his works to challenge and question the world around them in oh-so-quotable snippets.

Take, for example:

“And it’s only in that time that we can see one another, because we see out of ourselves through cracks and into others through theirs. When did we see each other face-to-face? Not until you saw into my cracks and I saw into yours. Before that, we were just looking at ideas of each other, like looking at your window shade but never seeing inside. But once the vessel cracks, the light can get in. The light can get out.”

Once you have a giggle about the whole ‘cracks’ part, it’s not difficult to see why Green is so popular and why his books are so relatable. It’s beautiful, I love it. A great author with a great fanbase, and someone deserved of all of his success. I’d recommend Paper Towns to anybody of any age. I’d also recommend a Kindle if it didn’t feel a little hypocritical given my previous rant about them.

Does anyone else have any interesting thoughts regarding the Kindle, or John Green, or does anybody have any reading recommendations? I’d love to hear them!