Review: Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances by John Green, Maureen Johnson, & Lauren Myracle

Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances
By John Green, Maureen Johnson, & Lauren Myracle
Publisher: Speak
Format: Paperback
Source: Library

To Sum It Up: A huge snowstorm wreaks havoc for the holidays for the characters in these three intertwined short stories. After her parents are jailed under some very bizarre circumstances, Jubilee has to go to her grandparents’ house in Florida, but the storm brings her train to a halt. She ends up at a local Waffle House, which also happens to be the destination for Tobin and his friends. They brave the perilous roads to get there and have a few adventures on the way. Finally, no amount of snowfall will translate into a day off from Starbucks from Addie, who’s coping with a broken heart that may distract her from an important holiday task. It’s Christmas, though, and sometimes things have a way of falling into place.

Review: If ever there’s a time of the year for a feel-good read, I think it’s Christmas. Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances is just right for the season; it’s a light, quick read that’s packed with humor and, most importantly, holiday cheer. It’s also quite sweet, as implied by the presence of “romances” in the title, but not syrupy.

It just so happened that I ended up enjoying the first story the most and the last one, well, not as much as the other two. Maureen Johnson’s “The Jubilee Express” kicks off Let It Snow, and let me begin by saying that I loved her novel, The Name of the Star. The plot of that one centers around a series of Jack the Ripper-style murders, and yet the book also boasts some really funny moments. Seriously—that novel manages to incorporate both humor and horror. So I was thrilled to see that Johnson had authored one of the stories in this collection, and she totally delivers on the hilarity front. Her main character is named Jubilee, and straightaway, Jubilee demonstrates a healthy appreciation for self-deprecating humor by riffing on her own name. I instantly loved this girl, and her tale only got better and better. Jubilee’s parents are avid collectors of the Flobie Santa Village and are caught up in a brawl that erupts over a highly coveted piece. They’re arrested, and that’s how poor Jubilee finds herself on a train to spend Christmas with her grandparents in Florida. Johnson’s descriptions of the fervor of Flobie fans are just riotous. There’s also a touching side to this story, as Jubilee repeatedly tries to reach her boyfriend, Noah, who’s busy at a family holiday party. Jubilee is supposed to be at that party, and she slowly realizes that maybe all isn’t as perfect with Noah as she thought. She’s a resilient character, however, and some extreme kindness from a few strangers ensures that “The Jubilee Express” doesn’t lose too much of its easygoing tone.

As you work your way through the book, names and locales start becoming familiar. Each story stands on its own, but yet all three are related to each other. Up next is John Green’s “A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle,” and though I’m not the biggest Green fan ever, I found his contribution to be a solid, entertaining read. The determination of Tobin and his friends, JP and the Duke (real name: Angie) to brave the winter weather in order to reach the local Waffle House is both inspiring and fraught with funny. Tobin and JP want to hang out with the cheerleaders who have invaded the restaurant after their train, (the same train carrying Jubilee, by the way), becomes stuck in snow. The Duke accompanies them because she loves Waffle House’s hash browns. Green fans should be very pleased with “A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle” and its wit-filled pages.

Unfortunately, I thought the book faltered a little with the final story, Lauren Myracle’s “The Patron Saint of Pigs.” It centers around a rather self-involved character named Addie, who’s just broken up with her boyfriend because he wasn’t demonstrative enough with his affection for her. Granted, this is the type of story in which the main character needs to see the error of her self-absorbed ways, but I couldn’t warm up to Addie. Call me unromantic, but I just didn’t find her troubles as tragic as she did. I also felt like the story tried too hard at times to pull all three stories together. That’s not to say that “The Patron Saint of Pigs” doesn’t have its moments. I really liked Addie’s friend, Dorrie, who isn’t afraid to speak bluntly to Addie. The story just didn’t grab me the way the other two did, though, and it was a bit of a quiet finish for a novel that began so strongly. Still, if you’re on the lookout for a good holiday read, this is definitely one to keep in mind.

All in All: “The Jubilee Express” was clearly my favorite story out of the three thanks largely to its quirky, lovable protagonist, but there’s probably a character for everyone to love here. And if you love snow, well, you’ll find lots of mentions of snow in this book, too!

Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars
By John Green
Publisher: Dutton Books

To Sum It Up:

Although a miracle cancer drug has extended Hazel Lancaster’s life, she knows that she still faces an uncertain future. Seeing as her constant companion is an oxygen tank and the threat of death still hangs over her, Hazel can't help feeling pessimistic. She reluctantly begins attending the meetings of a cancer support group for teenagers, and it’s there that she meets Augustus Waters. With his irrepressible wit and charm, Hazel can’t help but be drawn to Augustus, and the two quickly become inseparable. Before Augustus, Hazel wasn’t so much living as existing, but that’s all about to change.

Lee's Review:

The Fault in Our Stars is a book that I didn’t plan on reading for a couple of reasons. First, I wasn’t overly impressed with John Green’s Looking for Alaska, though I concede that the man is one talented writer. I confess to returning Paper Towns to the library unread because I just wasn’t in the mood to read two Green novels in a row. Second, I’m always extremely wary of books that deal with chronic/terminal illness. There isn’t a lot of maneuvering room when it comes to preventing these types of novels from devolving into saccharine weep-a-thons. Scenes that try too hard to tug at the reader’s heartstrings irk me. Finally, I shied away from this book because I feared that it was going to be too intense of a read and I wouldn’t be able to handle it.

So what could have possibly changed my mind about reading this book? Well, it was more like a “who” than a “what”—my dear cousin and co-blogger, Ally. She’d wanted to read The Fault in Our Stars for the longest time and had finally gotten her hands on a copy. After starting it, she kept telling me how great it was, how I needed to read it, etc. I kept telling her my reasons for not wanting to read it, but Ally refused to give up. A lot of begging and wheedling on her part ensued, and I finally agreed to read this book because she was just going to continue her campaign until I surrendered.

I have to say, I’m grateful to Ally for her relentless assault on my will. At the heart of The Fault in Our Stars lies a moving, beautifully written love story. It’s almost impossible not to fall in love with Augustus and his devastating wit. Green’s signature quirky humor and metaphor-slinging characters are present and accounted for here, but he’s very careful not to make light of the heavy subject matter. My reservations about The Fault in Our Stars being overwrought and cloying were completely unfounded. Having read one of his previous novels, I should have put more faith in Green’s ability to steer clear of treacle, but being the pessimist that I am, I had to see for myself.

I do think that this book requires a bit more suspension of disbelief than you might expect for a contemporary novel, at least in comparison to the ones I’ve read so far. I can’t really delve into specifics without giving too much of the book away, but there were times when I felt like I had to accept some of the plot at face value. That’s not exactly a criticism because the book wouldn’t have been the same if events hadn’t unfolded the way that they did. The point I’m trying to make, very ineloquently, is, if I’d stopped to think, “Well, it’s improbable that X would really happen,” I would have ruined my enjoyment of the book.

There is no doubt that The Fault in Our Stars has earned its place among the books that every reader should read during his/her lifetime. For all of the times that the book will make you laugh, though, there’s an equal chance that it will make you cry. There are some scenes of such immense heartbreak that, while I’m glad that I overcame my reluctance to read this, I definitely couldn’t make it through the book again.

All in All:

This is one of the most hyped books I can think of in recent memory. I don’t like to give credence to that type of thing and prefer to form my own opinion of a book by reading it for myself. The Fault in Our Stars is one of the rare books that deserves all of the praise that has been showered upon it.

Ally's Review:

How can one go about reviewing a book about cancer, and death, and pain, and sadness? Because that's what The Fault in Our Stars is. Arguably, it is written in the elegant and humorous style of John Green, but still. I don't like people who pretend to understand and relate to things and situations that they oh so obviously can't. I don't want to be one of those people. So I can't tell anyone that John Green hit the nail on the head with this book. All I can say is that the book felt real, that Hazel Grace and Gus seemed real enough to me.

The characters, Hazel and Augustus, were great. They clearly have gone through much adversity, but they still trudge on through life. I was rooting for those two lovebirds to get together from the start. Gus was just so forward and fun. He was good for Hazel, and Hazel was good for him. A lot of people say that Hazel and Augustus (or most of Green's characters) don't “talk their age.” Being their age, I can't help but feel a little offended. Admittedly, I don't go around contemplating every little thing I see, but I do have a few sporadic, profound musings. However, I do see the point being made; Hazel and Gus are philosophical to the verge of being unreasonable. And I like it! They make me think, and this book made me think. It gave my brain a good workout.

The storyline follows the two teenagers on their quest to get answers from an author (who's a mega-turd) who left his book with a lot of loose strings. That's interesting! Many readers, including myself, feel the need to hunt down authors who leave their books with terrible cliffhangers and endings! I can name a few now. The book within a book thing really got to me. I was with Hazel and Gus all the way; I wanted answers for myself.

The humor and snark that follows every John Green book was present and accounted for. I laughed, I teared up (I never actually cried, which is something I am quite proud of), I swooned, and oh man, I rooted; this book seriously abused and messed with my emotions. The Fault in Our Stars is easily one of the best books I've ever read.

All in All:

The Fault in Our Stars is one of those books that all readers, no matter what their preference, should read or at least try at some point in their literary lives. I'm sure you'll love it for one reason or another.

Review: Looking for Alaska by John Green

Looking for Alaska
By John Green
Publisher: Dutton Books

To Sum It Up:

Miles Halter is looking for something beyond what his public school in Florida can offer. He’s in search of, as François Rabelais phrased it, the “Great Perhaps.” This determined journey of discovery leads Miles to Culver Creek, the Alabama boarding school that his father also attended. His new roommate is a scholarship kid who prefers to be called the Colonel and gives Miles his very own nickname, too ("Pudge"). But the center of Miles’s universe at Culver Creek is the smart, beautiful, and one-of-a-kind Alaska Young, whom he’s instantly smitten with. Under the guidance of the Colonel and Alaska, Pudge is pushed out of the safe confines of his old life and into whatever awaits him beyond it.

Lee's Review:

When I decided to check out one of John Green’s books at last, I figured that I’d start from the beginning, with Looking for Alaska. I had a rather odd journey reading this book. After reading a few chapters, I just couldn’t get into it and set it aside for almost two weeks. With the library due date looming, I somewhat reluctantly picked it back up. The hiatus ended up being a wise idea because when I resumed reading, I became a lot more interested in the story.

Even as I write this review, I still can’t precisely describe why I found this book so difficult to warm up to. Green is certainly an exceptionally talented writer. I get why he’s so popular. If I’d read Looking for Alaska when I was sixteen, I’d be worshipping him as a god, too. The thing is, I’ve been out of high school a long time, and looking back, I feel quite inadequate, bordering on ashamed, for not having read Rabelais or even having heard of Rabelais as a teenager. I also don’t recall pondering some of the profound topics that the teenage characters in this novel sometimes do, further making me question if I spent my adolescent years doing anything useful at all. There were times when I thought that Miles, Alaska, and the Colonel would have felt right at home among post-collegiate hipsters. Green’s writing has this mega-cerebral quality to it, and it didn’t always click with me.

Another contributing factor to the rocky start that I had with the book was that it seemed like nothing was happening. Contemporary, character-driven novels can be hit or miss with me, and this one was looking like a big miss. Miles sets off for Culver Creek. Miles meets the Colonel. The Colonel dubs Miles “Pudge.” Miles meets Alaska and can’t stop thinking about her . . . and so forth. I kept waiting for all of the talk about bufriedos (deep-fried burritos) and Weekday Warriors (the local rich kids who go home on the weekends to their rich families) to lead up to something momentous. And I kept waiting. Perhaps it was taking a break from the book that gave me some time to digest its pacing, so that when I began reading it again, I just went with the flow of the narrative. If I’d taken that approach from the get-go, I might not have gotten so frustrated with it in the beginning.

So why am I giving the book four stars? I did take an immediate liking to the Colonel because he radiated snark, and he was my favorite character until the end. I mean, I have to love a guy who attends basketball games just to heckle the other team and get ejected. The “After” part of the novel is riveting; it’s heartbreaking and poignant, yet filled with enough of Green’s inimitable brand of humor to prevent the book’s tone from becoming too melancholy. Finally, I cannot deny that John Green is a genius. The writing here is brilliant, even if it’s not exactly the type that speaks to me the way that it does to other readers.

All in All:

In the hands of the right reader, there’s a lot to love about Looking for Alaska. When it comes to contemporary, YA, Printz Award-winning novels set in boarding schools, though, Melina Marchetta’s Jellicoe Road remains my top pick.

Ally's Review:

Did I suspect that this book would be amazing? Yes! I was right; John Green can deliver nothing less than amazing! Looking for Alaska is the second John Green book I have ever read. Even though it wasn't my favorite Green book, I still enjoyed it.

The thing about Green's books that is so appealing to me, besides the humor, is the characters. Pudge was a great young lad, and I loved his obsession with famous last words. After reading this, I Googled some famous last words to sate my own curiosity. This leads me to another thing about Green—his characters are relatable. They aren't cardboard relatable either, where the characters are so bland that anyone can put himself or herself in the characters' shoes. I felt for Pudge. He was trying to become adventurous any way that he could. Alaska was also pretty cool. To me she was the epitome of teenage rebellion. Sure, she had her problems, but hey, nobody's perfect. The last character that I really want to mention is the Colonel. I loved this guy! He was this short little prankster/mastermind, and the book wouldn't have been the same without him!

The storyline was very interesting. You're pretty much following Pudge's life, watching as he truly begins to live. The relationship between him and his friends was quite moving. The end really caught me off guard. It wasn't a big old mystery, but I just couldn't believe it was happening!

The only thing that I can even think of that might have bothered me about this book was the sadness. But as every Nerdfighter must know, most of John Green's books come with a good dose of misery. He just has a knack for writing deep, depressing, memorable stories. I think that's secretly why I like 'em so much.

All in All:

It's a John Green book—go and read this amazing piece of literature.

Review: Paper Towns by John Green

Paper Towns
By John Green
Publisher: Dutton Books

To Sum It Up: It has been years since Quentin Jacobsen last spoke with the love of his life, Margo Roth Spiegelman. Her rise to popularity in high school leaves Quentin admiring her from afar. That is, until Margo recruits her childhood friend, Quentin, for her immaculate scheme of revenge. The day following Q and Margo's adventurous night, Margo goes missing. No one is really concerned about her disappearance besides Q, because that's what Margo is—a mystery, a free spirit. Besides, Margo has disappeared before, and she has always comes back fine. But this time is different, at least it is for Quentin. Quentin is convinced that Margo specifically left him clues, clues that will lead to her whereabouts. Through the many subdivisions in central Florida, Quentin heads off on an epic quest to find the girl who cannot be found.

Review: John Green, I bow down to you! Paper Towns is a hilarious book, with an amazing and thought provoking story. How one man can be so philosophical in a modern age where everything and anything has already been pondered blows my mind. I was super excited to read one of Green's books, and I was not disappointed one bit! It was all that I thought it would be and more!

The writing in Paper Towns is superb. John Green has mastered writing. Not only is his book hilarious, but it is very profound as well. I appreciated this and thought that the two balanced each other out perfectly. There would be very heavy topics and conversations between the characters and then someone would just crack a joke. It made everything feel a little more realistic. I myself connected with this strategy since I usually laugh in tense situations.

One of the most surprising aspects I found in the novel was the setting. I currently live in central Florida and am actually from New York City. So, I know what these environments are supposed to be like. Green was dead-on! I laughed out loud while reading about the cookie cutter houses and paper people in central Florida. He knew about the grocery store chain (Publix) and the band obsession that has infested this peninsula. Being in band myself, I thoroughly enjoyed everything he wrote about band and the band life.

What really made the book was the characters. Quentin was amazing! He was the typical awkward teenage boy. He wasn't the average literary hero with no faults, but he sure as hell tried to be. Quentin learned things about Margo that would negatively change anyone's opinion on her, but he continued to love her and look for her until the very end. I really respected that. I liked Margo, too, but at times she could get really annoying. I liked how she was adventurous and crazy. However, I did not like how she had this air of self-importance. At times, I felt that Margo expected everyone to admire and fawn over her. You can easily see how this could get annoying, especially since everyone else had their own problems to deal with. I also liked Quentin's friends, Radar and Ben. I thought that the two of them were great! They were hilarious and were always willing to help Quentin out.

Ah, I feel as if my review is very short. It's not because I didn't like the book, because I did, but because I really don't have much to say other than the praise that has been written multiple times already. Paper Towns was just an amazing, pulling read. It was one of the first real contemporaries I have ever read, and though I originally scoffed at anything other than fantasy or paranormal, it really made me have a positive outlook on the other contemporary books out there.

All in All: Paper Towns is an amazing book, and John Green is a spectacular writer. What more can I say?