Paper Towns

Paper Towns has been on my to read list for ages and when I saw it had no wait at the library I quickly checked it out. The start quickly drew me but I lost interest right around part two. Since I wanted to know the answer to the mystery I did keep reading. 

Quentin has always loved the girl next door, Margo may have liked him at one time but ever since they found a deceased person their relationship as friends disintegrated. Now the most popular girl in high school Quentin watches Margo from a distance until one night she shows up at his window demanding his help. After a wild night of supposedly random occurrences Margo disappears. Determined to find his friend Quentin goes on a journey to piece together the clues left behind.


The writing was alright, part of it just dragged and seemed to go in circles which drove me crazy. Overall I just did not care for the story and was highly disappointed. Guess it was not my style of book. 

Castle in the Air

Castle in the Air is the second book in the Howl's Moving Castle trilogy. It took me a long time to even start reading the story but once I read a couple chapters I was hooked. For several chapters I was confused on how the story tied into Howl's story but I was glad when things finally came together.

Abdullah is a carpet seller who was disliked by his later father. Unable to inherit his family business Abudllah makes his own way and is fairly successful with his carpet business. All that changes when a mysterious stranger shows up and offers to sell Abudllah a magic carpet. Unable to believe his good luck after a quick test of the carpets power Abudllah barters for the carpet. Little does he know the carpet will be the start of a great adventure for him. 

I like how parts of the story seemed familiar but with a new twist. I did have several moments of shock and other moments of I figured that was what was happening. The third book, House of Many Ways is check out from the library but I am on the waiting list.  

Starbreak

Strabreak is the second book in the duologoy of Starglass. I did not really like Starglass but I wanted to know how things ended.

Terra is heading to the planet to hopefully save her sister in law and meet the boy that haunts her dreams. Escaping the riots happening in the dome Terra rounds up a handful of people and convinces them to head down to the planet with her.

It is so hard to write reviews for books I am not overly fond of. The story did not move very quickly and it focused more on an intimate relationship between Terra and an alien. I found myself skimming large parts of the story where it felt repetitive and just boring. With average writing and flat characters I will not find myself searching for more of Phoebe North's work.