North Texas Daily

Matthew Payne | Staff Writer

@MattePaper

Chances are you’ve probably heard of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author and longtime YouTube partner John Green by now.

With the release of his latest novel, “The Fault in Our Stars” in 2012, and later on the release of the movie adaptation in 2014, with 20th Century Fox, John Green has garnered a veritable fandom first started with young-adult fiction diehards. It then grew to include lovers of romantic comedy-drama films, or anybody with a heart for stories that make love and life the focal points.

With successful novels and films under his belt, Green’s fans look to the future and reflect on the past of book-to-movie adaptations.

The Fault in Our Stars (Published on January 10, 2012 – film released on June 6, 2014)

This is a novel about love and loss. It exposes the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of oblivion. But through breaking the reader down, “The Fault in Our Stars” mends emotional vulnerability and the understanding of the sensation of life through endlessly fervent moments. Through little infinities, and falling in love slowly – then all at once – Green hooks readers in.

When the novel debuted as a New York Times #1 Best Seller, it camped at the top seven consecutive weeks. The movie adaptation followed similar suit, grossing more than $300 million with widespread approval from viewers who came in cold and those who read the novel.

Paper Towns (Published on October 16, 2008 – film to be released on July 24, 2015)

“Paper Towns” possesses arguably the most thrilling storyline out of Green’s work thus far. Main character Quentin “Q” Jacobsen is the seeker and person-of-interest. Margo Roth Spiegelman is the runner. The novel explores the exhilaration of chasing after what your heart wants, no matter what artifacts of the past are left behind.

This is the second of Green’s novels to be adapted for the big screen, and from trailers, the same production company behind “The Fault in Our Stars,” returning actors and Green’s watchful eye, “Paper Towns” promises to enthrall with the same intensity that the preceding film did.

Looking for Alaska (Published on March 3, 2005 – film release date pending)

It’s Green’s first novel and freshman foray into the world of young adult fiction. Upheld as a labor of love and Green’s pride into finally breaking past the threshold of publication, “Looking for Alaska” is rightfully acclaimed and explores coping with the strife to leave a legacy behind, and “going to seek a Great Perhaps.”

This novel deserves a movie adaptation just as much as “The Fault in Our Stars” and “Paper Towns” did, because the progression of the story’s plot is framed around a colossal, enigmatic event and is broken into two sections: before and after. The novel is a chase after this looming question, and on this event unspoken of until the moment of instance, the reader finds themself growing and maturing with main character Miles “Pudge” Halter.

Reading “Looking for Alaska” with Green’s later novels in hindsight provides a special feeling of progression not only from the story itself, but of Green’s writing style. This novel will in fact receive a movie adaptation, and Rebecca Thomas (“Electrick Children”) was recently announced as director.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson (Published on April 6, 2010)

Co-authored by both Green and David Levithan (“Boy Meets Boy”), this novel is a serious contender for a blockbuster hit with a plot that is extremely relevant and captivating to modern society.

Following the two lives of Will Grayson and, yes, Will Grayson, as they delve into an exploration of self acceptance, this novel displays what it means to love another regardless of sex, all as their respective lives further parallel each other.

With two authors who have proven themselves worthy of composing tales that can captivate on a theatrical scale, this is a strong option to adapt for film.

An Abundance of Katherines (Published on September 21, 2006)

“An Abundance of Katherines” is Green’s most light-hearted, niche novel. Although it follows the somewhat peculiar trend of main character Colin Singleton consistently being dumped by, well, an abundance of Katherines, the stringent personality vibes of Singleton are defused by the pervasive humor of supporting secondary characters and the story ultimately leads to a pertinent conclusion.

No movie adaptation plans have been announced thus far for “An Abundance of Katherines,” but if we were to see one, expect a romantic comedy rich with the same snarky humor we’re all accustomed to from Green.