Who Would Like This Book:
If you love coming-of-age stories with flawed, memorable characters, snappy dialogue, and a dash of philosophical pondering, this book will draw you in. John Green’s debut delivers witty banter, boarding school hijinks, teenage angst, and honest explorations of grief and the search for meaning. Fans of character-driven YA, thoughtful contemplation about life and death, or anyone who appreciates a good prank and the confusion of first love will find a lot to enjoy here.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Readers looking for fast-paced plotting or deeply original storylines might find this one a bit slow and familiar. The sometimes unlikable, self-destructive characters (especially Alaska), the heavy emphasis on teen drinking, smoking, and pranks, or the philosophical musings may turn off those after more conventional or positive messages. If you expect tidy resolutions or need to love the protagonists, you might end up frustrated.
About:
"Looking for Alaska" by John Green is a coming-of-age novel that follows Miles Halter as he leaves Florida to attend Culver Creek Preparatory School in Alabama, seeking the Great Perhaps. Miles befriends a group of students, including the enigmatic Alaska Young, and becomes entangled in pranks and love triangles. The story is split between the days before and after a tragic event involving Alaska, exploring themes of friendship, love, loss, and the search for meaning. Green's writing style is praised for its realistic depiction of teenage life, with well-developed characters like Miles, Alaska, and the Colonel, and a unique structure that keeps readers engaged.
The novel is lauded for its powerful storytelling, thought-provoking themes, and emotional impact. It delves into issues like mortality, friendship, love, and self-discovery, offering a moving narrative that resonates with readers. The book's structure, alternating between the days before and after Alaska's death, adds depth to the plot and highlights the characters' growth and complexities. Green's exploration of life and death through memorable quotes, teenage experiences, and philosophical discussions in a boarding school setting creates a compelling and relatable story.
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Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers include substance abuse, sexual content, and themes surrounding suicide and grief.
Has Romance?
There is a significant romantic element in the story, primarily involving Miles and Alaska.
From The Publisher:
The award-winning, genre-defining debut from John Green, the #1 bestselling author of The Anthropocene Reviewed and The Fault in Our Stars
Ratings (306)
Incredible (58) | |
Loved It (97) | |
Liked It (77) | |
It Was OK (44) | |
Did Not Like (23) | |
Hated It (7) |
Reader Stats (496):
Read It (336) | |
Currently Reading (3) | |
Want To Read (103) | |
Did Not Finish (4) | |
Not Interested (50) |
12 comment(s)
Really enjoyed this. Must of as I stayed up late finishing it. :)
This book deals with grief and forgiveness in interesting ways. It's at times humorous, exciting, and suspenseful, and it contrasts that tone with very dark, thought-provoking, and heart-wrenching scenes. I enjoyed reading it, but it took me a while compared to what I've been managing recently, probably because it took me time to process the middle section before moving on. You'll know what I mean after reading. Just below 5 stars for this because I wanted the final quarter to be extended by maybe 20 pages.
People have written long and articulet review or this fantastic and moving book. They go into detail about how it is well written and the dialogue and a million other things that the writer John Green did well or could improve on. I agree with them for the most part it is an excellent book that I can not fathom anyone regretting reading. I would recommended to others.
One thing I would like to note is how John Green writes the second half of the novel. The After. He show that the greif of loosing a close friend is more then just sadness. That Miles and Chip display the hopelessness that one feels and the need for answers that takes over ones life after such a lost.
Looking For Alaska is one of the few novel if not the only one that portrayed the greif of losing a close friend young believably and beautifully.
I have read several novels by John Green, but never heard of this one I borrowed it (online!) from my library and thought I would give it a try. Overall, I liked the book. I didn't read any reviews until afterwards so I could form my own opinions. A lot of people complained because Alaska was "damaged but perfect" and the like. Yes, of course, she was this unbelievable character with huge boobs and butt, yet a perfect waist. She was moody, but loved to read (and had a whole library of books to be read). She was damaged, but pretty. You get my point...she is a teenage brat, but there may be one (or two) people in the world who may fit her exact description, but that's it. I found myself able to relate to her in more ways than I thought I would. I don't think that people understand what depression is like, or how serious an impact it can have on someone's life. I read a LOT of reviews complaining because she had severe trauma in her past and "couldn't let go". I think there are a lot of people out there who can relate to this, so it wan't 'out there' for me.
Enough about Alaska herself...I did enjoy the book and wish I knew more about the main characters. I think the drinking/smoking/prank playing was relate-able and think its a good teen book.
This book gave me all the emotions back in the day. I feel like John Green defined a generation by giving us the possibility of exploring characters who were very much as incomplete and broken inside as we felt as teenagers but always defying what was expected of them.
He also writes in a way that I personally think is raw and poetic, he creates magic with his pen.
I am tempted to go back to all these books and read them as I'm in my twenties now, to find out how much I identify with some situations after "living" a little more.
i liked it at 15, should read it again to see what i would think of it now
This was the 3rd book I have read by John Green. I am in awe of how this writer can understand the thought processes of victims, friends and strangers while still entertaining and captivating the reader.
I was a sophmore in high school when we lost 3 lives in a car crash that also put a 4th student in a coma. Then in my senior year we lost 4 more students to an even more tragic accident.
Grieving, questions, and more are always involved when you arw faced with tragedies such as this. When you think you are the most indestructible. John Green has a way of conveying all this accurately in my opinion.
I can't recommend this author enough to others and my daughters.
I feel like 8 kinds of death right now so this is going to be short. If you are, ever have been, or know a teenager, read this book. There are lessons in here about ways to live your life and ways to deal with death that everyone can benefit from. We want the larger than life crew of Pudge, the Colonel, Takumi, and Lara to solve their ultimate mystery, but they can't because ultimately this book isn't larger than life. It's about life, which sometimes sucks, and you have to find a way to absorb that suckiness and move on.
One star deducted because the Ultimate Prank is not all that great. It certainly would not have required 40 notebooks of planning.
The story dint attract me... i stopped in the middle.
A very quick read about boarding school adventures.
What can you read after
Looking for Alaska?
About the Author:
John Green is the award-winning, #1 bestselling author of books including Looking for Alaska, The Fault in Our Stars, and Turtles All the Way Down. His books have received many accolades, including a Printz Medal, a Printz Honor, and an Edgar Award. John has twice…
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