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mandycantsleep's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I remember reading this in middle school and absolutely loving it. So I decided to reread it now, as a 22-year-old, and I cannot say it resulted in the same outcome. I feel like a lot of the book was ... completely unnecessary.
The second half of the book felt super drawn out, I think it could have been wrapped up in just a few chapters. I was listening to the audiobook, so it ended up being 3.5 hours of the second half. Honestly, I started to lose interest after an hour in.
It was fairly obvious to me why Alaska was going out (maybe it was my memory from 10 years ago? Or more likely, just the fact that she talked about her worst day prior (her mom's death), and the date she drove off was around the same time in January.) I was just getting really annoyed at the characters, I felt like screaming through my screen, "SHE WAS GOING TO SEE HER MOM! OBVIOUSLY!" So when they finally figured it out, it wasn't some big conclusion for me.
I also think maybe it was just a bit young for me. While I was definitely too young to be reading this in middle school, I think maybe high school is the best demographic for this book. Overall, it's a really intense story and had me hooked in the first half, but lost me in the second.
The second half of the book felt super drawn out, I think it could have been wrapped up in just a few chapters. I was listening to the audiobook, so it ended up being 3.5 hours of the second half. Honestly, I started to lose interest after an hour in.
It was fairly obvious to me why Alaska was going out (maybe it was my memory from 10 years ago? Or more likely, just the fact that she talked about her worst day prior (her mom's death), and the date she drove off was around the same time in January.) I was just getting really annoyed at the characters, I felt like screaming through my screen, "SHE WAS GOING TO SEE HER MOM! OBVIOUSLY!" So when they finally figured it out, it wasn't some big conclusion for me.
I also think maybe it was just a bit young for me. While I was definitely too young to be reading this in middle school, I think maybe high school is the best demographic for this book. Overall, it's a really intense story and had me hooked in the first half, but lost me in the second.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Grief, and Suicide
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Minor: Vomit, Blood, and Addiction
q_bert13's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
My first time reading a book by John Green, can only compliment his writing style, and his ability to make characters that are truly fleshed out and flawed, but characters you enjoy as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Cursing, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, and Drug abuse
Minor: Sexual content
bookish_skies's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Suicide
endlessblankpages's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident
karalyndawn's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I remember this being popular when it first was released so I thought I’d give it a listen on audiobook. It definitely wasn’t what I expected, I was expecting something a little more dark but it was an alright story. Not my favorite but not bad either. The friend group is definitely fun but messy. I probably would have enjoyed it more when I was in my teens/early twenties.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Car accident
rookthomas's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Alcohol, and Drug use
Moderate: Death of parent and Suicide
mattysmith's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
At times the writing felt strange, for example in one portion the main character is writing an essay and he swears multiple times in the essay. Which, felt strange because most people don’t really swear in essays, but overall I really liked it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Death
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content
dusbunny's review against another edition
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book has been on my mind for years. I first read it myself as a suicidal teenager and I related to the character of Alaska so much. I remember my first read feeling like I wanted her life so much. It's amazing going back as an adult and realizing how much pain she was in, and so was I, and also how horrible the people around her treated her. It's eye opening for someone who survived being Alaska to see her and realize that. Forever a favorite book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Death
Moderate: Death of parent and Suicide
Unreliable narratorallysm0llbean's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Alcohol, Sexual content, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Death
carina_dreamer's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Sendo isto um livro com personagens no 11° ano num colégio interno que são amantes de partidas e de espírito livre, já não sinti que tinha a idade certa para os adorar.
Esta é uma leitura essencial para os adolescentes porque os temas que aborda são interessantes e causa reflexão sobre a mortalidade que eles não sentem alcançá-los.
Eu gostei mais da parte do "depois", já tinha identificado os sinais e deitei umas lágrimas, mas não foi um pranto como fiz com outros livros. O "antes" foi um pouco enfadonho para mim, mas a escrita do John Green é fluída e isso é um grande ponto positivo.
Adorei como o autor também começou a estória no dia 136 antes e terminou no 136 depois, é o tipo de planeamento caricato que gosto por parte dos escritores.
Esta é uma leitura essencial para os adolescentes porque os temas que aborda são interessantes e causa reflexão sobre a mortalidade que eles não sentem alcançá-los.
Eu gostei mais da parte do "depois", já tinha identificado os sinais e deitei umas lágrimas, mas não foi um pranto como fiz com outros livros. O "antes" foi um pouco enfadonho para mim, mas a escrita do John Green é fluída e isso é um grande ponto positivo.
Adorei como o autor também começou a estória no dia 136 antes e terminou no 136 depois, é o tipo de planeamento caricato que gosto por parte dos escritores.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Car accident, and Drug use
Minor: Death of parent, Infidelity, and Suicidal thoughts