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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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
John Green is so intriguing. I find it amazing that an adult can write about the turbulent teen years in a way that brings people of all ages back to that time in their lives. Can't wait to read more of his work. Love to watch his videos too.
challenging
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I first read Looking for Alaska as a teenager and absolutely devoured it—I remember being captivated by its emotional depth and the sense of mystery around Alaska herself. Re-reading it as an adult, though, I found myself struggling to connect with the story in the same way. I understand that it’s aimed at a young adult audience, but this time around it felt more childish and plain than poignant. The writing didn’t hold the same weight, and the main character, Miles, often came across as insufferable rather than introspective. While I can still appreciate what the book meant to me back then, it didn’t quite hold up on a second read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Grief
Wasn't my favorite but I've heard a lot of other people rave about it.
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Una historia muy adolescente, quizá si lo hubiese leído más chica lo hubiese disfrutado más. No lo odié pero si me incomodó mucho la misoginia internalizada de los personajes varones, que me imagino es el diálogo interno que tienen los hombres en general, teniendo en cuenta que el autor es también uno.
Por lo anterior, creo que la interpretación que una mujer le puede dar a esta historia puede diferir con la intención inicial de quien la escribe o quizá es intencional este egocentrismo que tienen los personajes en relación con Alaska. Todos perciben a esta muchacha genial, fuera del molde casi como a una deidad terrenal, cuya falla fatal son lo impredecible de sus emociones. Cada uno guarda una idea única de Alaska desde su propia perspectiva y son conscientes de esto. Incluso cuando estaba viva hablaban de ella más como un concepto/un algo que como una persona real e igual a ellos, la querían pero la veían como algo aparte, quizá por eso mismo ella se sentía tan sola.
Por lo anterior, creo que la interpretación que una mujer le puede dar a esta historia puede diferir con la intención inicial de quien la escribe o quizá es intencional este egocentrismo que tienen los personajes en relación con Alaska. Todos perciben a esta muchacha genial, fuera del molde casi como a una deidad terrenal, cuya falla fatal son lo impredecible de sus emociones. Cada uno guarda una idea única de Alaska desde su propia perspectiva y son conscientes de esto. Incluso cuando estaba viva hablaban de ella más como un concepto/un algo que como una persona real e igual a ellos, la querían pero la veían como algo aparte, quizá por eso mismo ella se sentía tan sola.
Today I opened "Looking for Alaska" and read it front to back. It's been years since I opened up a book and read it in a single day, but there was so much about this book that captivated me and kept me from stopping.
I think I need a cigarette.
I think I need a cigarette.
TO PREFACE THIS I LOVE JOHN GREEN WITH MY WHOLE HEART IVE BEEN WATCHING HIS VIDEOS SINCE I WAS 8 OK I LOVE MOST OF HIS BOOKS
I wish I could give this book two separate reviews, one for the “before” and one for the “after” in terms of stars - I can’t, but I will do that in terms of writing.
Before
I know that when this was published, the market was not as saturated with this type of story - a manic pixie dream girl who is just too complicated for this world and the boy who dared to love her. But at this point in time, I have seen a lot of this type of story, and maybe I’m just too old, but I found Alaska’s character unbearable. “Y’all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die” girl… I know you’re a teenager, but please get over yourself. I read that line and had to put the book down to take a deep breath because it was so cringey.
Though the premise is overdone, Green does it the best I’ve ever seen. He gives his characters emotional complexity in a way that few authors can. I do really enjoy how he portrays Miles/Pudge’s waffling over his feelings toward Alaska; it’s refreshing and real in a world of novels written about teens falling truly, madly, deeply in love without a second thought. Sometimes, the adolescent mind can’t make itself up and will violently swing back and forth day to day. Most of my issue is just rooted in the character of Alaska. This book is also incredibly similar to Green’s Paper Towns, but not nearly as good.
A lot of these opinions could be because I am 19 and this book was written for 15-17 year olds, but overall I found it a bit cliche.
After
This part of the book brings the rating up significantly. It was insane how much better it was. Writing grief and emotional processing is one of Green’s greatest strengths. The actual plot was just whatever, but the character development was stellar. It was repetitive, but isn’t grief? Telling yourself the same thing over and over again, running over the same scenes in your head, trying to make sense of it all. He captures the inside of Miles’s mind incredibly well.
In toto
Despite an overdone premise and insufferable female lead, Green does an excellent job characterizing and portraying emotions and struggles of the characters. Certainly very interesting, and not a bad book by any stretch of the imagination- especially for being a debut novel!
I wish I could give this book two separate reviews, one for the “before” and one for the “after” in terms of stars - I can’t, but I will do that in terms of writing.
Before
I know that when this was published, the market was not as saturated with this type of story - a manic pixie dream girl who is just too complicated for this world and the boy who dared to love her. But at this point in time, I have seen a lot of this type of story, and maybe I’m just too old, but I found Alaska’s character unbearable. “Y’all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die” girl… I know you’re a teenager, but please get over yourself. I read that line and had to put the book down to take a deep breath because it was so cringey.
Though the premise is overdone, Green does it the best I’ve ever seen. He gives his characters emotional complexity in a way that few authors can. I do really enjoy how he portrays Miles/Pudge’s waffling over his feelings toward Alaska; it’s refreshing and real in a world of novels written about teens falling truly, madly, deeply in love without a second thought. Sometimes, the adolescent mind can’t make itself up and will violently swing back and forth day to day. Most of my issue is just rooted in the character of Alaska. This book is also incredibly similar to Green’s Paper Towns, but not nearly as good.
A lot of these opinions could be because I am 19 and this book was written for 15-17 year olds, but overall I found it a bit cliche.
After
This part of the book brings the rating up significantly. It was insane how much better it was. Writing grief and emotional processing is one of Green’s greatest strengths. The actual plot was just whatever, but the character development was stellar. It was repetitive, but isn’t grief? Telling yourself the same thing over and over again, running over the same scenes in your head, trying to make sense of it all. He captures the inside of Miles’s mind incredibly well.
In toto
Despite an overdone premise and insufferable female lead, Green does an excellent job characterizing and portraying emotions and struggles of the characters. Certainly very interesting, and not a bad book by any stretch of the imagination- especially for being a debut novel!
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes