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A review by bookish_bell
Looking for Alaska by John Green
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Alaska is not a manic pixie dream girl.
I fell in love with this book as a teen and reread it recently at almost 30. I was shocked at the many (and frankly lazy) reviewers who insist that Alaska is a MPDG. I wonder if these people have ever lost or grieved for someone who died far too young? She's a complex and mercurial character and she exists as a fully formed, imperfect individual outside of the male protagonist's gaze. Yes, Miles idealizes her, but that's pretty normal for anyone to do when they meet someone new who seems mysterious and cool. Not to mention, the Colonel arguably has a greater impact on Pudge's character development than Alaska ever has a chance to.
Stop calling Alasksa a manic pixie dream girl, it's mysogynistic, lazy, and just untrue to describe such a complicated and tragic young female character with an outdated and sexist term.
I fell in love with this book as a teen and reread it recently at almost 30. I was shocked at the many (and frankly lazy) reviewers who insist that Alaska is a MPDG. I wonder if these people have ever lost or grieved for someone who died far too young? She's a complex and mercurial character and she exists as a fully formed, imperfect individual outside of the male protagonist's gaze. Yes, Miles idealizes her, but that's pretty normal for anyone to do when they meet someone new who seems mysterious and cool. Not to mention, the Colonel arguably has a greater impact on Pudge's character development than Alaska ever has a chance to.
Stop calling Alasksa a manic pixie dream girl, it's mysogynistic, lazy, and just untrue to describe such a complicated and tragic young female character with an outdated and sexist term.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol and Death