Looking for Alaska by John GreenMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
(from Goodreads)
Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter is done with his safe life at home. His whole life has been one big non-event, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave "the Great Perhaps" even more (Francois Rabelais, poet). He heads off to the sometimes crazy and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young. She is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart. Then . . . After. Nothing is ever the same.
OK, I know everyone has loved this book and I have heard nothing but rave reviews on it and have had tons of recommendations, but I just didn't couldn't find the "wow" factor...
I didn't think that is was terrible...not at all! But it just didn't do anything for me. I think that John Green's books have a deeper meaning to them and I just don't see it. As this is the 2nd book by him that I have read and have felt the same thing about.
This book is divided into two parts; "before" and "after"..."Before" a certain tragic event and then "after" the certain tragic event. I didn't really get into the "before" until I started reading the "after". The "before" is basically you getting to know the characters and what happens at the boarding school that they are at. Certain traditions and such...To me nothing much happened. There wasn't really any drama, not much romance, etc. Well, OK, I guess there was but just lightly touched upon. Somebody compared this book to "Stand by me", the movie and I can agree with them. Although the movie I loved.
The "after" part really held my attention because the tragic event has passed and it is the aftermath where everyone is trying to deal and trying to figure out what happened. I guess these are the types of books I really like. When something happens...something deep, something meaningful. I am not good at having to "find" the meaning, etc.
So, no this book wasn't bad, but it just wasn't entirely for me. Please still try this book if you haven't because there are way too many positive and raving reviews on this book for you not to try it.
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Yea I've tried to get back into Looking For Alaska a couple of times. It's just the Before is too slow for me and like I got bored a little. But I know once I get over it the rest will be great.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this yet, but I feel the same you do about his books--I don't see the deeper meaning. Paper Towns was a good book, but I don't understand the passion for it other people have. I think I'm more of a blatantly-obvious meaning kind of person.
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