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Monday, October 29, 2012

Book Review: Looking for Alaska by John Green

Looking for Alaska

Goodreads

Synopsis:

Miles "Pudge" Halter is abandoning his safe-okay, boring-life. Fascinated by the last words of famous people, Pudge leaves for boarding school to seek what a dying Rabelais called the "Great Perhaps."
Pudge becomes encircled by friends whose lives are everything but safe and boring. Their nucleus is razor-sharp, sexy, and self-destructive Alaska, who has perfected the arts of pranking and evading school rules. Pudge falls impossibly in love. When tragedy strikes the close-knit group, it is only in coming face-to-face with death that Pudge discovers the value of living and loving unconditionally.
John Green's stunning debut marks the arrival of a stand-out new voice in young adult fiction.

Winner of the Michael L. Printz Award

An ALA Best Book for Young Adults

An ALA Quick Pick

A Los Angeles Times 2005 Book Prize Finalist

A New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age

A 2005 Booklist Editor’s Choice

A 2005 School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

About the Author:

John Green John Green's first novel, Looking for Alaska, won the 2006 Michael L. Printz Award presented by the American Library Association. His second novel, An Abundance of Katherines, was a 2007 Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His next novel, Paper Towns, is a New York Times bestseller and won the Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best YA Mystery. In January 2012, his most recent novel, The Fault in Our Stars, was met with wide critical acclaim, unprecedented in Green's career. The praise included rave reviews in Time Magazine and The New York Times, on NPR, and from award-winning author Markus Zusak. The book also topped the New York Times Children's Paperback Bestseller list for several weeks. Green has also coauthored a book with David Levithan called Will Grayson, Will Grayson, published in 2010. The film rights for all his books, with the exception of Will Grayson Will Grayson, have been optioned to major Hollywood Studios.
In 2007, John and his brother Hank were the hosts of a popular internet blog, "Brotherhood 2.0," where they discussed their lives, books and current events every day for a year except for weekends and holidays. They still keep a video blog, now called "The Vlog Brothers," which can be found on the Nerdfighters website

Website / Twitter / DFTBA.com / Youtube

My Review:

I remember how I was before I read my first John Green book, I was so young and clueless! I had no idea what I was missing! Fortunately, back in August I decided to explore a little book called The Fault in Our Stars. I read it and. I. Was. Changed. (Read my review of The Fault in Our Stars Note: The review is, well, excessive…it’s hard to explain…) The book freaking changed my life. It was an experience that I am glad I had. I actually feel like I can’t explain it. All I can say is this: it is significant. After finishing it I knew I had to get my hands on the rest of John Green’s books and so I did. I am on a John Green binge!

Looking for Alaska is my second John Green book. What can I say, the man delivered. Like The Fault in Our Stars, Looking for Alaska is an experience. It is funny, poignant, smart, and just plain wonderful. I cannot believe that I didn’t discover Mr. John Green earlier in my life! I am only two books in, but already I list John Green as one of my favorite authors, and I just plain admire the man. His levels of awesome are way too high—oh my, I have to be careful or else this will turn to an I-Love-John-Green-fest! Did I mention I love John Green?

Meanwhile back in the review...

This book is a wonderful contemporary novel. Though it has a plot I would say it is one of those books that reminds you that there is more than plot. The journey matters. The main character experiences a great deal of change and we as readers get to follow his journey. This book is a conversation. As a reader I felt pulled into what the book had to say. It made me think. It made me feel. And I am pretty sure it made me grow as a person…the nerve!

Looking for Alaska is one of those books, you know what I am talking about, the kind you read and then need a moment to just gather yourself. It is…I don’t feel like I can adequately describe this book. It is just…um…GREAT! Read it. Love it. Stalk John Green (but not in a creepy way, you know, normal, healthy stalking). Seriously, if you haven’t read any John Green books, WHY THE HELL ARE YOU STILL HERE!? GO! GO READ  NOW! HURRY! EVERY MINUTE YOU SPEND WITHOUT HAVING READ A JOHN GREEN BOOK YOUR SOUL WITHERS A LITTLE BIT! SAVE YOUR SOUL, READ JOHN GREEN’S BOOKS! 

I leave you with some John Green gifs! The man is awesome!

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3 comments:

  1. Don't yelll at me, but I have yet to read a John Green book. I know I have to but part of me is terrified of what those books will do to my mental state. One day when I am feeling strong ill have to tackle them.

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    1. I am not going to yell at you and I wont even touch the caps key, lol, because you are right! You need to be in a proper mental state. I highly recommend The Fault in Our Stars, but it did leave me feeling raw and bruised for a while. I felt all the feelings and I had no idea what to do with myself. When you finally feel prepared and ready,I think you will love John Green, as well you should. Lol just make sure you have something lighter to read after to help you heal...
      Ps. Thank you for reading my review!I always love reading your comments!

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    2. haha I am deff going to start with The Fault in Our Stars. Im thinking I'll tackle when I have a few days off from work, that way I have time to recover from the stroke it gives me

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