THESE similes? Really?
Plot was pretty pointless, but it passed the time. For a day. ( )

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a great story that struggles with the realization that each person we come in contact with, we change and they change us. ( )

2006 Printz Award Winner ( )

A marvelous YA full of clever dialogue that moves from trivial matters to deeper ones of life and death ( )

looking for alaska is one of the few books that I have found that has been set in Alabama. This book has won the Michael Printz Award and was well deserved due in part to the excellent characters.

We meet our protagonist, Miles "Pudge" Halter getting ready to go to a private school in Alabama that his father went to, Culver Creek. Miles is obsessed with famous last words. He spends more time reading biographies than reading actual work done by the person. Last words are what got him where he is at the private school. "I go seek a Great Perhaps" - Francois Rabelais. Miles is in search of himself with people around him who smoke, drink and are in search of sex.

Another of the characters we meet is Chip "Colonel" Martin. He is the comic relief pretty much of the entire book. He is pretty funny. He and alaska spend a lot of time plotting the perfect prank. Speaking of Alaska. You either love alaska or you get annoyed with her just like her friends do by her constant mood swings.

The book is separated into two portions a before and an after. Because of the spoiler type things that happen in the before and the after I will not go into much detail about either of these portions. Just trust me that as the first book that I read for January and by John Green in general I can say that I wish I had picked up these books much much sooner. ( )

I didn't read the description of this book before I read it - I chose it because it was John Green and I knew he wouldn't disappoint me. I didn't know I'd feel punched in the gut afterward. But that's a compliment. When I finish a book but can't finish thinking about it - that's goodness. That's why I stay up too late reading and ignore laundry. I will remember Alaska Young for quite some time. "For she had embodied the Great Perhaps— she had proved to me that it was worth it to leave behind my minor life for grander maybes." ( )

An eye-opening coming of age story, lyrical and gritty at the same time, and if my current experience working at a high school is any judge, scary accurate in its reflections of teenage attitude and intelligence--which is to say that they are far more sensitive and smart than anybody thinks. ( )

A young adult novel which follows the life of Miles (Pudge) as he leaves home to attend boarding school in Alabama. When he begins his sophomore year, he joins with a group of other students and they explore the "Great Perhaps". Alaska Young is a charismatic young woman who Miles is fascinated by, especially as they ponder the "Last Lines" of a person's life. The book follows the group as they grow - through pranks, firsts, and sorrow/grief.
An important coming of age novel. ( )

Wow! ( )

I read this novel years ago--before I started using LibraryThing. I re-read it for a challenge committee.

Miles chooses to attend a private high school where he meets some interesting people who help him find who he is. The novel scares people because Miles lives life trying activities many wouldn't approve of, such as smoking and oral sex. That's all some people see. They don't see the pain of Alaska and the power of friendship. Accepted by his roommate, Miles likes having friends and being able to be himself and to find the parts of himself he doesn't know he is. Alaska suffers from so much pain that she strives to survive--sometimes helping her friends and sometimes harming her friends.

The structure is integral to the meaning. The first half revolves around life with Alaska. Everyone revolves around her; she can be such a pain, but everyone has a soft place for her because she's real despite the obfuscations. The last half of the novel takes place after Alaska's death. it's in this part of the novel that the meanings are so deep, personal, and beautifully written. It's not a "dirty" novel at all; it a novel about pain, identity, friendship, remembrance, and freedom of self. The novel possesses few adults, allowing the characters to be independent--for better or for worse. The differing groups come together to honor an icon but realize they are already moving on. Life continues. There's so much to ponder, think about, and discuss. ( )

4

I would have given this book 5 stars when I first read it as a teen. I enjoyed it very much and as a teen, listed it as one of my favorite books.
Re-reading it as an adult, it doesn't quite resonate with me the way it used to, and its really just a very sad story. I am balancing the difference with a 4 star review. ( )

Looking for Alaska is one of the coming of age books that will stick with you. Between the youthful antics of the teens (smoking, drinking, dreaming about sex and everything in between), the struggles of being a teen going to a boarding school and trying to figure out independence, and then the death of a friend - this book has it all.

From a personal standpoint, as a high schooler who lost a dear friend as in this book, I completely related to the emotional upheaval, the desperate search for answers, the lingering and lasting guilt of living.

Looking for Alaska may not be for the younger teen, but as a parent, I would be okay with my older, mature teen reading it. And, I think as a parent, this book is a good tool to see what it is your kids are doing behind your back. Come on, we all did stuff behind our parents’ backs.

Enjoy - John Green is a masterful storyteller. ( )

Book two for Pilgrimage Book Club. A young adult book but with a thoughtful look at the meaning of life and what happens after we die. KIRKUS REVIEWThe Alaska of the title is a maddening, fascinating, vivid girl seen through the eyes of Pudge (Miles only to his parents), who meets Alaska at boarding school in Alabama. Pudge is a skinny (?irony? says his roommate, the Colonel, of the nickname) thoughtful kid who collects and memorizes famous people?s last words. The Colonel, Takumi, Alaska and a Romanian girl named Lara are an utterly real gaggle of young persons, full of false starts, school pranks, moments of genuine exhilaration in learning and rather too many cigarettes and cheap bottles of wine. Their engine and center is Alaska, given to moodiness and crying jags but also full of spirit and energy, owner of a roomful of books she says she?s going to spend her life reading. Her center is a woeful family tragedy, and when Alaska herself is lost, her friends find their own ways out of the labyrinth, in part by pulling a last, hilarious school prank in her name. What sings and soars in this gorgeously told tale is Green?s mastery of language and the sweet, rough edges of Pudge?s voice. Girls will cry and boys will find love, lust, loss and longing in Alaska?s vanilla-and-cigarettes scent. (Fiction. YA)

Not nearly as good as [b:An Abundance of Katherines|49750|An Abundance of Katherines|John Green|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1211230733s/49750.jpg|48658]. Too much angst. Not enough humor. ( )

An exceptional book that I have no problem pushing on others. Here are characters that pull you in, that make you care what happens as well as how they react to the events in the story. A coming of age story like Catcher in the Rye, or Separate Peace. Throw in a little hopeless geek love with the friendships and out comes a wonderful story to think on for some time. You may even want to revisit later to enjoy again or see if your reading changes with future experience.
Cheers to those willing to pick up this fine book and explore the "Great Perhaps." ( )

This was such a great book. Told in two parts the "Before" and the "After". Throughout its pages we meet Miles "Pudge" Halter. He's recently left home and is now enrolled at Culver Creek a boarding school - seeking his "Great Perhaps." Looking for Alaska chronicles his ordinary life - leaving behind his former Florida high school and moving out to Alabama. There he finally feels that he fits in. He makes friends with the Colonel, his roommate, Lara Buterskaya, Takumi, and last but definitely not least, Alaska, the girl he immediately falls for.

Mr. Green does a superb job in really capturing the lives of these teens. Their feelings, emotions, actions were all relate-able, realistic, we have all been there, we have all done these same things. I really commend him for not only introducing us to these characters but, if you're anything like me, you'll feel like you not only got to know them by the end of the book, but that they're also your friends. Pudge, the Colonel, Alaska, Lara and Takumi are just living their lives - but doing whatever possible to amuse themselves along the way. Even if it means irritating their teachers, playing pranks on the Weekday Warriors and all without getting caught by "The Eagle", the dean. They learn about alcohol and just how good it can make them feel, and then exactly how bad it can also make them feel, they learn to smoke cigarettes and experience sex for the first time.

This is their story of growing up, of loving and losing, of dealing and eventually just living life to the fullest. Mr. Green's writing is witty, entertaining, thought-provoking. It will make you laugh. It will make you cry. And I guarantee it will stay with you long after you are done with it. ( )

So…I have mixed feelings about this book. It was recommended to me by a coworker who was watching the show of the same name. YA contemporary really isn’t my genre of choice but the blurb looked interesting enough. But, probably not the best book to read for the first time in your mid-30s…perhaps I would have appreciated it more 15-20 years ago. I do enjoy slice-of-life books from time to time and this entire book circles around one girl, Alaska Young.

On one hand, I finished the book fairly quickly (for me at least), so that counts for something, right? The plot was nonexistent, but still, something about reading about high schoolers’ secret lives fascinate me. The writing was easy to read. And the cast of characters is interesting and different, if not quite likeable or relatable (for me, at least. I never had any friends like that in high school).

The book is split into two parts - before a tragic event occurs and then the aftermath as the characters struggle to move on and accept what happened. No actual chapters but the scenes are divided by the number of days “before” and “after”.

The kids acted too much like edgelords and pretentious m. I really wanted to like Alaska and Miles, but they were too much “cool girl/guy” and “not like the other girls / guys” for me to handle. And the female characters were written so poorly - Alaska was like a manic pixie dream girl and Lara just made me cringe with the way the author wrote her accent…very stereotypical. They did not seem realistic at all. Takumi is introduced as part of the main group, but we know next to nothing about him except that he’s Japanese and he raps.

The “after” section moved so slow that I had to force myself to finish the last few chapters, but I was in too deep to DNF it.

This was my first John Green book and will likely be the last, sadly. I really did want to love it. All that being said, I am interested in trying out a bufriedo and I will most likely be watching the show…it should be more entertaining. ( )

So…I have mixed feelings about this book. It was recommended to me by a coworker who was watching the show of the same name. YA contemporary really isn’t my genre of choice but the blurb looked interesting enough. But, probably not the best book to read for the first time in your mid-30s…perhaps I would have appreciated it more 15-20 years ago. I do enjoy slice-of-life books from time to time and this entire book circles around one girl, Alaska Young.

On one hand, I finished the book fairly quickly (for me at least), so that counts for something, right? The plot was nonexistent, but still, something about reading about high schoolers’ secret lives fascinate me. The writing was easy to read. And the cast of characters is interesting and different, if not quite likeable or relatable (for me, at least. I never had any friends like that in high school).

The book is split into two parts - before a tragic event occurs and then the aftermath as the characters struggle to move on and accept what happened. No actual chapters but the scenes are divided by the number of days “before” and “after”.

The kids acted too much like edgelords and pretentious m. I really wanted to like Alaska and Miles, but they were too much “cool girl/guy” and “not like the other girls / guys” for me to handle. And the female characters were written so poorly - Alaska was like a manic pixie dream girl and Lara just made me cringe with the way the author wrote her accent…very stereotypical. They did not seem realistic at all. Takumi is introduced as part of the main group, but we know next to nothing about him except that he’s Japanese and he raps.

The “after” section moved so slow that I had to force myself to finish the last few chapters, but I was in too deep to DNF it.

This was my first John Green book and will likely be the last, sadly. I really did want to love it. All that being said, I am interested in trying out a bufriedo and I will most likely be watching the show…it should be more entertaining. ( )

I heard a lot about this book before I decided to read it myself. At first I didn't see what all the hype was about, but as I continued it began to reveal itself. I believe this book is well written and though short, the plot feels well fleshed out and paced. The characters are compelling and the thoughts on how to get out of this maze of suffering and other questions on life and death, coming from some characters who haven't too long been out of high school, is interesting and beautiful. ( )

I'm just not in the mood for teenage angst. Stopped at page 35.

My grandson proclaimed this as his all time favorite book earlier this year (he just turned 16). I didn't know what it was, and assumed it was adventure travel. Then my wife read it, and thought I'd enjoy it also. So I have just read it.
I love that young folks are finding this book valuable, as it offers a pathway to ask, and attempt to answer, some of those eternal questions. You know, the "What does it all mean?" questions.

Green is an engaging writer, and I don't feel insulted by his tone.

On the other hand, my 13 year old granddaughter wants to tread this. My wife and I think she should wait a year or two. But practically speaking, I don't even know how you'd keep a book out a child's hands today, with all the tools available to gain access. Sex, smoking, drinking.

This is my second Green book. I read "The Fault In Our Stars" a few months on the STRONG recommendation of my 13 year old granddaughter. And I fully enjoyed it - and appreciated it. Try it also.
We also just watched this movie this week, and enjoyed it as well. I remember remarking to my wife as we watched that the dialogue felt authentic to me. ( )

This is my favourite John Green book. I loved TFIOS, but this book took the cake. Although the ending was not what I would have hoped it would be, this book made me fall in love with John Green, Miles and Alaska. Alaska is very related, and Miles is the awkward kid that we all have inside of ourselves. I'd suggest this book to anybody who loves sarcasm and wit. Beautiful book! Five stars! ( )

Full Review on my blog!

I’ve been wanting to read this since one of my friends recommended it to me a few years ago, and I never got to it until now… Although I did buy it the same week it was recommended but… it was just been sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be read. haha.. Last week I finally picked it up and read it. I’ve only read two books by John Green, which are of course The Fault In Our Stars and Paper Towns-which are both sooo amazing btw. Sooo… I had a lot of expectations coming into reading Looking for Alaska. I’m finding it really hard to review/summarize this book. Love, friendship, life, death, before, after, finding meaning in life and learning to forgive.

It was hard writing a review about this book. I don’t love it, but I don’t hate it either, in fact, I kinda like it. It is a good book with a lot of quotable quotes and an interesting premise. This has got to be one of my favorite books because it is just so amazing. I recommend it 😀

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