Review - Looking For Alaska

Summary: Teenager Miles decided he wants to go to boarding school in hope of finding the "Great Perhaps." Along his journey he makes friends, finds heartache, and even discovers a piece of the Great Perhaps.




My Thoughts: I was a little surprised at this first novel by John Green. I read his second novel first, An Abundance of Katherines, and found it funny and pleasant. I didn't realize just how different and dark Looking For Alaska was going to be, or how much sexuality and drinking was in it. Maybe I am starting to forget what it was like to be a teenager, but I just feel like there was not a lot of this stuff going on in my circle. Or maybe I just was not paying attention. Or maybe it was just the feeling of shock at certain parts when I was listening to the audio book with my mother in the car. ... Maybe it's just me.

I liked what I thought was the general message of the book (although I am sure there is more than one message): Of being stuck in the labyrinth of suffering, trying to find a way out. Of how some people choose the quick way out, or some try to ignore they are in the labyrinth, or some keep surviving just knowing they will eventually find their way out whether they are ready or not. My only dislike was that, after the climax in the story, it lagged on for a bit. I wanted the characters to either move on or say the book was done.

The audio version (which, as I said above, is how i "read" this book) was read by Jeff Woodman. He did an excellent job of capturing the feel for the different characters; he had so many different voices to capture, and he did and then some! I definitely enjoyed listening to it.

About the Author: John Green is the author of three novels: Looking for Alaska, An Abandance of Katherines, and the soon to be released Paper Towns. For more info on this author, you can visit sparksflyup.com.