I would not have read any John Green book. Not in this year atleast , if it was not for a sweet request from one of our reader [ whose request email I would be sharing next week ].
So, after much research and checking all his books , I bought Looking for Alaska. Something about the plot hooked my interest and I admit I did misinterpret it actually.
Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. Then he heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, 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, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.
After. Nothing is ever the same.
The book is divided into two parts , separated by a major event in the life of Pudge , Colonel , Takumi , Lara and Alaska. I liked the way chapters were headed as a countdown to and after the event ( 122 days before , 100 days before .. 2 days after , 46 days after and so on ) It adds upto the feeling that you are a part of life of these friends from long time and have so much more to know and feel along them.
Alaska is seemingly carefree prankster who knows a lot about people around her but never shares her ideas and feelings as openly. She loves to read , to explore , to lead and be there for friends. Her guilt makes her vulnerable and moody and that is something you hate to like her for. Miles and his roomate Chip nobody and somebody in their own ways. I like the way colonel Chip makes Miles a part of his friend circle and how Green shows us the bonds' strength and weakness with snippets from their life and not just stating it clearly. Takumi and Lara feel like insignificant characters sometime but then , every one has a role to play in the bigger picture.
For me the novel was an enjoyable read in the before section. It set up the stage just right for the after part. That's where the story kind of stops and the characters take over on their own. Their thoughts and actions are bit surprising at times and yet understandable. Having said this , I am not still sure if i liked this one or "really liked" this book. It left me wondering and wishing for a different end yet the one I read made a lot of sense. The book will not appeal to all. It has some interesting philosophies , a few random conversations that just hit you hard and a lot of cute moments that make you smile.
Read it if you are not looking for too much fun. This is a beautiful tale of teenage and its adventures.
"Teenagers think they are invincible" with that sly, stupid smile on their faces, they don't know how right they are. We need never be hopeless, because we can never be irreparably broken. We think that we are invincible because we are."
Rating : 4/5
So, after much research and checking all his books , I bought Looking for Alaska. Something about the plot hooked my interest and I admit I did misinterpret it actually.
Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. Then he heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, 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, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.
After. Nothing is ever the same.
The book is divided into two parts , separated by a major event in the life of Pudge , Colonel , Takumi , Lara and Alaska. I liked the way chapters were headed as a countdown to and after the event ( 122 days before , 100 days before .. 2 days after , 46 days after and so on ) It adds upto the feeling that you are a part of life of these friends from long time and have so much more to know and feel along them.
Alaska is seemingly carefree prankster who knows a lot about people around her but never shares her ideas and feelings as openly. She loves to read , to explore , to lead and be there for friends. Her guilt makes her vulnerable and moody and that is something you hate to like her for. Miles and his roomate Chip nobody and somebody in their own ways. I like the way colonel Chip makes Miles a part of his friend circle and how Green shows us the bonds' strength and weakness with snippets from their life and not just stating it clearly. Takumi and Lara feel like insignificant characters sometime but then , every one has a role to play in the bigger picture.
For me the novel was an enjoyable read in the before section. It set up the stage just right for the after part. That's where the story kind of stops and the characters take over on their own. Their thoughts and actions are bit surprising at times and yet understandable. Having said this , I am not still sure if i liked this one or "really liked" this book. It left me wondering and wishing for a different end yet the one I read made a lot of sense. The book will not appeal to all. It has some interesting philosophies , a few random conversations that just hit you hard and a lot of cute moments that make you smile.
Read it if you are not looking for too much fun. This is a beautiful tale of teenage and its adventures.
"Teenagers think they are invincible" with that sly, stupid smile on their faces, they don't know how right they are. We need never be hopeless, because we can never be irreparably broken. We think that we are invincible because we are."
Rating : 4/5
I've read two other John Greens and thoroughly enjoyed them. I definitely have this on my near-future to-read :)
ReplyDeleteI know John Green only from his YouTube persona which is just as great but I'm definitely going to try and get his books soon.
ReplyDeleteReally soon.