07/ 15/ 2014
A couple months ago, I — along with millions of others — read the The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I liked it. Green has a compelling writing style, creating heroines out of teenagers, while we listen, hearing them cope with real life experiences: death, sex, suffering and heartache.
Looking for Alaska is a different kind of story, a coming of age tale told from the main character Miles Halter’s point of view. When we meet Miles, he’s a friendless geek from Florida moving to Alabama to attend boarding school. At first, it seems like loneliness may be the motivation for this change. Later we find that Miles is a mature teen, in search of his “Great Perhaps.” In Alabama, he’s befriended by a girl named Alaska and his roommate Chip. These friendships teach him many things (like how to smoke cigarettes and drink like a sailor), but he also learns that life is a much more complicated journey, one that he’s only just beginning to understand.
The consistency of Green’s writing is incredible. He understands each character and stays true to their voice. And while it’s a solid storyline, the narrative seemed so methodical that the more complex ideas (symbolism, parallels, etc) weren’t as potent as they could have been. I felt lost in the details of following the plot more so than enjoying the undertones and heart of the story.
It’s a quick read, great for the summer. But if the young adult genre isn’t really your thing, it may not be the best choice for you.
—Jaime
P.S. Would love to hear what you thought about Looking for Alaska or The Fault in Our Stars.
I loved Looking for Alaska, even more so than I liked the Fault in Our Stars. It felt more raw, somehow, and I loved the fixation on Last Words. John Green is just so cool.
That’s a great way to describe Looking for Alaska… raw. I read The Fault in Our Stars when I was feeling low and struggling with some things. I think that’s one reason why it affected me so deeply. And, yes, I agree–John Green is the coolest!