Looking for Alaska by John Green

 

5 stars

Miles likes last words and great perhapses.

 

Growing up in Florida, Miles chases a great perhaps by attending Culver Creek boarding school in Alabama.

 

‘That’s why I’m going. So I don’t have to wait until I die to start seeking a Great Perhaps.’

 

He does not expect to make friends easily due to his awkward personality, but he does. Soon his new friends become family.

 

One member is Alaska.

 

It is complicated.

 

She is complicated…

 

…but she is one of Miles’ great perhapses.

 

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John Green’s writing definitely tops the charts, making him one of my favourite authors. He writes in such a way that paints vivid visuals in the reader’s mind. He is a “little things” writer. What I mean by this is that he puts great dedication and detail into each character (even supporting ones) so the reader can fall in love with each individual’s personality.

 

If I had to point out one thing I did not like it would be the predictability that came with the storyline, but the talent of Green’s writing outweighed this flaw.

 

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My favourite character is – surprise – Alaska. I talked to a good friend of mine when I was about three quarters of the way through the novel and I told my friend that I tend to find bits and pieces of myself melded into favourite characters.

 

Alaska presents a blunt and hard personality on the outside, but under the surface is different. She struggles with emotional and mental battles that threaten to break her at any minute.

 

I admire her strength and perseverance to take life day by day.

 

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Another thing I admire about this novel is its philosophical element. It is thought provoking. It makes you question things like death, afterlife and how people affect other people.

 

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I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Gender and age do not matter as the content is versatile in every aspect.

 

There comes a time when we realize that our parents cannot save themselves or save us, that everyone who wades through time eventually gets dragged out to sea by the undertow — that, in short, we all are going.