I don't know why, but John Green's Looking for Alaska is often classified as a children's or young adult's book. While Green's debut novel may be a little less in-your-face than a lot of modern fiction, it's philosophical narrative - although sometimes over-stated - makes it worthy of comparison with the great literature of today.
Pudge Halter, the main character in Alaska is obsessed with last words. And it is the last words of Francois Rabelais that set the tone for the novel and inspire Pudge to leave home and seek adventure in an Alabama boarding school: I go to seek the Great Perhaps.
Pudge does encounter the Great Perhaps, and it is not as exciting or easy as he had imagined it to be.
With comical dialogue and some of the most identifiable characters I have encountered, Alaska, if nothing else, is a pleasure to read. Although it's not a major secret, I want to avoid giving away the major plot twist in the book, which is hard, since the second-half of the novel is based on this particular occurence. But the reason it is better not to know what will turn the story beforehand is because the first half of the novel is so well written, you'll become entirely engrossed with the Pudge Halter's circle of friends, adopting them as your own.
The humor of the first half is equally balanced by the melancholoy of the second. It is extremely rare that I am emotionally moved by any piece of art - from film to music to book - like I was by Alaska. Green manipulates our emotions to drive home philosophical questions about life and death.
Another famous set of last words throughout the novel illustrates Green's inquisitive look at mortality and human existence. Before dying, Simon Bolivar asked, "How will I ever get out of this labyrinth?"
While you may not find the spiritual answer to human suffering in Green's novel, you will at least be reminded of some of the important questions. Green has written a masterful novel to begin his career, and if he continues to write like this, he has a wonderful career in literature ahead of him.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
very interesting and well done Elyas, thanks and welcome!
2 - victoria
i've read this novel..definitely a page turner..the exchange of banter between all the characters, especially pudge and the colonel is memorable..a must read for any lover of literature
3 - alexa
I am 15 and looking for Alaska is an amazing book. I was quickly sucked in, wondering what happens (100 days before...before what?) I found myself sobbing when the day comes. I would recommend this to anyone who has emotions
4 - alexa
oh and it has a lot of metaphors, and really makes you think. it seems like a book that should be required for school. very like catcher in the rye but better
5 - Sonja
I loved the book too. I would like to agree with Alexa on two points. Of course we are dying to know what happened 100 days before. The book is a page turner.
Second, I instantly thought of Cather in the Rye too. However, Salinger is still my favorite author although John Green is a new writer worth reading.
6 - Larry
Looking for Alaska is a really good book that has great suspense that urges you too keep reading. I advise anyone to read this book if you like books with real life characters that you can relate to and is just plain good
7 - smith
i thought that this was such a great book and really reminded me of catcher in the rye...just recently got done reading that one too.
8 - tab
This book is very good and well writen. The thing i think is so odd is that i found it in my school library.This labrary is for 12-15 year old and all the smaller children visit our libray two.
9 - christian
thatnk you all you helped me do my book report without having to read it so kudos to you all
10 - kate
i think we have to remember that just because a book is classified young adult, that does not mean it is any less of a book. as the reviewer states, this is a very very good book and worthy of much critical literary praise. just like a plethora of other young adult books. many people mentioned catcher in the rye, probably one of the most influential YA books of all. now go and read frank portman's king dork. there's the outsiders by s e hinton - another classic. in australia we have some of the best YA authors of the moment. john marsden, joanne horniman, nick earls and not forgetting the incredible sonya hartnett. don't put stigma on YA! please!
11 - Randy
I an 14 years old, and i read this book, it was reccommended by a fiend. if she hadn't liked it in the first place, i probably wouldn't have read past the first chapter. As the book goes on, it gets better, and i could completley relate to the main character, Miles, so don't get discouraged, keep reading. in the "after" section, i found myself about to cry. i won't give away the huge event in the middle of the book, but i will tell you, it's well worth reading to find out. So take a chance and read it, and i guarentee that if you have any emotions, or even a little bit of a heart, you will fall in love with the book and its characters (especially alaska) so just go the library, get it and read it! YOU WON'T REGRET IT! I hate reading and this has become my favorite book of all time...i just COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!
12 - Jalyssa
This is by far an amazing book. Pretty much today's "catcher in the rye", but far better. My friend first gave it to me I'm like..is it a mushy love story? She's like..kinda. I read it and well, it's really not. The countdown has you wondering, but I refused to skip to the end. I love how at the end he uses a reference to the Law of Conservation of Mass, and how the topic of Buddhist interconnection was brought up. This was perfect for me because I have a theory that involves the Law of Conservation of Mass..everything truly is interconnected, and you can really place yourself right in the story. Looking for Alaska has you practically worshiping Mr Green. I was asking myself the whole time "How do I get out of the labyrinth?" Several quotes in this story are simply amazing. Oh, I'm 16 by the way, but this book is easily enjoyable by any age able of any sort of comprehension. Enjoy!
13 - disconnected
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Nine years ago, before MySpace, Facebook and Twitter, two young women eager to flee our sheltered Midwestern upbringings for that of a decadent life promised us in fashion magazines and song lyrics, connected via an online message board. Our identities concealed by the anonymity of email, we soon began confessing our deepest secrets, desires and fears to each other--divulging details we would never dream of sharing with even our closest friends. In our everyday lives, we were eager to dazzle and entertain, but when we cast aside those socially acceptable facades and sat down at our computers, we became the truest versions of ourselves and launched a mutual quest of self-discovery in feverishly-written prose. Six years later, we are ready to share those messages with the world.
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