LOOKING FOR ALASKA
John Green, Harper Collins UK, ISBN 975-0-00-752316-0
"If people were rain, I was drizzle and she was a hurricane."
For Miles Halter, life has been nothing. Not exciting or boring exactly, simply one big non-event. But when he transfers to a small boarding school in Alabama, he meets the extraordinary, cynical, clever, "deeply unhappy" Alaska Young, and is drawn into her reckless world, stealing his heart and changing him into a different person. For Miles, nothing will ever be the same again.
I didn't used to think I was a fan of John Green. Sure, I liked the cliched Fault in our Stars - it was an interesting read and, of course, a cute movie - but I thought that he tried much too hard to be philosophical. I understand this view is controversial in the teen-readers circle, so in order to redeem myself, I will admit that Looking for Alaska totally changed my mind about this author. John Green has written a beautiful image of a girl who has been irrevocably damaged and a boy who is searching for the meaning of life. There is truth in the way depression, post-traumatic stress, and grief are portrayed, and the philosophical concepts are pertinent, from Mile's search for A Great Perhaps to Alaska's obsession with
a quote from Simon Bolivar: "How will I ever get out of this labyrinth?" The story itself is relatively simple, but the metaphors are deep and beautiful, and that is an interesting, wonderful paradox. If John Green missed the mark with The Fault in our Stars, he hit the bullseye twice over with Looking for Alaska.
MY THOUGHTS
The main characters were well rounded and, though not entirely credible, were highly realistic. This is one of the most impressive improvements of Looking for Alaska over The Fault in our Stars. In TFIOS, while Augustus Waters was a very good character, Hazel Grace Lancaster felt flat and unreliable, and most of her defining attributes made her annoying to readers. In contrast, Miles Halter, the realistically quiet, shy new kid, and Alaska Young, the passionate, hurting, impulsive prankster, felt like real people that I have just spent the past year and a half with (even though the book only took me a day and a half to finish).
In addition to the realism of the characters, the storyline and their emotions in correspondence to it were relatable to everyone. I particularly related to Miles in his search for "A Great Perhaps" - in that I maybe am searching for something in my life as well. I think that we all are. And we all have felt the loneliness of coming to a new place, the familiarity that grows with making new friends, and the grief of losing one of those friends to reasons we do not understand. The book portrays life, and it is ugly and beautiful in equal parts.
Something must be said, as well, for the depth of thought that was put into the storyline, albeit simple. To put it in layman's terms: "It really makes you think." It is not really a love story, although I believe it would be classified as one. It is a story of life and it's complexities, including, but not limited to, the emotions we call "love" and "hate" and "grief" and so many, many others.
All in all, this was a wonderful reflection of the loves and hurts of young adult life and the intellectualism held by many teens that is taken for granted in our culture today. Not only is it realistic, but it is witty, intelligent, and heartbreaking. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading clever stories that will get "in the feels", as they say. If you are looking yourself for that Great Perhaps, the Maybes and What-If-I's of life, then perhaps Miles, Alaska and the other characters can help you along your journey as well.
FROM A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
From a Christian perspective...I would still recommend this book. Part of it follows Miles as he searches for his own beliefs about life after death, and, though he ultimately concludes something slightly vague, is a beginning to the search for true and ultimate meaning: ie. a life lived for Jesus, the Messiah. And while there is nothing in the story to suggest that there is truth to the claims of Christianity, there is nothing to suggest that Christian beliefs are not true.
However, the characters obviously do not care about living like Christians, so if that is an issue, you might want to steer clear. But if you can look past the fact that this book is about teenagers sneaking off campus to play harmless pranks, smoke and get drunk, then I would definitely read this book. There is something to be said for a writer who can write a story about teenagers being teenagers and still instill it with truth about humanity. So, regardless of your beliefs, I give Looking for Alaska a big thumbs up.
QUOTES
"When you stopped wishing things wouldn't fall apart, you'd stop suffering when they did."
"She loved mysteries so much that she became one."
"I may die young, but at least I'll die smart."
"The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive."
"'Thomas Edison's last words were, 'It's very beautiful over there.' I don't know where there is, but I believe it's somewhere, and I hope it's beautiful."
"I was born into Bolivar's labyrinth, and so I must believe in the hope of Rabelais' Great Perhaps."
