26th out of 7,914 books
—
39,546 voters
Looking for Alaska
by
John Green (Goodreads Author)
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...more
Paperback, 231 pages
Published
December 28th 2006
by Speak
(first published March 3rd 2005)
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some people are careless, and in an adrenaline-fueled all-caps teen reviewing frenzy, will inadvertently give a major spoiler for this book.
avoid these people, even though ordinarily, they are pretty cool.
this is a really well-written teen fiction book. i mean, it won the printz award, i'm not discovering america here. i think i wanted to emphasize that it definitely reads like a book intended for a teen audience. and i think that me as a teen would have numbered this among my very favorite book...more
Aug 04, 2011
K.D. Oliveros
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to K.D. by:
Aaron Vincent
I belong to the generation that enjoyed St. Elmo’s Fire, a 1985 American coming-of-age film that starred the then showbiz newbies, Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Andre McCarthy and Demi Moore. That was shown here in the Philippines when I was in my first year of working after college and I was able to relate to many of its characters so I watched it twice or thrice. Oh well, I was with my girlfriend then and you know how dark and cold were the theatres during those years when they were not yet inside...more
Apr 05, 2011
Mariel
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
workin' on leavin' the livin'
Recommended to Mariel by:
exit does not exist
What was I doing reading John Green's Looking for Alaska when I famously (coughs) despised large parts of the author's An Abundance of Katherines? (I'm emulating Miles here. Wait, I already talk like that!) 1. I disliked it enough to feel mean and want to give John Green another shot before writing him off forever as a potential book friend. 2. It was super cheap in the closing local Borders. 3. I'm not that original about selecting books. 4. What else are the late hours of the night for if not...more
A few months ago, I reviewed John Green's Paper Towns on here. I was disheartened by the clever distancing, the self-conscious cheekiness, the manic pixie dream girl paired with the bland narrator. I'd heard that Green's first book, Looking for Alaska, was similar, but better. That's very true.
There's this phrase I've read about that's used in Thailand, "same same, but different". I'd say that's the case with Paper Towns and Looking for Alaska. Superficially, they're pretty much the same books....more
There's this phrase I've read about that's used in Thailand, "same same, but different". I'd say that's the case with Paper Towns and Looking for Alaska. Superficially, they're pretty much the same books....more
This was the first book I ever read by John Green. It was given to me in 2007 when I had no idea who John Green was. I wish this book had been around when I was a teen. I really enjoyed the story, but I think I would have liked it even more if I wasn't already past that point in my life. Even still, I loved this book.
Miles is in search for the great perhaps, and has a fascination with famous last words. He meets Alaska Young who is basically the girl of his dreams. Their journey together at boar...more
Miles is in search for the great perhaps, and has a fascination with famous last words. He meets Alaska Young who is basically the girl of his dreams. Their journey together at boar...more
Mar 28, 2011
Jillian -always aspiring-
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Those not unconcerned about reading a novel about far from conservative teens
(Actual Rating: 3.5 stars)
For the longest time, I thought that Looking for Alaska, John Green's Printz award-winning first novel, was about teenage boys taking a road trip to Alaska. (Way for me to assume too much from a title, huh?) But this novel isn't about the state known as Alaska but a girl named Alaska. Well, that changed things.Will someone write the Alaskan road trip story for me, though? I'd really love to read one if there is one, preferably YA. If not, I'll add it to my list of 'Sho...more
For the longest time, I thought that Looking for Alaska, John Green's Printz award-winning first novel, was about teenage boys taking a road trip to Alaska. (Way for me to assume too much from a title, huh?) But this novel isn't about the state known as Alaska but a girl named Alaska. Well, that changed things.
I've been getting in touch with my inner Young Adult this week, in preparation for yet another final rewrite on my own YA book. This has, for the most part, amounted to listening to Death Cab for Cutie and reading Looking for Alaska - a book that I have been actively avoiding. The story of this is long and somewhat personal, so feel free to skip this part if you just want to know if the book is good.
I first heard of Looking for Alaska in my thesis workshop, when a girl very snidely told me I'd h...more
I first heard of Looking for Alaska in my thesis workshop, when a girl very snidely told me I'd h...more
Final rating: ★★★★☆/★★★★★
Loved it! I couldn't put it down - just like i expected. John Green is seriously talented, and even though i don't like this book as much as i love his "The Fault in Our Stars", it was still wonderful book.
I have to admit that i was o...more
"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."
Loved it! I couldn't put it down - just like i expected. John Green is seriously talented, and even though i don't like this book as much as i love his "The Fault in Our Stars", it was still wonderful book.
I have to admit that i was o...more
I was looking through reviews of Looking for Alaska to see if I was the only one who thought it awesomely hilarious and touching. As well as to see exactly where to start my review: a quote perhaps? Nah. A synopsis was a given, but I just couldn't reduce Looking into a paragraph or two without oversimplifying it. Then I came across this, "Inane, juvenile story about teenagers going to private school in Alabama. Meandering, silly, vapid, pointless, etc.”
My reaction? Ouch. Ouch and ouch some mor...more
My reaction? Ouch. Ouch and ouch some mor...more
This review will be somewhat of a spoiler. Don’t read it unless you’ve read the book or don’t want to. You have been warned.
“Poof……….and you’re gone.”
This was a line in the book that described death, sudden death in particular. It’s sounds just about right to me. It is exactly that. One moment there was a person, full of life, and then the next moment that person ceases to exist. It’s a difficult thing to wrap your head around.
In Looking for Alaska there is a sudden, stupid death and I thought J...more
“Poof……….and you’re gone.”
This was a line in the book that described death, sudden death in particular. It’s sounds just about right to me. It is exactly that. One moment there was a person, full of life, and then the next moment that person ceases to exist. It’s a difficult thing to wrap your head around.
In Looking for Alaska there is a sudden, stupid death and I thought J...more
In Looking For Alaska, John Green tells the story of Miles, a smart, skinny teen who decides to go to the same boarding school his father attended in the hopes of finding a different life. The reader gets a glimpse of what Miles’ home life is like at the beginning of the novel when his mother throws a going-away party for him, and only two people show up. Once at boarding school, Miles quickly befriends his roommate, nicknamed The Colonel. The Colonel introduces him to the rest of his inner circ...more
25. 8. 2011
Nemyslím si, že na toto dokážem napísať súvislú recenziu, ale skúsim vypichnúť aspoň to, čo ma na tejto knihe ohromne dostalo.
Humor. Niekedy je skrytý len medzi riadkami, inokedy taký okatý, až sa začnete smiať nahlas. Humorná kniha.
Tragédia. Rozprávame si príbehy, smejeme sa, a zrazu... POOF. Atmosféra sa mení o 180° a my sa nachádzame uprostred niečoho krutého. Tragická kniha.
Postavy. Hlavný hrdina má záľubu v pamätaní si posledných slov známych ľudí. Jeho spolubývajúci nenávidí bo...more
Nemyslím si, že na toto dokážem napísať súvislú recenziu, ale skúsim vypichnúť aspoň to, čo ma na tejto knihe ohromne dostalo.
Humor. Niekedy je skrytý len medzi riadkami, inokedy taký okatý, až sa začnete smiať nahlas. Humorná kniha.
Tragédia. Rozprávame si príbehy, smejeme sa, a zrazu... POOF. Atmosféra sa mení o 180° a my sa nachádzame uprostred niečoho krutého. Tragická kniha.
Postavy. Hlavný hrdina má záľubu v pamätaní si posledných slov známych ľudí. Jeho spolubývajúci nenávidí bo...more
Dec 29, 2010
Joyzi
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Peeps who don't mind BJ (Buco Juice?)
Recommended to Joyzi by:
John Green, vlog brothers
Book Review...down there somewhere
Caution : This book review was ridiculously self-absorbed and will not be entirely wholesome (R-16 will do).
***************************************
(You can skim this through, these are just self-absorbed anecdotes, scroll down for the Pros and Cons )
First off I'd like to say that I've seen like this book Looking for Alaska for so many times in Listopia( a feature here in goodreads) and when I've met The Filipino Group in Goodreads last last week John Green's Abu...more
Caution : This book review was ridiculously self-absorbed and will not be entirely wholesome (R-16 will do).
***************************************
(You can skim this through, these are just self-absorbed anecdotes, scroll down for the Pros and Cons )
First off I'd like to say that I've seen like this book Looking for Alaska for so many times in Listopia( a feature here in goodreads) and when I've met The Filipino Group in Goodreads last last week John Green's Abu...more
Grand Possibilities: Things we Seek, Sometimes Lose and Always Gain
(A Book Review of John Green’s Looking for Alaska)
In Looking for Alaska, John Green explores the themes of friendship, suffering, loss, grief and coping. The novel follows a year in the life of high school junior Miles Halter (a.k.a. Pudge) a friendless Floridian who begged his parents to enroll him in Culver Creek Preparatory School, his dad’s Alma Mater. Miles dreams of starting anew at his elite Alabama prep school, to choose...more
First time hearing about this book;
Friend online gushes on how amazing and fantabulous this book is.
Me: Okay, I'll check it out. Plus it's cool since I was born in Alaska. The book is about Alaska right?
Friend: *laughs*
Me: O__o It's not about Alaska?
Friend: *still laughing*
Me: IT'S NOT ABOUT ALASKA?
The End.
True Story.
This is a decent book. I pretty much devoured it despite a big qualm. Perhaps it's sour grapes but why perpetuate the age-old idea that hot teen girls who are emotionally tore up = glittery/alluring? What about girls with tore-up physiques AND tore-up emotions? Oh, silly me. They’re repugnant.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This book had been living in my TBR stack for ages and out of sheer boredom, I finally picked it up and began reading. Now that I have, I kind of feel bad that I waited to so long to do so. The book was quirky and completely hilarious at moments, although those moments tended to be completely ridiculous and over the top, but I have a weird sense of humor, so what can ya do? I don't remember being nearly as witty as these teenage characters when I was 16, nor do I recall pondering any serious tho...more
Apr 29, 2013
Emma
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
put-downable,
own-the-book
I was recommended this by a good friend and I was really looking forward to it. I love the vlogbrothers videos and the first chapter really made me want to read it and find out more but it didn't live up to the expectation that the first few chapters set up.
My main problem with the book was the characters. It wasn't even that they were underdeveloped. Alaska and Miles just pissed me off. I let some of it slide by because I understand certain parts were intentional but Miles was just so whiny. I...more
My main problem with the book was the characters. It wasn't even that they were underdeveloped. Alaska and Miles just pissed me off. I let some of it slide by because I understand certain parts were intentional but Miles was just so whiny. I...more
Oct 01, 2011
Alyssa
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Those in search of brilliance and a little bit of silliness.
“I wanted to be one of those people who have streaks to maintain, who scorch the ground with their intensity. But for now, at least I knew such people, and they needed me, just like comets need tails.”
Boy genius Miles Halter is looking for the “Great Perhaps,” and he finds it at Culver Creek Boarding School, a selective institution for the intelligent and rich. Never does Miles believe he’ll find his "Perhaps" in the cigarette-smoking, Mountain Dew-drinking, beautiful curvy-babe Alaska Young,...more
Boy genius Miles Halter is looking for the “Great Perhaps,” and he finds it at Culver Creek Boarding School, a selective institution for the intelligent and rich. Never does Miles believe he’ll find his "Perhaps" in the cigarette-smoking, Mountain Dew-drinking, beautiful curvy-babe Alaska Young,...more
Oct 10, 2009
Anna
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
everyone
Recommended to Anna by:
my sister
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
*SPOILER ALERT* This review contains plot information that some people feel gives away too much of the book. To me, the story isn't about the event occurring as much as it is about how it is dealt with among the characters - it's not the "surprise ending" I'm giving away. Don't read this review if you don't want to know anything about what happens in the book, event wise. A warning seemed fair.
Alaska Young, though the aching reincarnate of every High School boy's wildest dreams, is surprisingly...more
Dec 28, 2011
Antonia
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Everyone
Shelves:
i-own,
favourites
An excellent book about love, life, death and the process of realizing what pain and suffering are.
Miles Halter, incredibly in love with Alaska Young, a rebellious and mysterious girl who likes books and poetry, finds himself questioning many of his beliefs when tragedy strikes.
I loved the fact that this book contained so many last words of famous people and its 2 main quotes (around which the whole story unfolds) are good enough to be written on everyone's wall.
We must try and answer them. Beca...more
Miles Halter, incredibly in love with Alaska Young, a rebellious and mysterious girl who likes books and poetry, finds himself questioning many of his beliefs when tragedy strikes.
I loved the fact that this book contained so many last words of famous people and its 2 main quotes (around which the whole story unfolds) are good enough to be written on everyone's wall.
We must try and answer them. Beca...more
How will I ever get out of this labyrinth? — Simón Bolívar
I don’t think I’ve every started a review with a quote, but those famous last words really are relevant to this book. Looking for Alaska tells the story of Miles; a kid obsessed with memorising famous last words. He is leaving a school where he has no friends to go to a boarding school. The reason; well according to Miles it is because of François Rabelais’ famous last words “I go to seek a Great Perhaps”. At this new school Miles experie...more
I don’t think I’ve every started a review with a quote, but those famous last words really are relevant to this book. Looking for Alaska tells the story of Miles; a kid obsessed with memorising famous last words. He is leaving a school where he has no friends to go to a boarding school. The reason; well according to Miles it is because of François Rabelais’ famous last words “I go to seek a Great Perhaps”. At this new school Miles experie...more
Before: I find the characters 'too much'. Too much smoke, too much booze, too much rap, too much porn and too much prank. But I continued reading nevertheless and then, POOF!
After: The book made me look for Alaska too. She's moody. She's unpredictable. But I never thought she'd be a pretty mysterious figure here. This book is unpredictable.
In spite all the booze and mischiefs, this book is thought-provoking and it will leave your mind dancing with questions too.
After: The book made me look for Alaska too. She's moody. She's unpredictable. But I never thought she'd be a pretty mysterious figure here. This book is unpredictable.
In spite all the booze and mischiefs, this book is thought-provoking and it will leave your mind dancing with questions too.
Jan 15, 2013
Victor
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Everyone, but beware of sex, drugs, and language
Shelves:
favorites,
i-recommend
What did I just read? Oh yeah an amazing book by an amazing author! I can't believe that this is his debut novel. I can't wait to read the rest of his books which by the way I will be reading in chronological order. So An Abundance of Kathrines is next!:D
I never would have picked this up now if it weren't for me forgetting my copy of A Clash of Kings at my Aunt's house. In a way I'm glad that I forgot it, but I want it back right now!
Looking for Alaska is the story of Miles Halter who gets nickn...more
I never would have picked this up now if it weren't for me forgetting my copy of A Clash of Kings at my Aunt's house. In a way I'm glad that I forgot it, but I want it back right now!
Looking for Alaska is the story of Miles Halter who gets nickn...more
Before I head to book club tomorrow night to share my feelings about this book with a group of girls whose opinions of John Green range from indifferent to love, I’m going to try to explain here why I’m not a fan of the whole John Green thing -- Looking For Alaska being in one big way indistinguishable from the other two books of his that I’ve read and in another way, refreshingly different.
Whether or not you love John Green depends heavily, I think, on whether or not you like his main characte...more
Whether or not you love John Green depends heavily, I think, on whether or not you like his main characte...more
Looking for Alaska, by John Green, was the winner of the 2006 Michael L. Printz Award.
“I go to seek a Great Perhaps.” - Last words of Francois Rabelais
“How will I ever get out of this labyrinth!” - Last words of Simon Bolivar
Miles Halter, a sixteen year old with a passion for last words, has decided to leave his high school and home to find his Great Perhaps at a boarding school in Alabama. Upon arriving, he falls in with “the Colonel,” his roommate, Takumi, Lara, and Alaska. The group is an int...more
“I go to seek a Great Perhaps.” - Last words of Francois Rabelais
“How will I ever get out of this labyrinth!” - Last words of Simon Bolivar
Miles Halter, a sixteen year old with a passion for last words, has decided to leave his high school and home to find his Great Perhaps at a boarding school in Alabama. Upon arriving, he falls in with “the Colonel,” his roommate, Takumi, Lara, and Alaska. The group is an int...more
Oh. My. Goodness.
Let's have a chat about Looking for Alaska, yes?
I discovered this book on a video blog in which the author was attempting to explain why parents were trying to censor his book in public schools without actually reading because "you don't need to have cancer to diagnose cancer."
And then I found his video blog with his younger brother and decided that I should read his book to see if his writing sounds anything like his vlogging.
Well, it does.
He's hilarious. The book itself covers...more
Let's have a chat about Looking for Alaska, yes?
I discovered this book on a video blog in which the author was attempting to explain why parents were trying to censor his book in public schools without actually reading because "you don't need to have cancer to diagnose cancer."
And then I found his video blog with his younger brother and decided that I should read his book to see if his writing sounds anything like his vlogging.
Well, it does.
He's hilarious. The book itself covers...more
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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
John Green's first novel, Looking for Alaska, won the 2006 Michael L. Printz Award presented by the American Library Association. His second novel, An Abundance of Katherines, was a 2007 Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His next novel, Paper Towns, is a New...more
More about John Green...
John Green's first novel, Looking for Alaska, won the 2006 Michael L. Printz Award presented by the American Library Association. His second novel, An Abundance of Katherines, was a 2007 Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His next novel, Paper Towns, is a New...more
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“When adults say, "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. We cannot be born, and we cannot die. Like all energy, we can only change shapes and sizes and manifestations. They forget that when they get old. They get scared of losing and failing. But that part of us greater than the sum of our parts cannot begin and cannot end, and so it cannot fail.”
—
7,070 people liked it
“The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive.”
—
6,973 people liked it
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no one's going to mock you on my watch
Nov 17, 2012 11:02am
Jan 04, 2013 06:42am