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Looking for Alaska
by
Before. Miles “Pudge” Halter is done with his safe life at home. His whole life has been one big non-event, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave “the Great Perhaps” even more (Francois Rabelais, poet). He heads off to the sometimes crazy and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Bec
...more
Paperback, 221 pages
Published
December 28th 2006
by Speak
(first published March 3rd 2005)
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Start your review of Looking for Alaska

WROTE THIS IN 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now I am TEN YEARS OLDER.
****
I didn't like this book.
This is not what I expected to be. I hoped to find a book in the style of Stargirl (or something novel) and what did I find? A bunch of teens who try to ease their anxieties in their not-so-original vices and a sudden drama which leads to nonsense talking. All hiding, of course, in a couple of beautiful quotes that wrap all the 'inspiring-sites' on the internet, the reason I got to the book and I bet that yo ...more
Now I am TEN YEARS OLDER.
****
I didn't like this book.
This is not what I expected to be. I hoped to find a book in the style of Stargirl (or something novel) and what did I find? A bunch of teens who try to ease their anxieties in their not-so-original vices and a sudden drama which leads to nonsense talking. All hiding, of course, in a couple of beautiful quotes that wrap all the 'inspiring-sites' on the internet, the reason I got to the book and I bet that yo ...more

My assistant Amanda has been a John Green fan for ages, which is one of the reasons I decided to start giving his stuff a read.
I decided to start here because it was one of his first books.
After I finished this book, I went to her and asked, "Are all of John Green's books going to leave me feeling like I've had a hole kicked straight through my guts?"
"Not all of them," she said. "But yeah. Some."
I thought about this for a while, then asked her. "In Name of the Wind, when X happens, did it fee ...more
I decided to start here because it was one of his first books.
After I finished this book, I went to her and asked, "Are all of John Green's books going to leave me feeling like I've had a hole kicked straight through my guts?"
"Not all of them," she said. "But yeah. Some."
I thought about this for a while, then asked her. "In Name of the Wind, when X happens, did it fee ...more

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


That's me, realizing I was about to give a big one star to a super popular book on Goodreads.
It didn't stop me. This book was beyond stupid.
Miles is a little nerd boy from Florida, he is going away to boarding school hoping for a new life or maybe his "Great Perhaps". The Great Perhaps comes from a minute reference to some poet. Thrown in to this book to make it all edgy and shit. Fail.

Once he gets there his roommate (the requisite character that is so poor but super smart) befriends hi ...more

I'm going to explain my emotions about this book in a billion of gifs because I love this book too much to put into words <3
So first I was like...

because Pudge was pretty cool.
Then we met the Colonel, and I did this

because the Colonel is awesome! and he got my approval.
Then we met Alaska and I go

because, who knows? She's really not that bad.
Then we really get to know her and I'm like

Then ALL this stuff happens and I don't know what to expect, because now we're at the After part, and I'm excited ...more
So first I was like...

because Pudge was pretty cool.
Then we met the Colonel, and I did this

because the Colonel is awesome! and he got my approval.
Then we met Alaska and I go

because, who knows? She's really not that bad.
Then we really get to know her and I'm like

Then ALL this stuff happens and I don't know what to expect, because now we're at the After part, and I'm excited ...more

Wow. I must've skipped a bunch of pages or read the Hebrew translation or was having root canal or something because that was one terrible book. All those awards-- WHAT??? Such a clumsy story— every move of the author was heavy-handed and so transparent I felt like I was a fly on John Green's ceiling watching him go "Oh that's good-- oh that's just precious" and fall asleep in his soup again.
Miles—I mean "Pudge,"as he is deemed within minutes of his arrival at his School of Great Perhaps— may b ...more
Miles—I mean "Pudge,"as he is deemed within minutes of his arrival at his School of Great Perhaps— may b ...more

Update- 4/12/14
This review/rant receives more comments than any other book review I have. I decided to reply to a few of the comments in my review because the people that don't like my review/rant don't like it for pretty much the same reasons. First, please note there are spoilers. However, the spoilers aren't really spoilers since it doesn't affect your enjoyment or lack of enjoyment if you know the big secret. Nevertheless, a helpful few have pointed out that I have spoilers and I didn't mark ...more
This review/rant receives more comments than any other book review I have. I decided to reply to a few of the comments in my review because the people that don't like my review/rant don't like it for pretty much the same reasons. First, please note there are spoilers. However, the spoilers aren't really spoilers since it doesn't affect your enjoyment or lack of enjoyment if you know the big secret. Nevertheless, a helpful few have pointed out that I have spoilers and I didn't mark ...more

“We need never be hopeless because we can never be irreperably broken.”
Again, I know, I'm late. This book is incredibly popular, and it's been waiting patiently in my bookshelf for at least two years now. I've read Paper Towns (which was boring af) and The Fault In Our Stars (which is one of my favourite books). Looking for Alaska was something in between.
Characters:
Miles, the main character, is as interesting and charming as toast. So are his parents, but their lack of character depth is even w ...more
Again, I know, I'm late. This book is incredibly popular, and it's been waiting patiently in my bookshelf for at least two years now. I've read Paper Towns (which was boring af) and The Fault In Our Stars (which is one of my favourite books). Looking for Alaska was something in between.
Characters:
Miles, the main character, is as interesting and charming as toast. So are his parents, but their lack of character depth is even w ...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

I just want to know what weed addicted brunette broke JOHN GREEN heart in highs school and gave him enough material for a decade’s worth of identical books.
I have really got nothing to say about this book. It’s shitty like all of this other books no doubt about that!!
Speaking of MILES PUDGE HALTER is a misogynistic piece of shit. Throughout the book he objectifies Alaska and cheats on Lara , he belittles Takumi and is just a whining piss baby.
I have really got nothing to say about this book. It’s shitty like all of this other books no doubt about that!!
Speaking of MILES PUDGE HALTER is a misogynistic piece of shit. Throughout the book he objectifies Alaska and cheats on Lara , he belittles Takumi and is just a whining piss baby.

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. ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.


I had been putting off reviewing this book for a while. It also took me much longer to read than I thought it would. Having read An Abundance of Katherines and Paper Towns first, I can say that Green seems to repeat a lot of the same themes and personalities. This may have been his first book, but it was probably my least favorite of the ones I've already read. (And no, I will not read The Fault in Our Stars for reasons.)
The one thing I did like about this book and saved it from being a 1 star w ...more

Feb 05, 2009
Tricia
added it
Did not finish.
This book was just too much--too much smoking, drinking, sex, and foul language. As a teenager, I hated it then and I don't want to rehash it now. I didn't care about any of the characters except Miles and I hated how he just went along with everything thrown in his path without a second thought--the smoking, drinking, porn, etc. ...more
This book was just too much--too much smoking, drinking, sex, and foul language. As a teenager, I hated it then and I don't want to rehash it now. I didn't care about any of the characters except Miles and I hated how he just went along with everything thrown in his path without a second thought--the smoking, drinking, porn, etc. ...more

Here's me acknowledging the power of John Green. & hats off!
No, this one is not as bittersweet as "The Fault in Our Stars", but still, this is unputdownable supreme! Its the type of literature that gets one excited about reading, about reminiscing about adolescence and school. Because everyone has had a childhood, a first love, a stage of rebellion, this type of book strikes inner chords & you swiftly become infected with the virus of nostalgia.
To read one of his novels is to remember that you ...more
No, this one is not as bittersweet as "The Fault in Our Stars", but still, this is unputdownable supreme! Its the type of literature that gets one excited about reading, about reminiscing about adolescence and school. Because everyone has had a childhood, a first love, a stage of rebellion, this type of book strikes inner chords & you swiftly become infected with the virus of nostalgia.
To read one of his novels is to remember that you ...more

i really wish i had read this when it first came out, because i think john greens writing has become stronger over time, so i didnt quite love this as much as his more recent stuff. but its still classic JG - need i say more?
i know JG is one of those polarising authors - you either hate him or you love him with no in between - but i find his characterisation of teens really fascinating. many claim his characters are pretentious. i mean, how many teenagers do you know literally searching for thei ...more
i know JG is one of those polarising authors - you either hate him or you love him with no in between - but i find his characterisation of teens really fascinating. many claim his characters are pretentious. i mean, how many teenagers do you know literally searching for thei ...more

May 12, 2011
K.D. Absolutely
rated it
liked it
·
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

The bar was so low.
THE BAR WAS SO LOW.
I loathe this book. Everything about it makes me want to rip out its pages, burn them, and then throw their ashes into the ocean. Actually, that would be cruel to the fish. Poor fish don't deserve it.
Anyway, I need to break this up because there is no way I'm going to be remotely coherent without it.
THE WRITING
Two words: pretentious trash. I've heard a lot of negative and positive things about John Green's writing, but it was so much worse than I ever ...more
THE BAR WAS SO LOW.
I loathe this book. Everything about it makes me want to rip out its pages, burn them, and then throw their ashes into the ocean. Actually, that would be cruel to the fish. Poor fish don't deserve it.
Anyway, I need to break this up because there is no way I'm going to be remotely coherent without it.
THE WRITING
Two words: pretentious trash. I've heard a lot of negative and positive things about John Green's writing, but it was so much worse than I ever ...more

Final rating: 4.5/5 stars
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 ...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 ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

I first read this book in 2008 when I was 14 and it turned out to be the book that sparked my love for literature.
I've always loved reading, but before that I only read for the sake of entertainment. Looking for Alaska was the first book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading, but that simultaneously and more importantly, made me think about greater issues in life for a long time after I had finished reading.
Now that I'm 21, I understand that while this remains to be a highly philosophical book, it's ...more
I've always loved reading, but before that I only read for the sake of entertainment. Looking for Alaska was the first book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading, but that simultaneously and more importantly, made me think about greater issues in life for a long time after I had finished reading.
Now that I'm 21, I understand that while this remains to be a highly philosophical book, it's ...more

Looking for Alaska, John Green
Looking for Alaska is John Green's first novel, published in March 2005 by Dutton Juvenile.
Before. Miles “Pudge” Halter is done with his safe life at home. His whole life has been one big non-event, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave “the Great Perhaps” even more (Francois Rabelais, poet).
He heads off to the sometimes crazy and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe.
Because ...more
Looking for Alaska is John Green's first novel, published in March 2005 by Dutton Juvenile.
Before. Miles “Pudge” Halter is done with his safe life at home. His whole life has been one big non-event, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave “the Great Perhaps” even more (Francois Rabelais, poet).
He heads off to the sometimes crazy and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe.
Because ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

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

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

Dec 29, 2020
Layla
rated it
did not like it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
No one
Recommended to Layla by:
Emma
Shelves:
the-quirky-didnt-work-y,
torture-device
~ .5 stars ~
Me after reading yet another bad book:

CW/TW: underage drinking/overdrinking, substance abuse, smoking, death (car accident), grief, talk of possible suicide, sexual scene/behavior, mention of parental neglection, mention of cheating
Recommended to me by Emma for this reason. Thank you so much!
I don't know what I was expecting with this book, but this wasn't it. Honestly the fact that it was the last book I read in 2020 says a lot about that year. Already knew it was going to probably ...more
Me after reading yet another bad book:

CW/TW: underage drinking/overdrinking, substance abuse, smoking, death (car accident), grief, talk of possible suicide, sexual scene/behavior, mention of parental neglection, mention of cheating
Recommended to me by Emma for this reason. Thank you so much!
I don't know what I was expecting with this book, but this wasn't it. Honestly the fact that it was the last book I read in 2020 says a lot about that year. Already knew it was going to probably ...more

The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive.
John Green has established himself a very large fan base of readers, who are very fond of his work and writing.
Unfortunately, after reading a lot of his work, I can't say that I belong to that fanbase. Neither his characters nor writing nor plot make me swoon.
Alright, that was a very formal way of saying that his books are not for me.
Now, let's cut to the chase, shall we?
Everybody loves to read a good, ol' raging review about a con ...more
John Green has established himself a very large fan base of readers, who are very fond of his work and writing.
Unfortunately, after reading a lot of his work, I can't say that I belong to that fanbase. Neither his characters nor writing nor plot make me swoon.
Alright, that was a very formal way of saying that his books are not for me.
Now, let's cut to the chase, shall we?
Everybody loves to read a good, ol' raging review about a con ...more

If people were rain, I was drizzle and she was a hurricane.
Throughout the book, extremely loud and incredibly close soundtrack came to my mind the whole time. The melody fits the story so well.
I never thought Miles "Pudge" Halter's turning point in life would be like that. Absolutely, totally, completely life-changing difference before and after. It's like, well, experiencing a heartbroken and mysterious loss at school. Ironically, he went to Alabama in search of his so-called "Great Perhaps ...more
Throughout the book, extremely loud and incredibly close soundtrack came to my mind the whole time. The melody fits the story so well.
I never thought Miles "Pudge" Halter's turning point in life would be like that. Absolutely, totally, completely life-changing difference before and after. It's like, well, experiencing a heartbroken and mysterious loss at school. Ironically, he went to Alabama in search of his so-called "Great Perhaps ...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Play Book Tag: Looking For Alaska by John Green 3 stars | 1 | 9 | Jan 08, 2021 04:57PM | |
Do you think Alaska's death was suicide or not? Why? | 36 | 2179 | Jan 04, 2021 01:38PM | |
FLASHLIGHT READERS: Looking For Alaska | 2 | 9 | Oct 16, 2020 01:13AM | |
YA Book Club!: Looking for Alaska | 6 | 23 | Sep 22, 2020 09:35AM | |
Play Book Tag: Looking for Alaska - John Green (4 stars) | 1 | 8 | Sep 03, 2020 10:11AM | |
SCPL Teens: Looking For Alaska Book Review | 1 | 2 | Aug 30, 2020 05:20PM | |
What's the Name o...: SOLVED. Smart stranger comes to town becomes best friend with jock, falls for this girl who dies in accident and had secrets. [s] | 6 | 69 | Aug 28, 2020 09:11AM |
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
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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Whether it’s magic schools, dystopias, paranormal love stories, or contemporary explorations of important real-life issues, young adult books...
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“The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive.”
—
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“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.”
—
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