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An Abundance of Katherines

John Green

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Aug 14, 2017 Angela Blount rated it liked it

Shelves: contemporary, ya

2.5 Stars

Colin Singleton, washed -up childhood prodigy and recent high school graduate, has just been dumped by his 19th girlfriend. Her name was Katherine—with a ‘K’—just like every other girl Colin has ever dated. Yet, this breakup is the one that seems to send him over the edge into a quest for post-adolescent significance. And so, in the company of his faithful yet minimally motivated best friend, Hassan, he sets out on a road trip that lands them in a rural Southern town called Gutshot. The 2.5 Stars

Colin Singleton, washed -up childhood prodigy and recent high school graduate, has just been dumped by his 19th girlfriend. Her name was Katherine—with a ‘K’—just like every other girl Colin has ever dated. Yet, this breakup is the one that seems to send him over the edge into a quest for post-adolescent significance. And so, in the company of his faithful yet minimally motivated best friend, Hassan, he sets out on a road trip that lands them in a rural Southern town called Gutshot. There, he stumbles into a unique summer job, and begins working on a math theorem that may or may not be able to predict the outcome of romantic relationships.

“What is the point of being alive if you don't at least try to do something remarkable?

The threaded anagram usage was a fun quirk, and the ongoing differentiation between geniuses and prodigies was thought-provoking. And Kudos to the author for (mostly) dodging the road-most-traveled by NOT attempting to make people in the South look like a stereotyped pack of inbred, undereducated racists. Extra points for inventive curse-word substitution (complete with inside-joke backstory.)

For me, this one falls pretty squarely between Paper Towns and The Fault In Our Stars. It’s far more reminiscent of the former, as it’s told via a single male POV, doesn’t get too topically deep, and there’s a strong suggestion of a road trip (that only lasts for about a chapter in actuality.) The main male and female protagonists do a bit of a tolerability swap, but my sentiments of attachment end up nearly the same. That is to say, in both books I felt more fondness for the protagonist male’s best friend than I did for either of the male protagonists. Hassan was easily my favorite part about this book. He was the comedy relief, the anchor of reality, and the character who’s fate I cared about the most. (Although, I’m not really sure that’s what was intended, there it is.)

My biggest issue involved suspension of disbelief, centering on Colin’s extensive and very specific collection of love interests. Though we finally get something of an explanation at the very end regarding his romantic track record, it wasn’t enough to satisfy the statistical improbability of him coming across--and emotionally ensnaring—that many Katherines (let alone all spelled the same way) without the use of some internet-based screening tool. I mean… how many Katherines do YOU know, dear reader? I did a personal head count that included people I haven’t talked to since elementary school. I know one. That’s it. One Katherine. I also know two Catherines two Cathy’s, two Kathy’s, and a Katherine who goes by ‘Katrina’… but none of those would be up to Colin’s pre-qualifications even if they were of a vaguely dateable teen age—which none are.

(I may have fixated a bit on something easily overlookable. I can own up to that.)

If you’re looking for a quick, whimsical, contemporary read, this may be the story for you.
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Feb 27, 2015 Vikas rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: owned, john-green

I am reading John Green Chronologically so this was my second book by him and this one thankfully doesn't deal with death but rather few other questions. This book is about Colin who is a Child Prodigy and has been with 19 Katherines i.e. in relationship with 19 girls by the same name and was dumped by all of them. Then there is his friend Hassan and together they go on a road trip to mend Colin's, broken heart.

Together they got to a place called Gutshot and they decide to stay there for few we ...more

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