Looking for Alaska in The Mortal Instruments

Dec 23, 2009 Elise P rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, ya, 50-book-challenge

Looking for Alaska a brilliantly thoughtful debut novel by young American author John Green, it is a novel about teenagers; it discusses what they are really thinking and asking. It has been labelled ‘controversial’ by a society in denial, a society that does not want to hear what teens actually think and feel. One of the main recurring themes in the novel is overcoming suffering. In the following paragraphs I will discuss the author’s use of method, structure, tone, characterisation and figurat ...more

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Jan 05, 2013 Jenny rated it it was ok

My review of Looking for Alaska will be quick so as not to make it too painful.

Yep. Tiny bit painful for those who liked it so much.

I'd like to say that I adooooored John Green when I first read one of his creations and that's The Fault in Our Stars. However, I'm disappointed with this book. Since there's a lot of people talking about it, what with it earning multiple literary awards (School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2005), Booklist Editors' Choice (2005), NYPL Best Book for the Tee My review of Looking for Alaska will be quick so as not to make it too painful.

Yep. Tiny bit painful for those who liked it so much.

I'd like to say that I adooooored John Green when I first read one of his creations and that's The Fault in Our Stars. However, I'm disappointed with this book. Since there's a lot of people talking about it, what with it earning multiple literary awards (School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2005), Booklist Editors' Choice (2005), NYPL Best Book for the Teen Age, An ALA/YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (2006), Los Angeles Times Book Prize (2005), Printz Award (2006), ALA Teens' Top Ten (2005), Michigan Library Association Thumbs Up! Award Nominee (2006), Deutscher Jugend literaturpreis Nominee for Jugendbuch (2008), ALA's Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults (2006), The Inky Awards for Silver Inky (2007), Abraham Lincoln Award Nominee (2009) ). I was looking forward to something inspiring. Something that will make me look at things with different perspective. But sadly what I got what this dragging book I can't wait to finish so I could move on to a new book. Leaving it unfinished feels like a crime.

I actually didn't know what the book was all about before I read it but I always see it on bookshelf and it's always on my Goodreads newsfeed so I thought, Ok. Let's give it a shot. Well, the book revolves around a few main characters - Alaska, Miles/Pudge, and Colonel. There are other characters of course but I mainly see them as supporting actors and actresses.

So, I had a hard time getting a clear image in my head on how the characters look like. It's very vague which can either be because of 1. The book didn't capture my interest to make me go as far as to actually imagine things in my head or 2. The author failed to actually capture the image of his characters. If I like a book, character usually have a clear face in my head.

Now, speaking of characters, I didn't like them even one bit. Especially Alaska. For me she's a crazy girl who does crazy things, who does crazy things out of nowhere, who pulls off pranks which I didn't think was cool, who cheats on her boyfriend, who seduced her friends, and who has an effed up childhood. The last part was probably the reason why she was kind of, more or less, a bitch. But she's not the typical bitch you see in movies like Mean Girls. She's just not nice either. Now with Pudge and Colonel, they're just two boys following Alaska around.

I don't even see what's the deal about this book. The plot revolved around two main events: Before the event and After the event. I don't want to spoil anything so I won't say what's the plot twist that happened. The event was very significant but I don't see the moral lesson at the end.

I'm having a hard time doing this review without giving anything away. *sighs*

Anyways, what I'm trying to say is, I understand if everyone's life shifted after the event. Of course it was a big deal, even if I was in their position, it would be a big deal for me. But aside from the obvious, is there anything else? There's no depth. Yes there was mystery but there's no big revelation worthy of a good ending.

This is a confusing review, I know. Sorry. I said this will be quick so he're my conclusion:

It was boring. No I didn't like it. Gah. ...more

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Oct 03, 2010 Mairead rated it it was amazing

I love this book, although not as much as Paper towns. It still shocked, saddened and delighted me, often in the same chapter.
The harrowing, heart-breaking, and often hilarious tale of a boy who heads to Boarding school and finds his first friends, his first love, and an endless string of famous last words...which I'm now obsessed with.

John Green is an absolute talent, and I can't wait for his next novel.

Side-note: *spoiler...don't read unless you want to know*

God damn, that awkward blow-job ...more

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Jan 08, 2011 Sarah rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

What a great book! I didn't want it to end. It was happy and sad and though provoking all at the same time. I loved the ' last words ' element to it and the ending. If you liked the sky is everywhere then your going to love this. 5/5 ...more

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