am i the only one who didnt really like this book?

[Lungenfeuer]

I enjoyed reading the book, but I wasn't as impressed of it as most people seem to be. I found some of Green's ideas interesting (for example the labyrinth story) but sometimes I felt like the story was a bit ... 'wannabe philosophical'. I didn't hate it, but something made me feel like the novel was trying hard to be intellectual and deep. I loved reading 'The Fault in Our Stars', though, because I was very fond of the characters and the 'deeper' aspects of the story didn't seem that forced to me as they did in 'Looking for Alaska'. I also didn't really like the characters in 'Looking for Alaska' - to be honest, I was often annoyed by both Miles' and Alaska's behaviour. But well, that's just my opinion and I can see why most people enjoyed the book so much :)

[Sarah]

I read it quite a while ago so I can't give you a reason but I remember thinking... "well that wasn't all it's hyped up to be." I think it's more of a cult book.

From the person above who said this:
"'wannabe philosophical'. I didn't hate it, but something made me feel like the novel was trying hard to be intellectual and deep."
I agree COMPLETELY. I also felt this with The Fault in Our Stars but I enjoyed it more.

[Eml]

I enjoyed the book, but I thought it was just okay. I wasn't too impressed with the ending. The before part of the book was really good, I could see how sucked up he got with Alaska, but I just hated that she died and his reaction to it. Maybe if she died in another way, but it was a little cliché. I didn't really get the deep revelation part. I think wannabe philosophical is a good way to describe the book, at least the after part. I actually wish she had run-away or something and they were really trying to find her. I felt like she was the life of the book, so once she died the deep ideas did too.

[C]

Me too! I didn't enjoy the book so much. I liked TFIOS, but Looking For Alaska wasn't as good. I expected so much from John Green and I ended up disappointed.

The beginning and the end is kind of boring..

^^ yeah, I agree. She's the life of the book, and when she died it was like the book wasn't ... idk. Hard to explain.

I just didn't like the book very much, I guess.

[Paula]

I didn't like it either. I found it boring... The characters didn't grow on me and the story was simply ok.

[Danielle]

I found the book boring. Maybe because I expected too much from it because everyone was saying that it's a great book. When I read the book, I was really disappointed. I felt like there was something missing.

[Library Lady 📚]

Danielle wrote: "I found the book boring. Maybe because I expected too much from it because everyone was saying that it's a great book. When I read the book, I was really disappointed. I felt like there was somethi..."

Everyone kept telling me how amazing this book was, but I couldn't really relate or get into it.

[D]

I love the story. I like how different and unique the characters were. They all had their own demons and how they dealt with them. I especially like how Miles took it upon himself to find his way in the world. It's rare you find ppl who can do that. Whether they are fictional or not. I didn't really focus too much on the philosophlisy too much but I could understand where it fit in and why it was important. Alaska was a troubled person and her life was to me seem like a cautionary tale. Or maybe just a lesson. Either way, I empathized with all the characters and I loved the book.

[D]

I love the story. I like how different and unique the characters were. They all had their own demons and how they dealt with them. I especially like how Miles took it upon himself to find his way in the world. It's rare you find ppl who can do that. Whether they are fictional or not. I didn't really focus too much on the philosophlisy too much but I could understand where it fit in and why it was important. Alaska was a troubled person and her life was to me seem like a cautionary tale. Or maybe just a lesson. Either way, I empathized with all the characters and I loved the book.

[Jackye]

not so much

[Kelly]

I totally agree with you. I didn't like this book at all...I had high hopes because of how highly rated it was. You're not alone ;-)

[Georgia]

You're not alone. I decided to give it a try after TFIOS, but I was disappointed.

[[deleted user]]

I really disliked Alaska, and his obsession with her was based on nothing at all. Basically this book just made me really angry plus it was unrealistic in my mind no why they could have gotten away with all of that at the school

[Taylor]

Vyshu wrote: "I don't really know why but I just wasn't into this book...don't get me wrong, I love john green and I loved the fault in our stars but for some reason, I did not enjoy this book. Did anyone else f..."
I agree completely! I felt like I couldn't emotionally connect with the characters at all. In my opinion, the character development was not up to par with that in The Fault in Our Stars. And as others have said, the plot lines seemed very outlandish and unrealistic.

[Anna]

I thought this book had all the potential in the world but it fell short for me because I found certain parts of it to be sensationalized. I just couldn't take the story or the author seriously.

[Kelly]

For those of you who have also read The Fault in Our Stars - it got rave reviews as well. If I hated Looking for Alaska, do you think I'll like TFIOS? I have it on my to-read shelf.

[Rhiyaah]

i didn't really like LFA much either . i don't hate it completely but i think there's really something .. i don't know .. it's kinda fun (not entirely though) but really , i don't like it much ..
maybe i just expected too much considering it is one of John Green's book and many was complimenting the book ..
i thought i was also the only one who didn't like this book..

[Rhiyaah]

Kelly wrote: "For those of you who have also read The Fault in Our Stars - it got rave reviews as well. If I hated Looking for Alaska, do you think I'll like TFIOS? I have it on my to-read shelf. "

oh TFIOS is GREAT ! .. it's actually one of my favorite books . you should read it !

[Adrianna*Herondale*]

i hated it!! :( i found some parts REALLY BORING!

[EmilyRose]

I read The Fault in Our Stars before this book. I really liked TFIOS so I was looking forward to reading Looking for Alaska. However, I was disappointed with the book. It took me a long time to get into it and I felt some parts were boring. I felt like something was missing in this book.

[wildflower]

I really disliked this book... Alaska wasn't that great of a character and I don't see why everyone was obsessed with her.

[Alex]

i didn't love it either.

[Georgia]

John Green just doesn't do it for me. I don't understand the hype.

[Laura]

Loved TFIOS, didn't seem to be captured by this one. It annoyed me for some reason. Maybe I should have read them in opposite order or something like that. I'm still going to read his other books though... because luckily, this book didn't ruin my TFIOS experience.

[Mica]

I wasn't really into it either. After a while I got bored, and moved on to other books- I didn't even finish LfA. I'm glad to know that other people weren't taken with it as I am. I was beginning to believe that I was just in the wrong mindset to read this book. I mean, my best friend didn't like it either, but that was because she didn't like Alaska- who I also mildly dislike, but for completely different reasons. I guess the reason why TFiOS is better in comparison to LfA is because LfA was one of John's first published works, and John just got better as he progressed through his other writings. AoK didn't exactly pique my interest a lot- but, I did like it better than LfA. I liked WG, WG a lot though- but, it was mainly due to the fact that my best friend bought me that book for my birthday. I have mixed feelings about PT, but I got to say TFiOS is, indeed, John's best published book so far.

[Kaylee]

I loved Paper Towns and liked TFIOS, but I wasn't into this one either. I felt like it was pretty basic. Friend/crush dies. Let's remember her by with something drastic. Idk, I just feel there was a lot this book lacked :/

[Kelly]

Thanks to all of your advice regarding TFIOS :-) Sounds like I better give it a go!

[Paula]

I read this book early, before it gained such a following, and found it only okay. The basic plot was fairly cliche and the philosophy was slathered over the surface with a butter knife, which always rubs me wrong. But while I was surprised to see it so covered in honor, I did think it was a good first effort which spurred him on to grow as a writer. Take it or leave it for what it is, a first try from a talented author.

[Drew]

SPOILER ALERT











Are all the people who haven't read it gone yet?






















JOHN WHY DID YOU KILL ALASKA I WANTED A HAPPY BOOK AND STUFF AND THEN YOUR LIKE NOPE IMMA GONNA KILL YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTER. WHYYYYYYYYYY J.K. ROWLING DIDNT KILL HARRY OR HERMIONE OR RON OR LUNA AND IT TURNED OUT FINE. FRENCH THE LLAMA YOUR MEAN.

[Montgomery]

This is the first book I have read by this author. I enjoyed it very much. Teenagers trying to cope with the death and possible suicide of a friend would be very philosophical about it. I did not find their thoughts and discussions about life and death to be overdone. From my perspective, all of the characters were unique and believable, which made it a good read.

[Raevyn]

Yeah, I didn't like it either. I thought it was too much like .

[Juliet]

Yeah I wasn't that impressed with it

[[deleted user]]

Vyshu wrote: "I don't really know why but I just wasn't into this book...don't get me wrong, I love john green and I loved the fault in our stars but for some reason, I did not enjoy this book. Did anyone else f..."

Yes ! exactly the same ! It was not what I expected after reading The Fault In Our Stars.

[Lucy]

I enjoyed the first half but I just found the second half dragged on for far too long and was almost pointless.

[Noha]

NO I absolutely hated, it was very boring, I kept skipping and I hated Alaska!!
And I like John Green A LOT!!

[Aafreen]

Honestly, I read this after Fault in the stars, hoping it would be just as good. But it wasn't. Unfortunately, this seemed like a drag and I just wanted to get to the end! I like the concept and the theme of the story though. It goes very well with the characters portrayed! John Green is definitely very descriptive in the scenario of storyline!

[Dvofaijagef]

I HATED THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!
I mean, don't get me wrong .. john green is a good writer.. i enjoyed reading the fault in our stars…

looking for alaska did contain some very insightful quotes, i admit.
but the book itself; the plot; the characters; EVERYTHING ELSE; it was just awful!!!!! it's about a stupid clique of teens doing idiotic stuff that they pass off a cool and the main character falling in love with a poor excuse of an effie (for those of you who don't know "effie" is a main character in the british show called skins) that he barely knew and then she dies and then the end *cricket cricket*

Tumblr made it seem so good.. geez those dumb hipsters! i feel like my generations is just so stupid! i can see why so many people like this book -_-

.. i want to say more.. give you specific details on why this book (not the author) should die!!! but i have to go play with my baby bro so BYE!

[Alex]

I liked the book...but not nearly as much as everyone else seems to. It was nice and well written but it was nothing special. Plus I didn't find any of the characters overly likable.

[[deleted user]]

I loved this book more than TFIOS, and it has actually made it to my favourite book. One of the Best Books I have ever read in my entire life, I absolutely love it, just so amazing.

[Ficie]

This was the first (and so far, only) book I read by John Green. I was definitely unimpressed.
The characters are quite uninteresting, and Alaska is so annoying that I can't say I was sorry when she died.
The book in itself is boring and repetitive, and way too dragged. I understand the author wanted to make the whole book a reflection on death and its meaning, but I found the reflections too shallow and juvenile to be meaningful. I guess I was too old when I read it.
All in all, a very disappointing read; I gave the book to my 15-year-old cousin, maybe she'll like it better.

[Georgia]

Ficie - don't bother with the rest.

[Lexi]

I enjoyed this book, it left me wanting more, but not in the usual way.
Although I did enjoy it, I felt like pieces were missing and I agree with the characters not being as deep as they could've been. The book posed really great questions about what it means to live, but I feel in the end, it wasn't very clarifying.

[TJ]

I absolutely HATED this book! I mean after reading The Fault In Our Stars, I thought this one would be good, but it was terrrible! I know I'm usually on the fence with this one, so I'm just going to say what I feel right now. It was terrible. In every sense of he word. And Alaska Young was at the center of all the awfullness.

Alaska was whinyand needy and a borderline slut (no, she was a full-on, card-carrying slut). She was always talking about women's rights and feminism, but she was constantly flaunting her body all over the place. She taught Mies' girlfriend (i read the book once, like two years ago, so I dont remember her name) how to give him a blow job! Come on! she always wore scanty clothes and from Miles' many descriptions, she didnt ever try to cover her breasts. Ever. She drank and got so drunk that she tested .24. She was a mess, and Miles bended over backwards for her. Ive heard people say, "oh she is supposed to resemble typical modern teenagers..." No. She was a total and unfixable mess. I dont understand why any guy, especially a decent one likeMiles, wold find a wreck like Alaska attractive.

For me, this book was a bunch of empty nothng. The story wasnt sad, though im sure Alaska's death was meant to be so. johnGreen rally let me down with this one, but I figured LFA was just a fluke, so I went on and read Paper Towns...

Dont even get me started on Paper Towns.

[Ezgi]

Lungenfeuer wrote: "I enjoyed reading the book, but I wasn't as impressed of it as most people seem to be. I found some of Green's ideas interesting (for example the labyrinth story) but sometimes I felt like the story was a bit ... 'wannabe philosophical'. I didn't hate it, but something made me feel like the novel was trying hard to be intellectual and deep. "
I felt the same, it was an easy read, and i was into the story but i also got the feeling that the author was trying to be deep and philosophical,too.

[[deleted user]]

Not forgetting this was his first book guys. Not everyone gets it right the first time, although I thought this book was magnificent and I looove the characters (minus Alaska, who I did find very annoying)

[Felicity]

this really bugs me ! I LOVED HIS BOOK ITS NOT CLICHE AT ALL YOU'RE ALL CRAZY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I MEAN ITS WAAAAAAAAY BETTER THAT TFIOS BUT DONT GET ME WRONG I LOVE ALL HIS BOOKS , BUT LOOKING FOR ALASKA HAD SO MUCH MEANING .

[[deleted user]]

^ Amen sister.

[Lauren]

I found it harder to get into than the rest of his books. I loved A Fault in Our Stars, and Paper Towns. But I had a harder time with this book.
Eventually though, I fell in love with it like the rest of his books.
Some books just speak to us, while others don't. Maybe you just didn't like it as much because you didn't relate, or just didn't like the characters. It's really nothing to be ashamed of or get worked up over. It's just personal opinion.

[Morgan]

~I loved this book. It was hard for me to connect with the characters at first but once I did I couldn't put it down. I fell in love with the book and it really made me think about things and now it's one of my favorite books. (:

[inga]

It isn't as awful as TFIOS, but then again I read LFA first and hadn't seen through JG's shtick yet. TFIOS felt like a rehashed version of LFA, but it's not really a secret that if you've read one John Green book, you've read them all.