Looking for Alaska
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Did anyone else find this book repulsive?
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I loved it. I am an adult with kids and it reminded me of my misspent youth doing alot of stupid stuff. I think that is why I identified with the kids when others do not. I could have passed on all the cursing, but at least a little is needed to keep it closer to how teens of that nature really articulate their feelings and emphasize everything with a curse word. I think people who don't like to see/read about that side of things have every right not to like the book or tv or movies. That is why there are reviews for things... so you can check first before reading. That is why I never read 50 shades. Vote with your pocketbook and don't buy the books that repulse you.
Personally, I in no way found this book "repulsive". I mean, when you put a group of troubled, oftentimes lonely and self destructive teenagers together in a setting with little or no supervision, with alcohol and cigarettes being pretty available, they're probably going to take advantage of that. And the "sexual references" and cursing is going to happen in any group of typical teenagers. This book never struck me as especially wrong. Nothing was too graphic, and the parts that were a bit more mature were two pages long. I mean, skip it or put the book down if you don't like it. (It also never really mentioned drugs, which, in the YA world of self destructive teens, is new.)
'Looking for Alaska' is centered around a self destructive, gorgeous girl and a lonely, awkward boy, so of course some stuff is going to be awkward. Many self destructive people harm or use their bodies in ways that normal people would view as awful, stupid, and sometimes downright disgusting. So the fact that Alaska drank too much, smoke too much, and was somewhat sex addict like is a combination of her wild child traits and her self destructiveness.
As for your hatred of Alaska and her character flaws, I'm going to point out that Alaska is a troubled girl (because you have to remember, she's still a child, really), who blames herself for her mother's tragic, young death and is quite possibly manic depressive. So she had a reason for acting the way she did.
All in all, I thought 'Looking for Alaska' was a pretty accurate portrayal of self destructive teens, the average teenagers quest to fit in, the dark side of every supernova-bright person, and the struggles of losing someone you may have never truly known in the first place.
Perhaps it is because I am not from a conservative American community, but I am truly astounded by Rachel Paige's perspective on a couple of key areas relating to this novel:1.) The unrealistic expectations of what constitutes 'normal' teenage behaviour, knowledge and experience. As a middle-aged, married (Australian) mother of two teenagers, I know for a fact that many - not all, but a vast number - of my children's peers DO indulge in under-age drinking, smoking and/or sexual activity on at least a semi-regular basis. In addition, and almost without exception, the teens with whom I am acquainted swear on a 'casual' basis - usually with no anger or malice attached to these words.
2.) The moralising about the subjects an adult, male author is 'allowed' to write about. Tell me - would you have the same reaction if John Green were to have written a book in which a child or teenager was murdered? Would you accuse him of promoting or glorifying the taking of human life, or somehow getting his jollies from imagining the victim's fear in that situation? No, I'm almost certain you would not think like that. Why? Because Mr Green is an AUTHOR and his books are works of FICTION (even if he drew, in part, on actual events from his own past for this particular novel). For the same reason, it is not in any way creepy or strange that - in this capacity as a writer of fiction - Green chooses to depict the mostly-realistic behaviour of older teenagers. Whether or not WE, the readers, would condone that behaviour in the real world is a totally different kettle of fish.
Audrey wrote: "Ok so one of the problems about John Green's books, it basically occurs in all of them, well the uh how do I put this... he adds too much detail in some of the situations that happen. With guys and..."I'm not sure how old you, or some of the other posters on this thread are, Audrey, but I assume you're aware that Looking For Alaska is classified as 'Young Adult fiction' and as such, is targeted at readers in their late teens or early-mid twenties (sixteen to twenty-five years of age according to some sources). Of course a reader doesn't necessarily have to fall into this age-range in order to read the book - plenty of young people have the ability to read at a level higher than their chronological age would suggest, and I don't mean to suggest that some thirteen-fifteen year olds wouldn't be able to appreciate this story in all its subtle complexity - but this doesn't mean that ALL younger teens will be able to glean what the author intended from the themes explored within LFA's narrative, or will enjoy the experience.
Personally, I consider the descriptions of sexual activity and other supposedly controversial scenes in this book to be mild-average on the spectrum, but having been a voracious readers since childhood (raunchy 'pot-boilers' and modern adult Classics such as 1984 and East of Eden were devoured by my teenage self) I have plenty to compare Green's works against.
Perhaps many readers who found some scenes shocking or uncomfortable do not yet have enough life experience to fully grasp the ugly realities of life (and death). In other words, they were simply not ready for this book at this time of their life. Or perhaps because Green's fictional characters display behaviour outside of their own limited experience and/or chosen moral code, they simply can't believe that such people exist (they do). It takes a certain amount of maturity and imagination on behalf of the reader (no matter what their age) to mentally transcend their own preconceptions and knowledge so that they may place themselves in the mind-set of the characters on the page.
Personally i did not find this book repulsive at all. I understand why some people might, but i think it all pretty much depends on your own background, where youre from, how you grew up and what youre used to. I dont feel like any of the sexual stuff in this book was too graphic or detailed, not did i find the cursing/drinking/smoking to be a probelm either, and even though i am not the type of teenager, like the kids in this book, i know that this are some of the most normal ways to live for very many people my age.
Basically i just agree with everything rees banks said
I was really disappointed with this book because I have read lots of good reviews and praise about it and I actually thought it was a great book. But no, it was just boring.
I can understand someone not liking this book, but I personally I love it. I know that it's sexually graphic, but a lot of good books and classics are much worse. Maybe the issue was more with the idea of it being passed off as a young adult book? Also, John Green portrays people from his own experience. Looking for Alaska in particular is very autobiographical for him. I don't think he portrays teens this way because he really believes all teens are like this, but mostly because he had an similar experience with smoking and sex in his youth.
I think that a lot of people don't like John's books for his characters or his plot. I didn't think that any of his books were good because of either of those points.
I don't mean to offend you opinion and I'm sorry if I did.
I read it last summer, and I didn't care for it much. You're right, it WAS graphic, and the tiny print annoyed me.
Repulsive? No. Trying a little bit too hard? Maybe. Did I have any idea what he was trying to get across in the end? Hell no. I can barely understand the Bible when I read it, there was no way I was going to understand John Green philosophy.
I was all in the first half of the book. It was funny. A coming of age story in the male POV has always fascinated me because 1. I'm a girl and 2. I probably will never truly understand how guys think. I found it refreshing how honest and forth telling the story was. Once the book shift I was turned off. I guess like Pudge I didn't think it was fair for Alaska to say, "to be continued," and not...continue. I only finished the book because I wanted to believe somehow miraculously Alaska would come back and it would just be a prank. She died so abruptly it left me unsettled. It was actually a shock to me, but I guess that’s where reality sinks in…this happens. People die. Not all endings are meant to leave you feeling settled.
This is a good book because it teaches young adults about how people cope. Sometimes we think that we are invincible until something tragic happens and leaves us uncertain about things we were always secure about.
What will always bother me is not knowing Alaska. I wanted to know soo much more but it was cut short. Her character was very interesting and mysterious. I guess what bothers me also is what intrigues me.
John Green's Paper town is a good clean read . Genrally what Ive noticed Not with John Green but with all authors is that when they run out of higher inspirationsthey resort to sexuality to keep the work from being totally boring. Writing is an outpouring of energy and when a writer runs out of energy his/her level of consciousness drops and when his/her level of consciousness drops one loses conscious contact with ones creator hence loses his/her creativity and in teh absence of creativity resorts to sex (which is actually quiet mundane and boring if one has not aquired a taste for it. While many readers have aquired a taste for it more discriminating reader know that sex drains energy out of the body . If one pays attention one will see that in an orgasm creative enry energy is exiting the body ,draining out of teh brain ,down teh spine and into the lower apertures . This very creative energy could be used to write with brilliant awesome fights of imagination but alas writers fall into a vicious cycle of turning from teh devine to sex for inspiration and readers become victims of this "squired taste" The magic fountain of inspiration and wisdom is in the brain behind the eyes . here is where divinity comes down to meet the struggling writer . Sex pulls us away from this point . I avoid such books . In my opinion John Green is not habitually sex oriented and normally writes from a higher plane of inspiration .
While I didn't find it "repulsive", I was really disappointed with the book. Everyone was raving about it, so I guess my expectations were really high.
For one, I couldn't connect to any of the characters (even the Asian kid!)...they all seemed kind of bland and shallow to me. Pudge, for example. I loved how he had this mission to seek out the "great perhaps" and how final sayings were his thing, but aside from that, how he acted throughout the book was just kind of shallow. for a guy who's out to discover the "great perhaps", there really is nothing really great about him.
And should I even mention Alaska? Gosh. I hated her. How can any guy even like a girl like her? There was nothing appealing about her character whatsoever.
Here's the thing: I find John Green to be a master of words; he can get a simple idea, work on the wording, and turn it into a masterpiece. He is, no doubt, very good at dialogue and creating very "quotable" stuff...but I find it really hard to appreciate the plots and characters he creates. It's a shame, really.
For one, I couldn't connect to any of the characters (even the Asian kid!)...they all seemed kind of bland and shallow to me. Pudge, for example. I loved how he had this mission to seek out the "great perhaps" and how final sayings were his thing, but aside from that, how he acted throughout the book was just kind of shallow. for a guy who's out to discover the "great perhaps", there really is nothing really great about him.
And should I even mention Alaska? Gosh. I hated her. How can any guy even like a girl like her? There was nothing appealing about her character whatsoever.
Here's the thing: I find John Green to be a master of words; he can get a simple idea, work on the wording, and turn it into a masterpiece. He is, no doubt, very good at dialogue and creating very "quotable" stuff...but I find it really hard to appreciate the plots and characters he creates. It's a shame, really.
I totally agree. I read The Fault In Our Stars, which I really enjoyed, and some of his other books. I really didn't like this one, however. It was unclean and much more intense than some of the others. I really didn't get Alaska's death either. It was quite vulgar, actually. I think (since this was his first book) he was trying to find his feet in writing and wrote his most unpolished book. I usually like John Green, though, so I was surprised when really didn't like the book.
tbh, i liked it. the sexual parts i think didn't need to be used so much though. the book was had this very depressing vibe to it, but the ending was trash lol. just a few things i wanted to mention :)
High school kids are annoying, in general, but I didn't find anything repulsive other than the cigarette smoking.
Rachel Paige said: The fact that he was an adult trying to write as a stereotypical american teen was just wrong.Adults are the only ones who write novels. So if adults don't write novels for teens, teens will have no books about their lives. Adults were once teens themselves. They can remember those times. No character representation covers an entire age group. But there are definitely lots of kinds like in this book. If you don't know kids like these, then you are probably insulated. That may be a good thing. But you should know that that kind of teenage lifestyle is out there.
THE FAULT IN OUR STARS WAS ONE AMAZING BOOK.And John green is a great writer. But this book didnt appeal to me. The characters were so troubling and the plot didnt make any sense.
And thats my sincere personal opinion.
Do you really expect a book to be written from the viewpoint of a teenager to have the morals of an adult? Every graphic and illegal thing in this book had a purpose. The cold and very shallow "sex" scene with Lisa was meant to contrast the intense and passionate feelings that came along with just being next to Alaska. The alcohol is the thing that may have gotten Alaska killed. Also, a lot of these events are from John Green's high school experience, so there is nothing fake or far from the truth of how SOME(not all that's ridiculous you can't appeal to everyone) teenagers tend to act. The characters are teenagers. Of course they are going to be frustrating and emotional. With my personal experience, I feel he portrayed a certain typecast of adolescence very well. He didn't hold back or make the book appeal to adults. It's written for teenagers. Why would he try to lecture them about behaviors he himself did? That distracts from the plot.
Rachel,I understand why the things you mentioned would bother you. I am an adult, a Christian, and a mother of four grown children, and I very much enjoyed this book.
I particularly appreciated the way John Green handled the subject of teens and sex. Wait, what??? Yes, you read that correctly. Let me explain.
Green writes about behaviors that many teens engage in (not only sex), but that does not mean that he advocates those behaviors. In fact, he handles the topic with equal amounts of sensitivity, honesty, and realism. He manages to say what other adults often try to say with less success. By putting his message into a realistic story about teens that (many) teens will actually enjoy, he is able to communicate something other adults have not been able for, well, many reasons.
So, what is Green saying about teens and sex? For starters, I don't think he's saying it only to or about teens. I'm fairly certain his message is about sex in general. The point of every sex scene in every one of his novels (along with much of the other action/dialogue) is that sex is not the same as love or a true emotional connection between people. It is also not a shortcut, a substitute, or much other than awkward and unfulfilling outside of its proper context. Green always contrasts sex with meaningful connection in his books. But don't take my word for it. You can read John Green's explanation here: http://www.johngreenbooks.com/lfa-faq...
Read what he says, then re-read the book for yourself. The entire book is about falling in love with someone for the wrong reasons and Miles being so physically attracted to Alaska and in love with the idea of Alaska that he never really gets to know her at all. Then it is too late: Alaska's disappearance from his life is the tragedy that makes Miles aware of that other greater tragedy that most of us experience with such an alarming frequency.
By the way, if you haven't read Paper Towns yet, please do. Green has said that he feels he didn't quite accomplish what he wanted to with Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns does a better job of communicating some of the things he was trying to say in his first novel.
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Because for John Green books as with a lot of YA, there is a very personal, visceral connection to the sense of validation they provide. Consequently, attacks on the book can sometimes feel like attacks on the person who likes the book.